Racial (slurring) Privilege

Watch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-bA9FYB8HY&feature=related

Rush Hour is an interesting movie when it come to comedy, audience and race. At first glance does the movie have racist elements? Chris Tucker makes fun of Jackie Chan's Asian character a lot, assuming that he couldn't speak English when he first meets him, and assuming along with other things that the martial arts are just something for show that "your corny ass does." But when Tucker and Chan go into a bar and Chan greets the bartender by saying "Whats good, my nigga" he gets beat down (not by Tucker but by others). To me, the way stereotypes and racial bashing go in this movie, just goes to show how black tension underlies the majority of racial tension. Its ok for a black guy to knock other minorities and its sure as heck ok for him to knock white, but when it come to anyone even accidentally knocking blacks, they get beat down quick. The audience should think about this.
What is the most correct and moral way to navigate the racial ladder of our society?
The question is, do movies like this help in healing racial wounds and improving the underlying tension or does it just reinforce and promote preexisting negative feelings?

The New Meaning of Equality

"Underlying this equal-opportunity offensiveness is the notion that "teasing" an entire racial group by invoking some of its most pernicious stereotypes is no different from making fun of people who like to ski--a notion that willfully ignores the fact that racism and sexism are still very much a part of American culture. The line of defense--"We're all treated equally now, so we had no idea people would be offended!"--is in some ways more insulting that outright bigotry, which at least doesn't hide behind a pretense of equality" (Rachel Fudge, Bitchfest).

Is it just overreacting for Asians to get mad at shirts like this? A lot of people answered yes when the Abercrombie & Fitch controversy was underway. I think its very important for white critics to remember our place in society. Some claim that "we should all be equal. Anybody can make fun of white people, so we should in turn get to play with the stereotypes of others." These people need to wake up and realize that we are not equal and even though political rights are becoming more equal, societal rights aren't. Even after generations of races interacting on a more equal plain in our modern society, there will still always be a legacy of racism that can never be erased. People try to use the justification of how much progress we've made to print and sell t-shirts like this. This progress and illusion of equality are just that--illusions--excuses to be just as racist as ever and an attempt to use "equality" against those who have suffered from inequality for so long. Its a low blow and the White Man of America just needs to man up, stop playing games, and begin to give everyone "else" the equality they deserve.

A Funny Compromise

"In the mid-1980s good pitches or show ideas presented to producers, began to be defined as those appealing to both "urban" and mainstream" audiences. NBC, in particular boasted crossover hits such as The Cosby Show (the nation's number one program for five seasons), A Different World, and The Fresh Prince of Bel Air" (Kristal Brent Zook).

Ok, so everyone can agree that Fresh Prince and The Cosby Show were both a huge success. Black people and white people alike loved and still love them, watching and re-watching re-runs to this day. The thing about it though is that the families of the Huxtables and the Banks were not your typical "black families." So, some people may get mad at me for saying this and say I'm being racist and stereotyping, but the truth of the matter is that they both had mad money and unrealistic lives. The average black family does not have the mother as a lawyer and the father as a doctor and time to just have fun with the 5 kids. The average black family does not have a butler who cooks, clean, and answers the door to their mansion. Now this is not true for just black families, its true for white families too. If these same family were white with as much money and a butler and everything like that, the audience would view them as more upper class, but thats not the case. Mainstream audiences are able to relate to these families. It is because the families were black, they had to overcompensate by being super rich to be able to get on the same level as mainstream white audiences?

I'm not saying that either of these shows is a sell-out. Will definitely brings a street element to Bel Air as does Cockroach and other characters in the Cosby Show, however, its a strange mix of two world that ends up in a seemingly happy, but foundationally weak compromise.

Watch this clip of some of the "funniest moments" from Fresh Prince.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUSR1PZ3meE

What are the situations? Will is in trouble for wrecking a car, he runs away with $20 bucks he tricks from his uncle, he and Carlton break into a house while Carlton is wearing all black and a ski mask. Carlton doesn't realize Wills already inside and he urgently says, "Will! There's a big black guy in the house!" Will is always roping Carlton into different schemes, hustling people, getting him to talk street, to act not as proper. These are the funniest moments on the show. Something just seems inconsistent. I can't exactly figure it out. It just seems like the wealth, the huge house, and nice neighborhood is the pass to be accepted in the white eye and the skin color and street element is what makes them "such successful black shows." They're funny shows and I love them, but when all is said and done, it does seem a lot like a funny compromise.

Racism in Horton Hears a Who?!

Meet Vlad . . .

He's Merciless,

He's Rentless,

And He's Clueless!



watch clip: Clulesshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ylfIm6k1AU&feature=related

I was so excited to go see this Dr. Suess movie. Call me a nerd. I unashamedly counted the days til I could buy my ticket, sit right in the middle of the theater, and watch the story about an elephant saving a WhoVillage. Honestly, the last thing I could've thought about was that there was going to be racism in this movie. It struck me as kinda funny--but really not. The "bad guy", the only character in the movie who is never redeemed, has a thick Russian accent, is named Vlad, is cruel, aggressive, not that intelligent, and has no friends.
What is the message that the producers of this G-rated children's film are putting forth? What ideas are they putting in little kids minds? Why is Vlad the only character who doesn't reconcile with the other characters (like Kangaroo and the Wickashim brothers do in the end)?
This was such a funny movie. I LOVE Horton and I LOVE Jo-Jo the Who, but it was so frustrating that in the end my appreciation of this movie had to be tainted with the knowledge that this one character would make every kid who left this movie a little more unconsciously racist. That was really frustrating. Even my 15 year of brother didn't pick up on it. I had to spell it out for him and then eventually, he saw what I was talking about. So if a 15 year old high schooler isn't even aware, whats that say about the teaching that 6 and 7 year olds are getting? The unnecessary racism smack in the middle of a great movie was really disturbing, especially in light of "how far we've come."

My, oh My, What a ??Wonderful?? Day

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah zip-a-dee-ay
My, oh my, what a wonderful day!
Plenty of Sunshine headed my way.
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah zip-a-dee-ay
Mr. Bluebird's on my shoulder.
Its the truth. Its actual. Everything is satisfactual.
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah zip-a-dee-ay
Wonderful feeling. Wonderful Day.

click to watch clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47ak4vjiNzw

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah is a great song. Almost every little kid (and adult) can sing it a the top of their lungs, especially when they're having a really good day. However, this song has come to be taken (and perhaps made to be taken) way out of context. I actually never realized it was from the animated movie ,"Song of the South." Disney no longer officially sells this movie. It is indefinitely out of circulation because of the huge racial controversy promoted in the film. Some argue that it is more an issue of historical placement. It is set right after the civil war and so the blacks in the movie aren't slaves, but sharecroppers on a white plantation. However, the movie portrays their lives as this happy, carefree one in the care of their kind white master. The blacks are portrayed as subservient, kindly, entertainers who enjoy their life and who's goal is to serve the white people.
The question is, should we be disturbed by this harmless, quaint historical animation?
The answer is, yes.
But the reason is deeper than just the historical setting.
In that time, its a fact that blacks were not very well educated. That was a result of white man's laws. The improper speech presentation could theoretically be justified that way. But where the most racist messages come through, I believe, is through the actual animated characters. Uncle Remus tells a story to the little white boy who is trying to run away from home about Brier Rabbit. All the characters in the story are black--represented by black voices. And they are all shown to be slow, foolish, inebriated, or conniving. So what if the historical context consisted of the blacks not being as educated? What does that have the do with "black" animal cartoon characters?
The message of the film seems to be at a very base level, that not only are blacks less educated and informed by whites, but simply less intelligent. That is why at its core "Song of the South" is a very racist misrepresentation that should be understood very carefully and not just watched for entertainment purposes.
The message is not as carefree as the song would have you believe.

Classifed What?

The images and clips shown in Classifed X were disturbing to say the least. The biggest thoughts that may come to mind are . . . Does it really matter today how blacks were portrayed by Hollywood 60, 70 years ago? Why can't we just move on and not think about it? The movie producers and directors of that day are not the people of my current generation. Yeah, those people were mad ignorant. Why do we have to be subjected to see how blacks were belittled, undignified, and disrespected?

When watching this film, you might be frustrated at having to see how "these people" (i.e. the actors, directors, producers and audience) promoted such a bigoted and ignorant view of blacks. But when it comes down to it, you (possibly like me, as a white person) may be subjected to 50 minutes of these painful images but can you understand what effect decades upon decades of these painful--personal--images have done to the black population? I think there is something to be said about the awareness that we as a society need to have today. Something that particularly caught my attention is how Van Peebles was explaining the idea of the "new Negro" and then the "action black." He commented that when Hollywood began to give blacks some ounce of dignity, it was only as an athletic, military type or as an entertainer. I asked myself, have we really "progressed" as much as we claim? What are the top "black people movies"? They are action films and comedies. When does a serious drama come out with the main or majority actors black? Films that Denzel Washington has played in come to mind, but many times, there is a huge amount of action in the films. Blacks are still not portrayed with the same amount of intellectual or economic ability as whites in film. They are still portrayed and athletic people with rhythm, a sense of humor, and the ability to make the jokes "other people" are frowned on for making.

Classified X argues that change is only possible through directors having the resources and power to create their own films on their terms according to what the black population wants to see. The film ends with a note of hope that the time has finally come when those resources and opportunities are available. Slowly but surely, black actors and directors will begin the true representation of black people in America.