England riots: The whites have become black says David Starkey

Historian David Starkey has told BBC's Newsnight ''the whites have become black'' in a discussion on the England riots with author and broadcaster Dreda Say Mitchell and the author of Chavs, Owen Jones.

He also hit out at what he called the ''destructive, nihilistic gangster culture'' which he said ''has become the fashion.''

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[voiceofhindu]

Not true! You'll never know who is racist in the UK..They are so smooth...

[RedDaVincy]

Fuck you and your "r" word.

[pyrokyro96]

At least you guys in England don't have as much racism as in here in the states or maybe I'm wrong but my friend she's from England and she said that there's more racism and injustice in the states than in England.

[DancinJim]

There clearly is a particular part of contemporary black culture influencing these street thugs. Starkey is correct. His point about turning off the tv and a particular well educated black man sounds white was perhaps a poorly worded way of putting things, but I know what he meant. He meant that he sounds like a well educated member of society, the opposite of the a specific type of black culture. So to illustrate the opposite he used the word 'white'. He should have put it another way.

[Graham6762]

It took so much time and scientific brainwashing to get us here. Consumerisn is not to blame, it is the total lack of accountability and responsibility.

[stargate4698]

That white boy, parrot speaking what is the cool thing to say. I wonder what his friends and he say in private to each other. I will be honest. Were I to see a large proportion of blacks move into my neighborhood, I would leave as quickly as a moving van could reach me.

[matt1975ification]

yes you too! thanks for setting me strait, you sir are a true humanitarian.

[erkziltonz]

Good to know that you have changed your ways, Good luck in future endeavours.

[matt1975ification]

your so right! you have changed my my whole outlook on David Starkey! He is not a racist! He is just misunderstood right? Guys like him should run the world, things would be sooooo much better. Those damn rappers are the problem, its not the media its the artist! you are so smart, you make your points so clear, you have it all figured out! I wish I was more like you. From now on when I meet a racist I'll remind myself to take my own advice and not interupt them while they are making their point.