(NAME-MCE) Name-mce Digest, Vol 737, Issue 1

[Crawford Steve]

Thank you for your reply, Teja.

I think it always matters who produces a cultural product, and who  
performs in it, as well as who the intended audience is. I wonder  
whether the actors in the production felt they were participating in  
and perpetuating stereotypes. But I also agree that the light versus  
dark contrast has been symbolically applied throughout global history,  
and that this has been a featured aspect of media both consciously and  
unconsciously.

I think that today there stands a very good chance that much if not  
most of the public would have accepted the reversed roles as you  
proposed. Acknowledging the noisy exceptions, we are reaching a point  
where race and ethnicity is less an issue than it used to be. This  
means that we are also at a point where, operating from a more  
balanced viewpoint, we need to be critical of situations where we do  
perceive inequity. But this should be a case-by-case process wherein,  
as in this case, the producers are brought into the conversation and  
the process. The ideas and concerns that you raise are very important,  
but I think we should refrain from convicting someone without due  
process. For this reason I propose that we bring the producers into  
the discussion and see what their thoughts are about it. This is risky  
but this is where change takes place. Anything could happen, but I  
feel that whatever does happen will advance everyone's perspectives  
and world views. I am also curious to know what the producers might  
say about it. If the issue is simply about being "unaware," as you put  
it, then perhaps we should obligate ourselves to help make them aware.  
So if you wish I can from Finland contact the producers and ask if  
they would like to address the issue. If you would like to do so, just  
let me know. If not, we can let the opportunity pass by this time  
around.

Steve Crawford


On Feb 17, 2008, at 7:00 PM, Name-mce-request at nameorg.org wrote:

> Message: 1
> Date: Sat, 16 Feb 2008 17:09:24 -0500
> From: Teja Arboleda <Teja at EntertainingDiversity.com>
> Subject: (NAME-MCE) GodTube response from Teja
> To: <name-mce at nameorg.org>
> Message-ID: <C3DCC944.AD07%Teja at EntertainingDiversity.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="US-ASCII"
>
> I appreciate the reflections on the GodTube video link I posted. It  
> almost
> doesn't matter who produced it, and who performed in it. What  
> matters to me
> is the perpetuation of images of dark skinned people being the bad  
> ones.
> This is a world-wide issue, has been for a long time, and will be for
> generations. I went to a Catholic school in Japan - we represented 64
> nationalities, and whenever we had a Christian based school play,  
> Jesus was
> always White and Blond, and Judas always was dark with black hair.  
> In this
> particular GodTube video, the dark-skinned man was throwing money at  
> the
> White 'victim', and the dark skinned woman sauntered around as  
> 'temptation'.
> Even James Earl Jones who I interviewed for PBS years ago said that  
> as a
> Black man, it's important to get powerful roles, like any actor  
> should, but
> the consistency of Black characters who are bad is overwhelming,  
> worldwide.
> Check out Japan and Germany  - you'll know what I'm talking about.  
> So, let's
> switch it around. Do you think this video would have been as  
> acceptable and
> effective to the general public if the 'victim' was the Black woman,  
> better
> yet, the Black man, or the Black man throwing the money around  
> played our
> main character, the savior? Probably not because the world is taught
> differently. It is OUR job as educators to look at all media  
> critically
> because we HAVE to. I'm not saying the producers did any of this
> intentionally, nor am saying they are bad, irresponsible or even  
> racist
> people. Just unaware.