When I was in high school, some boys in my class called me a cunt. I didn't know what it meant but I knew it was insulting by the way they said. I slapped them but it really hurt me when I found out what it meant. I can't really describe how I felt because that words brings up some bad and confusing feelings. I really hate that word. I guess that is what a person feels like when they are called a nigger, cracker, wetback or a guc. I don't know why they called me that; I wasn't being mean at all. But I won't make myself the victim here because I have also been the antagonizer. When I was younger, my parents and other extended family members were racist when I think about it. I didn't know and I had a fight with my male black friend. He got me really mad I called him a mayate because I remember my mom using that word. I knew it was insult but I really did not know what it was. He actually knew what it meant and our friendship suffered because of that. I vowed I wouldn't ever do that again because of the pain it caused and because of the shame I felt and still feel to this day. That is one reason I see everybody as equals, no matter what race or ethnicity they are. We all hurt the same.
I have seen some television shows adding more bi-racial couples to their shows and I think that is a major step forward. But other media, like music videos and certain movies, that promote stupid ideas of race and sexuality. Music Videos really put women down because it makes us seem like objects instead of people. Also in movies, there is always the token "black" man or other ethnic person in a movie amongst a whole bunch of "white" people. The minorities usually play a group of thugs who speak a lot of slang which promotes the idea that minorities are trouble makers. Take the 40 YEAR-OLD VIRGIN. There is only one black guy who acts according to the black man stereotype. He cheats on his girlfriend with alot of "hos" and talks in slang. It is very stereotypical and promotes certain prejudices. I love that movie though.
TV shows like SOUTH PARK or FAMILY GUY can be seen as shows that reinforce stereotypes because of all the dumb things they say. However, some see it in a good light because they both spare no one. All ethnicites and cultures are made fun of equally and that is refreshing in a way.
I don't think books promote the stereotype without an idea behind it. Usually when a prejudice or stereotype is used in a book, its usually meant to make a certain ideal more poignant.
We all need to take resposibilties for own actions and learn to think for ourselves. We can't blame media for our crappy choices all th time.
I love the 40-Year-Old Virgin too. That movie is so funny. I often make fun of the token minority in movies because the whole concept is so transparent that it reminds me of Not Another Teen Movie. That’s where I first learned the phrase “token black guy”. A good example of a film that has used the token minority would have to be The Edge. The minority character didn’t even survive halfway through the film and was the first character killed.
ReplyDeleteAnother example of the token minority is Anne Hathaway’s Rachel’s Getting Married. The Asian couple was definitely token. I didn’t really see why they were in the film. I found them to be extraneous characters. I don’t think I have really ever seen a sole non-white hanging with a group of white people to be honest. Either there’s a mix of different races and cultures or everyone sticks to their group. Having said that, I think it is normal to see a white in a group of non-whites. I can honestly say that the majority of my friends aren’t white and come from other countries. Yes, I am technically white, but I don’t look it. I relate better with them because I was raised by a foreigner.
I do agree that the media in a sense has moved forward they are equally including everyone. At the same time most shows are stereotypical. Like you said the black guy is always the one cheating on his girlfriend or doing something typical. When it is not like he had an affair because he is black. Everyone can do it. It does not matter what color you are. Slang I think is a major thing. In movies or anything it is always a black guys talking in slang or of some sort. Then you see a white person using slang (which everyone uses slang no matter what color) and they are told stop talking like a black person. People have become so stereotypical that they think that black people dress a certain way and if a white person dresses like that they are called a "wigger". I think the media causes this problem because they set such stereotypical acting and of coarse you know whatever they say; do, or show is true (Sarcasm). I do not think that it is only a problem in the media but also a problem at home. People learn from how they were raised and they watch their parents stereotype people and it affects them but as we get older we need to grow up and take control of our own lives and do not allow the media or our parent to have that control on it.
ReplyDeleteHi Jasmine! Thanks for the blog comment, I know I couldn’t believe the little girl said that. Though if she did say skeet, skeet, skeet I would’ve had to laugh, as bad as that may sound. I really enjoyed reading your blog, we seem to have a few things in common. Its crazy how words can stick with us whether we can understand it or not. Even our parents may not understand exactly what they’re doing, but it has sort of conditioned us to speak they’re language. I suppose it’s a good thing we learn the proper uses even if it is the hard way. I also think you brought up a good point about these comedy shows popularizing the use of stereotypes. Yet at the same time I think they’re using there satires to show in some cases how ridiculous we can be. An over dramatic stereotype is only means of getting your attention and proving a point in humor. Some people take it the wrong way, rather than seeing the funny ironic portion to it. They see confrontation of the truth, I think the key is choice. We have the choice in many things in this life and we need to be open to the truth.
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