Why young people *won’t* be solving racism anytime soon at mixed media watch

Why young people won’t be solving racism anytime soon

CVK
You know how people often talk about the power of hip hop, and how because so many young people listen to hip hop, it’s made them more open-minded about race? Well, just because you enjoy black music or hey, even dabble in a little sex with black people, it doesn’t mean anything about your fundamental beliefs in white supremacy and black inferiority has changed. That’s pretty clear from this selection of YouTube videos found by blog Blackacademic.

1) Black or White
A group of teenage girls dance and lipsync to Michael Jackson’s “Black or White.” One of them is in full blackface and has even stuffed her butt. I had to take a screencap and point a big yellow arrow at her ignorant ass.

2) White Boys Still Tippin’
A group of teenage white boys lipsyncing to the Mike Jones song, with tin foil on their teeth to mimic “grills” and waving guns around.

3) G-Rated Black Jokes
This is possibly the most offensive. Two teenage girls take turns telling “G-rated black jokes” about blacks stealing TVs, God giving black people rhythm because they’d mess everything else up, etc.

I remember in the early days of MMW, when we were still using the old Xanga site, I came across a review of Danzy Senna’s Symptomatic in which the book reviewer (a white woman) expressed disbelief over one particular scene. In this scene, the protagonist (a mixed black/white woman who’s very white-looking) is hanging out with her white boyfriend and is group of all-white friends. They start playing a game of charades. It starts out innocently enough but the next thing you know, one of the women returns to the group after disappearing for awhile, with full blackface and a huge pillow stuffed in her butt. She rolls her eyes and neck, doing an impression of a black cleaning lady who used to work in the boardining school they all went to. Of course, they all assume the protagonist is white, and therefore have no problem engaging in this kind of racist behavior.

Carolyn See, the woman who reviewed Symptomatic for The Washington Post, wrote this:

(I had trouble believing this scene; I’ve been “white” all my life and never seen or heard anything remotely approaching this level of social savagery. Plus, what would a pretty, rich blond woman be doing with a convenient tin of black shoe polish in her apartment?)

Of course, I had to write a letter to the editor about this. As mixed people, we experience this type of “racial spy” thing ALL the time. Sure, maybe we don’t witness on a daily basis whites putting on full blackface or taping their eyes back. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. As we can see from these videos, blackface is still very much alive. And the casual manner in which these kids engage in it says a lot.

Trackbacks & Pings

for better or for worse » Blog Archive » So you think blackface is dead? on 28 Mar 2006 at 12:44 pm

[…] 1 Courtesy of Mixed Media Watch and Blakademia [back] […]

Comments

Rubberbiegeman wrote:

Wow, and people still say that “there is no racism, anymore.”

I think I’m going to “G-rated” vomit.

Posted 26 Mar 2006 at 10:37 am ¶
Lyonside wrote:

re: that article…

what, so rich blonde women don’t wear black shoes? The hell?

As for the rest: THIS is why I hated high school. No matter what they said, I knew what most of my class thought about race and class. If it wasn’t part of their suburban white upper class, then it wasn’t real. If it isn’t real, you can mimc and bust on it without consequence.

Posted 26 Mar 2006 at 12:22 pm ¶
Michael Crakason wrote:

Wow, that blonde girl in Blackface and the Wonderbutt was almost as disturbing as…the “Black” artist in permanent Whiteface whose song they were covering!

Posted 26 Mar 2006 at 6:47 pm ¶
mtevc wrote:

as one of those iffy people (though i am black…light skinned)…i have a rather mixed up family tree a bit back…i hear things that people say all the time, thinking i’m not black, usually because i talk a certain way, or don’t fall into their stereotypical notions of what black folks do…that old, “i don’t think of you as black, i think of you as (insert name here)”…well, i am black thank you…they think i might be hispanic, so then they say the worst things about african-americans in front of me, until i set them straight…or they will find out i am black, and then they think they can freely bash hispanics…pull out all the racial slurs…and i won’t tolerate that either…or, my favorite, in my old neighborhood, where i moved from, the white folks were having a spasm because indians were moving in in large numbers…the white people on my block were talking about their strange smells, weird ways…and they were afraid that when i sold my house, “those” indians were going to move in and that i had to make sure i didn’t sell to them…well, i said…i will sell to whoever has the green first…then i proceeded to tell as many indian realtors as i could find about the property…unfortunately, the people who bought it first weren’t indian…but i was hoping…of course, they wouldn’t want to be surrounded by morons…

Posted 26 Mar 2006 at 10:00 pm ¶
Lyonside wrote:

mtevc:

I have gotten the same thing. Here’s my personal beef though: If someone is antiracism and antiprejudice in general, shouldn’t we be ticked even if we’re not the target?

I’m not Hispanic, but I would get POed at racist Hispanic comments before I was dating my husband (who is Hispanic). Same for Asians, Arabs, any other ethnic/religious group.

Example: the A&C protests - recently it’s been Asian civil rights groups that protest. What would have made my day is if nationwide all the other groups protested in solidarity.

Posted 27 Mar 2006 at 9:08 am ¶
bertie wrote:

Yes we should get POed–I know if someone says something racist about indians, hispanics, asians, etc.–most likely they have the same feelings about blacks. I’ve never encountered a selective bigot , someone who loved blacks but couldn’t stand hispanics. Maybe they exist–I’ve just never met any.

Posted 27 Mar 2006 at 10:34 am ¶
Lyonside wrote:

Bertie: come meet my inlaws and their inlaws sometime!

I’ve said some of this before and elsewhere, but the short short version is: my husband’s sister’s parents-in-law (got all that) don’t mind the fact that their son married a Puerto Rican woman. Anna (my sister-in-law) must be light enough in their messed-up minds (yes, my husband and his sister can pass for Italian).

Posted 27 Mar 2006 at 12:40 pm ¶
Lyonside wrote:

(con’t from above):

However, they can’t stand black people. They at first didn’t KNOW I was part-black, then stumbled all over themselves to be nice to me. My sister-in-law’s husband’s sister, however, won’t speak to me or acknowledge my existance in any way. It’s a source of mild amusement at this point.

Why do these bigots accept their daughter-in-law? I suspect ebecause the grandkids look very “white-” paler skin, red and brown hair, blue eyes. WHICH THEY GOT IN PART FROM THEIR MOTHER :) LOL

Posted 27 Mar 2006 at 12:44 pm ¶
bertie wrote:

Interesting–but do they like Puerto Ricans generally and dislike blacks, or do they like you (and your sister in law) in particular, to the extent ya’ll look white enough that there friends and neighbors won’t be appalled?

Posted 27 Mar 2006 at 9:36 pm ¶
Lyonside wrote:

I really think the latter. Or rather, they’ve gotten used to it since my sister-in-law has been married for 10 years and w/ her husband for a few years before that.

Me, they just met a few years ago. Give it another decade or two, and they might just remember my name :)

Posted 27 Mar 2006 at 11:06 pm ¶
Marsha wrote:

MTEVC- So, I”m assuming you mean “East Indian” people and not Native Americans? (I’m picking up on the “strange smells” with regards to Indian food.)

Isn’t it just lovely being a “racial spy”. You get to see how people really are and what they think if they think you are of a different racial background. I’d have to agree with Bertie. I tend to get pissy whenever someone starts bashing another race/culture whether they be Native American, African American, Asian, Hispanic, etc. Most of the time I think, “If this person doesn’t like this group of people, then most likely they won’t like any race/culture that is considered “the other”. I tend to be pretty suspicious of people that say, for example, that they like Hispanics but they don’t like Blacks because if you really watch/listen to them, sometimes you realize that they don’t like Hispanics either and their whole perception of Hispanics is based on stereotypes also.

Additionally, re: the article I have to say I’m pretty miffed at the fact that many white people get into defensive mode whenever someone tells them about a racist situation that they experienced. Their general opinion is that these are just isolated instances of ignorance. Well, sorry, but when those instances happen over and over again, can someone say that those are “isolated”?

Posted 28 Mar 2006 at 10:09 am ¶
April wrote:

Maybe you should rephrase that as young WHITE people won’t be doing anything about racism any time soon.

Posted 28 Mar 2006 at 12:33 pm ¶
katie wrote:

please take my video off your website. i did not mean to insult anyone, the video was a joke and we just wanted to paint her face according to the lyrics. it was harmless fun, we’re only kids and i think that you’ve blown it out of proportion. I put the video on youtube for my friends to see, not realizing that people would search for it so they could turn it into an article. sorry if anyone was offended, i will take it off youtube if you really want me to, but for now i would like to to take it off your website, you do not have any right using or critizing my material.

Posted 29 Mar 2006 at 11:49 pm ¶
Merq wrote:

katie, huh?

assuming you really are the one in the video, did you also pad her ass “according to the lyrics?”

Posted 30 Mar 2006 at 9:05 am ¶
mr guy wrote:

katie:

When you post anything on the internet people can and will criticize it.

Posted 30 Mar 2006 at 1:44 pm ¶
mtevc wrote:

if you are the “katie” then you deserve the criticism, and if you put it on the internet, you are setting yourself up for judgment…get a life…even if you did this only for your friends, are you and your friends so small minded and racist that this is all you have to obsess about…read a book

Posted 30 Mar 2006 at 1:57 pm ¶
katie wrote:

first of all, we didn’t “pad” her ass and shes offended by these comments. second, why do you people always make youselves the victim of everything? You want to think prejudice still exists this way its like self-pity.

and im not racist. if you watch this clip thinking its racist then you have mental problems and i feel sorry for you.

Posted 30 Mar 2006 at 5:25 pm ¶
katie wrote:

if you listen to the lyrics it says
“it don’t matter if your black or white”

so yu all should jsut get those sticks out ur ass and stop being so uptight.

Posted 30 Mar 2006 at 5:26 pm ¶
katie wrote:

oh and mtevc .. you’re one obsessing.

Posted 30 Mar 2006 at 5:28 pm ¶
Lyonside wrote:

Katie:

Next time you want to share something funny with friends, either fork up for a secure website, or burn a CD and use the postal service.

Funny thing is, you come here asking for the VIDEO to be taken off THIS site…

Um, what’s above is a link - go bug Blackacademic.

If the US government can’t shut up blogs that it doesn’t like, what makes you think you can?

Posted 30 Mar 2006 at 5:53 pm ¶
carlos wrote:

for the real katie. i think the video was just pure fun. not tryin 2 hurt anyone’s feelings. the song’s lyrics are made out to promote unity between blacks and whites and that was what u were showing. most kids wouldnt even do that. you are very courageous and kind hearted for tryin 2 show ur friends that u believe in racial equality.

Posted 30 Mar 2006 at 6:06 pm ¶
mr guy wrote:

Looks like the video was removed.Honestly I don’t see why katie is upset.If you post a video of yourself and a few friends dacing to black or white with one girl who painted her face black, how could you NOT expect people to react this way?
,

Posted 30 Mar 2006 at 6:59 pm ¶
Merq wrote:

why do you people always make youselves the victim of everything?

Posted 30 Mar 2006 at 8:38 pm ¶
Merq wrote:

why do you people always make youselves the victim of everything?

“you people??”
Now, why would anyone think you’re racist?

I love how she initially tried the “poor, innocent little girl” act, but turned nasty when that didn’t work. Instead of whining about your video being taken off MMW, why don’t you just take it off YouTube?

Oh, and “katie?”
This blog isn’t visited only by black people. In fact, the blog owners (and original posters) aren’t black. What do you have to say to “those” people?

Posted 30 Mar 2006 at 8:39 pm ¶
Lyonside wrote:

Carlos:

The REAL video showed ethnic diversity and a cool-at-the-time video editing technique.

This “pure fun” video shows painful stereotypes and an ignorant attitude. “White” to the teens in the video means normal. They didn’t paint the other girl’s face with whitepaint, did they? “Black” means one thing - coal skin and a big ass.

You must be flattering (and using leetspeak shorthand) because, what, you think she’s hot? You’re probably a netfriend of hers.

Don’t kid yourself - this was done for fun, for laughs. There’s nothing educational about it.

Posted 30 Mar 2006 at 9:08 pm ¶
Lyonside wrote:

Katie: HAH! YOU PEOPLE!

The truth… it’s uglier than blackface.

Posted 30 Mar 2006 at 9:09 pm ¶
April wrote:

First of all, let’s get something perfectly clear. It DOES matter if you are black or white. When in the U.S. has it NOT mattered?

Posted 31 Mar 2006 at 1:13 am ¶
crystal wrote:

imblack and i loved the video i thought it was nice to squash the racism in this world, by using one of my favorite artist’s videos. you people should lighten up.

Posted 31 Mar 2006 at 8:33 am ¶
Lyonside wrote:

April: In the context of the song (basically one fo the last MJ songs I kind of liked) - “If you wanna be my baby it don’t matter if you’re black or white.” Not about US politics or race history.

Posted 31 Mar 2006 at 8:44 am ¶
Merq wrote:

Why do I get the feeling that “carlos” and “crystal” are merely part of katie’s Damage-Control Team?

Posted 31 Mar 2006 at 11:36 am ¶
April wrote:

Again, I’ll ask. When in the U.S. has it NOT mattered if one is black or white? It wasn’t that long ago, in the 70s when we barely made it legal to date interracially. Is an interracial relationship not considered at least a “friendship”? My husband and I are constantly stared at and gawked at by people because I am biracial (black n’ white) and he is white. I am only one of many people in the U.S. whom experience discrimination because of our frienship affiliations. So again, I’ll ask you . . . when has it not mattered?

Do you think it doesn’t matter because Michael Jackson says so? Gimme a break. The poor man WANTS to be white, and so far so good. So tell me, with Michael did it matter if he is black or white. You damn right it did.

Posted 31 Mar 2006 at 12:39 pm ¶
mtevc wrote:

Please katie (even if you are the real katie…or whoever wants to play devil’s advocate…for whatever goofy reason I can’t figure out…) Of course everyone has the freedom to express whatever dumb emotion they feel (constitutional right…but you also open yourself up for criticism.) And, it is a very defensive posture to assume that because people comment, and do it reasonably, that they are all of a sudden “victims” or overreacting. That is your defensive posture. I don’t obsess over trivial and ignorant people. I only point out fact. I don’t live my life worried about these things…I also don’t live my life by having so-called fun by making fun of other people. That’s called racist and low-brow humor. I would call what you do an obsession, and to think it isn’t is so very sad for you. It’s sad you can’t think deeper about your actions. I’m not a victim by any means. I am a successful person, happy in life and able to hang out and chat and be friendly with a variety of individuals…particularly because I am not about to be so flagrant and superficial and so cavalier in my actions.

Posted 31 Mar 2006 at 1:10 pm ¶
Lyonside wrote:

April: WHAT”S your beef again?

Noone here is saying that race doesn’t matter. So WHY this hostility?

For the record, the song is a pop song voicing a speaker’s personal opinion that race isn’t a factor in who they’re with. Now, it’s MJ, so I try to remove anything about the actual person from the song. Recording artists are not always the speaker of a song, any more than a writer believes everything that a fictional narrator writes.

This blog doesn’t trivialize race - why are you tripping?

Posted 31 Mar 2006 at 4:56 pm ¶
matt wrote:

Why isn’t it a racist when Dave Chappelle puts white paint on his face and talks in a stupid tone to act like a white person?
Probably because it’s not a big deal and neither is this.

Posted 12 Apr 2006 at 3:28 pm ¶
Niel wrote:

Matt:

Dave Chappelle is a smart man making a humorous comment about race relations in America and using the inverse of a long-standing, very racist form of entertainment from the turn of the century to do so.

Katie is a sheltered, ignorant kid hopping around with a girl in clown make-up to represent “the black person” and she doesn’t even understand how that could offend anyone, much less understand what her “statement” is saying.

Not even close to the same thing.

Posted 08 Aug 2006 at 2:26 pm ¶