Why is?

[Billy09]

It'd be incredibly difficult to practice Islam in a field in pilton for 5 days.

What with the food most likely not being halal

The difficulty in praying at certain times of the day

Open Alcohol/Drug Use

and Hog Roast

and also the fact that Music is sort of semi-forbidden in some sects

So I feel this factors in the lack of Asian/Muslims at the event. I am however very surprised at the lack of black people at Glastonbury though. It's a Mystery.

[mandypants]

You could just tolerate it, live your life as you see fit, and pass on your opinions/beliefs if and when appropriate.

I can see the music thing, but then really a music festival is not the place for you is it.

[Billy09]

While that is true, if you are devout in your beliefs then you would not put yourself in a position where you are having to skirt around everything you believe in. Wouldn't be much fun apart from anything else, and downright uncomfortable no doubt.

[mandypants]

I don't see how praying would be more of an issue than at any other time in the normal world. The other things are what other people are doing, which also go on outside Glastonbury, and you would have had to get used to tolerating anyway. You follow your code, let others follow there's. As I said if you are not allowed to enjoy music (which you can't escape from) it probably isn't the place for you.

Won't fit with fundamentalists of most religions to be honest, or Mary Whitehouse. Nobody seems too concerned that there is no church there for Sunday congregation.

[Billy09]

Well obviously I can't say for certain, but that is how I imagine it would be for someone with strict beliefs, someone who knows more about Islam would be better placed to comment. Perhaps prayers wouldn't be such a problem, but the other stuff is pretty in your face at a festival, it's not half as much in normal life.

[Glasto Mad]

Great thread by the way. I enjoyed reading about this because I like to hear different people’s opinions on the subject. Race is such a delicate topic, the mere mention of the word sends people into a frenzy!

I'm black and I can happily state that I thoroughly enjoy going to Glastonbury. I have however always noticed the lack of black people at the festival. This year I will be attending with a group of about 20-30 people, and in that group I am the only 'person of colour’. Of course this has never really bothered me, especially considering how laid back and special Glasto is. There is nothing quite like it, and I instantly feel at home.

In a way, music festivals don’t really appeal to me. However I don’t go to Glastonbury for the music, I go for the experience. I always spend most of my time wondering about the magical place. I am however fortunate to have a VW campervan, and so even when the weather is bad like in 2007, I have no real problems.

If I didn’t have the campervan, I probably wouldn’t go. I know that this probably makes me a bit of a wuss, but the idea of roughing in a field, inside a tent has no appeal to me. I like the extra comfort and security that the VW brings. Also I like being in the campervan site, as I find it very special and it feels like a kind of small community within the whole festival experience that I can escape to and chill out.

Now why don’t loads of black people go to Glastonbury?

I can only really speak for myself, and for me it would be a mixture of things, in which how I was brought up plays as big part of it. (Now I purposely didn’t use the word culture as I think this confuses things. People of the same culture can be brought up very differently.) Personally, I never went camping as a child, and maybe because of this I had no real desire to this as I got older. Also after roughing it as a student, I like a little luxury (if that’s what you’d call a locked door and a good mattress).

Another thing - I think the fact that you know that you will be vastly in the minority can be a little daunting. I would be, for example, a little apprehensive going to Download as there are even fewer black people there, and it’s hard to gauge if I’d feel welcome (I would still go btw). Festivals are relaxing and free, however when you start thinking that you will stand out or may receive the wrong kind of attention from people; it ruins the initial attraction.

Anyway I’ll tail off here as this is an essay or perhaps a novel worthy question.

Edited June 4, 2009 by Glasto Mad

[Laura_Babs]

It'd be incredibly difficult to practice Islam in a field in pilton for 5 days.

What with the food most likely not being halal

The difficulty in praying at certain times of the day

Open Alcohol/Drug Use

and Hog Roast

and also the fact that Music is sort of semi-forbidden in some sects

So I feel this factors in the lack of Asian/Muslims at the event. I am however very surprised at the lack of black people at Glastonbury though. It's a Mystery.

[eFestivals]

Oh right, I see now. Then yes, they're racist.

I personally don't see the problem and don't see the fear factor of glastonbury being a predominantly white festival. Glasto is essentially a 21st century hippie festival, especially in certain fields. This forum is an example of that, the fact that everyone is nice and willing to help a complete stranger out. That's what I like about Glastonbury, It's like for just 5 days, people let go of their inhabitions so they can have a fun time with like minded people. The colour of their skin doesn't make a jot of difference. I mean, the lead guy in Bloc Party is black and they play Glasto and reading pretty much every year I think, so it can't be all that bad.

no, that's it's not necessarily the case that they're racist. They might feel that they're surrounded by possible racists, because their experience of whites is one of whites being racist.

[amfy]

The bottom line is that as long as the black people who do go to Glastonbury don't end up feeling alienated there isn't really a problem. When i think about it - the fact that it is so very white, yet black people who go don't seem to find any issue with this indicates that there isn't a "racism" issue with Glastonbury.

When I talk to either black or white friends who have never done festivals and camping, they have similar worries about how they would wash, look after their hair etc. I am able to re-assure my white friends with how I manage over the 5 days. Sometimes I convince people, sometimes they remain completely dubious.

My black friends have different skin & haircare routines to me and therefore they are more likely to be convinced by another black person who has been that they can cope with this for the festival. Or maybe it's that I stop trying to convince them that bit sooner when faced with an argument that I don't have the same level of understanding of - either way - I think the low numbers can be self -perpetuating.

[drat]

Funnily enough it did occur to me at the festival last year during a random reflective moment that the majority of people were very white.

Does it matter? Not really.

Then why did I even notice? As a massive fan of Glastonbury I feel proud of the festival spirit and of the people and of the vibe, and it would be nice to add "culturally diverse audience" to the things to feel warm and happy about, that is probably a good approximation of my thought process anyway.

One really good thing Glasto does have (as others have mentioned on this thread) is that no one looks out of place, and everyone you see looks at home and very comfortable in that warm fuzzy glasto atmosphere, and that is something we should feel proud about.

And after putting my religion down was Jedi on the last census, I am very happy to see there will be a few other believers at the festival

[Moonlight]

I am an British Indian woman, and this year will be my second Glastonbury, and I've previously been to Leeds festival 3 times.

My thoughts on this are that a large factor of it is cultural. Most asian girls that I've ever known are not into the type of music that is on show at these festivals. In fact, growing up I was rather outcast by the other asian kids because I like indie music and dressed differently.

I have noticed that there are very few non-white people at these festivals, but then I notice this also in many other parts of my life; lots of the clubs, pubs, parks, holidays etc that I go on. So for this reason, I'm used to it.

In my humble opinion, this is a very large factor. But, who cares anyway? It's a great festival, everyone has a great time.

3 weeks today I'll be waking up at Glastonbury

[TomfromStroud]

Everyone's just people though aren't they?

I can see why and how Glastonbury is more mono-cultural. It is, after all, in Somerset which isn't exactly a hotbed of diversity. Conversely, I go to quite a lot of carnivals around the country and community festivals/melas/etc in various different London boroughs which are much more diverse.

I don't think it really matters as long as anyone is welcome and everyone is having a good time.

Edited June 4, 2009 by TomfromStroud

[Joshm]

Only festival i have seen which has a noticable proportion of ethnic minorities was love music / hate racism in viccy park. Its got nothing to do with race and everything to do with class as far as im concerned.

[Craig_G]

that's an interesting example. I think the tickets were as good as given away, if not the cost was very low ($1 ?). And I don't know why it's called a festival, it's just a concert really, with the stage miles away from the punters. It's a great line-up, but as a festival, it's a bit of a failure, more of a political rally really.

and as much as I like Isaac Hayes, all that 'black moses' bullshit was embarrasing...

[Felna]

I have to agree with efestivals that festivals are very much a white middle-class phenomenon, but I don't think that a predominately white line-up/clientele is necessarily a problem or a sign of underlying racism, it's just the way it is.

To me there are two types of music - the kind you like, and the kind you don't like. If you don't like it then move along and go find the stuff you do. To suggest that music is more valid because it's performed by a black person rather than a white person seems to me to be just as racist as the views of the BNP. I've always had a problem with the MOBOs for this reason - they seem to be focussing on the colour as much as the music and that to me is wrong. If I like a song I like a song, I don't care what colour the artist performing it is.

[bamber]

Some observations:-

Anyone on here been to Notting Hill carnival?

I've been to twenty-odd Glastonburys and to Notting Hill maybe a dozen times. I'd say that in terms of the ethnicity of the attendees they have a roughly opposite demographic. While they are very different in terms of the people who attend, the events are surprisingly similar in many ways, i.e. their size (similar), the surprising diversity of music (with a predominance of a few particular genres) , the variety of stages (in the widest sense) and food etc.

So what is different about the two that makes for a very different crowd?

1. Music - There is far to much limp Indie / Rock at Glastonbury for most R&B / Hip Hop /Grime /Reggae etc. fans to stomach and there is far to much R&B / Hip Hop etc at Notting Hill for most Indie fans to stomach. It is as simple as that I reckon. I'm not talking about the exceptions here, it's the overall musical vibe on offer

(BTW the Caribbean style sound systems, now long gone from Glastonbury, are it's biggest loss IMO.)

2. Location - West London vs rural Somerset.

3. Cost - Free vs £175

And that's it really. We can theorise about this all day, but when it comes down to it music tastes tend to follow ethnicity and if your musical tastes don't click with Glastonbury (despite a few acts that might appeal), there are better, closer, cheaper places to go.

Personally, whenever possible, I go to both

[emz2468]

Great post. I am very similar to you - I am a British Black girl and love festivals, gigs and live music and have throughout my life. I have never been to Glasto (will be my 1st time) but I have been to V, Leeds, Bestival and hope to do even more fests this year!

In my opinion it's not about the colour of a person it's about culture and how each culture tends to have their own influences and most people stick to that (if that is what your family and friends do most people tend to follow).

I have always been different and although I enjoy a bit of hiphop, r&b etc I am an indie/rock girl at heart. I am so used to being a minority at the places where I go to but I have never felt uncomfortable - I don't even notice anymore unless someone brings it up. This applies at gigs/festival/clubs (love indie or house clubs).

I never went to the brownies/guides but I bloody love getting dirty, camping and being one of the lads! At Leeds there is a carnival every year (takes place same time as Leeds fest so I miss it ) but the place is full of black/asian people with white people being the minority. It's different strokes for different folks - each to their own and all that!

I am an British Indian woman, and this year will be my second Glastonbury, and I've previously been to Leeds festival 3 times.

My thoughts on this are that a large factor of it is cultural. Most asian girls that I've ever known are not into the type of music that is on show at these festivals. In fact, growing up I was rather outcast by the other asian kids because I like indie music and dressed differently.

I have noticed that there are very few non-white people at these festivals, but then I notice this also in many other parts of my life; lots of the clubs, pubs, parks, holidays etc that I go on. So for this reason, I'm used to it.

In my humble opinion, this is a very large factor. But, who cares anyway? It's a great festival, everyone has a great time.

3 weeks today I'll be waking up at Glastonbury

[dieweener]

I put it to you sir, that you don't understand the term 'racism.' Racism is not an abstract concept. Racism is an ideology which is rooted in history. In the past, certain races believed themselves to be genetically superior to others. As a result, they mocked them, enslaved them, tried to exterminate them, etc. White westerners have abused/enslaved blacks, asians, aborginals etc. This has been a one-way process - whites haven't been abused/enslaved by blacks.

People throw the term 'racist' around as though it could apply to anyone who is uncomfortable with another race. On a superficial level, this might sound reasonable, but if you think about it for a minute, you'll realise it's ludicrous.

To put it in very simple terms: a white (racist) might not feel comfortable in a crowd of black people, because he would be worried that this inferior race were going to mug him as he perceives them as poor, unintelligent, unemployed and probably criminal. A black person might not feel comfortable in a crowd of white people because he might feel they were (at best) going to patronise him and not take him seriously or (at worst) treat him like scum, throwing terms like 'asylum seeker' around as though they were insults.

And if you've been into a white working class pub in the past five years, you'll realise that this isn't just Guardian-reader b*llocks - racism is now the norm in Britain. If you don't understand why black people are retreating to their own communities, you need to have a look around at the scummy Sun-reading cess-pit that Britain's become.

[dieweener]

no, that's it's not necessarily the case that they're racist. They might feel that they're surrounded by possible racists, because their experience of whites is one of whites being racist.

[drat]

<snip>

1. Music - There is far to much limp Indie / Rock at Glastonbury for most R&B / Hip Hop /Grime /Reggae etc. fans to stomach

<snip>

[flibbitybob]

The fact that it's in Somerset makes a big difference I think. I know people come from all over Britain and even from abroad, but living in Somerset, a huge amount of people I know are going to (it seems like most of my college), and Somerset really is one of the least diverse places... So at Glastonbury I saw far more cultural diversity than I've ever seen in Somerset before! I think it reflects the population to some extent, I can think of at least about 30 people I know are going, but only one of those is non-white (and we're all pretty middle-class to be honest) and that's because there are so few ethnic minorities here. Someone from, say, Birmingham, might only know 3 people going but it's quite likely that one or more of them might not be white, just because it's a far more diverse place. Do you see what I mean at all? Or am I just being confusing...

There must be other factors, but I think it does make a difference. I've pretty much only been to festivals around my local area, so I don't know what it's like in Reading or something, but I'd guess there are quite a lot of people who live around Reading who go, and so the populationof the festival would reflect that a bit too?

[Craig_G]

This is an important point. Glastonbury has so many stages and bands, why not make one or some of the stages R&B / Hip Hop?? For instance, The Park as far as I can tell is just a smaller version of The Other Stage in terms of music style, I don't quite see the point of it. Why not give it a strong identity with something radically different? I would love to get the chance to hear more Hip Hop (I own some but very limited).

One of the things I love about Glastonbury is wandering about the different stages getting the different vibes, and listening to bands I have not heard before. Glastonbury does this very well with Pyramid/Other for mainstream with a few curve balls thrown in (Underworld!! Hay Seed Dixie and their version of Black Sabbath War Pigs!), Jazz for alternative and occasional blinders (Orbital!!), Dance village and all the options there, Glade for trippy ambient dancey whatever (I love the glade!), John Peel for of course up coming bands. I would love if they went all the way and made somewhere for Hip Hop/R&B, some asian music, some metal maybe etc?

Diversity wins, give me more diversity!

[Cheesey]

To me there are two types of music - the kind you like, and the kind you don't like. If you don't like it then move along and go find the stuff you do. To suggest that music is more valid because it's performed by a black person rather than a white person seems to me to be just as racist as the views of the BNP. I've always had a problem with the MOBOs for this reason - they seem to be focussing on the colour as much as the music and that to me is wrong. If I like a song I like a song, I don't care what colour the artist performing it is.

[bamber]

the term "Black Music" has no real meaning?

[RodimusPrime]

one of the good things about Glastonbury is precisely that it doesn't make the difference between black or white acts, and anyone can be on just about any stage... what do you want, a stage for black artists?