Negative racial stereotypes are no laughing matter
Celia Anderson
Issue date: 3/25/09 Section: Opinion
I had a great weekend. Between doing poetry in front of a crowd with a vast array of ethnicities and celebrating the 50th birthday of an uncle who is happily married to an Arab woman, I awoke Monday morning an African American with a fresh outlook on race relations in Arkansas.
As I dressed for class and headed to Kimpel Hall, I had no idea things were about to change.
The entire class stood outside the door engaging in light conversation. To make a long story short, one classmate made a "joke" about how she thought it would be funny if Cracker Barrel had a "Negro Box" in which the restaurant served fried chicken, watermelon and Kool-Aid.
Shocked?
As was I. Just months after the first African-American family moved into the White House, are we still doing the fried chicken and Kool-Aid jokes?
So I ask my first question of you, the reader: what do you think happened next?
Silence, maybe?
Or possibly after noticing the look of disgust on my face, an apology?
Perhaps I sucker punched the culprit and am now looking for another university?
Well, I'm sad to say, none of the above. What followed was laughter.
Confused as to what exactly was so funny, I had to consider the source. The joke came from another African-American student.
Which brings me to my next question: is it OK for us as African Americans to continue to uphold the negative stereotypes? And in doing so, are we in a sense giving permission for people to harbor those thoughts of us or "laugh" at who they think we might be?
Imagine for a second if the student who said the comment had been of another race. I am willing to bet that there would have been no laughter at all.
I was offended by the comment, no matter who the source. Many laugh at comedians or maybe even family members who do the same kind of things.
In either of the cases, one can make an argument for the lack of education (although that doesn't even fly with me).
But at an institution of higher learning, we the educated few certainly have no excuse. There is a collective responsibility that governs us, and I for one do not find the advancement of stereotypes to be humorous.
It's not OK to reduce any race to mere generalizations for the sake of a laugh.
In my case, I did the only thing I thought was just: I said, "No, it wouldn't be funny." And with a roll of her eyes, she replied, "Well, it is to me." I can only pray she learned something from such a teachable moment.
So I pose for you my last question: will I spend an entire lifetime living above the stereotypes only to be continually shoved back into the box?
Some may say, Celia, it's really not that serious, and in the words of my infamous classmate, I say, "Well, it is to me."
Celia Anderson is a UA student, author and public speaker.
As I dressed for class and headed to Kimpel Hall, I had no idea things were about to change.
The entire class stood outside the door engaging in light conversation. To make a long story short, one classmate made a "joke" about how she thought it would be funny if Cracker Barrel had a "Negro Box" in which the restaurant served fried chicken, watermelon and Kool-Aid.
Shocked?
As was I. Just months after the first African-American family moved into the White House, are we still doing the fried chicken and Kool-Aid jokes?
So I ask my first question of you, the reader: what do you think happened next?
Silence, maybe?
Or possibly after noticing the look of disgust on my face, an apology?
Perhaps I sucker punched the culprit and am now looking for another university?
Well, I'm sad to say, none of the above. What followed was laughter.
Confused as to what exactly was so funny, I had to consider the source. The joke came from another African-American student.
Which brings me to my next question: is it OK for us as African Americans to continue to uphold the negative stereotypes? And in doing so, are we in a sense giving permission for people to harbor those thoughts of us or "laugh" at who they think we might be?
Imagine for a second if the student who said the comment had been of another race. I am willing to bet that there would have been no laughter at all.
I was offended by the comment, no matter who the source. Many laugh at comedians or maybe even family members who do the same kind of things.
In either of the cases, one can make an argument for the lack of education (although that doesn't even fly with me).
But at an institution of higher learning, we the educated few certainly have no excuse. There is a collective responsibility that governs us, and I for one do not find the advancement of stereotypes to be humorous.
It's not OK to reduce any race to mere generalizations for the sake of a laugh.
In my case, I did the only thing I thought was just: I said, "No, it wouldn't be funny." And with a roll of her eyes, she replied, "Well, it is to me." I can only pray she learned something from such a teachable moment.
So I pose for you my last question: will I spend an entire lifetime living above the stereotypes only to be continually shoved back into the box?
Some may say, Celia, it's really not that serious, and in the words of my infamous classmate, I say, "Well, it is to me."
Celia Anderson is a UA student, author and public speaker.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 14
Jeremy
posted 3/25/09 @ 6:52 AM CST
We obviously don't know and can't trust you to give a us a clear representation of how the joke was intended.
That said, there is actually benefit to be had for making jokes about stereotypes, not advancing a stereotype as you said. (Continued…)
Josh
posted 3/25/09 @ 9:02 AM CST
You didn't get the joke. the restaurant is called CRACKER barrel, and literally is the whitest restaurant in America. Second, you have to consider the forum in which you found this, the University. (Continued…)
Jeremy
posted 3/25/09 @ 5:04 PM CST
Indeed, Josh.
Counter-example: "What would you do?" on abc last night had this set up where a homosexual couple had some PDA and general playfullness and other changing surrounding circumstances: hetero couple doing the same thing nearby, same hetero couple looking disgusted (later obviously), and a vocal harasser. (Continued…)
naffel
posted 3/26/09 @ 1:21 PM CST
Here's what I don't get. Your article says that the stereotype that negroes like fried chicken, watermelon and Kool-Aid, is negative. Really, it's amoral. (Continued…)
J'
posted 3/26/09 @ 1:28 PM CST
Just for the record. It would be funny. Someone would take a picture and post it on a website. Perhaps collegehumor.com. That way other educated people could laugh at it. (Continued…)
p
posted 3/26/09 @ 8:07 PM CST
I agree, I'm offended when racist jokes are made about any race. For me a Caucasian woman, if I say a white joke then I AM giving permission to any other race to repeat the joke, if not I am a hypocrite. (Continued…)
Red the Offensible
posted 3/27/09 @ 12:11 AM CST
Me offended you offended at offense that offense for be offense.
Stop being offended people. And use you head when you label jokes. Your intimation that the cracker/negro joke is a racist joke is flawed. (Continued…)
naffel
posted 3/27/09 @ 3:52 PM CST
That's crazy, Red. It's like you're implying we should be teaching people to shore up their self-esteem, rather than stopping people from doing anything that might offend anyone. (Continued…)
BR
posted 3/28/09 @ 11:27 AM CST
Clearly, the author of this letter suffers from a severe case of insecurity and, more importantly, ignorance. She shrouds those weaknesses in a cover of "strong opinions" on other issues. (Continued…)
Mary
posted 4/04/09 @ 4:42 PM CST
Forgive them Father for they know not what they do...
The replies to this article are filled with Self Hate (the african american young lady who replied) , racism and even more privilege. (Continued…)
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