BBC Newsround sparks fury over an article teaching children about ‘white privilege’ which features an academic who called the Queen a ‘symbol of white supremacy’

• Critics say the BBC breached impartiality rules for presenting race theory as fact

The BBC has sparked fury over an article teaching white privilege to children that features an academic who described the Queen as a ‘symbol of white supremacy’.

BBC Newsround was under pressure last night to remove an online resource that used Professor Kehinde Andrews explaining the controversial race theory.

The professor of black studies at Birmingham City University once claimed that the late Queen was the ‘world’s number one symbol of white supremacy’.

He has also compared Sir Winston Churchill to Adolf Hitler and claimed the historic Prime Minister was a white supremacist.

The article, titled ‘White privilege: What is it and how can it be used to help others?’, suggests tips on how youngsters should use their white privilege for good.

BBC Newsround was under pressure last night to remove an online resource that used Professor Kehinde Andrews explaining the controversial race theory 

But critics have accused the BBC of breaching impartiality rules by presenting the highly contested theory as fact.

Writing to the BBC, Dr Alka Sehgal Cuthbert, director of campaign group Don’t Divide Us said: ‘In our view, these breaches amount to a blatant disregard for your public duty.

‘This would be bad enough in a programme for adults. For one intended for children, it is an unconscionable abrogation of adult responsibility, as well as a failure to meet your own editorial standards.’

Lee Anderson MP, deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, added: ‘Once again the BBC has shown it’s nothing but a safe space for radical ideologies.

‘Licence fee payers expect the Beeb’s news channels to stick to reporting current events, not spouting woke nonsense to children.

‘Newsroom bosses must put a stop to these lefty lectures.’

In the article, published in 2020, Prof Andrews explains that people in positions of power use ‘white privilege to keep and maintain their highest status in society’.

He said: ‘White Privilege is being able to not have to worry about racism.. So you don’t have to worry about whether the teacher is going to treat you badly because of the colour of your skin.

Professor Kehinde Andrews has also compared Sir Winston Churchill to Adolf Hitler and claimed the historic Prime Minister was a white supremacist

The professor of black studies at Birmingham City University once claimed that the late Queen was the ‘world’s number one symbol of white supremacy’

‘Or that’s why you got stopped and searched or you didn’t get the job because you were black…also white privilege means that the people who make the laws, the people who run the schools, the people who run the businesses, tend to be oftentimes white and have the privilege to make laws to keep things the same.

‘So one of the reasons that things don’t change as much is because the people in power, have white privilege, and use that white privilege to keep and maintain their highest status in society.’

The Newsround piece, which has a target audience of 6 to 12-year-olds, also features a viral American TikTok trend in which participants are challenged to ‘check your privilege’.

The trend sees a white person and a non-white person compare their experience by lowering a finger every time something applies to them.

Examples include ‘being called a racial slur’ or if ‘someone has crossed the street to avoid passing you’.

Critics have accused the BBC of breaching impartiality rules by presenting the highly contested theory as fact

Tom Ryan, policy analyst of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: ‘Taxpayers resent stumping up for woke lectures from the BBC.

‘Teaching controversial social theories to children is one thing, but it’s a whole other matter when it’s being funded by hard-pressed licence fee payers.

‘The Beeb should scrap the hated TV tax and let people choose to pay for woke lessons if they want to.’

The BBC confirmed the article was first published in June 2020 and has not been changed.

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