Rokhaya Diallo: I’ve been targeted with death threats and rape threats

Speaking on the 'Black Sheep by BBH' podcast activist tells her story as one of the few black women on TV in France

FILMMAKER, JOURNALIST and activist Rokhaya Diallo has revealed she’s been the victim of death and rape threats because she’s one of the few black women on TV in France, as the Black Lives Matter movement strengthens around the world.

Social media doesn’t create hate, or sexism, or racism or homophobia. It’s just an echo of what already exists in society

Rokhaya Diallo

Talking on the new season of the Black Sheep by BBH podcast, created by global creative agency BBH, Rokhaya, 42, said: “Being public and being a black woman makes me very visible, especially as I tackle racism and sexism.

“I’ve been targeted with death threats, rape threats. It’s constant on social media.”

Paris-born Rokhaya, who works for the likes of Al Jazeera, RTL France and Le Chaîne Info (France’s News Channel), continued: “Being black and being disruptive at the same time singles you out… That makes people angry.”

Rokhaya’s shocking revelations come as millions of people around the world have been attending Black Lives Matter over the last few weeks, sparked by the brutal murder in May of unarmed black man George Floyd at the hands of white police in Minneapolis.

In the UK this month, black female MPs have also faced a barrage of racist abuse and death threats for supporting the Black Lives Matter cause.

Rokhaya Diallo

Brent Labour MP Dawn Butler was forced to go to the police due the gravity of the threats against her, but said she would not be silenced, saying: “It is the oldest trick in the book, trying to scare people into silence. Nothing will ever change if we stay silent.”

Of the threats she’s received, Rokhaya has a similar outlook and said: “It’s meant to discourage me and all the people who try to make points on these issues and make them just give up. I have decided not to give up.”

She added: “Social media doesn’t create hate, or sexism, or racism or homophobia. It’s just an echo of what already exists in society. Race is not a biological divide. It is a social construct constructed by history and by politics.”

Rokhaya is, however, hopeful for a more equal future. She said: “The younger generations are more comfortable speaking about race than former generations. I hope one day we will have the freedom to be whoever we want to be without being oppressed.”

Hosted by writer and performer Daniella Isaacs, Black Sheep by BBH aims to explore with each guest what it really means to be a ‘black sheep’ in their field and the challenges and rewards of going against the grain and breaking rules to give insights into how we can all learn to disrupt the status quo.

Each guest tells their story through three rules they have broken and the 30-60 minute conversations are frank, with nothing off limits.

At the end of each episode, guests reveal the rule they will never ever break.

Guests on the previous series of the podcast have included Big Issue founder Lord John Bird, advertising legend Sir John Hegarty and TV presenter Big Narstie, and the new series will feature guests including best-selling author Marian Keyes and renowned psychotherapist Susie Orbach.

To hear the full podcast click here. 

Comments Form

1 Comment

  1. | Chaka Artwell

    England’s African-skinned people are asking for the re-ordering of the caucasian power structure which was built to benefit caucasian people alone.
    England’s African-skinned people are asking for Justice. This will result in fewer power and privileges for the Caucasian Common People.
    We are mad if we expect social media to be filled with complimentary messages from Caucasian people on the Left or the political Right.
    African-skinned people need to consider the African-skinned campaigners in the 1960s United States; South Africa and Australia, whose very earthy life was threatened by government agents of the State.

    Reply

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