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.

SUJET STYLE BAC

Le sujet porte sur la thématique xxxx

Partie 1 (16pts)

Prenez connaissance des documents A, B, C (xxxxxxx) et traitez le sujet suivant en anglais en environ 500 mots.   

Taking into account their specificities, explain what the above documents and videos reveal about the xxxxxxxxx. 

(L'enseignant, à partir de ses grandes lignes, va proposer un sujet plus nuancé et plus précise le jour de l'écrit) 

Partie 2 (4pts)

Traduisez en français le passage suivant de l'article du xxxxxxxx. 

(L'enseignant va proposer un extrait pour traduction).