AIBU to think that this is racist?

[usainboltsleotard]

Genuinely don't know if I am being over sensitive and want to hear your views. I name changed because this will identify me to anyone who knows me. (don't mind if people I know see this and I will discuss in RL but some of my other threads/responses are a different matter!)

I live in an area where people are very careful about racism/sexism/homophobia etc. It is one of the reasons we chose to live here, multicultural and positive attitude to different ways of life.

Last year my DD came home refusing to take part in the Nativity play at school because it was racist. I asked for a copy if the script and it featured '3 Rastas" instead of 3 wise men (amongst others 'hilarious' adaptations), with comedy dreadlocks and Jamaican accents. They brought coconuts, jerk chicken and a bob Marley CD to baby Jesus. The parts were played by 3 white children and no one else seemed to have any problem with it. I asked the teacher organising and was told it wasn't racist so we just took our daughter out for the days of the play and ignored it.

Yesterday in the town square there was a woman (white middle aged hippy-type clothing) busking singing Bob Marley covers in a cod Jamaican accent. I found it really surprising that when I mentioned it to 2 friends I was with, the saw no problem with it. I asked them they would view it if it was an Indian or Chinese accent and they said that was different but shrugged and laughed when I asked why? (very lighthearted conversation they weren't being unpleasant)

I am genuinely not sure if I am missing something/being over sensitive because I spent my childhood between Jamaica and the Uk and have many Jamaican relatives who are diverse and fantastic people or whether there is an acceptance of racism (certainly not any form of attack or degradation - just a reinforcement of cultural stereotypes and oversimplification of a rich and diverse culture) against some groups and not others.

Sorry if this is ramble - I've been up half then night with a very elderly poorly relative and am probably over thinking things!

Maybe they were doing old music hall impressions?

ladyfairfax - it wasn't in Kent no, there must be an outbreak of it! Run, fast, save yourself!!

They can do old music hall songs but the whole we are chirpy cockneys happy to be poor and doff our caps is patronising and seemed more so given the children's backgrounds

And impersonation certainly can be racist and often is unless those impersonating my dads/aunts/uncles are speaking that way so as they can be better understood

I'd say the most insulting thing about this is the hacking around of one of the most important part of many people's religion to try and be trendy. Either perform the nativity as per Luke's Gospel or have a Santa play. If anything is being culturally appropriated here and insulted it's the Christian religion. Lmao though about someone calling Rastamouse racist!

Incidentally like a pp earlier in the thread I always felt a bit about Rasta Mouse. I mean you wouldn't see a kids tv show called Jew Mouse or Muslim Mouse.

I don't really like white people singing a change is gonna come tbh, although I swear I heard it on x factor or something the other day. I think Redemption Song, Buffalo soldier and other freedom / slavery songs should be avoided by white people. You wouldn't hear a British person singing men behind the wire or other irish rebel songs fgs, although I guess many quite happily sing along with Bloody Sunday..

junior - that was it! She sang Redemption Song then The Israelites then Buffalo Soldier - it was cringeworthy to me but no one else seemed to notice!

I do not understand why Rastafarianism is coddled and treated as some cute exotic lifestyle, it is racist, homophobic and patriarchal.

Now before you try and bore me with your extensive knowledge gained from a mouse, consider:

babylon is the ultimate evil
blacks are the chosen people
women should submit to make leadership
menstruation is unclean
no contraception or abortion

Tell me you would swoon over this if white men were doing this

Well, I do have lots of friends and contacts who have an affinity with some aspects of Rastafarianism, but I could bet your bottom dollar that the crass caracature in the nativity play was a racist construct by someone who thinks that it is, basically, a hairstyle.

whether you agree with rastas
it is a religion and this play is horrible, making fun of any religion
is wrong.the ones i know don't even believe in jc as anything more than a teacher and rebel

I do not understand why Rastafarianism is coddled and treated as some cute exotic lifestyle, it is racist, homophobic and patriarchal

Unlike Christianity, Judaism, Islam, oh, hang on.

It is a black nationalist religion, like the Nation of Islam. Yes, it has ended up in the wrong place, but anyone with a passing knowledge of history has to have some compassion for the suffering that took them there.

Still no excuse for the misogyny though, obviously.

ffs. (at the school)

it has upset you. it has upset your daughter. I think you are in a good position to judge whether it is racist. just because the majority in school think it isn't does not make it not racist. (being "just" insensitve to other cultures/races/religions (as other posters are implying it is not racist) would be enough to make it wrong too)

it sounds like it is taking the piss out of both jamaicans and the christian nativity story.

Shocked at the nativity thing can't believe someone came up with their idea

The woman singing Bob Marley songs - Id have found the JA accent offensive and more than cringeworthy.

In fact Im in cringe mode about that play now as if parts played by 3 white children they must have been wearing dreadlox wigs musn't they..?

Im not shocked though. When it comes to mockery or appropriation, the Caribbean is and always has been fair game.

Regina; but like many followers of those other religions, Rastas don't always sign up to every aspect. There was a big push by women to confront the subservient woman stuff, and none of the Rasta-influenced people I know have any truck with it. They like the focus in spiritual strength as a black person and the approach to clean eating (Ital.

I don't know anything about the current Rasta practice in Jamaica, but where I live I see far fewer old-style Rastas than I did in the 80s. It seems to be declining.

But then again, there is the constant threat from Rasta Anti-Babylon Terrorists, the Rastas in government imposing their laws on us, and, worry that in their racist nationalist zeal they might repatriate themselves to Ethiopia or other African country

Dangerous folk.

I often think MN tends to over-react to stuff like this, but I think you're right to think the nativity is unacceptable, and clearly seeking to generate cheap laughs at another culture, and as such it's low-level racism that has no place in society let alone a school.

Racist nonsense about Rastafari. To even mention it is a counteraction of racism.

I've heard all sorts of nastiness about the catholic churce, to do with white men. Would it be ok for me to believe it all and thus white men are all predisposed to be dangerous paedophiles/perverts? Or would you say its best to have a discerning mind and not be so stupid as to subscribe to view that based on religion/spirituality people are one homogenous same-thinking same-acting mass?

Mawalls you sound bitter about Rastafari. Just because you've had dubious "Rasta" friends/boyfriends don't act as if that makes you the fount of all knowledge. Its about the company you chose to keep. Unpleasant people who want to oppress women often hide under the banner of a spirituality to do it - that goes right across the board. & without the spirituality they would be the same anyway. They are certainly not representative of all. I don't know any Rasta of the sort you've described in Alf Garnett fashion.

I am Rastafari so is OH Im laughing at the subservient thing - he is a better cook than me so he cooks. We live a normal life including having a social life. & 2 DCs (not 10... )

As for Rastafari as dangerous - get some perspective here. Trump and any warmonger like him is dangerous. People who want to bomb you into little pieces are dangerous

It bewilders me how some people are so ill-informed nowadays. You and the other pp's who commented in similar fashion are the worst type of racist- will sit here reading about racial offensiveness, aim to counteract it with "yeah but", and then no doubt be smiling with your black friends (or men who know no better), slyly hiding your racism

constant threat from Rasta Anti-Babylon Terrorists, the Rastas in government imposing their laws on us, and, worry that in their racist nationalist zeal they might repatriate themselves to Ethiopia or other African country

Wildly fabricated, reaching nonsense. Don't be silly

"Wildly fabricated, reaching nonsense. Don't be silly"

Er, that is the point I was making, MistressDeeCee. Since OBVIOUSLY none of those things are actually happening or posing any kind of threat to anyone, and thus being ironic or sarcastic about Mawall's depiction of a way of life.