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AIBU?

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Original poster

Is white chicks racist?

95 replies

Yupimahelecopter · 14/06/2020 11:08

Im white, never been a massive victim of racism like most white people.. Completely agree with blm (peaceful)

But just wondering if little Britain and other people painting there faces black and taking the piss is the same as black men dressing up as white people taking the piss?

FYI I'm not offended by white chicks..
Just a general question..

Yes it's racist -ynbu
No-ybu

OP posts:
TheBouquets · 14/06/2020 12:03

These are films/television programmes. I would not say they are top entertainment but their purpose is entertainment.

They are also quite old so maybe laws and expectations were different at those times.
White chicks is one of the most dire films I ever watched but I don't think it is racist or sexist or any thing else on those lines. It is just stupid.

Persiaclementine · 14/06/2020 12:03

@TheStoic

Racism is about superiority and domination. In what way do you think White Chicks would be racist?
In what way is LB racist then
RUOKHon · 14/06/2020 12:04

@RUOKHon but do you think little Britain is racist? And white people dressing up as black people is racist?

Yes.

DHW1 · 14/06/2020 12:05

Well if people are saying little britain is racist then yes white chicks is racist too. I’m mixed raced and have experienced real racism first hand - I would not have considered any of these as racist tbh and certainly wouldn’t expect them to be banned.

jobhunter7 · 14/06/2020 12:06

Racism - prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against a person or people on the basis of their membership of a particular racial or ethnic group, typically one that is a minority or marginalized

I am not convinced either are racist. If they are on streaming services, people can just choose not to watch them... and they're can be a disclaimer, I suppose.

garino · 14/06/2020 12:07

Yes it is racist.

srownbkingirl · 14/06/2020 12:07

I think there's a power dynamic that needs to be considered each time racism (against Balck people) is mentioned. It's never on the same level due to the history of racism.

LB and white chicks are stereotypical comedies and I found White chicks funny at the time. I didn't watch LB but I don't think either are racist. I wouldn't watch them now because making fun of stereotypes should be ended. If we know better, we do better.

PumpkinP · 14/06/2020 12:09

I don’t think you are suppose to dress up as anyone from any race. My daughters school did a peter Pan theme for world book day and I was going to dress her as tiger lilly but according to people on here that is extremely racist. I wasn’t going to paint her face Hmm but it was still a no go apparently. I’m not offended by either LB or WC

RUOKHon · 14/06/2020 12:10

In what way is LB racist then

Because it’s white people benefiting culturally, socially, professionally and financially from parodying black characteristics. Exaggerating them for laughs without ever acknowledging the history, the pain and the unfairness that comes with being born with those characteristics.

Racism doesn’t always have to be a calculated, malicious act. I don’t think Matt Lucas and David Williams created those characters because they hated black people. Their white privilege just made them ignorant of the hurt they could cause to black people.

Sparklesocks · 14/06/2020 12:12

I don’t think it’s the same. White is the majority in western countries and there’s not a historic tradition of dehumanising white people in the same way as blackface. I think it’s similar to how men can misogynistic jokes about women but it’s not the same when women make jokes about men - the context and power balance is different for both sides.

Original poster
Yupimahelecopter · 14/06/2020 12:14

Ummm.. Its very interesting. So sum people say its only racist for white people to dress up as black before because of the past situations (not down playing it, completely awful /unforgiving, but trying to keep it short) but because white people haven't gone through it isn't racist the other way round?
I am still not personally offended by white chicks or any similar films/programs.. But Both crap and in poor taste anyway.

OP posts:
TheStoic · 14/06/2020 12:15

If dressing as a black person is racist does that mean a black person dressing as a white person is too?

No, it doesn’t in this instance. As I said, which you may have ignored, racism is about superiority and domination. Dressing up as white people in Hollywood means dressing up as the dominant social class.

Are you faux ignorant, or actually ignorant?

Auridon4life · 14/06/2020 12:15

White chicks is a remake of the movie some like it hot. Mind blown

Alsohuman · 14/06/2020 12:17

@PumpkinP

I don’t think you are suppose to dress up as anyone from any race. My daughters school did a peter Pan theme for world book day and I was going to dress her as tiger lilly but according to people on here that is extremely racist. I wasn’t going to paint her face Hmm but it was still a no go apparently. I’m not offended by either LB or WC
Oh God, I remember that thread. It went on for days and days. For what it’s worth I don’t think dressing a little girl up as a fictional character is remotely racist. Some of the comments you got were bonkers.
buildingbridge · 14/06/2020 12:17

Little Britain is not racist. I am sorry, it's just not. I have no idea why BBC took it down.

lucyintheskywithcz · 14/06/2020 12:17

They either both are or neither is - I don't agree it's different either way. I don't have an issue with either but as people say - it's had it's day

MostTacticalNameChange · 14/06/2020 12:18

I found White Chicks hilarious. Don't think that makes me racist but it does make me a guilty feminist (like so much does!).

Little Britain had some funny moments but I think the Vicky Pollard character was a lot more problematic in terms of classism, sexism and racism (how hilarious and chavvy to have mixed raced children Hmm ) than Bubbles's frenemy.

Artesia · 14/06/2020 12:20

Because it’s white people benefiting culturally, socially, professionally and financially from parodying black characteristics. Exaggerating them for laughs without ever acknowledging the history, the pain and the unfairness that comes with being born with those characteristics.

I totally agree. But applying those criteria, I don’t understand why it’s acceptable to have a drag programme on prime time tv

jobhunter7 · 14/06/2020 12:20

Trisha Goddard spoke about this - and her portrayal on Bo Selecta. But surely there is no one definition on beauty. And people with different ethnic backgrounds are just as beautiful as each other but just in different ways.

I don’t think Matt Lucas and David Williams created those characters because they hated black people. Their white privilege just made them ignorant of the hurt they could cause to black people.

I am not sure how many friends they may have who have different skin tones to them (or how educated they are - they seem bright guys). They may have many.

Because it’s white people benefiting culturally, socially, professionally and financially from parodying black characteristics.

I am not convinced they were mocking people.

Because it’s white people benefiting culturally, socially, professionally and financially from parodying black characteristics.

You could use the same argument with White Chicks. But I am not convinced that was mocking white people either.

PumpkinP · 14/06/2020 12:21

Oh God, I remember that thread. It went on for days and days. For what it’s worth I don’t think dressing a little girl up as a fictional character is remotely racist. Some of the comments you got were bonkers.

Thank you! yes I can’t see how it is at all. So Is it ok for a white child to dress as Tiana then or is that racist as well? How about Pocahontas? Where does it end Confused

Squintybumcheek · 14/06/2020 12:24

It is probably racial prejudice in that it makes assumptions about a person based on skin colour eg. White people can't dance. Racism has to have an element of power and oppression. White people in USA have not been oppressed for hundreds of years by Black people so no it is not racist. Definitely senior, misogynistic and displays racial prejudice though

Original poster
Yupimahelecopter · 14/06/2020 12:25

@TheStoic clearly trying to educated myself! As I was very nieve to the racism still around today being so bad, I'm trying to see it from others points of views... Without being jumped on! Only way things can get better is by being educated about it!

I wouldn't of watched lb and though that's awful that'll offend someone, because I'm not offended by a similar thing happening in white chicks.. I'm trying to understand if it was viewed the same.. And by this post it's very mixed.

OP posts:
Janebond0007 · 14/06/2020 12:25

I think if we want true equality (which we should) then it needs to be truly equal, if white people cant dress up as black people, or native Americans or Chinese then it should be the same the other way round. It’s not to do with the past but going forward we should be concerned with and that means making everything equal. If someone stabs someone you don’t let the injured party stab them back, you take away the knife and say no-one stabs anyone. We should be concerened with the sins of people in the present and look to the future by not repeating the past. Otherwise we are just going to create more of a divide. I fear that we will creat an atmosphere where BAME will be allowed to say and do what they like regarding white people, whereas white people will not be able to say anything for fear of being called racist (which may seem like justice and ‘about time’ and a taste of our own medicine?’) but all it means is in 100-200 year time the tables will be turned and it Will protests of white loves matter and the whole cycle will start again.
We need to allow BAME to become Part of the system, to become part of the political landscape and shape the future.

123th · 14/06/2020 12:26

Misogynistic and sexist and imo not even funny

TheStoic · 14/06/2020 12:26

And by this post it's very mixed.

Not really.

So what do you think now?