Blackface and whiteface coming to FX in March
CVK
(Thanks to Luke for this one!) I don’t know what Ice Cube has been smoking, but this show sounds like it’s gonna be AWFUL. From Yahoo! News:
A black family learns what it’s like to be white while a white family becomes black in the six-part documentary series “Black.White,” scheduled for broadcast on the FX cable network in March. Makeup temporarily transforms the two families for the series developed by filmmaker R.J. Cutler and actor-rapper Ice Cube…
For the run of the show, the Sparks family of Atlanta and the Wurgel family of Santa Monica share a home in the San Fernando Valley. But with makeup, Brian and Renee Sparks and their son, Nick, are transformed from black to white. Bruno and Carmen Wurgel and their daughter, Rose, become black…
“‘Black.White’ will force people to challenge themselves and really examine where we stand in terms of race in this country,” Ice Cube said.
Ice Pube wrote:
I think Ice Cube should challenge his own racism, first…
Black Korea - Death Certificate (1991) - by Ice Cube
Everytime I wanna go get a f**kin brew
I gotta go down to the store with the two
oriental one-penny countin motherf**kers
that make a nigga made enough to cause a little ruckus
Thinkin every brother in the world’s out to take
So they watch every damn move that I make
They hope I don’t pull out a gat and try to rob
they funky little store, but bitch, I got a job
(”Look you little Chinese motherf**ker
I ain’t tryin to steal none of yo’ shit, leave me alone!”
“Mother-f**k you!”)
Yo yo, check it out
So don’t follow me, up and down your market
Or your little chop suey ass’ll be a target
of the nationwide boycott
Juice with the people, that’s what the boy got
So pay respect to the black fist
or we’ll burn your store, right down to a crisp
And then we’ll see ya!
Cause you can’t turn the ghetto into black Korea.
Posted 09 Dec 2005 at 5:06 pm ¶
tony wrote:
That song was made in the context of 15 year old black girl Latisha Harlins being being shot dead by a korean store owner, over a $1.79 bottle of orange juice.
Posted 10 Dec 2005 at 5:01 am ¶
Ice Pube wrote:
Actually, when the 51-yo owner, Soon Ja Du accused Latasha of stealing some OJ after watching her place it in her backpack, Latasha responded by striking Mrs. Du repeatedly before walking out. Then, Mrs. Du shot her.
Overkill, yes, but isolated. And certainly nothing near the recent rash of vicious NYC Chinese deliveryboy slayings by Black teens. Or violent crimes everyday committed by Blacks against Asians, or others.
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/164923p-144410c.html
http://www.aamovement.net/hatecrime/brooklynhate.html
Nobody wrote any overgeneralizing songs about Black people for that, though.
Posted 10 Dec 2005 at 2:32 pm ¶
Dave wrote:
These shows are weird to me, because they imply people who are BOTH white AND black don’t exist. For a community full of folks who identify as having both white and black heritage, I recommend visiting http://www.mulatto.org.
Posted 11 Dec 2005 at 11:33 am ¶
Lyonside wrote:
I’m offended by the notion that alittle makeup will suddenly change someone’s ETHNICITY. Reminds me of that 80s movie… something about a white college kid who takes melanin pills to darken his skin and get a scholarship? Something like that (I was like 10, and didn’t think it was very funny then either).
It’s going to be a circus spectacle full of stereotypes, I’m sure. Maybe it can get pulled before airing like that “choose your own least-offensive neighbor” show. But then it’s also on FX, which can definitely get away w/ more.
Posted 12 Dec 2005 at 9:58 am ¶
sigrid wrote:
I too think the show is going to be really, really bad. It totally reinforces the idea that being “white” and being “black” are polar opposites and that all white people are the same and all black people are the same. Why not do a show on actual mixed race families instead where people aren’t forced to put on costumes? I guess then maybe people might realize we’re all human beings and we can’t have that in a race divided society! Sigh.
I’m still in my 20s but seriously doubt that I’ll ever see a US where black/white families aren’t a spectacle. It’s sad that this is still a sensational issue.
Posted 12 Dec 2005 at 11:41 am ¶
David wrote:
I think it’s just important to remember the positives that a show like this will do for the average mainstream individual who doesn’t think much about these issues. For some people, what seems like a shallow or not-deep-enough treatment to those immersed in the issues will be a real good bucket of ice water dumped on their heads.
I think the other issues raised here are important and I’m glad they are being voiced; rather than criticizing this particular show for things it was never intended to do in the first place, however, let’s look at it as the first step on the road towards getting out of our own heads into the heads of other people and empathizing with each other to the point of making a change in how we live and think.
Posted 12 Dec 2005 at 9:08 pm ¶
Alias77 wrote:
Blackface is always racist!
The Jewish Holocaust is not funny, not the whole or ANY of it’s parts, there is NOTHING humorous about putting living human beings in ovens. How would the Jewish community feel if a Black comedian (pick one), were to make himself up to look like a malnourished Jew that was ‘Break Dancing’ inside an oven? I am sure that a few Jews and nonJews might find this sketch hilarious, but most Jews and nonJews would find it horrendously racist, heads would roll and the perpetrator/s would be run out of Hollywood.
Simularly, American Slavery is NOT funny, not the whole or any of it’s parts, a part of slavery was ‘Blackface’, it started in the 1830s by racist whites as a means to (mock) the slaves in their suffering, mockery was it’s ‘ORIGINAL INTENT’ they say: Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but BlackFace was never intended to flatter, but to injure, and the original intent of BF is still in effect to this very day, for if this OI is no longer in effect, where did it go?
The Jews freak when they see a swastika today, because it ‘reminds’ them of a horrible event in their past, blackface is kin to the swastika because of what it represents and reminds Blacks of, ie, Chattle Slavery and the horrors and gore of said.
Some Blacks could not care less about blackface, but there were some Blacks that did not mind being slaves either, but did that make it ok?
What about the film: White Chicks?
There is NO history in America of Blacks putting on whiteface for the sole purpose of injuring whites, Whiteface is NOT the equivalent of Blackface. White Chicks was not intended to injure, but blackface’s intent was not so harmless.
Please, America has done quite enough to hurt Blacks, please, no more blackface.
Posted 14 Dec 2005 at 2:39 am ¶
Black. White. wrote:
This conversation, the one posted between messages on this very site, is the exact reason this show was produced. Thanks for being a part of it in your criticism.
Posted 14 Dec 2005 at 1:18 pm ¶
IC Bogart wrote:
Black. White. is right. Racism needs to be discussed, with *gasp* open minds. It is a problem, and absolutely no one single person has the solution. Be willing to accept other people’s views as possibilities for bettering the world. Don’t get all crazy…getting angry surely won’t help. Peace.
Posted 15 Dec 2005 at 2:53 am ¶
Alias77 wrote:
There is no such thing as friendly blackface. Just think of the evil possibilities that this will bring.
Posted 17 Dec 2005 at 9:19 pm ¶
dewfish wrote:
This show has the possibility to open a lot of eyes if done right. A lot will depend on how convincingly the people look after “switching races”. If done properly, no one that sees them will say “there is a white person in blackface”, but say “that is a black person.”
Posted 22 Dec 2005 at 7:44 pm ¶
Cool Joe wrote:
What is the name of that song Ice Cube sings during the promo?
Posted 23 Dec 2005 at 2:53 am ¶
Bless'd wrote:
I was actually a part of the show, and was a little reluctant to continue my participation when i was made aware of what the show was about. But I assure u that nothing like this has been done before, and it is not a reality show meant for entertainment. This will open eyes. True you can’t choose one family to represent the whole of a race, but that is not the intent. The documentary shows that racism really does exist. so wat r we gonna do about it? hedoesitall@hotmail.com.
Posted 10 Jan 2006 at 1:32 pm ¶
Bruno Wurgel wrote:
Hi Bless’d, it’s Bruno. I somehow ended up on this blog, my first, and read your comments. Thank you.
Rose, Carmen and I were treated to the first two episodes of Black.White. They’re amazing. They’re engaging, moving, thought provoking. You’re beautiful in both of them. We were talking about you just this morning. Happy New Year!
Everyone at FX is very proud of this documentary, and for good reason. They’ve created something very special. It does what so few “reality” shows do, it challenges the viewer to look deep within themselves.
It’s interesting to read pessimistic as well as optimistic assumptions of the show’s content. They are all valid concerns and fears. They are all unfounded. Please, tune in and enjoy. This is special.
Bye Bless’d
Bruno
Posted 14 Jan 2006 at 3:29 pm ¶
Bless'd wrote:
Well thanks Bruno! I hope you and the whole family are well. I too await the show! Yeah I just kinda happened onto this page as well. I hope 2006 has been good to u so far, and I hope the show touches lives Much Love -Bless’d
Posted 18 Jan 2006 at 2:38 pm ¶
Jeff n Jenn wrote:
we just wanna say, love ya CUBE! we know this show is going to be amazing and we cant wait to experience it ourselves.
Posted 28 Jan 2006 at 1:15 am ¶
Faith wrote:
Hey Bruno, Hey Bless’d!
I too had a small part in the docu Black. White. and I can tell ya it will be a rewarding experience for any person who’s ever wondered how it’d ever be possible to solve race relations…
A quick note on a previous post:
Soon Ja Du did not strike Ms. Hailey, according to Mrs. Du’s daughter. She’s never spoken in public regarding the tragedy that took place, but she came to a Journalism class at UCLA taught by the AWESOME Kwo Lee and spoke about the experience. Something a lot of people didn’t know was that Mrs. Du was legally blind in both eyes and was alone tending the store, the family considers her at fault for the tragedy but are unable to understand why the Hailey family refused every attempt at conversations of forgiveness. Of course the fact that the Brotherhood of Justice or whatever they call themselves these days…they still protest outside the house of the Du family every year on the anniversery of Ms. Hailey’s death even with the elder Mrs. Du dead…The Du’s were rejected from the Korean community at large and have since not spoken a single word.
Not trying to play down the tragic death of a teen girl, but where do we go from there? How can we solve interracial issues as such? Doubt Black. White. will be the answer, but maybe it’s something to get us talking again?
Posted 01 Feb 2006 at 4:59 pm ¶
kirk wrote:
I am trying to find the trailer or the preview for this show online… the animation in the beginning. can anyone point me in the right direction?
Posted 09 Feb 2006 at 4:46 pm ¶
Bless'd wrote:
try actualreality.tv
Posted 12 Feb 2006 at 3:14 am ¶
Bruno Wurgel wrote:
FXnetwork.com
Posted 14 Feb 2006 at 12:56 pm ¶
Bruno Wurgel wrote:
Go to FXnetwork.com
You can see
-the show’s promo
-Ice Cubes new rap for the show
Posted 14 Feb 2006 at 12:57 pm ¶
Todd Gwynn wrote:
Look at http://www.bambizzoozled.com/
Posted 14 Feb 2006 at 9:21 pm ¶
Diva wrote:
Black.White. has (so far) revealed a very interesting phenomenon: the misguided belief many White Americans have that Black Americans are “imagining” or “inventing” their experiences with racism. The White father in the series(who is made-up to look Black)embodies this attitude perfectly. We are all waiting for someone to sit him down and really EDUCATE him on our history, on the subtle “dance” of social racism and on the intense demorialization and pain that result from a LIFETIME of surviving racist comments, attitudes and attacks. And the raw anger and irritation displayed by the White mother(made-up to look Black)when she is confronted with her own naive “unintentional” racist comments is SO revealing. I am impressed by the White daughter’s open approach to this experiment, and not at all surprised to learn that the Black(made-up to look White)son is nonchalant about the whole thing: he is already convinced(at his tender age)that no great revelation will come from this series. He knows very well that he will soon return to his beautiful Black skin and the ugly racism of the real world, regardless of the machinations of the FX experiment. As a multiracial American, I had to laugh when the White daughter continually announced that this experiment was something “nobody else has ever done”—I DO IT EVERY DAY OF MY LIFE!!! Still, it will be very interesting to watch this unfold. Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.
Posted 09 Mar 2006 at 10:26 pm ¶
Cianita Brooks wrote:
Diva, I’m sorry you live your life is such an angry state of mind.
I hope for you the liberation so many other brothers and sisters
now enjoy since freeing ourselves from the mental anguish that
continues to so tightly bind you and taint your perspective of this
exceptional earthly experience that is all of ours to rejoice in.
Love & Light for you Diva,
Ciantha Brooks
Compton California
Posted 13 Mar 2006 at 6:43 pm ¶
Diva wrote:
You’re very kind, Cianita. But I’m fine. I think it’s interesting that you feel I’m in “mental anguish”—I’m actually quite free and happy. I’m a survivor. But thank you again for your sweet words.
Peace to you,
Diva
Posted 14 Mar 2006 at 3:15 pm ¶