I just got my latest issue of GQ Magazine, and I was reading an article by Larry Wilmore who bills himself as the senior "black" writer for the Daily Show. (Take that for what it's worth.) Anyway, Larry had a review of an upcoming spin-off of FOX Television's Family Guy called Cleveland Show. (Be forewarned , it's a Rupert Murdoch production, so you might want to skip it )
Apparently, the lead black character, Cleveland, is voiced by a white guy. (It's a cartoon) So the premise of his article is this: "Should white people be allowed to play black people?" I don't know. Should they? He goes on to say that it's a "silly question", because, he says, "if they really needed our permission they would have asked, and I don't recall getting that requisition form." Okay, I get it, he is a funny guy. He is, after all, a comedy writer. But he makes some serious points as well:
"The show raises a more important issue than whether its politically incorrect casting is insensitive. The relevant question is, do you know how hard it is to play a black guy? I don't think you do. This is not your father's blackface. years ago, whites mimicked blacks to demean and ridicule them. It satiated racism-feeding racial stereotypes-while at the same time fortified white privilege. But they've have moved on. White people have found a way to keep privilege without all of that messy hate. And the fact is, they not only love to play us-they're good at it! need I remind you that Robert Downey Jr. almost won an Oscar for playing a black guy?"
Okay, I confess, I kinda liked the Robert Downey Jr. role in Tropic Thunder, (or maybe it was Tom Cruise shaking his money maker in the end to that "Luda" cut that sold me on the flick) unlike some folks ,I was not as upset with Downey's character. But one good turn does not a trend make. That was a uniquely written script for that role, and it was written specifically for a white man to play a black man. I certainly don't want to see white guys playing black guys in roles that were meant for a black guy all of a sudden. And I sure as hell don't want to see a black guy playing a white guy in a role that was meant for a white guy. Wilmore gives us Cliff Huxtable as an example of the latter: "The Cosby Show was roundly criticized by some self-appointed black leaders who viewed Cliff Huxtable as not realistic enough. They basically said he was portraying a white guy! Duh. That's why America loved him, self- appointed black leaders. Do you think a brother would actually have worn those ugly sweaters?" I have to agree there.
Wilmore ends on a gloomy note: "Unfortunately, the black sitcom has hit on hard times since that heyday, and the pressure for such a show to succeed gets tougher and tougher. If a minority -themed show doesn't work out, it'll be a long time before the networks bet on black again. So I like to think of white actors moving into the neighborhood of black roles as a kind of gentrification."
I don't know about that; I have seen both Soul Man and Silver Streak. Sorry Larry, if this is "gentrification", I think I am moving out.
[Folks, I was looking on GQ online to give you a link to Mr. Wilmore's article, but I can't find it. -You might want to try, you might have better luck than I did.-So sadly, if you want to do an editorial check on the field, you might just have to just buy the damn magazine. ]
93 comments:
I personally think that this is racism. Just a different form, as in hipster racism. The hipsters, who of course love Black people and grew up on hip hop, are going to coop Black roles.
This way instead having to find Black actors willing to demean themselves they can do it for us. Aren't hipsters great!
Oh and if you give people an inch they will take a mile. So while many Black people defended the Tropic Thunder thing now we have a trend. And don't forget Angelina Jolie playing Mariane Pearl in “A Mighty Heart”.
Look for much more of this.
He raises some good points, but it seems almost elementary when you consider the fact that most black characters and roles are created, written and/or produced by people who are not black. That to me is more of real problem than the voice behind it. I dont care if Cleveland was voiced by a 60 year old Korean man, as long as the content being portrayed was one that was approved and written by black people.
I do love Larry Wilmore. His take on the whining white folks and their "give my back my country" bullshit is laugh out loud funny.
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-august-11-2009/reform-madness---white-minority
Wilmore ends on a gloomy note: "Unfortunately, the black sitcom has hit on hard times since that heyday, and the pressure for such a show to succeed gets tougher and tougher. If a minority -themed show doesn't work out, it'll be a long time before the networks bet on black again. So I like to think of white actors moving into the neighborhood of black roles as a kind of gentrification."
This is a sad and pathetic statement that he has made as if he has resigned himself to the idea that this is just the way it is so it is accepted. It is the same pervasive racism that has always been a part of the entertainment industry. What will it take for black people to realize that "the industry" could care less about accuracy or equity in the portrayal of or the writing for black people and make the choice to opt out?!
I personally think that this is racism. Just a different form, as in hipster racism...
Oh and if you give people an inch they will take a mile.
"
True and very true.
Field, btw, not to tilt the subject, but I've been having some serious issues with the Disney Channel for some time now. What is it about these series of Disney white kid sitcoms where you hardly see ONE black student/teenager (Im not talking about the tokens on High School Musical and Raven "rolling eyes"). I'm talking about those shows like "Icarly, Zack and Codie, Hannah, Wizards of.. etc".
Aren't there black kids in these nice schools, Hotels and neighborhoods? Are these segregated schools? My daughter is twelve and she watches these segregated shows, and I'm conflicted here. And the minute black people start preaching about having more networks/shows for black tweens to relate, you know how 'people' are going to process this..
I have a question, and it's a serious one: What portrayals of blacks on TV do people here find acceptable, entertaining, and enjoyable? Any or all of those would suffice.
Field,
re: your tags
A question.
How did the Jr. from Robert Downey's name get put in front of Tropic Thunder?
Is this all part of the Field's sense of humor?
Just teasing, I believe I've now become your proofreader.
Aloha from Makaii
I've been looking for the Wilmore article at GQ Magazine website but with no luck. Was it the Sept. issue?? I'm assuming.
What will it take for black people to realize that "the industry" could care less about accuracy or equity in the portrayal of or the writing for black people and make the choice to opt out?!
I agree. Frankly I am tired of black beleaguered actors, writers, and entertainers who feel left out of the mainstream because they are too black, ethnic or will scare away their core base of viewers—white people. It’s a fact of life that for all the groundbreaking moments and artistic breakthroughs that Blacks have made in the "industry", Black people for the most part, are never going to see their own diversity with any degree of creative integrity. If anything Blacks have seen a regression in content and creative content (we don’t even control our own stories) in which the only images that are deemed acceptable and dysfunction and various forms of coonery.
Thus I don’t understand with all the black creative and financial capital available, why we don’t take proper ownership of our images and create our own art forms without having to genuflect to mainstream acceptance as the only road that denotes commercial and financial success.
Well, I like anything that Denzel Washington plays in. Y'all knows how I feel about Denzel. (wink)
I know Larry Wilmore from the Daily Show, and the satrical phase senoir black coorespondent. Is not jusr about every journalist a senior something in news, so in Wilmore's view why not have a senior black coorespondent. The skits are funny and Jon Sweart who is not a jouranlist does a damn good of playing on TV (saw the Betsy McCaughey interview last night and it was great, so much so that "resigned from her director's post a healthcare company). Larry does have a different perspective when it comes to comedy.
I am not really in a position to say anything one way or another. However, from what I understand of Family Guy, it is a parody that makes fun of conservative people. Baby Stewie is gay and has a complex of wanting to take over the world. It is liberal show on Fox, although I do not think the conservative viewers are aware of that. I will have to watch Cleveland Show before ever making a comment. I think it is the fair thing to do.
Until, people acknowledge the power of tv and film to shape their opinions this going to continue to be a problem. Hollywood, only understands character types, part of that is because character types are so fundamental to drama and the the theatre tradition. The other part of the equation is that Hollywood is so risk averse that the way a project is sold is based upon those character types and stories that have already been told. A typical pitch for a new movie or show is modeled after the formula "X meets X." So someone pitching the Cosby Show would pitch it as "Father Knows Best with today's comedy and Black People" or some other derivative variation. However, while these types usually don't do that much damage to white WASPy males who are clearly defined as capable of meeting any challenge, leading, or performing at the heights of any occupation they do do damage to everyone else from traditional minorities and women to even those ethnic or culturally apart white males who've been left out of the traditional American image of white male success and accomplishment.
I don't know how to get people to acknowledge the power that media has to influence all of us at both the subconscious and conscious level and even regarding how we feel about ourselves and our own group but I do know that it's the first step. Once we grasp the power of stereotypes, we can make an effort to end their usage.
--j
Thus I don’t understand with all the black creative and financial capital available, why we don’t take proper ownership of our images and create our own art forms without having to genuflect to mainstream acceptance as the only road that denotes commercial and financial success.
Dark Moon, I completely agree!
Oh, Imma thread-jack here and say that while I am appreciative of Bolts latest accomplishments, its not as fun to watch him this time around. It looks like he started wearing a supportive undergarment, and its just not the same anymore.
:(
Hey, come by my blog and donate to the Save My Ailing Kitty (SMAK) Fund! Youll almost feel like youre white when you do!!
:)
L
Hey Field, What a ya think of this? There is more in this than just who is doing the voices, because really, who generally knows or thinks that much about this stuff? We are mostly a knee jerking society.
http://dalynart.blogspot.com/2009/07/train-of-thought.html
LOL@Makaii. You got me. Honestly, I rushed this post and just got back. I also spelled luck as l-i-c-k- in the post.:) Way to keep a brotha sharp.
"This is a sad and pathetic statement that he has made as if he has resigned himself to the idea that this is just the way it is so it is accepted.."
BB, I was not feeling that comment,either. You and Dark Moon make some good points about Hollywood.
La~Incognita, I don't have kids, so fortunately, I don't spend a lot of time watching The Disney Channel. Kiddy segregation is not cool.:(
"I have a question, and it's a serious one: What portrayals of blacks on TV do people here find acceptable, entertaining, and enjoyable? Any or all of those would suffice."
grinder, it's like that old legal adage that refers to pornograhpy: We know it when we see it.
Lola, you can't be serious! You want me to give funds to do what?
Believe it or not because of protest they went out and hired black actors.Remember people Rupert Murdoch made his money off of pimping black people.The first thing FOX did was to build a black audience. Then they threw all the brothers off and Melrose Placed us off the air.
While the boycott of Glenn Beck is working , need I remind you that FOX has other media.
*Here's a list of FOX movies that you shouldn't see. Remember every penny FOX makes goes into Rupert Murdoch pocket, and John Gibson, And Oreilly, and Klannity, and Greta's:
Out now
Aliens in the Attic
Night at the Museum 2
Ice Age Dawn of the Dinosaurs
I Love You Beth Cooper
Wolverine
All About Steve Sept 4th
Jennifer's Body Sept 18
By all means necessary please don't go!Remember that Aug 28th, the day that Emmett Till was murdered, the day that W.E.B. DuBois passed, the day of the March on Washington, the day a certain Senator from Illinois got the Democratic nomination is the day of the start of the worldwide boycott of FOX.
Well, in Africa, the cartoon Homer Simpson, Homer and his family will be black, instead of the Homer Simpson folks is used to seeing.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090821/od_nm/us_simpsons_odds
Bart Simpsons voiced by a chick, and the biggest star of "Family Guy" Brian the Dog, isn't voiced by a real Dog, and Stewie the Baby is voiced by that adult homo, Kelsey Grammer...
Of course I know expectin a Negro to know details of "Family Guy" is like expectin me to know the difference between Emmet Till and Emmet Smith...
Still no comment on the White Harlem Store owner throwin down on the Bruthas with an unregistered Assault Shotgun??? I guess there really IS a Mafia..
Frank
Frank
Yawn I really tried to read that article and that post and I'm having a hard time being outraged lol. Seriously if your a fan of 'Family Guy' then the only outrage is how did Cleveland go from Loretta to his new family. Maybe they'll explain that in the 1st episode who knows.
Oh by the way remember BET and TV1? I wonder what original programming they have lined up. Why do we as black people always need approval from the mainstream, whether it be sports, music, education whatever. So what the mainstream networks won't put on shows based around black characters, we have 2 networks that will accommodate us? And also other than 'Ugly Betty' can you name a show on network TV based around Hispanic characters? I can't off the top off my head but they have at least 3 networks that cater to their viewing habits. And guess what? Spanish people watch and the advertisers make up Spanish language commericals and keep on stepping.
Instead of complaining about what you think how networks are slighting you why not ask why BET and TV1 don't have more orignal programming. I'm sure if more people would watch then better quality of shows would be on those networks and the advertisers will be there. But please save your outrage when something really bad happens.
Cribs on MTV. "There's my cars, now I'll show you my playroom."
Oh one more thing anyone remember 'Samurai Jack' on the Cartoon Network? That cartoon won 4 emmy awards over its 4 seasons and the main character was Japanese samurai voiced by Phil LaMarr, a black actor that was on the original cast of 'Mad TV'. I wonder where the outrage from the asian community was during the time that this cartoon was on the air lmao...
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samurai_Jack?wasRedirected=true
Instead of waiting for the next perceived slight from corporate America, let us start doing to the hard word of building up our community and hold people accountable so we can stand on own feet and don't have to take scraps from whatever corporate America tries to throw at us.
He's writing about how racism is changing - no need to express your hatred to retain your White privilege these days.
I'm looking forward to reading responses about realistic/acceptable representations of Black folks. My guess is that, in the US, such representations would be 'bad for business' - as in advertisers would say "who is going to watch this?" and questions whether their product would benefit from being associated with such a show...
Field, a friend of mine, Preston Allen, who has written a great book about gambling addiction--which does not respect race, creed, gender, etc--once received a rejection note from an editor:
"One rejection letter said something like (again, I paraphrase) “Why is the protagonist black? He doesn’t do anything black, so you might as well make him regular.”
Actors are paid to create characters--they do this with their voice, body, etc. so the argument shouldn't about the instrument, it's whether the instrument continues negative stereotypes that justify prejudice.
Frank Drackman said...
...Stewie the Baby is voiced by that adult homo, Kelsey Grammer...
____________________
No dumb ass, he is voiced by Seth McFarlane the part White/Asian producer/animator/writer of the show.
Kelsey Grammer is not gay, he's homophobic even though he works around a lot of gays. He is also conservative.Contrary to the stereotype, he is not smart. He was the first person George Bush told about invading Iraq while on a fishing trip.The asshole could have saved a lot of lives, about 4,200 to be exact.
Larry Wilmore is hilarious. He wrote some of the funniest episodes of The Bernie Mac Show.
Anyway this show has some folks pissed off because there were no black writers. NONE.
Now that might have changed.
The latest WGA (writer guild of america) stats shows minorities (that is EVERYONE who is not white not just black people) make up barely 6 percent of feature film and TV writers.
Think about that number and you can see why black writers might be pissed off that one of the few shows on TV with a black cast didn't have a single black writer.
nyc/caribbean, I agree. It's more important to get black writers work than the actors in some shows.
Geoffrey, that's an intresting story about your friend. That happens all the time.
"I'm looking forward to reading responses about realistic/acceptable representations of Black folks. My guess is that, in the US, such representations would be 'bad for business' - as in advertisers would say "who is going to watch this?" and questions whether their product would benefit from being associated with such a show..."
Outside Edge, that fits right in to what Geoffrey said in the comments right after yours.
Noble Giant,BET is not owned by black people, it was sold awhile back to Viacom. So why would they produce programming that shows black folks in a good light? Telemundo, is owned by Latinos (Someone please correct me if I am wrong) and I don't really watch it -other than an occasional soccer game- so I couldn't tell you about the type of programmming they have. But you are right, black folks do need to take more control over their own destiny and stop depending so much on others to represent who we are.
So where do we start?
So Field, if I shoot 4 black guys on my property with an unregistered shotgun will you ignore me to??? Almost makes me want to move to Harlem...
Frank
Field: Does the article mention why the show was delayed -- or did that have to do with the "re-configuring" behind the scenes? The show was scheduled to premiere this past season. Entertainment Weekly did an article last year, pointing out it would be the only new show starring a minority character, so the fact that he was actually voiced by a white man was even more ironic --
Diversity in Entertainment: Why Is TV So White?
By Jennifer Armstrong, Margeaux Watson
Posted Jun 12, 2008 | Published in issue #998 Jun 20, 2008
http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20206185,00.html
Cleveland Brown -- a cartoon voiced by a white guy -- is the only minority character to anchor a new series in 2008-09. What gives? As the broadcast networks prepare a predominantly white fall schedule, we examine where all the color has gone
[quote]Be forewarned , it's a Rupert Murdoch production, so you might want to skip it[/quote]
Hey Filled Negro:
Are you going to be consistent and suggest that Black folks:
1) Don't watch nor participate in "American Idol"? Or would the thought of having only WHITE "American Idols" streaming from this Fox Broadcasting show disturb you?
1a) Ditto with the "Can You Dance?"
show
2) Close down their MySpace page? Filled-Negro there are some pretty "Too Black Too Strong" MySpace pages out there. They don't seem to mind that MySpace is indeed owned by News Corp - the enemy of the Black Quasi-Socialist Progressive-Fundamentalist Racism Chaser
3) What about when Fox Sports broadcasts the National Football League games? Every Black eyeball watching this Fox broadcast is more money into my man Rupert's pockets.
4) The show "24" is pretty popular with Black folks as well.
5) Say it ain't so. Look what I just learned about Filled Negro: The Wanda Sykes Show ON FOX!!! I am sure you will boycott this one.
6) Don't forget about the movies produced by 20th Century Fox.
It seems that the matrix of the "Dark Seth" is all around you Filled Negro. There is just no where to hide from it.
After I refused to participate in the Color of Change - Glen Beck protest a woman replyed telling me that "White People caused us to HATE ourselves and thus we see all of the Black on Black killing" today.
I need to monitor these News Corp properties because THEY must be the key source of our conditioned hatred. :-/
When I figure it out Filled Negro I will document the solution for you. Then you can apply it to the deadly streets of Philly to stop the madness.
[quote]I personally think that this is racism. Just a different form, as in hipster racism. The hipsters, who of course love Black people and grew up on hip hop, are going to coop Black roles.[/quote]
Monie:
It would be grand if one day you were to write out YOUR definition of "racism". It appears to me that whatever theory you are working off of it sure ensnares a whole lot of people, labeling them as 'racist'.
I am more happy that the White rappers who "grew up on Hip Hop" and heard all of the words that Black folks call themselves still know that there are some words that THEY can't say as a White person. This despite the fact that they can download these words as said by a Black man and then lipsync the lyrics in a confined space such as a car.
Sorry - I mean a car that has the windows rolled up so no Black person can hear them say the words that are on the recording.
[quote]Until, people acknowledge the power of tv and film to shape their opinions this going to continue to be a problem.[/quote]
Anon - Does MUSIC have any magical powers as well?
With all of the references to Black folks getting shot by 9's, gats, techs and AK47 - is there a bit of "Life Imitating Art" at play?
KID - When you say that the Glen Beck protest is WORKING - how does this translate into what I saw on the news this morning? A Black man was shot in the back last nigth on the east side of town. If you seek to stop Beck from fomenting hatred and violence it seems that you need to figure out what HIP HOP music he listens to and get this canceled.
I am trying to measure the depths of your "Patheticism". Unfortunately my measurement equipment can't stand the pressure from going down that deep under the sea.
Who voiced Bugs Bunny? Donald Duck? Shreck? I guess we should have found a talking rabbit or a mallard or a (dare I say...) troll?
Googled the show, the Cleveland Family and discovered that Sanaa Lathan is doing the voice of the wife. I have not seen Family Guy, but what I understand from my brother is a funny show. I put more weigh on my brother's opinion because he actually watches the show.
Larry Wilmore does have a valid point about the state of black sitcoms. Here is a reality check, reality shows are taking over due to its lower budget. Look at Real Housewives of Atlanta which is the black version from the Real Housewives chain on Bravo, and you know what people watch these shows. TV is suffering with less viewers and advertising. Partly the reason is that viewers TV habits have changed because of technology.
Entertainment is a business and the goal is to make profit. That does not mean it is good quality entertainment, but profitability is the priority. We may criticize Tyler Perry for making his movies which I do not think they are good movies, but how many of you would see a movie adaptation of Joe Turner Come and Gone or Top Dog Under Dog. I have to say not many people because they are comedies or action film. They are not going to make any money and this is something Perry knows. Consumers drives demand and the best advice I can giive is to support smaller features and quality shows.
Hey Field thanks for replying to my post and so where do we start? I guess you have lead by example and volunteer in the community (I helped out with National HIV Testing day last month and let me tell you AIDS is killing us especially our black women. Insist on protecting yourself and/or asking about your partner's past. It could save your life) as you do. We have to drop the notion of the government coming in and protecting us and start educate ourselves on how money works, start eating right and make the time to take better care of ourselves (me especially lol), and mainly just start holding ourselves and our children more accountable for their actions. Sometimes it seems like a lot to take in but every journey begins with one step so if we start with a little positive change and build on there's no telling what we can achieve. After all we did survive slavery in this country to have a black president so nothing is impossible.
Now I do realize that once we start on this path of being self sufficent, there will be outside sources saying stupid stuff like its reverse racism and such and even worst their jealously might lead to something like the Tulsa, OK riots of 1921 and Rosewood massacre of 1923 come to mind but we have to keep striving cause even with a Black Man being POTUS, it doesn't seem like were ever going to fair shake so why bother. We'll always be Americans but why not reclaim our Auburn Avenues and Harlems (might be too late with Harlem but its worth a shot) into totally self suffience neighborhoods that support us. We did before we can do it again, one small positive step at a time.
PS Field why do people go out of their way to spell your name wrong? To me that just alerts to me that they're about to unlease some unintelligible rant so why bother reading their post? I wonder if they realize that?
Thank God Constructive Feedback doesn't write for Fox or that upcoming show.
But anyway. Sounds like a great article and an awesome use of comedic satire at the same time.
Personally, I was pissed that Robert Downey Jr. received an Oscar nod for that role. To me, though it may have been a funny portrayal, I think it made "certain people" a bit too comfortable. To me it was like a bad joke. You know, kinda like what had Dave Chappelle running to Africa?
Monie:
"This way instead having to find Black actors willing to demean themselves they can do it for us. Aren't hipsters great!
Oh and if you give people an inch they will take a mile. So while many Black people defended the Tropic Thunder thing now we have a trend. And don't forget Angelina Jolie playing Mariane Pearl in “A Mighty Heart”."
totally agree with you, thanks for point that out.
@LaIncognita:
"Aren't there black kids in these nice schools, Hotels and neighborhoods? Are these segregated schools? My daughter is twelve and she watches these segregated shows, and I'm conflicted here. And the minute black people start preaching about having more networks/shows for black tweens to relate, you know how 'people' are going to process this.."
Disney is horrible, I can't stand Zack & Cody, they use stereotyping as the basis for jokes almost all the time.
Raven got a bit part in "Princess Diaries II" even though she is far more known than the other teen actresses that got the leading roles.
Noble Grant:
I was "feeling ya", even willing to allow some points of disagreements with what you said because these minor points should not have derailed your major points. THEN you derailed yourself.
Let me get this out of the way first though. My friend "Filled Negro" is my pal. He assaults me not by the names he calls me but instead via the dishonest disposition that he takes in regards to what is ailing our community. Let me come back to this though.
[quote]Insist on protecting yourself and/or asking about your partner's past. It could save your life) as you do.[/quote]
This was a point that I needed to give you the benefit of the doubt with. It would have been nice had you said something about having our CULTURE reactivated to drive Black men and Black women who are "mixing body fluids" with each other to matriculate toward marriage and more permanent, monogamous relationships. The females would benefit from the stability and security. The brothers would benefit because they would have a more clear focal point to base their productive actions upon.
The default disposition heard in our community is to have ME PROVE THIS before it is accepted. From where we stand RIGHT NOW - it seems to me that the burden should be placed upon the disassemblers of culture to PROVE that their pathway is sound.
[quote] We have to drop the notion of the government coming in and protecting us and start educate ourselves on how money works[/quote]
Wow. Wow. Powerful! I agree.
But then, Noble Grant the first thing that comes to my mind is to PUT YOUR THEORY TO A TEST.
If we are going to "Educate ourselves about MONEY" then I would ask the masses How can we learn about money when it is so popular for people to believe that an increasing amount of their Standard Of Living should be afforded to them by society via government. At what point do we ask that the COMMUNITIES that we now control be the primary organization by which our people execute upon a system that generates the finances and which leverages the human resources necessary to express the Standard of Living that we seek?
[quote], start eating right and make the time to take better care of ourselves (me especially lol), and mainly just start holding ourselves and our children more accountable for their actions.[/quote]
1000% Support on this one.
[quote] Sometimes it seems like a lot to take in but every journey begins with one step so if we start with a little positive change and build on there's no telling what we can achieve. [/quote]
A journey must also have:
1) A goal in mind
2) Tools for navigation
3) Supplies for the feeding and shelter of those who travel
and most importantly
4) The need to LEAVE BEHIND some baggage that works to weigh you down and possibly cause you to fail.
I would rather have 200lbs of WATER rather than 200lbs of gold bars if I had to walk across the Sahara Desert. At the mid-point of the journey with gold - your need for survival would cause you to discard the gold in the sand as you relieve yourself of this burden and try to find food and water.
Some of us like our baggage too much.
[quote]
After all we did survive slavery in this country to have a black president so nothing is impossible.[/quote]
I honestly don't get this one.
A people who endured through slavery indeed shows their strength.
A Black president of this nation shows that THE NATION has changed.
In my view, however, the evidence that OUR PEOPLE have indeed changed would be represented at the periphery.
* Are our Streets Safe?
* Are our Schools Preparing Our Children To Lead Us Upon Their Ascension To Adulthood? Are we able to get our heath care from our investment in them after having directed OUR financial resources toward them instead of some other purchase that would have given us more immediate pleasure?
* Are the institutions within that allow our people to trade with each other producing wealth and jobs?
* Is the culture that we propagate upon our people producing healthy lifestyle choices?
Is OBAMA the proof that our people have advanced or should we look at the masses to determine if this is so?
[quote]Now I do realize that once we start on this path of being self sufficent, there will be outside sources saying stupid stuff like its reverse racism and such and even worst their jealously might lead to something like the Tulsa, OK riots of 1921 and Rosewood massacre of 1923 come to mind but[/quote]
Mr Noble:
In 1906 there was a race riot in Atlanta in which White folks did as you say. In 2009 - we have a problem with Pirate Gangs "robbing" small business out of business. I struggle to understand what are you fearing that MIGHT HAPPEN from White folks that is not already happening from the Pirates? About 2 months ago the SCLC held a march against PIRACY on the streets here NOT about White folks lynching us.
[quote]we have to keep striving cause even with a Black Man being POTUS, it doesn't seem like were ever going to fair shake so why bother.[/quote]
I believe that the biggest challenge in that regard will not be the claims of "Reverse Racism" but instead those of us who asked White folks to integrate and now are not willing to become fully dependent upon building up their own.
In my view instead of "race" you need to focus upon preference for COMMUNITIES. In as much as these communities might be majority Black so would be the people receiving the benefit.
In truth Mr Noble I struggle to understand why more of our people are not leaning upon the political machine that we put into power to actually deliver upon the benefits that they had promised to us locally.
[quote]PS Field why do people go out of their way to spell your name wrong? To me that just alerts to me that they're about to unlease some unintelligible rant so why bother reading their post? I wonder if they realize that?[/quote]
Actually I find far more uselessness among those who spell the man's name correctly.
[quote]Thank God Constructive Feedback doesn't write for Fox or that upcoming show.[/quote]
Now Rippa - I thought that we had come to an understanding with each other? A tentative peace, if you will.
I am watching Tropic Thunder now and see the irony. The idea of making a spoof about spoiled over the top movie stars is funny. The idea of someone going to so far to perform surgery alter his look for a role is s true. I mean going so far as to change your look for a role is over the top, but isn't what some actors do to get the role. It is method acting to an extreme. Besides would have been a problem. I see the Russell Crowe, Slyvester Sallone, Robert DeNiro, and John Belushi, and of course the famous director who thinks he is God in the movie. They are spoiled and clueless. The Robert Downey, Jr. Role is supposed to be a white guy playing a black guy. It is how Ben Stiller wrote the screenplay.
LaIncognita,
You ever notice how white people are continually surprised by the experience of Black people. It is because they never see any Black people on TV in ordinary situations. A school where it may be 20% Black or more, with Blacks cheer leading, in student government, living in an ordinary home with two parents and having the same angst and self absorption as ordinary teens have. Since the portrayal of us is mostly over the top or only applicable to a few; that is why we get comments from some white people on this blog who have to use statistics to define Black people. And where do they look, they go poverty and crime statics or to stories which reinforce their beliefs.
Grinder,
I am still looking for those under weight white women.
Well, I like anything that Denzel Washington plays in. Y'all knows how I feel about Denzel.
Let me be more specific. I'm talking about TV shows, not movies that play on television. There are no portrayals of black people on TV that are acceptable? The silence that greeted my question is deafening.
@CF -- Ain't nothing magical about it. Popular culture matters. It has influence and yes, music is included.
@Hathor -- Under weight white women? What'd I miss?
As for white people pulling from stats because they don't see the scope of what it means to black in America, I think there's some truth to that, especially for white Americans whose only exposure to black people is through film, tv, music, and sports. White Americans who have real life exposure aren't so quick to assume things. That said, the people who focus too much on crime stats have a racist agenda. There's little innocent ignorance when someone, anyone, focuses on the criminality of a people as a means to define that people. A person interested in defining a group they're personally unfamiliar with will seek out a much fuller picture. Poverty and crime stats are part of it but so too are cultural productions, literature, essays, and all sorts of other sources that are readily available nowadays.
--j
--j,
Underweight white women. off topic to this post. Round about reference to someone who often quotes stats to say Black women are fatter that anyone.
Hathor,
Great point about using stats to define people.
Popular culture, movies, books, music especially have a profound effect on the growing minds of children, and I don't think there is much of a way to fight that other than to talk with children and challenge them on what they are absorbing, and to try and teach children as much as possible to use their critical thinking skills to tease apart the underlying messages of what is said, and of what is not said.
@CF: We've never had a problem. I actually read your blog semi-regularly. I also applaud what you try to accomplish with your blog. However, there are some truths that I often see you overlook when commenting on posts of others. I understand there's more than one way to skin a cat. But I've yet to see you objective on this site. I'm guessing it's personal between you and Field. I mean seriously? What are your thoughts on the idea of Whites portraying Blacks as the post alludes to? I'd be interested in hearing your honest opinion without it being a liberal conspiracy or something of the sort.
I'm just asking because honestly, that other back and forth shit gets old on this page especially when there's no new ground being broken.
"Let me be more specific. I'm talking about TV shows, not movies that play on television. There are no portrayals of black people on TV that are acceptable? The silence that greeted my question is deafening."
grinder, I amswered you at 11:54PM.
Noble Giant,thanks for your outline. I actually co-sign with much of what you said.
Rippa, there is nothing personal between me and the unconstructive one. Honestly, I hardly ever notice when he is there. I see that avatar and I just kind of move on. At some point if you keep making the same record and it doesn't sell, you should realize that you need a new producer. :)
[quote]But I've yet to see you objective on this site. I'm guessing it's personal between you and Field. I mean seriously? What are your thoughts on the idea of Whites portraying Blacks as the post alludes to?[/quote]
I actually like Filled Negro.
It is my opinion that his blog provides one of the most honest platforms for the expression of Black Progressive thought. I honestly mean this. Of course I don't agree with the prioritization, focus and the list of "Evil Doers" that my friend F.N. promotes but this does not mean that I hate the guy. He is pretty funny actually.
I simply can't understand how some of you look past the INCUMBENCY of your favored party and ideology over the places were Black folks live in our highest concentrations and yet you spend most of your time 'Republican Chasing'. There needs to be more MANAGEMENT and less attempt at "unity" IF "unity" means that you can't tell the truth because it might mean that those in power over you might suffer some loss in POPULARITY. This is not about POPULARITY it is about EFFECTIVENESS. Why is it so outrageous to actually expect the people that you put in power to deliver upon their promises? Or, perish the thought, after years of you supporting a particular METHODOLOGY that has not worked - you begin to consider alternatives because you are more committed to your Permanent Interests.
Regarding White people playing Black folks - my answer is: It all based on CONTEXT.
If the direct goal is to impugn Black people I would be strongly against it. We have enough Black people doing this. We don't need any more assistance.
Regarding the Cleveland Show - it is a comedy. This was the voice that the character had for years while on the original show. I don't have a problem with this one. I can't see how it is considered RACIST.
My definition of racist is "one who believes that their race is superior to another strictly based on genetics".
When it comes to the stupid frat parties in which White folks darken their skin and have a "Hip Hop Pimp Night" - yes this is over the line and it impugns Black folks.
The little White kid last year on YouTube with an Obama mask doing the dance - NOT OFFENSIVE. He was showing adoration for Obama. There are presidential rubber masks for all presidents going back to Washington.
Clearly all of this must be done on a "case by case" basis with the consistent request that the man not be impugned RACIALLY.
The joker mask? Nope. Not racist. This comes with the territory as president.
Clearly some Black folks who support Obama see that if they can protect him from POLITICAL criticism by claiming that the critic is doing it because of RACISM - this is worthy for them to throw this card in support of their agenda.
I truly believe that IF some of you don't speak out against those who cry racism on everything - at the end of these 4 years even a significant portion of White liberals are going to tire of it and some loss of sensitivity is going to build up as a result.
For all the Tyler Perry fans here and elsewhere,
Why not petition Mr. Perry who has his own studio and is probabaly the most powerful black figure in Hollywood presently, now that he has amassed millions of dollars selling black buffoonery, to offer studio and production time to serious and creative black writers who will portray positive and heroic black figures in their work?
I'd love to hear why he wouldn't.
[quote]I see that avatar and I just kind of move on. At some point if you keep making the same record and it doesn't sell, you should realize that you need a new producer. :)[/quote]
Wow Filled Negro!
Just imagine if you took that same notion about "Not SELLING" - which is actually a function of POPULARITY in that you are looking at how many people are making the PURCHASE and turned it a different way?
Clearly in your city your ideology rules. Thus you have achieved a state of POPULARITY but your macro level problems persist.
Instead of you looking at how my ideas have not "SOLD" you need to look at how there is a strong correlation between Your Views and the Problems that you purport to be addressing. They seem to be near a solution IF the people stay unified through the next election and vote to increase the POWER of the machine that is ALREADY over where you live.
I hope you saw the article about Yeadon PA. Sadly this situation will go unpunished. The town will simply find a few new Democrats to break the deadlock but the voters will not take out any retribution on the ONE PARTY and the fact that the city business has shut down due to FOOLISHNESS.
YOU need to stop looking at "what does not sell" and instead MANAGE that which people are purchasing at the wholesale rates.
Twenty years later I'm still peeved about the 80's TV show "Head of the Class"
A sitcom about academically gifted kids in an inner city public school.
About ten regular cast members and not one black male.
White girls, white boys, asian kid, hispanic kid and one lightskinned black girl (Robin Givens).
Even in a fantasized TV show, the writers and producers couldn't even conceive a smart black boy.
We all know if this was a show about athletes or juvenile delinquents there would have been black males galore....muggin' and signifyin'.
Shameful.
grinder, I amswered you at 11:54PM.
Not much of an answer: "We know it when we see it." See what? I still haven't had any examples of a TV show anyone here likes. Yeah, I realize that TV is corny slop, but nothing?
Constructive Feedback,
LAWD, this is going on 2 years of this shit.
"Instead of you looking at how my ideas have not "SOLD" you need to look at how there is a strong correlation between Your Views and the Problems that you purport to be addressing."
Please outline your "ideas" in detail and explain how they would change the lives of the black community and rectify the problems therein as you see them.
"Please outline your "ideas" in detail and explain how they would change the lives of the black community and rectify the problems therein as you see them."
uptown steve, if you get an answer to that one, Barack Obama should give you the CMOH himself.:)
"Not much of an answer: "We know it when we see it." See what? I still haven't had any examples of a TV show anyone here likes. Yeah, I realize that TV is corny slop, but nothing?"
Okay, you are pushing me; let me see now....Sponge Bob Square Pants?
Dammit, man, just come by the blog Sat-Sun, and youll see, k?
L
@Hathor -- Thanks for clarifying. I completely missed it but know what you're talking about now. I was being dense.
--j
Gee Hathor, I wonder who is prone to that on this blog.. :)
Kathy, yes, I have seen that too. Check the Asian female charector (materialistic, brainless with a rich white "daddy") Mr. Moseby (the black male subservient uptight "caretaker") and don't forget his niece (the mean, attitude, conniving black female character). I hate these shows.
Yeah Field, I think Grinder likes Sponge Bob too. :)
Oh, and you gotta love the kiddie movies too.
Over the Hedge - Wanda Sykes the skunk
Shrek - Eddie the jabbering Jackass.
Happy Feet - Fat 'gospel' singing penguins, and short scheming penguins with Mexican accents.
Madagascar - Jada P Smith the fat hippo, and Chris the jigging zebra. And the list goes on.... I have a few more, but I can't think of them at the moment.
Lola,see what you did? I went over to your place, so that damn cat, and I won't be able to sleep tonight. I am scared of cats.....well, the four legged ones. :)
Grinder, I am not trying to be flip. But my first answer was the best one. We are not a monolithic people. Believe it or not, we all have different tastes and enjoy different things. Every one here who happens to be black might have a different program or TV show that they like that's different to the other persons. However,we usually all agree when we find something offensive, and that's where the we know it when we see it part comes in.
Hope that helps.
La~Incognita, be nice.
Francis L. Holland said...“A lot of people think that holding Black people together as a political group and maintaining our culture requires the belief in our oneness as part of a "Black race." They don't seem to get it that our voluntary oneness as a "Black People" is far more powerful than an imagined oneness that we incorrectly believed came from genetic difference from white people. The Human Genome Project has recently proved conclusively, based on the analysis of DNA of people with brown skin and people with white skin, that the genetic differences that we once thought defined "race" simply to not exist as a matter of biology. "Race", as a matter of biology, is entirely a result of white supremacist propaganda and now has become a figment of our collective imagination."
Noble Giant, please start with an non racist base. African Americans, i.e. descendants of slaves in the U.S.A. have some of the same issues as East Indians, Kenyan-Americans and Jamaican-Americans, but have traveled different paths, perhaps. I do not know how color based groups would work, when they should be ethnic? like the Sons of Norway, the Scottish American clans, the French clubs etc. so there might not be some one "saying stupid stuff like its reverse racism."
Field said..."However,we usually all agree when we find something offensive, and that's where the we know it when we see it part comes in."
What just slays me is how ordinary white folk (includes me) just don't see it and don't get without really, really having someone put Tab A into Slot B. I never made those associations of the penguins in "Happy Feet" et cetera and the others. Those things are nothings in the scheme of things regarding people of color in this country and world wide.
cosign with Race Traitoress about Larry Wilmore. Thank you for the link, I will have to put that show on the watch list.
But what I do not understand is that people do not see that the whole world is "darker" and not just that the U.S.A getting there. Us Americans can be real hicks, but we are definitely ostriches with our heads in the sand about the "color" of the world.
Who is covering this story on GET or TV1?
I don't give a damn about Nancy Grace, where's OUR media civerage?
All this whining about who the "white" media covers needs to stop and start yelling about who our media covers.
Field, what is it with Negros and Cats????
My Haitian housekeeper won't go anywhere near our "Mr Whiskers", OK, he is BLACK, and has crazy eyes...
And that litter box is scarier than Whoopie Goldberg...
C'mon its the 21st century Man! we don't believe in Voo Doo or Hexes, or cats sucking the life breath from babies lungs...
and howcome they have a vacine for CAT leukemia but not PEOPLE Leukemia??? Riddle me that...
Frank
LOL, who lives in a pineapple under the sea!!!
and Hathor, took me a while too, lololol.
uptwonsteve:
You're right. I want to see what Tyler Perry does with that big ass studio. There are black sci-fi writers, historical writers, non fiction writers. They all don't have to be comedy shows. Hell, I'd even embrace a show with young black males logically solving mysteries (not murders). Like Hardy Boys or something. Or even a science show (like that guy who was a mailman, but he liked science and got his own show--I forgot his name).
Constructive Feedback,
"I truly believe that IF some of you don't speak out against those who cry racism on everything - at the end of these 4 years even a significant portion of White liberals are going to tire of it and some loss of sensitivity is going to build up as a result."
You really don't get it, do you?
Now that there is a black man in the White House, it's the white righties who are yelling "RACISM" at every turn and trying to rile up their base by suggesting that black people are trying to engage in some form of "payback" against white supremacy.
Do you live under a rock?
They've called Obama a racist.
Michele Obama has been smeared as a racist.
Sonia Sotomayor is a racist according to the fools.
Henry Louis Gates who was arrested for entering his own home becomes the bad guy and the white cop who clearly overstepped his authority and position becomes the media victim.
Wake the hell up, will you?
I co-sign with Noble Giant.
Whoever asked for titles of shows/movies that negroes approve of, the answer is none.
People bitch about Tyler Perry but Martin "the coon" Lawrence gets a pass. Go figure.
So if white people playing black people is wrong (at best, racist at worst), the reverse must be equally wrong. Throw all those black actors out of work for playing parts that were written for white people. You heard it here here first, folks. Negroes are against color blind casting. Black actors should only take roles that depict real black people. Whatever the hell that is. And god save us from the clowns who will be the "deciders."
"Negroes are against color blind casting."
This statement is beyond stupid.
What people are complaining about is white people portraying black stereotypes.
WCS would probably welcome a return of minstrel shows.
[quote]Even in a fantasized TV show, the writers and producers couldn't even conceive a smart black boy.[/quote]
WhiteBowieSteve:
I believe that you are an intellectually dishonest individual.
I have asked CBW to schedule a BlogSpotRadio session - just you and I. Focused on issues WITHIN THE BLACK COMMUNITY and thus diminishing focus upon your favorite subject "External White Conservatives". I hope that you will accept.
I take it that you forgot about "The Smart Guy" show? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_Guy
I bet that Steve, in his intellectually dishonesty will discount the presence of Tahj Mowry because he, like his twin sisters Tia and Tamara is a product of an interracial relationship. A White father and a Black mother. The irony with Steve is that he would not dare discount Obama in the same way.
He said "Robin Givens is a LIGHT SKINNED Black Woman".
What about Holly Robinson in "21 Jumpstreet"? For some reason you are going to say that she is a victim of racism because Johnny Depp went on to become a mega-millionaire.
This show was a cop show on Fox - so I am sure that they arrested their fair share of Black criminals per the request of the network. Right Filled Negro?
"I have asked CBW to schedule a BlogSpotRadio session - just you and I. Focused on issues WITHIN THE BLACK COMMUNITY."
And what "issues" would you say are peculiar only to the black community?
"What about Holly Robinson in "21 Jumpstreet"? For some reason you are going to say that she is a victim of racism because Johnny Depp went on to become a mega-millionaire."
You don't find it strange that on a fictionalized TV show about gifted inner city public school students, that out of ten regular cast members the producers couldn't even concieve a black male?
Ren poses the question and then Stimpy emphasizes:
[quote]Please outline your "ideas" in detail and explain how they would change the lives of the black community and rectify the problems therein as you see them.[/quote]
Again you are a FRAUD.
At a time where EVERY SINGLE DISTRICT in which Black people have at least a 35% or greater voting base - YOUR FAVORED PEOPLE (ideologically and partisan wise) are in power over EVERY INSTITUTION that provides civic services to the Black community.......YOU NO LONGER HAVE THE RIGHT TO ASK SUCH A QUESTION OF ME.
A Black man with more intellectual honesty would be looking at this landscape and ASKING THE QUESTION OF HIMSELF and that which he has helped to construct.
This assumes that he has the best interests of his people rather than his party/ideology in mind.
You incessantly ask the question.
I continuously throw out a FRAMEWORK for both of us to submit to:
The PERMANENT INTERESTS OF BLACK PEOPLE
1) Safe Streets to allow us congregate and build a strong community
2) Quality Education which will prepare our young people to man the PROFESSIONAL SERVICE positions (ie: health care) so that our people can more organically provide for ourselves
3) Thriving Local Economy to allow us to trade with each other and provide employment in service to these enterprises
4) Healthy Lifestyles to allow our people to live long, disease-free, painfree lives as possible
(ask Filled Negro to document his views. Let see how quickly the "Democratic Party" becomes the centerpiece).
NOT ONE of these items are partisan or ideological.
The IDEOLOGY comes in when one chooses a METHODOLOGY that purports to take us to these end goals.
The PARTISAN question comes into play when one seeks out a VEHICLE which will transport the "fellow travelers/ ideologues" to the end goals.
The problem comes, however, when a group of people get stuck in the "KEEP TRYING HARDER" vortex (See Southwest Philly, Newark, Southside Chicago, all of Detroit).
Even when the natural landscape raises questions about their actual coordinates - the EMBEDDED operatives will instead get people to focus on the fact THAT THEY ARE MOVING......not WHERE THEY ARE GOING.
WhiteBowieSteve - the fact that you would even have to ask if "MY plan would be any better" makes me wonder IF YOU BELIEVE THAT YOUR PLAN IS WORKING IN THE FIRST PLACE.
Truth be told YOU will be one of the "Last Kneegrows Hanging on" if and when our community was to have a TRANSPARENT uprising in which it decided to separate its own goals as a people from the American Political system.
You, for one, would miss all of those election night "Democratic victory parties" that line the Black community.
It is a well known fact that those who have the most to lose are the least likely to detach. This describes you most accurately.
[quote]And what "issues" would you say are peculiar only to the black community? [/quote]
WhiteBowieSteve:
I have learned that YOU don't want to HEAR what I have to say.
Thus I will allow "real" Black people to speak. Watch the video.
http://withintheblackcommunity.blogspot.com/2009/08/cnn-chicago-deadly-streets-violation-of.html
"At a time where EVERY SINGLE DISTRICT in which Black people have at least a 35% or greater voting base - YOUR FAVORED PEOPLE (ideologically and partisan wise) are in power over EVERY INSTITUTION that provides civic services to the Black community.......YOU NO LONGER HAVE THE RIGHT TO ASK SUCH A QUESTION OF ME."
Are you stating that every one of these districts is a ghetto????
Most of them?
I asked the question of you because of your incessant rants about failure and pathology among the black community at large.
Do you even acknowledge the existence of the black middle class majority?
No, you're the sick Uncle Tom fool who claims that in order to have safe streets and healthy lifestyles you have to move to a white conservative district.
You're pathetic.
Talk about intellectual dishonesty.
I ask.......
"And what "issues" would you say are peculiar only to the black community?"
He comes back with "The Permanent interests of Black People."
I submit that "interests" are the same across racial lines.
Are you suggesting that these interests have been totally achieved by other races and blacks are the only ones who haven't because they vote Democratic?
Grinder, I am not trying to be flip. But my first answer was the best one. We are not a monolithic people. Believe it or not, we all have different tastes and enjoy different things. Every one here who happens to be black might have a different program or TV show that they like that's different to the other persons. However,we usually all agree when we find something offensive, and that's where the we know it when we see it part comes in.
Actually, you have been trying to be flip, but that's okay, it happens to all of us. I know you're not monolithic. Except, it would seem, when it comes to a universal disdain for black chararcters on TV. Maybe I missed a comment or two here, but all I saw here was bitching.
I am not going to name any black characters I like because you know that would be the utter kiss of death. A white viewer could only like a black character who reinforces the white dominated power structure, blah blah blah, so I've been lying down here in the weeds looking for anyone that anyone here actually likes.
Looks like I'll be in the weeds for quite a while.
grinder, I am being dead serious when I tell you that I like Sponge Bob. And that is NOT being flip.
The problem with white people playing Black people is simple: Black people have intermittently found work in television and films by playing . . . Black people.
White people always play white people. If they also play Black people, there won't be any opportunity left for Blacks in Hollywood, and Lord knows whites would be more willing to put Black faces on television if they knew that the actors were really white underneath.
It's a problem of Blacks' access to jobs in Hollywood.
Now, I admit that Blacks have recently played rolls that did not necessarily call fora Black actor, like Will Smith in Independence Day. Traditionally the role that Will Smith played would have been played by a white man, to perpetuate "The Superhuman White Male Myth". If Hollywood ignored the color of actors instead of writing scipts with the description, 'Angry White Male Strikes back at Latinos and Blacks, then Blacks might have more opportunities in Hollywood.
I don't have faith that that will happen. I think whites will don blackface even to play Black extras - the Black people who stand in the background at white parties and offices - while Blacks will not be painted white to play white people.
Since our unemployment levels are typically 50% to 100% above that of whites, I don't see why whites need this boost.
I wasn't aware that Sponge Bob was a black character.
Now, I admit that Blacks have recently played rolls that did not necessarily call fora Black actor, like Will Smith in Independence Day. Traditionally the role that Will Smith played would have been played by a white man, to perpetuate "The Superhuman White Male Myth". If Hollywood ignored the color of actors instead of writing scipts with the description, 'Angry White Male Strikes back at Latinos and Blacks, then Blacks might have more opportunities in Hollywood.
I don't have faith that that will happen.
Excuse me, but you just mentioned a black actor who routinely plays colorblind roles. Will Smith. Another one is Denzel Washington. And James Earl Jones.
I just saw Tropic Thunder a few nights ago for the first time. The whole move was off the wall satire, didn't bother me. Tom Cruise as a Hollywood producer attempting to affect the black gansta rapper stereotype and Downey's black face said more about the white male feeling a loss of identity and potential irrelevance in popular culture than anything about black people.
White guys are always riding down my street blasting gangsta rap out of their cars. Can't tell you the last time I saw a black man drive down my street playing it.
Had to add one more point, I told my son if black rappers mysteriously disappeared from the planet for a few days, by the end of the week white guys would be saying they invented rap, jazz, rock, and blues.
Thank goodness. I thought this was going to be one of those articles that compares something to blackface, then calls that something "the new blackface."
But, this seriously is a form of blackface. It has been since Family Guy first appeared in 1999. So what are you going to get upset now? Get real - and stay that way.
Did you just notice Cleveland Brown was voiced by a White guy?
Let this one play out, man. Let's see what happens on this new spin-off.
Let me remind you of Nate Griffin, and Rufus Griffin, both of which were Black versions of Peter. Let me remind you of the entire episode where everyone was Black except for Cleveland, who was a White slavemaster. There are numerous cases where Stewie speaks in a stereotypically Black manner. Have you missed all of this?
I tell you what - and I am serious here. I am going to compile a definitive list of blackface, racechange, and what I call OTB incidents in Family Guy, then post that to Bambizzoozled!com, and you can spend all of your time worrying about it. I'll include video stills.
The first joke in the series was "at least all we have around here is Jemima's witnesses" for shit's sake.
Okay, Grinder. I'll play. I loved the characaters Frank Pembleton (Andre Braugher) and Meldrick Lewis (Clarke Johnson) on Homicide Life on the Street.
I liked Blair Underwood's character on LA Law.
I love to hate Vanessa Williams' Wilhelmina on Ugly Betty.
I particularly liked a couple of the characters on the Wire: Detective Lester Freamon played by Clarke Peters and Detective William "Bunk" Moreland played by Wendell Pierce.
Idris Elba was great as Stringer Bell and Omar played by Michael Williams was really good. I didn't like these characters so much as appreciated that they were fleshed out characters and not cookie cutter stereotypes.
I enjoyed Janet Jackson's short run on "Fame."
The Cosby Show was good. It was funny and it had a variety of black characters on the show.
There might be a couple more I'm missing.
The thing about these characters were/are that they were in well written programs. Too much television featuring black characters is poorly written garbage. Most television programming is written by white people who don't have any idea who black people are. The fact is, most television isn't worth watching.
I think the operative phrase is "most television isn't worth watching." It's been quite a while since I liked anything on the networks. Yeah, they don't know black people. Well, guess what? They don't know white people either. They don't know people.
The only good stuff I see out there these days is on HBO. My new favorite is True Blood, the vampire show. The black people on that show are great. So was Wanda Sykes's character on Curb Your Enthusiasm. I'm not sure if that one's still in production, or whether they're all reruns.
I wasn't any fan of The Wire, about the mean streets of Baltimore. I never connected with it, and can't say why. About the only network show I can remember liking in the past 10 years is Law & Order, in spite of its unrealistic, idealistic, formulaic approach. I think the black characters there were great.
Actually, it took me quite a while to realize that "Ice-T" had been a hip hopper. It was incongruous to me, because I associate hip-hoppers with the second digit of the I.Q. range, and Ice-T's character on Law & Order was well into the three-digits.
humm, in an aminated setting anybody can read a script and still fail to gain the essence of the character they are so called playing or portraying. the central problem however is one of sterotyping and racial profiling for there is no universal black male or female characterization. we are as a people too diverse for that.. although hollywood seems to be narrowly confined in its portrayals template. in my mind, there is no difference in jj in good times, b cosby in huxtables and eddie murphy in raw. all three are set in varying backdrops of class strata but the central "cooning" is the same. Check who the writers were for all three and note any similarities.
while i might applaud black writers getting paid for scripting, i think it they [we] need to move from a need of being universally accepted for what we write to being more real with saying what we really think and not what we think others wish to hear or read.
But now imagine if Ms. C. Tyson's role in Sounder had been with a white person or Cecil's in Colour Purple would they have worked?
the central problem however is one of sterotyping and racial profiling for there is no universal black male or female characterization we are as a people too diverse for that.. although hollywood seems to be narrowly confined in its portrayals template.
yes. consider eddie murphy's 'The PJ's' to this black face 'Cleavland Show' consider the characters in that show. You have an asian married to a black, A woman from Haiti and Muriel a gracious, well spoken black woman very atypical from the typical project dwelling welfare queen. Are you paying attention yet Mr. McFarlane?
But blacks protested PJ's because it was thought to be demeaning and thought that it conveyed negative stereotypes about blacks (being in an impovershed surrounding with lines coming from the familiar voice of eddie as the 'Super' saying things like 'the hot water aint workin cause yo daddy ain't workin') *lol* sorry.
But eddie kept it real with some albeit somewhat subliminal political messages relevant to our culture in a merry kkka.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RHployd4GM
consider the message around the 3:45 mark. And the 'Seoul 2 Soul' realty and think back to the last time you bought the wrong color premium yaki and tried to get a refund for it at your local asian owned beauty supply. MESSAGE my brothers and sisters.
however I hardly think mr. McFarlane is re inventing the wheel with this cleavland crap but white amerrykkka is doing handstands for it obviously and as a black person..i'm perplexed to say the very least about this.
Its not like the damn show thats supposed to be a spin off of a show based primarily around a white middle class family going dark face is ANYTHING of the All in the Family to the Jeffersons transition.
fn:
saga continues...
the aunt has been released
http://www.insidebayarea.com/top-stories/ci_13238636
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