Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
Tom Kenney, better known as Spongebob Squarepants, does some anthropomorphic blackface. This is when a White actor voices a Black character. Examples are the crow named Jim Crow in Dumbo, or Cleveland Brown of Family Guy.
Boston.com said the following:
"...what are we to make of Mudflap and Skids (both Kenny) [sic], a pair of shuck-and-jive Autobots who talk in ridiculous gangsta-speak. The insultingly unfunny comic relief of “Transformers,’’ they’re Jar Jar Binks times two and the first known example of robot blackface." (1)
Now, see, this article isn't just comparing something to blackface. This is an actual form of blackface. The voice that comes out is the actor's, but the face is not. The culture of the character is discernible. In this case the character is culturally Black.
But here's where they fucked up: Tom Kenney doesn't do both voices. A Black actor, named Reno Wilson voices Mudflap. So what we have here, is not only a case where blackface is used, we have another case of a Black individual perpetuating what is known as darky iconography.
So is there anything wrong with that? No. It is called comedy. Black people need to lighten up (get it?). They are way too sensitive and vocal about little non-issues. You have to let that small shit go if you want to be taken seriously on the actual issues. Especially when the real percentage count is less than fourteen, not eighty. Are you up for the downstroke CC?
It's all about how sensitive one chooses to be.
How about the name Mudflap? Why a brother gotta be MUD-flap? What's up with that.
1. Boston.com article.
Boston.com said the following:
"...what are we to make of Mudflap and Skids (both Kenny) [sic], a pair of shuck-and-jive Autobots who talk in ridiculous gangsta-speak. The insultingly unfunny comic relief of “Transformers,’’ they’re Jar Jar Binks times two and the first known example of robot blackface." (1)
Now, see, this article isn't just comparing something to blackface. This is an actual form of blackface. The voice that comes out is the actor's, but the face is not. The culture of the character is discernible. In this case the character is culturally Black.
But here's where they fucked up: Tom Kenney doesn't do both voices. A Black actor, named Reno Wilson voices Mudflap. So what we have here, is not only a case where blackface is used, we have another case of a Black individual perpetuating what is known as darky iconography.
So is there anything wrong with that? No. It is called comedy. Black people need to lighten up (get it?). They are way too sensitive and vocal about little non-issues. You have to let that small shit go if you want to be taken seriously on the actual issues. Especially when the real percentage count is less than fourteen, not eighty. Are you up for the downstroke CC?
It's all about how sensitive one chooses to be.
How about the name Mudflap? Why a brother gotta be MUD-flap? What's up with that.
1. Boston.com article.
posted by Todd Gwynn at 6/24/2009 09:44:00 AM
2 Comments:
Todd,
Thanks for your informative website. It was invaluable in fighting off the racists in my town who blew a fuse when I posted an old Halloween photo of myself in brownface on my political website. I was paying tribute to the soul singers that I worship and my political enemies used it against me. Keep up the good work.
www.georgebarich.com
STUPIDITY is no longer at excuse, Ignorant of the fact that the overwhelming majority of african americans are affended by your choice would have been a better argument. I'm of the belief that those people to whom you paid tribute to would have been even more honored knowing you, being and displaying yourself as yourself appreciated their work. After all, music is univeraland so are it's listeners. PEACE.
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home