Coronation Street viewers were impressed after the soap included a debate about ‘white privilege.’
As part of a storyline about racial profiling, which saw a policeman pull over footballer James Bailey and his brother Michael as they took a sports car for a test drive, the show featured a discussion about inequality.
Steve McDonald and his best mate Tim Metcalfe discussed the subject with PC Craig Tinker, who is feeling the pressure after his colleague stopped the Bailey brothers.
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Tim moaned that he’d been failed by the education system and when Craig suggested “try going out with ginger hair” Steve interjected “oh, your hair has got nothing to do with it. Being a redhead isn’t a race.”
Steve debated with Craig and Tim
(Image: ITV)
He told them: “The point is the first thing that people see with James is his blackness.”
Tim said: “Well the first thing that I see is his sweet left foot and that’s not me making light of it.”
And Steve pointed out: “The point is that you can test drive any car you want.”
Tim went on to argue: “No I can’t. There’s no way in a million years I could afford to drive a car like that but James could. So who’s got the privilege now?”
Tim was involved in the debate
(Image: ITV)
Steve told his friends: “No-one’s saying you haven’t had your problems, we all have, but the colour of our skin isn’t one of them is it?”
Soap watchers applauded the scene.
“Who knew that Steve McDonald would become the moral centre of Corrie?” asked one on Twitter.
“The Steve and Tim white privilege debate could prove influential, given the size of the Corrie audience,” said another.
“It was true to the characters and not sanctimonious, but easy to understand.”
James Bailey was arrested in Coronation Street
(Image: Shared Content Unit)
“Steve McDonald being woke in #corrie That was a pretty good chat about white privilege,” another tweeted.
“Steve McDonald giving lessons on white privilege is totally unexpected and totally brilliant,” another praised.
And another said: “Loved Steve explaining white privilege on Corrie. What they’re doing now will definitely make some viewers sit up and rethink their ideas.”
Fans are now calling for PC Craig to do the right thing and stand by the brothers.
(Image: Coronation Street)
“OMG Craig did not just compare racial profiling and what happened to James to being a redhead really?” asked one Corrie fan.
“Craig open your eyes pal! Your copper friend is a racist!” urged another.
In Monday night’s Corrie double bill PC Brody pulled the pair over and when driver James questioned why, he arrested him for obstruction and handcuffed him.
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In devastating scenes Weatherfield County footballer James then tripped and injured his leg.
PC Brody then confessed to Craig that he wouldn’t have pulled them over if he’d realised who James was.
Next week James is told police but won’t be taking the matter any further after he makes a formal complaint.
In the police station, Craig questions PC Brody about his handling of James’s arrest but when PC Brody suggests that black people are just over sensitive, Craig’s horrified.
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