Comments on: Racism in Desperate Housewives finale?

By: Theejew

Theejew — Tue, 30 May 2006 05:30:20 +0000

I dont undretsand why evryone is upset that the show does not have great characters from different races ? So each show should have a perfect example of whites , blacks , hispanics, asians men and women to be something that we should watch. The show is full of shady characters being whites or otherwise with their mistakes and imperfections and that whats make it funny and closer to reality than so many other shows that try to follow strickt guidlines of political correctness and pleaseing everyone and not offending anyone. The truth is there are places where not a lot of blac people live , currently I live in central Wisconson in an area of 300 thousand people plus with very few blacks and hispancs, should a show that will be done about this area not reflect that so it will make each and every race happy?
Thats why I always thought that probably the best show ever that depikate true america is the Simpson’s …

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 29 May 2006 12:07:21 +0000

I like Grey’s Anatomy. The first episode I watched was the one with Isobel paging Christina so that the latter could help to translate when a Chinese illegal immigrant could not speak English.

Christina retorted by saying that she’s not Chinese, she’s Korean. I thought it was amazing and appropriate that the writer highlighted a common issue every Asian faces living in America or in my case, Europe. Halfway through conversations, I will get asked if I were Japanese, Korean, Chinese etc. It’s strange because I never ask the white people if they were from Germany, France, Sweden etc. I see these for who they are… “Oh, you work for so and so?” or “You have a daughter this age too?”

With most Caucasians, why can’t I just be me? Is it that important in our first meeting/ the beginning of a friendship that racial identity is established?

Grey’s Anatomy is great too for all the reasons Brad listed.

By: Brad

Brad — Sun, 28 May 2006 22:37:57 +0000

I disagree about Grey’s Dr. Bailey. Yes, Chandra Wilson isn’t a slinky sex kitten. Instead, she is a highly respected, powerful, MARRIED woman. Hello! She is a happily married black woman who is the chief intern! Dr. Bailey is not a fat, black mama. The actress who plays the character was pregnant. Grey is ground breaking television. How many black female doctors in a leadership position can you name? The woman is clearly not a motherly character! Her nickname is the Nazi, hardly a term of endearment, it supposed to invoke the fear and respect people have for her competence and authority.

And, here again, Dr. Bailey is a married woman who is balancing a family and pursuing her career! This woman is a feminist icon in the making!!! She can bring home the bacon and fry it up in the pan!

As for a negative portrayal of Asian men? Um, what Asian men have been portrayed stereotypically? Do you mean John Chow who played Doctor Marshall Stone or do you mean Meredith Grey’s one night stand with the South Asian man? How many times have you seen a South Asian man as the one-night stand of a television show’s lead white actress? I think the answer is never!
What about the Asian man whose wife was dying of cancer but decided not to seek chemo but haver her child? Again, the man was married to a Caucasian woman. Obviously, he wasn’t playing the stereotypic asexual Asian man.

Finally, I think that there are very few Latinas on TV. In particular, there are very few with Indigenous (Native American) features. Most Latina/os are mestizo with Caucasian features. Even they are cast in the oversexed roles. How many dark brown or copper-skinned Latino/as can you think of on TV? George Lopez, right? Hell, do you think George Lopez would ever have a show on most Hispanic channels in America? Telemundo and Univision have extremely European-looking actors given the strong presence of Indigenous and African peoples in Latin America.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 27 May 2006 19:51:15 +0000

How do you “vote with your eyeballs”?

They don’t work without your brain.

By: DAB

DAB — Sat, 27 May 2006 14:34:21 +0000

I knew things were bad when the maid said, “If I go back to China my uncle will sell me into slavery”

And why did she have to be the poor immigrant? Why couldn’t they cast an Asian American in the role, sans horrible accent?

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 25 May 2006 02:27:58 +0000

Bohwe,

And yet you still watch it enough to know all the characters and their plotlines.

Vote with your eyeballs.

By: Adrianna

Adrianna — Thu, 25 May 2006 01:19:29 +0000

they play on a lot of stereotypes on that show!! the subservient Asian housemaid, the violent black man , hot sexy latina, and the asexual black female. I’d say grey anatomy’s is the same when it comes to depicting it’s black female lead character as a though cookie !!! you know the neck rolling kind it’s troublesome.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 24 May 2006 23:34:48 +0000

Can we acknowledge that Melanie Foster, the debutante, ended up being an asian rather than white– as I know I’d expected.
Moreover, instead of being some kind of subvervient stereotypical asian character, she certainly wasn’t. And temporarily escaping the realm of race relations, the thought of a “debutante” being a sex vixen– regardless of race, is all about askew.

By: Carrie

Carrie — Wed, 24 May 2006 22:26:50 +0000

Though Grey’s Anatomy is better, it still suffers with its poor and stereotypical depictions of Asian men.

By: Rubberbiegeman

Rubberbiegeman — Wed, 24 May 2006 22:05:27 +0000

Bohwe? How many Latinas are on tv? I mean really?