"Black Woman in Hindsight"
As I lay in bed the other night, keeping up with my normal routine of watching an episode of Family Guy before bed with a close friend, I was caught off guard by a completely justified comment that she made about the show. A show that is not only my favorite, but one of hers as well. She laughs and says “Wow this show is so racist!” Prior to her comment, I had never really thought of what it was that most captivated me about this show, making me laugh to the point of tears nearly every episode. I realized that I am humored because of its ability to ruthlessly make fun of real current events, significant figures, and stereotypes, much like the show South Park, in a way that some could easily find outrageously offensive.
The clip from the show presented above is nothing out of the shows norm. You hear Brian (the dog) say “you’re like a black woman in hindsight” and the next 20 seconds encompasses what many would characterize as the stereotypical black woman. Two women are sitting in a beauty shop, with big hoop earrings, talking at a volume that clearly shows no respect for anyone else surrounding them. As the heavy set woman talks, sharing with her friend that she “told her so”, in an outrageously uneducated and ignorant way, she shakes her head profusely from one side to another. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t find this clip to be somewhat funny, but the fact that this woman is supposed to depict what most black women act like is quite disheartening. While some of us can fit the stereotype, just like any other race, every black woman is not loud, ignorant, and uneducated. Black women prove every day to be just as intelligent and talented as a woman from any other race, with as much potential imaginable.
Coincidentally, a friend of mine showed me this clip a few days ago, and we had the same reaction. I’ve noticed the same idea in other shows as well. For example, “The Proud Family” uses several stereotypes as part of its character formation. Characters include Zoey, the nerdy white girl; Sticky the gangster rapper-wannabe African-American boy; Oscar Proud, the outspoken and sometimes obnoxious father of Penny; the Gross sisters, a “gang-like” group of African-American girls; BeBe and CeCe Proud, the twin babies with afros; Suga Mama, the loud and feisty grandmother; Bobby Proud, the uncle obsessed with 1970s music; LaCienega Boulevardez, the “diva” who is Penny’s spoiled Latina friend; Michael, Penny’s friend who is portrayed as gay; Wizard Kelly, the basketball icon; and the list goes on. I agree that some people could be very offended by the stereotypes they see in TV characters, but at the same time, enough people laugh at them because of the ridiculousness and perhaps isolated times when they have seen similar exaggerations in reality.
ReplyDeleteFunny that you say that, the Proud Family also used to be one of my favorite shows.. I question why I watch these shows as a black woman and find them hilarious. I have recently began to wonder if this says anything about me as a person.
DeleteI agree with your point that stereotypes seem to be rampant in popular shows. What do you think this says about our society as a whole? Why when we turn on an animated show are we confronted with racism that wouldn't even be considered if the show was not animated? I think part of it may be the anonymity that animated shows provide the creators of that show, even though one can easily find out who are the writers, actors, producers, etc. People seem to be much more lenient with animated shows when it comes to what's appropriate. Do you think these shows would be as successful as they are if they weren't wildly appropriate and obscene?
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