TRIMESTRE 2

Bridgerton and Race: A Different Story

1. A new type of historical series

Bridgerton and Queen Charlotte are TV shows that look like history, but they are not real history. In these shows, many important people are Black. For example, Queen Charlotte is played by a Black actress. This is different from most old-fashioned dramas, where almost everyone is white.

2. Is it good or bad?

Some people like this. They say it shows a better and more modern world. But others say it is not honest. In the past, Black people were not treated the same as white people. The shows don’t talk about racism or slavery. They show a perfect world where everyone is equal — but it was not like this in real life.

3. Queen Charlotte’s story

The show Queen Charlotte imagines that the queen had African family roots. The story is fiction, not 100% true. But it is based on some small historical ideas. The marriage between Charlotte and King George helps Black people in the show become rich and powerful. This is not what really happened in history.

4. What is missing?

In the real 1700s and 1800s, there was slavery. Many Black people were slaves in British colonies. Britain made a lot of money from this. But Bridgerton and Queen Charlotte don’t talk about this. They skip the hard parts of history and only show happy stories.

In short:

• Bridgerton shows a world with Black queens and lords.

• This helps people feel included, but it’s not true history.

• The shows don’t talk about slavery or racism.

• It’s a “fantasy version” of the past.

B1 Summary – Bridgerton and Race: A Fantasy or a Problem?

The Bridgerton series, and especially the spin-off Queen Charlotte, are known for showing a world where Black and white people live as equals in 18th-century Britain. Many viewers appreciate this diverse casting. They enjoy seeing Black characters as queens, lords, and members of high society. For some, it’s refreshing and empowering.

However, not everyone agrees. Some historians and critics say this kind of “Black fantasy” can be problematic. They believe it creates a false version of history. For example, during Queen Charlotte’s time, slavery was still legal, and most Black people in Britain were poor or enslaved. In reality, there were very few wealthy Black people in the 1700s.

The series does not talk about slavery, colonisation, or the violence of the past. This silence worries some people. They say it hides the truth and gives the wrong idea — as if racism didn’t exist.

Other productions, like Queen Cleopatra or Sanditon, also include Black characters in powerful roles. This helps representation, but some fear it might confuse the public. If viewers believe these stories are historically accurate, they might think Black people always had freedom and status, which is not true.

Some experts suggest a better solution: either tell real stories of historical Black figures — like the film Chevalier does — or be honest about the fact that historical dramas are fiction, not reality.

In short, Bridgerton starts an important conversation. But it also shows how complex it is to mix race, history, and fantasy in entertainment.

HOST : Good evening. I'm Bradford Kingsley and this is the Media Hour. 

Tonight we’re discussing the Netflix hit series Bridgerton, and also its spin-off series Queen Charlotte. 

We'll be discussing whether these shows represent progress for diversity in media, or do they distort history and the difficult truths about our past ? 

With me tonight are two guests : first of all, to my left, Rachel Clarke, British TV Producer and an enthusiastic fan of the Bridgerton books and TV-adaptations. 

And with us by video call, Angela Mboya, American Civil Rights Activist and author of "Hands Off Our Histories".

First of all Rachel : tell us a little about the place Bridgerton holds in your viewing habits.

RACHEL : Thank you, Bradford. First of all, I admire Bridgerton enormously, and I’ll say it clearly : Shonda Rhimes is a genius. 

What she’s done is groundbreaking. For the first time in a mainstream historical drama, we see people of colour — Black women especially — as queens, duchesses, leaders. They are not just maids or background characters. They are powerful, sensual, and complex.

And let’s talk about the women. We see strong women who challenge the roles society gave them. Women who speak their minds, who take control of their desires, who don’t fit the size-zero model but still command the screen. That matters — because girls are watching. Representation is not just about race; it’s about shape, age, and agency.

ANGELA : Representation matters, yes. But not at the cost of truth. 

Bridgerton is a fantasy — and that would be fine if it didn’t pretend to be set in the real world. In the 18th century, most Black people in Britain were enslaved, poor, or invisible in elite society. This show erases that history.

It gives a false picture. It lets people — especially those on the far right — say: “Look, everything was fine back then. Stop complaining.” It’s harmful. It helps people deny the trauma, the injustice, and the ongoing fight for civil rights. 

You can’t rewrite the past and pretend that’s progress.

RACHEL : But no one is saying it’s a documentary! We all know it's fiction. This is an imaginative reconstruction — a “what if?” that allows Black women to finally see themselves in powerful roles. We’re not erasing history; we’re building hope.

ANGELA : But when you rewrite history without context, you invite ignorance. Imagine if someone made a show where the Holocaust never happened, or apartheid never existed — just so we could have a “positive” story. That would be unacceptable.

I do agree it’s beautiful to see diverse bodies, voices, and desires on screen. But don’t confuse that with justice. Real justice means telling the truth, even when it’s ugly.

HOST : Okay, our time is up. Thank you both. Rachel sees fiction as liberation, Angela sees it as a dangerous mask. 

Perhaps the real challenge is to tell stories that inspire and educate — without forgetting the truths that shaped us.

Thank you to our listeners and goodnight from us all here in the studio.