Friendship and colleagues within and across diverse and inclusive communities, and social justice, have been much on my mind for most of my life and in my work and my community service projects during my long university staff career–and again in these sorrowful times in the continuing persecution and death of our U.S. Black and minority population neighbors, colleagues, family, and friends.
So I always share with my own colleagues the insights that I have gained, such as that our university students and prospective university students in economically disadvantaged communities can better project themselves into the future when they are given opportunities and they have role models to follow—if they can see it, they can be it. And our university is wonderfully diverse—with over 100 countries and cultures represented by our university’s students, faculty, and staff.
And with the worldwide friendships that we all have made as admirers of the talented British Actor Richard Armitage, we also represent diversity and inclusivity from around the world–race, class, gender, ethnicity, nationality, cultural traditions, faiths, & sexual orientations, etc. We are Global Team Armitage!
In effect, our shared admiration of Richard Armitage’s character portrayals and artistic/literary projects serves as almost a common language and a common culture of understanding between us. And in one fun instance, quite literally. Remember the Richard Armitage Dictionary that BccMee wonderfully edited and assembled from all of our submissions in 2012?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6glte0ORIzg
So for another way for us to bridge our understanding and compassion across the miles in these unsettling times—using the language of Richard Armitage–the Richard Armitage character pix below reflect several his portrayals representing diverse friendships and colleagues–thereby displaying wonderful examples of inclusivity!
(courtesy of RAnet)
Left to right: Richard Armitage and Shaun Parkes in 2010’s “Chris Ryan’s Strikeback” Brit TV show as spy agent new comrades John Porter and Masaku; the characters had begun as enemies, then united against a common foe.
(courtesy of RAnet)
Left to right: Hermione Rogers and Richard Armitage in 2008’s “Spooks” Brit TV show as Spy colleagues Ros and Lucas—with her as his boss.
(courtesy of RAFrance)
Left to right: Fraser Kelley and Richard Armitage in 2015’s “Urban and the Shed Crew” movie; portraying poor boy Urban and the social worker Chop who reached out to him.
(courtesy of RADaily tweet paper)
Left to right: Brendan Coyle, Richard Armitage, Daniela Denby-Ashe, and Tim Piggott-Smith in the 2004 Brit TV miniseries “North & South” about class and cultural clashes is set during the industrial revolution era of the 1850’s. Poor worker Higgins gained the respect of his Mill employer John Thornton. And previously dogmatic but fair John Thornton learned to bend and won the heart of the compassionate and social justice oriented parson’s daughter Margaret Hale, after becoming friends and being tutored by her father, the Rev. Richard Hale.
(courtesy of DurinLass)
Left to right: Martin Freeman and Richard Armitage in the 2012 film “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey”; Hobbit Bilbo Baggins and Dwarven King Thorin Oakenshield form an alliance of two races in Middle Earth, to help the Dwarven peoples of Durin to reclaim and return to their homeland and the fortress of Erebor mountain.
Though Richard Armitage’s artistic projects are very entertaining, many of them also have an underlying powerfully purposeful message about the human condition–of social justice, ethics, compassion, honor, and dignity, etc. And I hope that you will also share your favorite memorable characters, plots, and scenes in a comment below.
Wishing you all a healthy, safe, and lovely weekend filled with possibilities and hope! Hugs & Cheers! Grati ;->
