Comments

1. Vonn wrote:

   I though that Rose (17yr. old white daughter) was the smartest of the bunch. There is no need to act black or walk white, people of all colors and races have different mannerisms and speech types. I feel she approached it best, by just being herself in another “skin”.

   Posted 09 Mar 2006 at 11:15 am ¶

2. Tiffany In Houston wrote:

   I would agree with both Ben and Vonn’s comments.

   The preview of Bruno and Carmen buying Afrocentric gear to wear to a Black church is hilarious…Coming froma Southern Baptist background, I can’t wait to see THAT.

   Posted 09 Mar 2006 at 11:35 am ¶

3. k wrote:

   didn’t watch it. don’t plan to. seems to perpetuate stereotypes. i hear enough people perpetuate stereotypes at school. don’t need to watch a show.

   Posted 09 Mar 2006 at 1:12 pm ¶

4. julie wrote:

   comments on fx’s premiere of black/white:

   pro: this is a fucking insane precedent. this is national. this will, and is already, forming a critical, analytical dialogue in the home (con: that is, if people are willing to be open to personal and social criticisms).

   pro: this show exposes the inequities black folk experience everyday (con: even though this is a completely white-centric journey - but then again, white people do have more to learn because black people have always had to adapt to the dominant white culture - as one theorist has said, black people know all the inner, intimate workings of white folk because they’ve had to), and the ridiculous, foolish excuses and lwg (liberal white guilt) white people express in order to either prolong their denial - strengthen their defense that racism doesn’t exist - or wallow in their unproductive shame spiral.

   pro: by placing these two families together under the same roof, it solidifies the ideal that all people are essentially just human (con: this glosses over the point that no matter how socially constructed race and color is, there are social and material consequences because of race, thus making it very fucking real for communities of color. alternately, it’s a bit problematic to emphasize the visible and so-called cultural differences between blacks and whites because it further confirms their relative stereotypes (racializing behavior); i.e: when rose proclaims that she admires the cranberries, i was thinking, “why can’t a black girl like the cranberries?”

   pro: rose. she is the only sane member of her white family. she is young and naive, but she is open, respectful, and introspective. (con: bruno and carmen: perfect examples of the ignorant white man who believes that racism = blatantly uttering “nigger” (someone needs to count how many times this infatuated man says it) and the hippie, “liberal” white woman who can’t fucking wait to legitimize her methods of appropriation by donning black face.)

   Posted 09 Mar 2006 at 2:08 pm ¶

5. thekidd211 wrote:

   I’ll take that a step further, Julie.

   I think the Black father (can’t remember his name) is looking a little too hard to find racism. I understand that most of the racism Black people encounter is very discreet but he seems to look for it behind every shadow and in every corner. I agree that a White person may not know what to look for in what is racist behavior (Bruno had no problem making a comment about Blacks being athletically superior and can jump higher, run faster, etc. which is about as racist as it gets). I could talk about this all day so I’ll stop here in fear of it getting too long

   Posted 09 Mar 2006 at 4:28 pm ¶

6. Dorothy wrote:

   I posted this same message on Swirl’s yahoogroup, so forgive me if some of you have already seen it…
   I’m a dork, so I took notes, while watching. Overall, it was
   interesting in a lot of ways, so I think I’ll keep watching.

   A few things I found interesting (forgive me, I don’t remember all of
   the family members’ names):

   1) Both families self-identifying as “a typical White American family”
   and a “typical Black family from Atlanta”. What’s typical?

   2) It was a bit creepy to me (does anyone agree) that when the White
   family was in blackface, they were more attracted to each other (the
   mom and dad actually stated this)? It kind of felt like the whole
   hypersexualized Black person fetish.. yuck! It was equally interesting
   to note that the Black family in whiteface actually found each other
   so much less attractive. My husband (who’s African-American) was
   quick to pick up on this, and thought it was quite interesting…

   3) I like Rose. She’s the most observant of stereotypes.
   I wonder if it’s more of an age dynamic; I thought it was interesting
   that the Black son didn’t think much about race.

   4) The Black father’s remarks were interesting regarding Bruno, the
   White father. Particularly that Blacks HAVE to interact daily with
   whites, but White don’t have to interact with Blacks.

   5) The Black father’s job as a White man at the bar was hugely eye
   opening… The “no background check needed” thing and “you’re part of
   the family now” had me on the floor. My husband did remark that they
   had cameras there. How did they hide what they were doing? People
   usually act differently on camera. It was equally interesting to see
   how much the White patron at the bar revealed about his racism and
   desire to keep “the last White enclave” pure, when he thought the
   Black father was White. Reminds me of Adrian Piper’s race cards, and
   how she used to find out so much about how people REALLY felt about
   Blacks when they didn’t recognize her African-American heritage (if
   you have no clue what I’m talking about, check out the image on this
   website http://culturemachine.tees.ac.uk/InterZone/Glowacka.htm).

   6) Bruno was interesting. I thought it was interesting that he inherently changed his socioeconomic status when he passed for Black at the car dealership. Why did he feel the need to say he had bad credit? I also feel like he didn’t want to admit treatment differences, because it might highlight that he has treated Blacks differently in the past.

   And I agree… why can’t a Black girl like the Cranberries (I actually like them in small doses!)?

   -Dorothy

   Posted 09 Mar 2006 at 4:59 pm ¶

7. lookoutla wrote:

   Okay, I like it but I also hope they reverse it again, like send the black dad dressed as a white man walking through South Central or even better send him to a prodominently (sorry for spelling!) black club as a white guy, it is very different. White isn’t as great then. Try asking a sales person at the indoor fleamarket to help you try on your shoes, yeah right! How can both groups learn if you send them to pretend to be eachother in their “comfort zone” for lack of a better word.
   Also, I am white and I was raised in a mostly black neighborhood, maybe this is why, but I am embarrASSed if this family is your typical “white” family. It is very frustrating! Except the white daughter. This show could be so much more I hope they show all the aspects of racism not just the one I thought we all knew about.
   My husband and I were talking about this and he thinks part of our problem is that before any kind of civil rights movement had changed anything blacks were punished for their differences. Now to make up for it we only reward our similarities. What we need to do is celebrate all of our differences. That’s the only time we can really lighten up about race. It will always be a fact that we aren’t the smae, but when we really think differences are good, that’s when it won’t be a big problem.

   Posted 09 Mar 2006 at 6:59 pm ¶

8. Barry wrote:

   This show definately presents an interesting social experiment. But I have to agree with the above post that the experiment is tainted by the presence of cameras. The people in the stores know that they are being recorded and I can’t imagine them doing or saying anything blatantly racist. Anytime something racist actually does happen (the patron at the bar, the white guy in the focus group) I can’t help but think that the director planted someone in the scene and said, “Say something racist, we need something to talk about.” If there were someway that they could do this with hidden cameras and not have to inform people that they are being recorded (which they do, for legal purposes) this would be a much more authentic experience and I wouldn’t question it so much.

   I also can’t help but think that the black adults know that they are on national TV and don’t want to come across to the rest of black America as toms so they act in a way that they think other black people expect them to act. For example looking for racism everywhere and acting all shocked everytime someone does something nice for them while they’re in white face, as if people are NEVER nice to them when they are black (I’m black, by the way, so I don’t want anyone trying to tell me that I don’t know what it’s like to be black or experience racism).

   I think that the two white adults mean well but they’ve come into this with their own preconceptions and they don’t seem like they think they have anything to learn. It’s more of an opportunity for them to show the world that they aren’t racist or that racism doesn’t exist. “My parents were in the civil rights movement”, etc.

   The only people I feel I’m getting a genuine reaction from are the two kids. I especially like Rose. She seems to be the only one who actually gets the point of all this, but I’m afraid for her because she is too nice and naieve and I don’t want to see her get her feelings hurt and change for the worse. The promo for the upcoming episode when she reveals to her friends in the poetry group that she is actually white doesn’t look promising. I’ll keep watching for now. The show is interesting if nothing else.

   Side notes:
   -Hugo seems to be in a contest with himself to see how many times he can get away with saying nigger to black people.
   -Does anyone else notice that the black dad looks like Dave Chapelle when he plays the white guy on his show? “Would ya cut the malarchy!?”
   -The black son looks like a scary Micheal Jackson.

   Posted 09 Mar 2006 at 7:26 pm ¶

9. Jenn wrote:

   I just wanted to point out to everyone that may not already now, because while I was watching the show I was thinking the same thing… people have cameras there, they are going to act differntly but then I read that they use hidden cameras and that if they do not they say it is a family documentary. I would love to know when hidden cameras are used and and how they get passed the fact that they need peoples’ consent in order to use the material they air or air their face, especially in the case of the guy in the bar who had the gall to basically say it was a safe neighborhood b/c it was all white, I mean, it makes me wonder why a person would consent to something like that being aired.

   Reading all the above comments , I found many similarities to what my friends and I were saying throughout the show. Bruno seems to have this notion that racism is a “state of mind”. Brian seems to overdo it in looking for it and kind of makes Bruno seem right at times which is sad.

   It is interesting the way both families (the parents) reacted after their transformation the first time. The “black” adults seemed a bit disgusted, especially the wife, while the “white” adults seemed turned-on, as if it were some fantasy, it seemed as if they stressed it way too much making it seem forced.

   Posted 10 Mar 2006 at 12:08 am ¶

10. Daniel wrote:

    Interesting analysis, Jenn. It almost makes me want to watch the show again!

    Posted 10 Mar 2006 at 5:54 pm ¶

11. D. Soul wrote:

    The White father likes to say the N-word, if someone were to call his wife a btch, would that be a “no problem” issue as well? He think that

    Although the Black father seemed to be “searching”, his experiences on the panel, and at the bar solidify his position.

    The daughter was lambasted for using “big words”. Why is that acceptable? Why do we as Black people have to limit our vocabulary? The “dumb it down” allusion pissed me off. I am angrier that no one protested this advice.

    The “no background check” thing had me floored. I couldn’t believe it.

    Posted 10 Mar 2006 at 6:03 pm ¶

12. ReyMaya wrote:

    First off, I think its because there is so much history and hate between whites and blacks in America, but the program implies that race relations is most problematic between whites and blacks. I assure you its not. Aside from that, the show has some interesting issues, but mostly among the cast. The white father is right and wrong. He is right that it seems like the black father is looking for it — seems desperately to want to prove his point. However, the white father also seems to think that people using the word Nigger is the only way to show racism. Some of you have mentioned that there are cameras present which changes how people act. The panels they sat on were also possibly atypical, it has been shown that people who volunteer to do studies have distinct characteristics from the general population. Not to mention some of the typical race activities they had them do. Most whites never go to etiquette school and most blacks don’t attend poetry slams. In short, I wish they had picked their cast better, the white father thinks prejudice is individualized, that you can change it with your attutude; the white mother is a flake; don’t know what to make of te white girl yet; the balck father wants to prove to America that racism is prevalent; the black mother (who doesn’t look very white) thinks she knows what its like being white just because she deals with white people everyday; and the black guy seems like he couldn’t give a damn about the project. So far, good idea…bad cast. I like that they have to live together.

    Posted 13 Mar 2006 at 8:20 pm ¶

13. Bumble B wrote:

    Speaking of racial stereotyping, I wonder how Ice Cube feels about his own lengthy career that has relied largely upon promoting stereotypes of Black men as ultra-violent, drug-using thugs and Black women as disposable, gold-diggin cvmdumps?

    Didn’t he help create his own bed he now biches about sleeping in?

    In fact, why did they even choose HIM as the host of this show? Why not an intelligent, self-consistent Black man? Or just an intelligent person, for that matter?

    Posted 26 Mar 2006 at 6:54 pm ¶

14. Tatjana wrote:

    Although the show is an important show where people can learn valuable lessons I don’t think that either side is really learning them. The Black family seems to feel that they have nothing to learn or gain out of these. They feel that the show is mainly for white viewers to learn about white racism against minorities and not vice versa. They have a misconception in thinking that only whites are racist when racism exists on both sides. Granted historically Whites and I mean ethnic whites have been more racist and racism still exists today, only it’s more underneath the surface, but that doesn’t mean that Blacks can’t be racist or have stereotypes about other races and ethnic groups. Louis Farrakhan and Al Sharpton as well as some other very influential Black leaders are prime examples of Black racism. From my personal experience as a biracial European American of the Jewish faith I’ve found that many Blacks have stereotypical views of biracial people and they are not as open-minded and accepting of interracial relationships as most people would think. I feel that the daughter of the White couple is the only one who is actually willing to really learn about people not like her and is open-minded to understanding their experience historically and otherwise despite the fact that she can never really understand it on a personal level. I don’t understand why Bruno isn’t a little more open-minded in trying to understand since he’s Jewish and his father was an immigrant who came to the United States. He is an ethnic minority which is obvious so he should try to at least see things from the point of view of others, although he is right about the Black father looking for racism, but he also has to understand that all experiences make us who we are good or bad.

    Posted 01 Apr 2006 at 2:43 am ¶

15. S wrote:

    Tatjana, i don’t think Bruno is Jewish; I think he’s Italian. But your comment still applies - he should know better. But he has that “I

    Posted 03 Apr 2006 at 9:03 pm ¶

16. S wrote:

    Tatjana, i don’t think Bruno is Jewish; I think he’s Italian. But your comment still applies - he should know better. But he has that “I *heart* assimilation” mentality, so he won’t see it.

    Posted 03 Apr 2006 at 9:03 pm ¶

17. GG wrote:

    I think this show did a great disservice to black and white people. First of this really was not an issue of race but an issue of culture. Brian and Renee are from Georgia and they are placed in LA. Talk about a culture shock!

    I personally thought that Renee was sneaky, conniving (sp?) and close minded. There were several opportunities to help the caucasion mother (her name escapes me) learn about the black culture instead she totally set the lady up for failure and then threw it in her face.

    The Bitch incident really threw me into a tizzy because it was obvious to me that the white lady was told that Bitch is used as a term of endearment in some circles, so she used it to dialogue. All Renee had to do was say, I am not sure what they told you but I do not use that term with my girlfriends and kept it moving. If she had continued to use it then she should have had a problem.

    I felt this was a poorly put together show. I live in Seattle, I am black and I cannot say that I experience racism all of the time. I do not look for it and I give everyone a chance to shape up before I send them to heaven or to hell.

    I feel like there is no one who can make me feel any less than the great person that I am and if they try they will be sorry for going there.

    Does racism exist yes it does, did this show capture it? No

    By the way, Bruno is just a moron, he just too pig-headed to know it.

    Posted 13 Apr 2006 at 11:19 pm ¶

18. jay wrote:

    I think the show is good but you need two normal black and white familys. That are midle class with the same amount of money. Both familys need to have a positive entention. Most of all two normal familys. I like the show 100% but those two familys need two handle they own problems befor they worrie about racism.

    Ice Cube
    What up holla at your boy, the kid got talent.
    One100
    COCO

    Posted 06 May 2006 at 1:29 am ¶

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