Racist Stereotypes live on
A response to an awful image circulating today.151 total reviews
Comment from GregoryC
Good forthright condemnation of an obvious racial reference. It's reverting back to the days of Birmingham (the black driver of Charlie Chan) or Stepin Fetchit, the lackadaisical black guy that walks with a slow shuffle and speaks as though he were illiterate. These characters and others were synonymous with a stereotype of the servile, shiftless, simple-minded black man. Remember them?
Did you ever see "The Jackie Robinson Story," about the first black man to break into the majors in 1948. Jackie endured the worst kind of bigotry. Many times he was subjected to white players in the opposing dugout, tormenting him with racial slurs, eating watermelon to depict a sterotype so vile it's meaning was cristal clear.
As a society we basically have evolved beyond this for the most part. At least, by law and the enactment of
civil rights.
You make good point and are justifed in being disturbed by it. Good job.
Gregory
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2008
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Good forthright condemnation of an obvious racial reference. It's reverting back to the days of Birmingham (the black driver of Charlie Chan) or Stepin Fetchit, the lackadaisical black guy that walks with a slow shuffle and speaks as though he were illiterate. These characters and others were synonymous with a stereotype of the servile, shiftless, simple-minded black man. Remember them?
Did you ever see "The Jackie Robinson Story," about the first black man to break into the majors in 1948. Jackie endured the worst kind of bigotry. Many times he was subjected to white players in the opposing dugout, tormenting him with racial slurs, eating watermelon to depict a sterotype so vile it's meaning was cristal clear.
As a society we basically have evolved beyond this for the most part. At least, by law and the enactment of
civil rights.
You make good point and are justifed in being disturbed by it. Good job.
Gregory
Comment Written 19-Oct-2008
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2008
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Yes, I'm aware of all the things you reference, all sad times in our country's history and things many today would like to gloss over as if they had never happened. Thank you very much for your informed and thoughtful review! Peace, Brooke
Comment from Korton
This is a very interesting piece. Unfortunately people are stereotyped for many reasons, race is just one of them. All stereotyping and prejudice are borne of fear and ignorance; it seems that some are so insecure that they must berate another person or group in order to feel better about themselves. Politics seems to bring out the worst in a whole lot of folks. I once heard it characterized very well. It seems that one fellow was going to tell a joke to a group when one of the individuals asked; Is this a joke about an ethnic or minority group where when you reach the punch line we are all supposed to laugh and feel superior? Needless to say, the joke went no further. Very well done.
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2008
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This is a very interesting piece. Unfortunately people are stereotyped for many reasons, race is just one of them. All stereotyping and prejudice are borne of fear and ignorance; it seems that some are so insecure that they must berate another person or group in order to feel better about themselves. Politics seems to bring out the worst in a whole lot of folks. I once heard it characterized very well. It seems that one fellow was going to tell a joke to a group when one of the individuals asked; Is this a joke about an ethnic or minority group where when you reach the punch line we are all supposed to laugh and feel superior? Needless to say, the joke went no further. Very well done.
Comment Written 19-Oct-2008
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2008
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I like your story! I must remember that. Thanks so much for your most interesting and thoughtful commentary and your kind rating. Peace, Brooke :-)
Comment from Joan E.
Thank you for speaking for most of us. I too saw this appalling cartoon reprinted in our "L.A. Times," as an example of the despicable trash that has surfaced during this campaign. (I was so glad the reprint was small.)
You have made a terrific invest, also for most of us, and I can only hope it pays dividends.
(In your passion to deliver this essay, you missed a spacing problem in paragraph three and punctuation in the third paragraph from the bottom after "yet". I think there should be a comma after "But" in the next paragraph.)
Thank you again for sacrificing one of your delightful a-z poems for this important statement on behalf of our democracy.
A soulmate.
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2008
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Thank you for speaking for most of us. I too saw this appalling cartoon reprinted in our "L.A. Times," as an example of the despicable trash that has surfaced during this campaign. (I was so glad the reprint was small.)
You have made a terrific invest, also for most of us, and I can only hope it pays dividends.
(In your passion to deliver this essay, you missed a spacing problem in paragraph three and punctuation in the third paragraph from the bottom after "yet". I think there should be a comma after "But" in the next paragraph.)
Thank you again for sacrificing one of your delightful a-z poems for this important statement on behalf of our democracy.
A soulmate.
Comment Written 19-Oct-2008
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2008
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thanks so very much for your most thoughtful review :-) I appreciate your support. Peace, Brooke
Comment from Shane Marquardt
Kudos for this well written feature piece. I'm glad to see the respect you show for all races and ethnic members we have here in America.
This piece also adds to the versatility in your writing. Great job. I'm glad I read this. And I hope man others do too.
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2008
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Kudos for this well written feature piece. I'm glad to see the respect you show for all races and ethnic members we have here in America.
This piece also adds to the versatility in your writing. Great job. I'm glad I read this. And I hope man others do too.
Comment Written 19-Oct-2008
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2008
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thanks so very much - you are most thoughtful. Peace, Brooke
Comment from SunlitWhisper
Wonderful and wisdom filled write. But In all do respect it hasn't changed and it never will change. It's been this way since long before 1880 in my opinion anyway. It was there just didn't have the equipment to print it and display it as widely. Know what I mean. Only one can make it all go away and He has been working on it all we have to do it make note of it and make sure we never fall into the pit.
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2008
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Wonderful and wisdom filled write. But In all do respect it hasn't changed and it never will change. It's been this way since long before 1880 in my opinion anyway. It was there just didn't have the equipment to print it and display it as widely. Know what I mean. Only one can make it all go away and He has been working on it all we have to do it make note of it and make sure we never fall into the pit.
Comment Written 19-Oct-2008
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2008
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oh, I know - I did lots of work on pro-slavery writing and art, too - and I've read histories of racist remarks and images since the first European contacts with Africa - it is saddening. Thank you for your most thoughtful comments. :-) Brooke
Comment from Mischief's Momma
A well written and passionate essay about the state of race relations in this country.
Barack Obama certainly has the potential to be in a unique position to put some of this kind of abhorrent prejudice behind us once and for all.
Well done, great use of your dollars. One little thing I noticed from a technical standpoint I think you hit enter between "shakers" and "you name it".
Great job.
MM
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2008
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A well written and passionate essay about the state of race relations in this country.
Barack Obama certainly has the potential to be in a unique position to put some of this kind of abhorrent prejudice behind us once and for all.
Well done, great use of your dollars. One little thing I noticed from a technical standpoint I think you hit enter between "shakers" and "you name it".
Great job.
MM
Comment Written 19-Oct-2008
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2008
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thank you - I will check out the shakers/enter thing. I appreciate your thoughtful review :-)
Comment from Zolag
I saw this story on CNN as well and was completely disgusted. I'm also white but I don't think race should play into how or if we are offended by these incidents. I think that if we are to grow as a nation then these displays of racism need to be exposed to a wider audience. So they can be condemned and humiliated for their actions. Thank you for this post and giving us some back ground into the history of these stereotypes used by these bigots.
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2008
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I saw this story on CNN as well and was completely disgusted. I'm also white but I don't think race should play into how or if we are offended by these incidents. I think that if we are to grow as a nation then these displays of racism need to be exposed to a wider audience. So they can be condemned and humiliated for their actions. Thank you for this post and giving us some back ground into the history of these stereotypes used by these bigots.
Comment Written 19-Oct-2008
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2008
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thank you so much for your response - I agree, anyone of any race should be offended by any stereotyping going in any direction! thank you so much for your most generous review!
Comment from jshep
This is an exceptional piece of writing, Brooke. Your passionate outrage jumped from the screen to the reader, as it should. Your best comment "This is 2008 not 1880. Sad, sad commentary to the reality of stereo typing and racism. Kudos to you for writing this fantastic commentary, and I hope it gives some something to think about. Exceptional in it's writing and in it's message. Joyce
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2008
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This is an exceptional piece of writing, Brooke. Your passionate outrage jumped from the screen to the reader, as it should. Your best comment "This is 2008 not 1880. Sad, sad commentary to the reality of stereo typing and racism. Kudos to you for writing this fantastic commentary, and I hope it gives some something to think about. Exceptional in it's writing and in it's message. Joyce
Comment Written 19-Oct-2008
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2008
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Thank you so very much for your most thoughtful comments and your generous rating - I am honored. Peace, Brooke :-)
Comment from barbara.wilkey
I, too am amazed that these stereotypes are still around today. You would think by now they would stop. I guess some people will never get it. I do know some old timers that still carry their prejudices around with them, almost like a badge, but I would think the younger generation would realize how indecent it is.
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2008
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I, too am amazed that these stereotypes are still around today. You would think by now they would stop. I guess some people will never get it. I do know some old timers that still carry their prejudices around with them, almost like a badge, but I would think the younger generation would realize how indecent it is.
Comment Written 19-Oct-2008
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2008
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I do believe with each generation things improve, but I've also seen young people pick up their parents' prejudices - against Indian and Pakistani immigrants, against Mexican immigrants, as well as against blacks. They hear things at the dinner table and before you know it they're at school talking and even writing about dot heads. It will take a long time to rid our society of prejudice so long as some parents are total idiots! Thank you for your most kind review :-)
Comment from XCBLG
Wow! What an attention grabbing and memory prompting essay.
Your credentials and written illustrations cause the reader to stop and take notice and maybe even force a look inward.
I grew up and have lived most of my life in the deep South and have lived and worked in other parts of our country as well. Being old enough to remember life before before, during and after the 50's and 60's, I can say that the racial stereotypes reflected in your essay are fortunately hard to find. They haven't completely disappeared and are still "out there." (Far out, I hope) I too was shocked to hear that the level of ignorance reflected in the story still persists today. Nice work.
CBLG
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2008
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Wow! What an attention grabbing and memory prompting essay.
Your credentials and written illustrations cause the reader to stop and take notice and maybe even force a look inward.
I grew up and have lived most of my life in the deep South and have lived and worked in other parts of our country as well. Being old enough to remember life before before, during and after the 50's and 60's, I can say that the racial stereotypes reflected in your essay are fortunately hard to find. They haven't completely disappeared and are still "out there." (Far out, I hope) I too was shocked to hear that the level of ignorance reflected in the story still persists today. Nice work.
CBLG
Comment Written 19-Oct-2008
reply by the author on 19-Oct-2008
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Thank you for your most informative comments - what upset me most about this was that this image did not show up "Far out" but in a mainstream newsletter of a nice suburban ladies' group - probably women who gather to have tea and invite a Congressperson to speak to them. Thank you for this most thoughtful review :-) Brooke
