Not to sound racist but...

[salvorhardin]

Not to sound racist but... is this video racist?

Apparently, according to NPR's Tell Me More, there are a whole lot of YouTube commenters who think this video is racist.

In addition to millions of views, the video has gotten thousands of comments — more than 26,000, with more being added constantly. While some laud Ramsey for dealing with big — and yet, incredibly personal — issues in a mere two-minute burst, others find her video offensive.
YouTube

One claim that comes up over and over again in the comments is that a role reversal would be considered hate and not humor."

NPR Tell Me More story (listen online or download): http://www.npr.org/2012/01/12/145101169/stuff-white-girls-say-offensive-or-funny

Not to sound like a media critic but... is Tell Me More really stretching for a manufactroversy here?

[bigwillq]

1. I don't find it to be racist.

I think it's kind of funny.

[graywarrior]

2. No, I think it's humorous!

[young but wise]

3. That video is funny because it's true.

[whathehell]

8. It's no more "true" of white girls than white boys

Unless someone actually believes adolescent males to be paragons

of wisdom an political correctness.

[young but wise]

16. First of all, I'm female.

For me, it is true. I've heard things like this many times before.

[whathehell]

29. Me too...

Have you observed teenage boys to be more "pc" than girls?...I have

been around teenage boys and I can tell you for a FACT that they are not.

Girls and women are often their own worst enemies...They overvalue

males and are fast to denigrate themselves and each other...It's something

you do NOT see boys and men doing, and it's pathetic.

[Enrique]

4. no, because she means well

it's funny, there's no hate, so it's not racist.

[JoePhilly]

5. That's awesome!!!!

On SNL last weekend, the host was Charles Barkley ... and they did a fake TV show called "White People Problems" and it was hilarious.

The video above could have been an SNL SHORT video.

[salvorhardin]

6. I think it's pretty funny too

Like I said in my post, I think Tell Me More is just trying to spark a manufactroversy. Of course, that means I'm trying to create a meta-manufactroversy...

[JoePhilly]

20. Hahaha ...

I think that having folks of all races openly and honestly tease each other ... is a good thing ... its like when Eddie Murphy did an SNL bit in which he was pretending to be white ... and the banks just gave him free money ... or when Chevy Chase and Richard Prior (also on SNL) had a fake arguement in which they each slowly increased the nastiness of the racial phrases each used.

If we are ever going to be able to have serious discussions of race in this country, we will also need to be able to laugh at each other, and at ourselves, as we do so.

And that's what the real racists can't handle. When they "joke" about another race, its not a joke ... and, they are totally unable to laugh at themselves.

And that's why I think humor like this is so powerful ... it breaks down that shield of racism.

[Ecumenist]

22. True, Joephilly, so very true.

[JoePhilly]

27. Thanks!

[The Straight Story]

7. Things black woman say (video):

[hang a left]

15. What a crack up

"that bitc, say what?....Not to my face". Funny as hell!

[Ecumenist]

17. I'm a black woman and I DO NOT SPEAK LIKE THIS...EVER!!

I'm sure this is stereotype of certain type of black women and i think this is based on a certain lower socioeconomic class. Trust me. I know that I wouldn't allow the "girls" to almost jump out of my top. Tacky...

[hang a left]

18. Sorry you are offended

She's real and funny as heck! I realize we have castes. My Michael Kors purse has never stopped me from fraternizing with the lower classes as you may define them. I am a woman, maybe not a woman of color, but she doesn't offend me one bit!

[Ecumenist]

21. I'm not offended. at all. It's just the culture of hip-hop which has pervaded black culture

and people assume it applies to all of us. Personally, I HATE hip-hop. I speak very formally and enunciate very clearly. Now, when I get mad, (and I mean LIVID), I can get a bit "ghetto" but not like the girl in the snip.

[hang a left]

24. That is cool..

I get where you are coming from.

[whathehell]

30. Yeah, and I'm a white woman and I don't speak like the "girls" the original vid speaks of either. n/

[vaberella]

51. I'd throw "lower socioeconomic class" out the window.

Why because I caught several things this woman have said that I say. I have been described as a cheerleader and admittedly sound like I'm from the Valley. I do say..."Shit girl...I got to go, Maury just came on." When I have time to watch Maury. But that could be because I'm from New York and I make no apology to liberally using cuss words when with friends.

[Ecumenist]

52. Do you go around saying that you want you end a conversation because "Maury is On"?

I DON'T speak like this and I have found that those who do tend to come from a place where education and intelligence is reviled. I don't know any black folks who do speak like this. NOT ONE. I live in Northern California and am from SoCal originally, COMPTON actually. So, can't speak from you but can safely and confidently say that the ONLY folks I have run into tend to be in a lower socioeconomic class. AND they aren't exclusive to black folks.

[vaberella]

53. Actually I think you misunderstood what she was saying.

She's going by absurd comments that come out of some Black women's mouth. And yes I have been known to end a conversation on that note if I have the time. My own sister has done that to me and we're masters degree holders working on our PhD. I think it's absurd to put a socioeconomic labeling to something like that. I can throw myself into various places from the stupid things Chicks say to Gay guys to this one.

You may not speak like that...that doesn't mean others don't and it in no way suggests that these people who may speak like that...either normally or from time to time are in some way lacking an education or intelligence. It's mainly environment that plays a part and I know myself and from what I have studied when it comes to the Black community in linguistics, code-switching is part of the course. I have met many Black folks who speak in many different ways and the way that woman was speaking is not in anyway abnormal to me. Much like the videos on generalizations on how Black mothers talk or African parents talk or even Indian parents...I've seen aspects of my mum in all of them.

I find your push on socioeconomic grouping as absurd. Anyone can sound anyway for a variety of reasons. At this point in life socioeconomics has very little to do with anything considering the diffusion of culture. 400 years ago...okay. Now a days...no.

[Ecumenist]

56. I appreciate your opinion and your educational accomplishments but IDO NOT SPEAK THAT WAY

and I DO NOT KNOW ANYONE THAT DOES SPEAK THAT WAY. The only people I have ever heard speak that way were people in the areas where there are an abundance of low income housing ect AND these people aren't just black. Perhaps, where you are it's different but I'm telling you that that's how it is where I am. I was brought up to speak well and enunciate well and additionally, my friends and relatives, ( huge number, by the way AND most of them have at least a B.A. or B.S.) do too.

In fact, when we hear that people speaking that way, right or wrong, we call it "ghetto". Period. Now, they may be absurd comments but to say that black women as a group speak like this is absolutely wrong. I hate it when people assume that just because we're black we're a monolithic, homogenous group. I understand the fact that as a group 'SOME'" of us have one face we show to the world and another way of speaking in our home BUT NOT ALL OF US DO THAT!


I NEVER implied that people who speak that way are lacking in intelligence simply that the group of people are much more associated with that sort of speech and frankly, I have run into FAR MORE WHITE PEOPLE WHO SPEAK THAT WAY THAN BLACKS! Both here and Arizona!
In your experience, you may meet people who speak that way butt hat is NOT my experience. I do not know people who think it's okay to call one another "bitches" nor do we end phone conversations the way dramatised in the video. Sorry, it's not something I'm familiar with.

[whathehell]

9. It's all more a matter of teenage awkward silliness than anything else. n/t

[Motown_Johnny]

10. Yes

You can't stereotype one group of people based on race and say it isn't racist.


The comment that "a role reversal would be considered hate and not humor" is correct IMO. If a white woman made a video "Shit black girls say to white girls" it would be unacceptable.


This young lady has a right to free speech and should be allowed to do this video if she wants. The sad truth is that it won't be long until some bigots make a video just like it that attacks African Americans and when they do I hope you remember your wondering if this one was racist.

[hang a left]

13. Oh come on.....

Really?? You think it is the same thing? Untie that knot in your skivvies.

[bigwillq]

38. I would hope that folks

would find some sense of humor and get a laugh out of it if a white woman made the video you mentioned. It's a silly youtube video. Silly being the key word. I understand some folks' sensitivities, but I don't think this video had any malicious intent.

[polly7]

11. She's hilarious!

[hang a left]

12. Funny

The funniest one was where she said "can you hold on there is an Oprah rerun coming on". Lol

[Ecumenist]

14. NO, I don't think so and I've been black most of my life!

I think it's hilarious and it uncomfortably true. I have had people walk up to my and tell me I'm so beautiful, that I must have WHITE blood.. WTF??!! This is based on REAL experiences.

[hang a left]

19. That is because a lot of people are stupid

Comes in all colors.

[whathehell]

31. Correct, and they not only come in all colors, but both GENDERS too.

"white girls" are no dumber or more "racist" than "white boys"....They're just

easier to pick on, I guess.

[Charlemagne]

23. Wow

So a random youtube video makes the cut on a nationally syndicated NPR program. There is this stuff called real news. They may want to focus on that.

[salvorhardin]

25. Tell Me More isn't a hard news program

From the program description:

"Tell Me More lets me bring together two longtime passions: the intimacy and warmth you experience with powerful radio and the lively, sharp debate about things going on in the world that I enjoy having with friends of diverse backgrounds. That can mean such diverse topics as immigration, gun control, the impact of shock jocks and international adoption," said Martin. "I see Tell Me More as a gathering place for dialogue about the important issues facing the country. But we also talk about the challenges and opportunities we all face living in a fast-paced, complicated society. And we are a home for conversations with NPR News' outstanding correspondents around the world, such as Ofeibea Quist-Arcton and Juan Forero."

Tell Me More focuses on the way we live, intersect and collide in a culturally diverse world. Each day's show features a variety of segments examining U.S. and international news, ideas and people; its range of topics covers politics, faith and spirituality, the family, finance, arts and culture and lifestyle.
Link: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5046

But I agree with you. As you might intuit from my OP, and my quip upstream about me creating a meta-manufactroversy, I think they're really stretching to find something controversial.

[WingDinger]

26. Yup, racist.

[whathehell]

32. I loved "In living color"....Thought it was smarter and funnier than SNL every was. n/t

[WingDinger]

36. A lot more latitude. And, somehow independent financing.

[valerief]

43. That was a fabulous show. SNL couldn't hold a candle to it. nt

[whathehell]

45. True...

I never understood why it didn't last longer...It was super funny and smart.

One can rarely, IMO, say that about SNL which goes on forever.

[Starry Messenger]

28. I think it's awesome.

We live in a country where Arizona's state DOE just cut the funding to a major college Latino studies program because the fascist who is the DOE said it fostered resentment of white people and was therefore racist. I didn't even want to post the story here because I knew some DUers would agree with him and my heart sank.

[treestar]

33. Dumb blonde joke

She does a good impression of valley girl speak!

[theAntiRand]

34. No

[MellowDem]

35. I usually don't think racism has much to do with it...

as much as bigotry. I think a lot of people who are bigots are so because of stereotypes they hold to be true rather than ascribing to racism as an ideology.

Here's another one called "Shit Girls Say to Gay Guys"

I usually find that these videos actually poke fun at bigoted assumptions by presenting what some may not find as offensive from a different perspective, as the cameraman, putting the viewer in the shoes of a black woman or gay guy in this instance.

I don't know if I find the OP's video as funny only because I'm not a black woman and really haven't seen white girls say this kind of stuff to black women, but I bet it's funny as hell to black women who have had to deal with that situation. And, I still think it's quite funny. But being a white guy, it's not a situation I have to deal with and just haven't happened to see.

I find the one I posted to be more funny only because it's more relateable. I am not gay, but an ex-girlfriend of mine was friends with a lot of girls that would hang out with gay guys, and so much of it rang true. I remember being annoyed at some of how her friends acted towards gay guys, and I never could see myself acting in a similar or reversed way to my lesbian friend, mostly because it seemed to be somewhat offensive in some ways. There was a lot of stereotyping I guess you could say.

In a way, these videos present a bigoted idea of a white woman in the OP's video or just women who are friends with gay guys in mine, but I think this is done more to lay bare to those doing the stereotyping how it can be hurtful.

[salvorhardin]

37. That's the funniest one of these that I've seen

You're exactly right, of course. They're satire. They're poking fun at bigoted stereotypes in the same way that All In The Family did. However, I remember how back in the 1970s a lot of people took Archie Bunker seriously. There were even "Archie Bunker for President" pins and posters (bumper stickers hadn't become a "thing" yet). Times never change.

[bigwillq]

39. HA

Hadn't seen that one.
It's funny.

[tammywammy]

40. That's funny

I'm glad I don't see myself in either that one or the OP.

[valerief]

42. That's a great clip, too! nt

[Ecumenist]

46. I've heard women say things like this to gay men...and TRUST ME

I have had comment from white people similar, if not worse than the one portrayed by the woman in the first video. I have had white people walk up to me and with a straight facr tell me I was so beautiful that I must have WHITE blood...WTF? I have been told by a GROUP of older white white men , ( in their 60's), that they would love to have be WARM THEIR BED and that they would love to have a SCOOP OF MY CARAMEL...WTF??!! They actually followed me in a pack and surronded me in a half circle.

They were EXTREMELY lucky that my husband wasn't in earshot or someone would have been shot. He's Texan and Bohemian Czech. He wanted to fcuk them up, when I told him why I was seated in one area as opposed to where we had tickets to be. This was a luncheon....

[Dorian Gray]

48. Ew

those men are CREEPY! Sorry you were subjected to that bs.

[vaberella]

50. Actually you're right. n/t

[valerief]

41. Great clip! nt

[joeglow3]

44. Shit Nobody Says

http://tosh.comedycentral.com/blog/2012/01/11/shit-nobody-says/?xrs=share_fb

[laundry_queen]

54. HAHA!

That one was good, I just watched part of it on CBC but before I went to look for it on youtube I was checking out DU and here it was, LOL THANKS!

mmmm FART!

[ZombieHorde]

47. What was the lotion comment about? nt

[vaberella]

49. In honesty. Everything she mentioned has happened to me.

To many a White woman I seem to be abnormal or something and I think that's what she's pointing out. It's far from racist since I believe a good number of Black women can relate to the experiences she mentions. Anyway she's far from racist. Last I remember seeing...Chescalocs is in an interracial relationship.

[DeathToTheOil]

55. "Not to sound racist but..."

Opie, that is the very introduction to a racist comment!

[loyalsister]

57. Truth is embarrassing sometimes

I discovered some when my new neighbor introduced me to chitlins. When I told her I didn't care for them after I tasted them, she was very sad. It turned out it was extremely painful for her.

We talked about it a little, and I explained that I am pretty much excessively picky. She explained that they matter to her because it was all slaves had to eat. I had not known that for some people chitlins are a sort of tributary tradition.
I was embarrassed, because I am sure she was not upset out of nowhere. It's clear that there is experience behind it that led her to feel self conscious.
Just another example of things white people say\do that cast Black people as aliens or something. I suspect that when I was a kid I may have unknowingly said or done something just as bad. It's not always malicious but it is a disregard of humanity. As an adult I am more cognizant of my behaviors and interactions.

The girl in the video was exposing something that many if not most white people have done. Some feel retroactively embarrassed- as they should. Others feel defensive.

When that defensiveness is revealed, the controversy presents an opportunity open the door for people to evaluate their responses. Unfortunately, that take on it is pretty unpopular and no real discussion usually takes place.