Is the VW Super Bowl commercial racist?

[Grey Fox]

This is Haiti's Tourism Minister. She's not black. She has the biggest haitian accent (in french) I've ever heard.

Sometimes, white people have traditionaly black accent because thats where they live/grew up.

[Valmy]

Incidentally, could someone explain to me why it is ok for (white) actors to use "hillbilly" or "gay" voices for comedy value, but when they use a "black" voice it is unacceptable?

Because both hillbillies and gays are also white people in many cases?

[Valmy]

This is Haiti's Tourism Minister. She's not black. She has the biggest haitian accent (in french) I've ever heard.

Sometimes, white people have traditionaly black accent because thats where they live/grew up.

Yeah I already mentioned that a certain percentage of Jamaicans are white.  But, as I said, they are not playing up a racist stereotype but a national one so I do not really get the racist angle.

[Martinus]

Incidentally, could someone explain to me why it is ok for (white) actors to use "hillbilly" or "gay" voices for comedy value, but when they use a "black" voice it is unacceptable?

Because both hillbillies and gays are also white people in many cases?

Yes but so what? Why it is alright to laugh at the way a hillbilly speaks but not ok to laugh at the way an inner city black thug speaks? I white city-dwelling comedia has as much to do culturally with the former as with the latter.

I thought you were smarter than to offer me such an obviously stupid response. 

[Valmy]

Yes but so what? Why it is alright to laugh at the way a hillbilly speaks but not ok to laugh at the way an inner city black thug speaks? I white city-dwelling comedia has as much to do culturally with the former as with the latter.

I thought you were smarter than to offer me such an obviously stupid response. 

Um it is perfectly ok to laugh at the way an inner city black thug speaks but a black person has to do the mocking.  They do all the time.  And it has to do with our, as in US, cultural history.  When black people make fun of other black people it does not bring up White Supremacist type associations.  And, come to think of it, there are some white comedians who can make fun of black people and everybody is cool with it, they just do it in a certain way that feels ok.  It is complicated but race in the US makes all of us nuts.

[CountDeMoney]

Valmy, why are you even arguing the issue of minority sensitivities to a European whose traditional national sport is Jew murdering?

[Admiral Yi]

This is Haiti's Tourism Minister. She's not black. She has the biggest haitian accent (in french) I've ever heard.

Sometimes, white people have traditionaly black accent because thats where they live/grew up.

She looks about a quarter black to me.  Maybe half.

[CountDeMoney]

She looks about a quarter black to me.  Maybe half.

She looks like a white chick that gets some sun.

[Admiral Yi]

Incidentally, could someone explain to me why it is ok for (white) actors to use "hillbilly" or "gay" voices for comedy value, but when they use a "black" voice it is unacceptable?

Partly for the reasons Valmy said, and party because those are the rules of political correctness. 

Once you have achieved Official Victimhood Status, if you say something is offensive, then it's offensive.

[Martinus]

Yes but so what? Why it is alright to laugh at the way a hillbilly speaks but not ok to laugh at the way an inner city black thug speaks? I white city-dwelling comedia has as much to do culturally with the former as with the latter.

I thought you were smarter than to offer me such an obviously stupid response. 

Um it is perfectly ok to laugh at the way an inner city black thug speaks but a black person has to do the mocking. 

Why?

[jimmy olsen]

This is Haiti's Tourism Minister. She's not black. She has the biggest haitian accent (in french) I've ever heard.

Sometimes, white people have traditionaly black accent because thats where they live/grew up.

She looks about a quarter black to me.  Maybe half.

No she doesn't.


Anyways, to change ad topics, Arab-Americans are protesting a Coke ad is racist.

http://www.nbcnews.com/business/arab-american-groups-say-coke-super-bowl-ad-racist-1B8191874

Arab-American groups say Coke Super Bowl ad is racist

Arab-American groups have sharply criticized a Coca-Cola Super Bowl ad depicting an Arab walking through the desert with a camel, and one group said it would ask the beverage giant to change it before CBS airs the game on Sunday before an expected audience of more than 100 million U.S. viewers.

"Why is it that Arabs are always shown as either oil-rich sheiks, terrorists, or belly dancers?" said Warren David, president of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, or ADC.

Coca-Cola released an online teaser of the commercial last week, showing the Arab walking through a desert. He soon sees cowboys, Las Vegas showgirls and a motley crew fashioned after the marauders of the apocalyptic "Mad Max" film race by him to reach a gigantic bottle of Coke.

In its ad, Coke asks viewers to vote online on which characters should win the race. The online site does not allow a vote for the Arab character.

"The Coke commercial for the Super Ball is racist, portraying Arabs as backward and foolish Camel Jockeys, and they have no chance to win in the world," Imam Ali Siddiqui, president of the Muslim Institute for Interfaith Studies, said in an email.

"What message is Coke sending with this?" asked Abed Ayoub, ADC's director of legal and policy affairs. "By not including the Arab in the race, it is clear that the Arab is held to a different standard when compared to the other characters in the commercial," he said.

CBS declined comment. Coca-Cola spokeswoman Lauren Thompson said Coke took a "cinematic" approach with the ad, employing the characters as a nod to movies of the past.

"Coca-Cola is an inclusive brand enjoyed by all demographics," she said in an email. "We illustrate our core values, from fun and refreshment to happiness, inspiration and optimism across all of our marketing communications."

Ayoub said ADC intended to contact Coke and CBS Corp on Thursday to "hopefully start a dialog."

"I want to know why this happened and how can we fix this if possible before Sunday," he said.

The ADC garnered attention back in 1992 when it complained that lyrics in the Walt Disney animated film "Aladdin" were racist.

Ronald Goodstein, professor at the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University, said he was surprised by the image as well. "If Coke's vision is to be an arm's distance away from every customer, why would they want to offend the Arab world?" said Goodstein.

Ayoub said the commercial could harm Coke's business with the Arab community.

"Coke should understand and respect their consumers and have a better understanding of the market they are sharing," he Ayoub.

The company has a large market share in the Middle East and North Africa, he noted, and many convenience stores and other retail outlets in the United States that offer Coke are owned by Arab-Americans.

[Valmy]

Why?

Because, as I said, if a white person does it it seems like White Supremacy more than simply making fun of how silly people are.  And since White Supremacism has been social problem #1 for centuries it tends to bring up strong emotions.

[derspiess]

Yes but so what? Why it is alright to laugh at the way a hillbilly speaks but not ok to laugh at the way an inner city black thug speaks? I white city-dwelling comedia has as much to do culturally with the former as with the latter.

I thought you were smarter than to offer me such an obviously stupid response. 

Um it is perfectly ok to laugh at the way an inner city black thug speaks but a black person has to do the mocking.  They do all the time.  And it has to do with our, as in US, cultural history.  When black people make fun of other black people it does not bring up White Supremacist type associations.  And, come to think of it, there are some white comedians who can make fun of black people and everybody is cool with it, they just do it in a certain way that feels ok.  It is complicated but race in the US makes all of us nuts.

Robin Williams always got away with it somehow.

[derspiess]

She looks about a quarter black to me.  Maybe half.

She looks like a white chick that gets some sun.

I could see 1/4.

[Admiral Yi]

She looks blacker than Blake Griffin.