Saturday, December 18, 2010

Are Magazines Corrupting the Image of African Americans?

There has been a great deal of controversy behind magazines that when they have a famous African American on the cover that they may take full advantage of or slightly change their image to make them look even darker than they normally are or lighter. This has happened with OJ Simpson when he was on the cover of Times magazine and Gabourey Sidibe when she was on the cover of Elle magazine. Both of these celebrities whether they think so or not, were victims of what the media wanted them to be or what the media wanted to portray what they think they are.


Gabourey Sidibe was nominated for an Oscar for best supporting actress for her very first film Precious which is based off a novel called Push by Sapphire. After Gabourey had gotten her Oscar nod (though she didn't win. She started to appear on TV shows, late night talk shows and was the comedic host for SNL. Gabourey started to make a name for herself as she entered into fame. Unfortunately, controversy and stereotypes about her weight started to emerge though the talk about her weight and he dark skinned never seemed to bring her down or bother her as most celebrities would have been bothered by the mere talk of something so sensitive. She ended up being on the front cover of Elle magazine which is a magazine that isn't traditionally known fro have an African American on the cover. Not a full figured dark skinned woman anyway. As much as Elle does not want to admit but there is no way Gabourey's skin is that light. Below are the pictures that you can definitely see the difference in.


OJ Simpson on the other hand is the complete opposite of what happened to Gabourey Sidibe. We all know the story of OJ Simpson and how he was put on trial for killing his wife and the supposed to be "lover" which technically was the motive, but of course he was acquitted of all charges after the only piece of evidence that the plaintiffs were the going with were the gloves that were left at the murder scene. OJ Simpson was once on the cover of TIME magazine and on the cover the photograph seemed particularly dark. NewsWeek and TIME had released both their issues of the OJ Simpson story around the same time and both had different pictures.


Overall, these are just a few examples of how the media alters images for them to look a certain a way.

Take the quiz about the blog.





Friday, December 17, 2010

President Obama: The End of Black Stereotypes???

President Barack Obama is probably the main African American that has the most stereotypes. There are a lot of stereotypical images, shirts and posters that portray him as the standard black stereotypes with big lips and big ears, etc. But there was once a lot of talk about Barack Obama becoming the end of black stereotypes. Here is an article that I've come across that that talk about the subject.

Is Barack Obama the End of Black Stereotypes

Monday, December 13, 2010

Acting Black Part 2

As I talked about in previous blogs, there are a lot of stereotype in movies. Whether its portray African Americans a certain way or portraying blonds a certain way, they are all stereotypes. This entry could easily fit into my "Acting Black" blog. Malibu's Most Wanted along with White Chicks is the most stereotypical movie you could ever watch but yet it is so funny. Personally, I don't take offense to movies like White Chicks, Malibu's Most Wanted or Tropic Thunder or any movies that makes fun of black stereotypes because all that it shows it how ridiculous those stereotypes are. I have you the definition of what a lot of African American believe is "acting black". Malibu's Most Wanted is a prime visual example of what is "acting black". The only thing wrong is that no white person really acts this way, even if they did grow up in a predominantly  black neighborhood.

Jamie Kennedy plays the son of a rich and wealthy politician who is running for governor in the state of California. Jamie Kennedy's character portrays what black would call "acting black". His exposure to the hip-hop/black community (BET, VH1, MTV) is a concern to his father's campaign because his campaign thinks that his son, by the way he "acts", could ruin his chances. The campaign hires two black actors who doesn't know anything about the black community or urban life, to pose as gang bangers and kidnap Jamie Kennedy's character. They want him to see what really urban life is like and maybe scare him enough to act how he is supposed to act in a white family of wealth.

It is a funny movie and like I said before it is a bit extreme being that no real white person act like that that really grew up in an urban setting, but the extremity of the situation makes the movie what it is. Here is a clip of movie below.


 

Black Face vs. White Face

Black face was a popular way of portraying African Americans in plays. At this time African American were not allowed to act in plays, so whites would use black paint to portray the image of an African American. I believe this is when the first stereotypes of African American began. Actors who would play the black face role would portray African Americans as violent or ignorant. A lot of African Americans today are still uncomfortable with the fact that every movie or TV show portray an African American as violent, ignorant, grew up in a broken home, living in a "ghetto" neighborhood, are drug dealers or are the first one's killed in horror films. Though a lot of African American comedians joke about blacks always being the first ones killed in horror films is still a fact that leaves a lot of blacks thinking "Hey, what's up with that?"


Well, there has been a turn around in one particular film that I love watching occasionally and as goofy or buffoonery as it may be. I probably never laughed so hard while watching a movie. This movie is called White Chicks and it was written, directed and produced by the Wayans Brothers. The Wayans Brothers are known for the original Scary Movie 1 & 2 movies where they make fun of all the block buster movies of that year and turn it into one big comedic-horror film. White Chicks on the other takes the whole stereotype of a dumb blond to a whole other level. Shawn and Marlon Wayans plays two undercover cops who goes extremely undercover to pose as two rich, young, naive and ignorant white women and, of course, the rest is history. I did find it a bit extreme for the most part but it was one of those things where you couldn't help but to laugh. It was ridiculously funny even though they looked very horrible as two white women as oppose to Robert Downey Jr. who looked amazingly good as black man in Tropic Thunder.


We have come a long way in history for the roles to be switched where two African Americans put on a white face with little or no controversy what-so-ever. It was very interesting to witness something like this. Stereotypes are made fun of by comedians every day to lighten the mood about the issue and I believe that it is a good way to show how ridiculous all stereotypes really are. Here is a YouTube clip below of the movie White Chicks. There are some scenes that are a bit explicit.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Timeline: African American History in the 20th Century

So far my blog posts has been about African American stereotypes. So I just wanted to take a step back from the things I've been writing and create something a bit more historical, entertaining and something that doesn't deal with African Americans and how they are portrayed. I created a simple time line that shows African American History from the 1900s-2000. I displayed one interesting event in each decade. I thought it would be interesting to just stray away from the usual things I've been writing. Hope you enjoy.

 

Monday, December 6, 2010

How Do You Feel About Stereotypes & Racism in Today's Society Survey

Though my blog has been specifically about African American stereotypes, I have decided to make a survey about what are the opinions of people in today's society about stereotypes and and even racism. It may seem that African Americans get more stereotypes and racial remarks than any other race or culture, but that is only because it has been depicted as so for a very long time in the media. Take the survey and see the percentage of how many people may actually have the same opinion about the topic than you do.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Williams Syndrome aka WS

I came across an article that talks about how there are a group of children or people that do not seem to form racial stereotypes about anyone. I first I found that highly impossible because everyone has some knows of some sort of stereotype about another culture or race. But they weren't talking about just any people. They were talking about specifically children. Children who have a neuro-developmental disorder called Willimas Syndrome are "overly-friendly" and does not "develop negative attitudes about other ethnic groups, even though they show patterns of gender stereotyping found in other children." Click the link to check out the article. It's pretty interesting.

Children who Form no Racial Stereotypes

Good Times Series

I was watching Good Times, which was an African American sitcom based in the city of Chicago in the projects, and something dawned on me, no only is this a very stereotyped sitcom but it's also a very "not-true" stereotyped sitcom. What I mean is that the Evans Family, who are, of course, the main characters in the series, are predicted as strong, loving supporting black family, as every family should be, but to me it seems the way they are depicted as being happy in the projects troubles me. The sitcom does portray a hint of "settling for less", but other than that, it also depicts though, never shown in the series, how blacks fall victim into living in the projects. They fall victim to warfare, mugging, crimes and other sort. The sitcom started to be known as domestic comedy, but there was always comic relief with the oldest son of the Evans family J.J. Evans played by Jimmie Walker. Check out the link to an article about Good Times and a video clip.


Friday, November 19, 2010

What is "Acting Black"?

"Acting black" is term used when a white person is portraying the image of an African American. It could be from, clothes, the way the talk, walk, live etc. There so many ridiculous ways to determine if someone is acting black and it's actually the most dumbest stereotype.

I created a video/interview of a very good friend of mine in which I went to high school and college with. Since the first time I met him, he always got comments about the way he dressed and that he was "acting black" which he is far from the actual meaning of the phrase. Check it out. He can definitely explain it better than I can.





Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Stereotype at its Best?... I'll Explain...

Being stereotyped for the color of your skin, how you talk, act, etc. is, of course, not a good thing. I think I might have established that plenty of times in the blogs that I have written so far, but (there is a but), I'm going to have to make one exception to this theory. Most if not all, are familiar with the movie Tropic Thunder. Robert Downey Jr. plays an Australian actor in the movie named Kirk Lazarus who under goes a procedure to darken his skin to play an African American soldier. Robert Downey Jr.'s character takes black stereotypes to the extreme, but it so hilariously funny. Most would get offended but a few friends of mine absolutely loved the movie particularly Downey Jr.s character. I must agree, Downey Jr. is a very good actor and it seems like he could possibly be the only one to get away with a role like this. I say this is a stereotype at its best because it didn't make me feel any type of way. It didn't make me feel angry or upset. I guess because you can see the seriousness of the role to this character Kirk Lazarus. He's really into character and is striving to be the best actor, but also loses himself into his character. I guess the point I'm trying to make is that even though Jr. played a walking stereotype that it was shown or portrayed negatively. It wasn't to make fun of, even though the movie is a comedy. Tropic Thunder also stars Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Brandon T. Jackson and Tom Cruise. Check the out the video clip.

Robert Downey Jr. talks about Tropic Thunder and the stereotype of playing an African American.



A clip of Robert Downey Jr. in as Kirk Lazarus in Tropic Thunder.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Racial Slurs I NEVER Heard of




There are a lot of ethnic slur used to stereotypes a certain race. There are not just used on African American, even though the N-word is at the top of the list. Different cultural and ethnic backgrounds has just as many ethnic slurs than African American. Ethnic slurs are derogatory terms used to insult a certain race or culture. There are a lot of ethnic slurs that are used among people of the same race as well. For instance: In the American Indian culture, there is term used amongst themselves when someone of their culture has lost touch with their cultural identity. The term for this is called "Apple"; being red on the out side but white on the inside. There are actually a lot of ethnic slurs used for and among African Americans that I have never heard of. Some of the slurs were used along time and no longer are said in today's society, some are freshly new or are aware of and some slurs were formed from the UK.  Some of them, I must admit, are very ridiculous.Here are some ethnic slurs that I found for African Americans or any person of African descent. "UK" will be by the ones that originated from the UK.

Alligator Bait -  also "Gator Bait." A black person, especially a black child. More commonly used in states where alligators are found, particularly Florida. First used in the early 20th century, although some hypothesize the term originated in the late 19th century.

Ann - black woman who acts too much like a white one. While Miss Ann, also just plain Ann, is a derisive reference to the white woman, by extension it is applied to any black woman who puts on airs and tries to act like Miss Ann.

Ape - a black person.

Aunt Jemima - a black woman who "kisses up" to whites, a "sellout," female counterpart of Uncle Tom

Bluegum - An offensive slur used by some United States white southerners for an African-American perceived as being lazy and who refuses to work.

Buffie - black person; a young, brown-skinned person (1940s-1950s).

Crow - a black person; a black woman.

Darky - Used as a term for a black person, which may cause offense. In South Africa, however, it is not considered either racist or offensive, but is quite acceptable.

Eight Ball - A Negro; slang, usually used disparagingly. 

Gable - a black person.

Golliwog (UK)- A predominately UK expression which originally was a children's literature character and type of black doll but which eventually became to be used as a jibe against people with dark skins, most commonly Afro-Caribbeans.

House N-word - A derogatory term for affluent or highly educated African-Americans. Derived from the fact that African slaves who worked in the homes of their masters gained their favor, and were able to advance socially by reporting suspicious slaves and or activity.

Jigaboo (UK) - a black person with stereotypical black features (e.g. dark skin, wide nose, and big lips). 

And I think you get the idea. These are just a few listed and there are so much more that I have read that are ultimately ridiculous. 

 

 

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

For Colored Girls... Did Tyler Perry Butcher the Famous yet Beautiful Work of Ntozake Shange?



So I seen the movie For Colored Girls this past Monday and before I go off to the opinions of the media and critics on what they think of the movie, I will first express my own opinion. I am very familiar with Ntozake Shange's original work which is titled For Colored Girl who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf. I also have seen the stage production in which I absolutely loved. I believe Tyler Perry's adaption of this poetic play was visually successful being that the original isn't so visual. Tyler Perry definitely portrayed each women perfectly according to their color. I honestly believe that Tyler did a fairly good job at of the adaption.

Here is where my criticism and only criticism comes in at. The Color Purple is one of my favorite novels and I think Steven Spielberg did an absolutely excellent job of the adaption of Alice Walker's novel. Every key point and important part of the novel was in the movie which made it very strong. Unfortunately, I do not think Tyler Perry did all that he was supposed to do for this movie like Spielberg did in The Color Purple. But Tyler did stay remotely true to the ChoreoPoems of Shange's work in the film which I absolutely love.

Critics are very skeptical at the approach that Perry decided to take with the adaption of the play. Most think most or all of Tyler Perry's movies portray black men in a negative light including this movie. With this movie in particular, I have to disagree with critics but in other movies that Perry had written, directed and produced I haves seen the trend where Perry does portray black men in such negative ways.

This movie overall is a powerful movie. Some of the situations that takes place both in the play and, of course more emphasized in the movie, are pretty much to the truth on what goes on in African American communities and to other women in similar communities through the world. The movie does make you rethink a lot of things and leaves you to wonder and to sympathize for every girl who goes through the pain that was portrayed in this movie. The movie Trailer is even powerful which made me really want to go see the movie for myself. There were some things that could have been brought forth to the movie, but kudos to Tyler Perry.



 

Positive = Negative for the 1st Lady

Recently, Michelle Obama traveled to New Delhi to meet several privileged girls who are attending school. Most of the girls she visited with are the first girls to attend school in their, being the the standards in New Delhi are completely different in America. The girls were asking innocent questions about how women are treated in America as opposed to how women are treated in America. I must admit some of her answers were a bit odd being that she was in a different country where sexism is part of their culture. I myself, didn't want the First Lady to be ridiculed as a dictator pf some sort, but of course she was. The comments that spilled over the supposed to be positive article where that  racist, ignorant and stereotypical comments by non supporters of the Obama Administration. I saw the article in a positive light, but of course race and stereotypes must be the foreshadow of something positive. It disgust me reading the comments posted about this article. Check out the article and read the comments posts. It's a shame how there are still racism in out country.


Michelle Joins School Girls in New Delhi

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

SRU BLU3Z




This is my first audio blog about a stereotypical experience that I had when I went to Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. Listen. Tell me what you think.



audio for blog sound clip
audio for blog sound clip


The stereotypes that were presented to me when I was at Slippery Rock University were the most I have ever received in my whole entire life. I lived in a double suite in the dorms that they just built. I had three roommates who were all very cool, but they were a big part of the reason why I left Slippery Rock in the first place.

On move in day, I already felt kind of out of place, but I sucked it up and told myself that this was college, and I needed to make new friends especially with my roomies. As the days and the weeks went by, I started to realize that my roommates were starting to to get a little too comfortable; meaning that some things they would ask me were getting a little out of hand. At first I didn't mind because I looked at as them being curious and asking innocent questions, but after a while, I started to feel like a science project. They were studying me a bit too hard and after a while I started to get uncomfortable with it.
My roommate's boyfriend everyday would ask me "Could you teach me how to dance? I know you know that new Soulja Boy dance?" It started getting repetitive. I told him, "You know, we don't all know how to dance?" He says, "Sure you all do or at least have rhythm." I remember y closest roommate Jo had asked me could I fight some girl that she had just so happened to run into on campus. She said that this girl stole her boyfriend in high school and so on and so fourth. I guess she assumed that we could fight too or at least that's what we are known for. I liked her a lot though, and I don't think she meant anything by what she said, but at the same time it was hard to put a smile on my face and laugh about it late after that comment.

Certain questions like "Do all blacks eat fried chicken, Kool-Aid, Watermelon, etc" were getting so old and tiring, and I honestly got sick of it. My roommates and I started to have a lot of issues. A lot of the issues were amongst themselves, but mine with them were the constant questions about me like I was foreign. Our RA even sat down with us one time to straighten out any issues that we were having with each other, but it didn't work.

By December of '07, I had already withdrawn from the university, sold all my books back and transferred to Point Park University. When finals were over and our winter vacation began, I packed every last one of my things and moved back home ready to start my spring semester at a better, more diverse, non-ignorant university. That is my Slippery Rock blues. 

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Blaxploitation


Blaxploitation films are the King and Queen of black stereotypes. They were made for the urban African Americans. Most Blaxploitation films takes place in a typical "ghetto" setting and mostly involves drug-dealing, pimps and hit men. These films are switched in context with other types of films. In these films, African Americans use a lot of of ethnic slurs and a lot of the white actors in these films are portrayed as crooked cops, politicians and prostitutes. There were some blaxploitation films that were set in south. Those films set on a plantation and dealt with slavery and segregation.One of the most famous blaxploitation actress was Pam Grier.

The Boondocks


The Boondocks, which is an African American anime-type cartoon, aired only on Adult-Swim on Cartoon Network, is the most stereotyped, black-political and controversial cartoon show ever. Well, maybe not "ever" but its one out of the many that are aired regularly. The show is based around two brothers named Riley and Huey and their grandfather, who moved the two boys to a predominately white neighborhood after their parents had passed away. The show strictly but humorously based around the types of things that African Americans may go through on a day to day basis and the stereotypes that may follow. Riley is the stereotypical black boy portrayed in the media, Huey is the one that tries to keep the peace and follows his "black" values as an African American. Granddad, as the boy calls him, tries to fit in with the predominately white neighbors and tries to raise the boys properly and not like "hoodlums", but yet Granddad has his own stereotypical personality as an elderly black man. Another character in the show named Uncle Ruckus, loves the grounds white people walk on and put them high up on the pedestal above his own, yet he is "black as the night"... weird huh?

Though some portrayal of stereotypes can get out of hand in the media, this is the only show I love to watch where there are tons of ridiculous stereotypes against African Americans but yet at the end or while you are watching the show there is always some moral or value behind the story. I honestly believe that this show may be a mind opener to some who are "curious" about African Americans. It may make fun of the stereotypes presented but I look at it as completely educational despite the constant cursing, sexual content and the extreme use of the N-word. 

When Aaron McGruder, creator and writer of The Boondocks comic strips before it became a cartoon, he had a lot of trouble trying to get his idea for a cartoon pitched to several cable networks including BET because of the content and the use of the N-word. It was then approved to air on Cartoon Network on Adult-Swim where the N-word could be used but words such as the F-word could not be used.

Below is a clip mashed together with several episodes of The Boondocks to give you an idea of what the show is about and how it is portrays. There are explicit content and cursing in the episode just to give you a fair warning.




Black Men Fighting Stereotypes

Black men are portrayed as violent, criminals and ignorant. Unfortunately the African American community isn't doing a very good job of cleaning up how the world views black men. The music, the movies and even some TV shows show the world how black men are when most are not the way that the media portray them. In a Washington Post article written in 2006 it discuss the point of view of African American men and how they are  automatically perceived by both whites and black when they act or speak "proper". Click the link below and take a look.

Black Men Quietly Combating Stereotypes 

 

History of Black Stereotypes

Stereotypes are generalizations of a certain race or group of people. Stereotypes originated from the colonial days of settlement, but African American stereotypes started in the 19th century when actors for minstrel theater would portray African American in black face. They would paint their faces in black paint and portray African Americans in obnoxious, ignorant and naive ways.

Today, blacks are portrayed as poor, lazy, violent and criminals. Black are also portrayed as to love eating fried chicken and Kool-Aid.

Of course, we all know that this isn't true, but I think we're the only race that has to keep fighting to defend our culture. Even though some stereotypes are not true and they maybe used for a good laugh most of the time, but the more its enforced the more people are going to look at African Americans as loud, rude, "ghetto", ignorant, criminals and violent.

A Bit Extreme?

On YouTube, there are a series of videos by a group of actors or a guy named Reckless Tortuga. I've been watching several of his videos and I really don't know what to make of them. They are obviously making fun of the ridiculous stereotypes that are presented against African American and they are doing it in a very funny way. I don't know what to make of these videos. The first video I seen was funny, so was the second, third and fourth video I seen made by these actors. After awhile, the videos just stopped being funny and I started to think that the main African American actor is stretching the stereotypes a bit too much, at least that is my opinion. You make the judgment.







Saturday, October 30, 2010

Black Stereotypes in Old Films & Cartoons

I recently came across a creative YouTube video that depicts black stereotypes in old films and cartoons in many different ways. It's definitely a mind opener and the video builds its unique way of combining different clips into one video. To give a quick insight, the video shows the typical stereotypes that cartoon animators and film directors use to depict African American stereotypes. Such as all black eat watermelon, fried chicken etc. Check it out below.

 

What Makes Black Men Happy???

Now this a stereotype within itself that black women cringe when they hear or read something like this. It automatically says "Hey black women! You're not doing your job." I believe that black women are often attacked by this statement and the worst statement of all which is constantly said by our black men "White women know how to treat a man" or something of that sort. It terrorizes black women because till this day black women still feel like white women are put on a pedestal especially b our black men when they fail to realize that they were hung, killed and humiliated if they were ever seen looking at a white woman the wrong way. I'm not saying that I don't believe in interracial dating; I'm all for it, but its the fact that we are still bashed for being strict and not as submissive as men want us to be; because we're more independent than most and prefer not to be a house wife. The Essence magazine had three gorgeous successful black men on their cover with the title "What Makes Black Men Happy". I didn't bother to read in between the lines of this statement but the more I thought about it the more I began to think that this maybe a stereotype towards black women that they don't know how to treat or keep a "black" man. Maybe I would have felt a bit more comfortable if the title said "What Makes Men Happy" in general. That way it would have been directed to all women instead of just black women. It is a black magazine, but it's also a magazine that could be read by all. Instead of three black men, why not Will Smith, Adam Rodriquez and Justin Timberlake, that way the statement could be directed to all types of women rather than just one.

Monday, October 4, 2010

L.O.D. (Loud , Obnoxious, Disruptive)

My dad took me and my two older sisters to the movies on Saturday at the Pittsburgh Mills mall. My oldest sister is 29, my other sister is 25 and I'm 21. We are all four years apart. We also had my 10-year-old niece with us as well. As we are giving the employee our tickets to enter into the theater another employee, who seems to be the manager, stopped all of us from going into the theater and asked my dad "Are you leaving all of them alone in the theater?" We all looked at each other confused. My dad ask "Well, what do you mean?" The manager then replied "I'm sorry sir but you can't leave them alone or unintended for they might disrupt other audiences." We were shocked. I do admit we were a little loud, but we were having fun as sisters, as family should. But I think we all had decency and home training to know not to be loud in the movie theater. I mean really! My dad looked at the manager and told her that these were his daughters and that she(pointing to my niece) were his granddaughter. "They're all grown. She's 29, she's 25 and she's 21. And my granddaughter is 10," my dad said. "Oh, I'm sorry," the manager said. She let us through and we proceeded to walk through.

I couldn't believe what had happened and unfortunately I do blame the media for portraying African Americans as loud, obnoxious and disruptive. Kind of like how the Antoine Dodson story was portrayed. There is some truth to it and it depends on how some were raised, but that's not an excuse to assume that all African Americans are this way. We didn't let the minor situation get to us and we enjoyed the movie. I think my dad might have been still upset about it but he let it blow over and at times you have to.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Hide Ya Kids, Hide Ya Wife

The first time I read and seen this news story, I couldn't help but to laugh. But that was the part that was so horrible to me, I laughed. This story was meant to be broadcast for sympathy and to review the harsh realities of our world today. This was a story for the family of this woman to vent, express their anger and fear and to somehow get the criminal caught. You watch things like this and think to yourself "Wow, I feel so sorry for this girl." Now The girl and her brother, especially the brother who expressed his opinion over the news very colorful, loudly and obnoxiously, are now he talk of the nation. The first video is the original news broadcast of the story. Seems normal right? But then some group guys thought it was entertaining to twist the video and make into something huge... nationally huge. Antoine Dodson and his sister Kelly Dodson became internet stars over night after the group of guys auto tuned their voices and and made their own music video out of it. 

I must admit that it was funny, but a lot of comments circulated around the video explaining that it is exploiting the family and that the people that made the video turned it into something unnecessary when it was a supposed to be a tragic thing. In light of the situation, Antoine and Kelly both get money for the sales of the song being purchase on iTunes and the merchandise that are now selling like T-shirts. I believe something good came out of the situation whereas a lot of the black community thinks it exploits and stereotype the situation especially because the guys that made the video are Caucasian.