Take Control of Your Culture - American Studies - Blog

Food Stamps, Tylenol, and Cheap Livin'

     I am almost positive that most people have head of the popular TV show called Everybody Hates Chris. This show is about the life of young Chris Rock. Chris Rock narrarates the show as his younger self goes about his life. This show greatly promotes stereotypes of all races especially black stereotypes. There are multiple episodes where stereotypes were strongly used and Chris's family itself screams black stereotypical family. Chris's is mom is a moody, irritated black woman you spends most of her time with her "girls" at the salon or cooking and cleaning for the family. In one episode Chris's mom, Rochelle, was about to go grocery shopping and, since they were not a well-off family she, of course, needed food stamps and coupons to pay for their purchases. At the grocery store Rochelle runs into an old friend who, in fact, is not using food stamps, but buying name brand foods (something Rochelle cannot provide for her family since they are too expensive). And of course Rochelle tries to play off the fact that she can afford the same things and later get into a big argument with her husband, Julius, later in the show. This episode promotes the stereotype that most black families, like Chris's, can't afford name brand foods and are forced to use food stamps. Another episode that promotes black stereotypes would be the episode in which Chris explains how sickness is dealt in his family. Chris Rock explains that whenever he or his siblings gets sick their mom only says one thing, "Did you take some tylenol?" This is the "blacks can't afford to go to the doctor" stereotype. Another exapmle would be Chris's dad. Chris's dad works two jobs, one in the morning and one at night. He is always sleeping and when he is awake he is either sitting in front of the TV or complaining about the cost of things. This is promoting the stereotype that black men are always working or just sitting around and complaining. This whole show portrays an entirely stereotypical family and probably is making fun of it to some extent, but maybe to other viewers this is the real way blacks act in the 70's. With that said the show is still great and its hilarious.   

Hip Hop In American Culture

American culture is responsible for shaping and curving beliefs of many. The false portrayals of race and religions have created a firestorm of hate as long as they have existed. Hip-hop is a predominately black culture and has influence over many. In the last 20 years Hip-hop has grown to one of the largest music and media industries in American culture.

Black stereotypes have only been strengthened by hip-hop. Hip-hop is one of the largest ways for Americans to view what is perceived as black culture, being on tons of TV show and many mainstream radio stations. This results in a falsified view on the black race. Like a lot of music, mainstream hip-hip doesn’t even paint a close picture to how African Americans really are. In rap, much of the content is drugs, sex, money, gangs and gun violence. An example of this is in 50 Cent’s song “Many Men” when he says, “I walk the block with the bundles/ I've been knocked on the humble/ Swing the ox when I rumble/ Show your ass what my gun do”. In these lines he’s talking about selling drugs (bundle) and using his gun if necessary. These lines only reinforce the racist stereotype many American’s have on African American culture. Another example of black stereotypes in rap music is in Biggie’s song “Things Done Changed” when he says, “Instead of a Mac-10 he tried scrappin'/ Slugs in his backend”. This is another example of gun violence in hip-hop. My final example is in Biggie’s song “Things Done Changed” when he says,”Either you're slingin' crack rock or you got a wicked jump shot”. These lyrics are talking about if your in the hood the only way to survive is as a drug dealer or if you make it in basketball. Obviously this isn’t the case and Biggie was generalizing the community but many listeners don’t know any better and take what they hear as the truth.

All in all hip-hop has shown some of the most talented poets can come from the bleakest of upbringings. It has been able to break down race barriers and has added a new dimension to music. I am not saying in any way shape or form to even change rap music. I’m just stating why I feel it has reinforced black stereotypes to people who don’t know otherwise. Education of reality is vital to breaking through stereotypes and racist perceptions of races.

Luke Gawne

Remember The Titans

Remember The Titans is a movie that came out in 2000 that focus on race and football. It takes place as if they were in 1971 in Alexandria, Virginia and successful high school.The football team is coached by a white man names Bill Yoast. Bill was focred to step down and Herman Boone, a black man, (known as Denzel Washington in reality) , is forced to step up as the head coach. The white team mates disagrees and will not be apart to the team if Bill isnt there, so he decides to stick around as the assistant coach next to Boone. The football team, The Titans is a mixture of black and white players who dont get along just because of the color of their skin. Throughout training camp and the season, Boone and Yoast's black and white players learn to accept each other, to work together, and that football knows no race. As they learn from each other, Boone and Yoast also learn from them and in turn, the whole town learns from the team, the Titans that race should never be how you judge someone.

In the beginning when the team first got together, they would loose just about every game because they couldnt get along with eachother because of the color of their skin. The white boys on the tean will call the black boys names, even try to injure them in practice by hurting them when doing a play to get ready for the game. When Boone becomes the coach he isn't accepted by the white players nor the staff. Despite all the racism, Boone is willing to deal with it to put a winning team out on the field. But as the boys got to know eachother, they wont care about race.

There's plenty of scences in the movie when the team went out on the field to play, the white people in the audience will go all out by spitting, throwing food, drinks, and other things at the black players. They also called them names. But, that didnt stop them from going out to show them that they could win. Also, when they were traveling down down south to go play another school, they had to stay at a hotel. But because some pf the players were black, they weren't allowed to stay there. The hotel was for whites only. By all this happening, this brought the team mantes closer together, forgeting the color of their skin. Towards the end the players got to see eachother for who they really were and they becane a family.  

Racial Stereotypes in Education

 

 

The poem "I Look Like" by Kai Davis speaks about prejudice and condescension in the educational system. In this poem Kai criticizes the ideology that diversity is a key American value. The poem expresses the how Americans uphold racial stereotypes, by giving examples of how in school teachers and her peers assumed that black students were ignorant due to their vernacular. She says with sarcasm "We in the same class but your idea of advanced is too advanced and my mind cant match you...". Later in the  poem she states that even people of her own race have submitted into the stereotype; she calls it "self hate" because of how they judge her for excelling in school. She adds, "According to my people, I act smart, so I act white. So, I can't be black and be smart because black people are dumb." In conclusion the poem surfaces the racial and cultural issues that still remain in society and the educational system.

 

 

 

Jim Crow portrayed by Waka Flocka

AUSTIN CONE

In Flocka's hit song "Grove st. Party" he perpetuates the Jim crow crow stereotype:

[Waka Flocka Flame - Chorus]

I gotta a whole lot of money, bitches count it for me
Bottle keep poppin that's why the bad hoes jockin

It's a party It's a party It's a party
It's a party It's a party It's a party

My partner on a pill, my other partner drunk, rollin a lot I'm trying to get fucked up

It's a party It's a party It's a party
It's a party It's a party It's a party

Wakka Flocka is a new american rapper who almost always perpetuates the Jim Crow stereoype in every song.  The Jim crow stereotype is African Americans  feeling the need to always party and have a good  time.  This song is herd by many americans everyday and is seen too young people as the way of life. He portrays the notion that the only way for rappers to make a lot of money is by forcing the idea that the partying life is fun and ok.  It seems like the majority of  artist who use the Jim crow stereotype are of the African American race. This is backwards to me because the Jim crow stereotype was created  to put black's in a lower class than whites.

Dark-skin vs. Light-skin?

    Today in american society, many African-Americans are still left with the bitterness of slavery. Even though slavery was abolished in 1865, the events that occured seemed to leave the race seperated and somehow against each other. It all goes back to slavery and there being 2 different types of slaves, the field slaves and the house slaves. Usually if you were darkskin then you would have to work the fields but if you were lightskin you had the privilege of working in the house, having it a bit easier to be a slave because the master felt because you were lighter, you were closer to being white instead of more African. Because of this many house slaves began to believe that they were better than the field slaves because they were lighter and had it easier. The field slaves then started to envy them because they had a better advantage.  Even after many years alot of African-Americans still hold on to this stereotype that being lighter is better than being darker because it traces back so long ago. It is now 2012 and most African-Americans have started to accept the fact they ware beautiful no matter what shade they are, while some still feel that being lighter is better than being darker. In the end, everyone within the African-American race is beautiful and honestly, shade doesn't really matter.

B.I.G. promotes Jim crow stereotype

Tim M.

Notorious B.I.G. shows the present-day Jim Crow sterotype  in his song  "Party and Bullshit" :

Verse II:
Honey want to chat 
but all we wanna know is where the party at 
and can I bring my gat?  If not, I hope I don't get shot

The Jim crow stereotype is a black person only wanting to have fun all the time  and live life like a joke.  This song does indeed perpetuate this stereotype.  It shows this because that's all notorious wants to know is where the parties at.  Nothing else matters, not even a girl thats trying to talk with him.   

Chorus:
and party and bullshit and party and bullshit X 5
and party and bullshit and X 1

The chorus also betrays this stereotype.  The chorus is basically the Jim crow steroype itself  but in the words of Notorious.  Even though the Jim crow sterotype was more popular in the past it's still  brought up in the present day.   Not just in music but the news and in  books.   B.I.G. is not the only person who perpetuates the Jim crow stereotype in a song and  he certainly will not be the last.  It seems like the only way for black rappers to succeed in the rap industry is if they use the Jim crow sterotype in there music.      

 

All Black People Like Chicken.

 

    In this video clip comidian dave chappelle talks about the stereotype that all black people like chicken. Though he dose exaggerate, he tells us about how people in our modern day all believe this stereotype is true.  This is a perfect example of raceism in America. It takes place in every state.  Dave is basically saying if your are black and raised in a African American family you will like chicken. This is by no means true. America's two most popular meats are beef and chicken. African Americans dont make up the majority of America's population. This tells us that Chicken is popular among all races. Many people in America are black but dont care for chicken. Just becauce you are a certain race dose not mean you only like to eat the food that the majority of your race enjoys. That Goes for all races.

I Am Not My Hair. April Bell

There has always been the stereotype of your hair makes you, especially if your black. The song "I Am Not My Hair" describes the stereotypes perfect.  The difference between the whites and black has supposely been distunish from each others hair. The song is saying your hair does not define you. And she uses hair because it is often an issue that arises with African American women. In society black people who like to wear their natural hair is "not good hair."  or as she says in the song "bad hair means you look like a slave" , or is put down for having no hair. In this song she had to realize whatever people told her about her hair does not mean anything because its about the inside beauty. Black women with no hair has not seemed to be expected. And the stereotype of black being "bald-headed" is not right. People do not know how low that can make a person.  

Racist Stereotypes in America

"There is a Black Guy and a Mexican Guy in a Car who is Driving? Neither the Cop Is!"

People make jokes about black people and mexican people always getting in trouble with the law. There is a really big racist stereotype that thoes races are always commiting crimes and getting arrested. Stereotypes like these are only passed down because of the racist ways that the media shows only certain races getting in trouble with the law or commiting a crime. This shows America that this is a typical thing and that they are the only ones pretty much that are commiting crimes and not the white people. This like many other stereotypes are extremly exaggerated and completely wrong. America controls what they want you to see as the bad and the good.

Stereotypes of America(Movie:Crash)

In my opinion the movie Crash shows and explain what a stereotype is, in different scenarios and this movie also tells interlocking stories of whites, blacks, Latinos, Koreans, Iranians, cops and criminals, the rich and the poor, the powerful and powerless all defined in one way or another by racism.with free will, and anything can happen. It'samazing how every character played in this movie live a different life with different careers and have been or are going through different things for example scared to walk past an African American man thinking he would rob them or an Arab not being able to purchase an item and being called Osama. These are certain events that took place in this movie.Us being people sometimes we fail to face and acknowledge the things that are done and said in our society.At the end of the day the movie Crash will open your eyes.

President Obama

    The Jim Crow Stereotype is a simple-minded, happy and content black man. This stereotype is saying all black men do not have their own opinion and are happy just to go with the flow of things. I believe this stereotype has been erased from our society.

    President Obama is a perfect example of how this stereotype is no longer a part of our society. Barack Obama is a black man who is the president of the United States.  Having a black president proves that the American people do not believe the Jim Crow stereotype is true.  President Obama is also not simple-minded he believes in change for the better. President Obama does not go with the flow. While being president he removed all the troops out of Iraq. President Obama has succesfully erased the Jim Crow stereotype.

Cultural Analysis Racial Stereotypes

Racial steryotypes of both Whits and Blacks are shown in the TV show, The Cleveland Show. Cleveland is a character orignally from Family Guy, but that's not what i'm talking about. Cleveland lives in Stoolbend Virginia, a town from whence he grew up in. There are a bunch of racial stereotypes put into this TV show. the stereotypes are put into the show comically.

Donna Tubbs, Cleveland's wife, is a perfect example of an angry black woman, as she flips out, whenever Cleveland does something stupid, or something doesn't go right. Seth Macfarlane made it so she'd flip out at the most comical of moments. Cleveland, isn't so much of a brute, however, he takes action when he needs to. Cleveland is more of a Somba, as he is passive and musical, at points. Cleveland's son is also a Somba as he's VERY passive and very nonviolent. Donna's daughter is oversexualized, mainly as the fact that whatever she does, she wants to have sex with her boyfriend, but Cleveland forbids it. Rallo, Cleveland's step son, is more of a brute, but he's only five. Rallo is a gangster for his age, he doesn't do anything violent but he acts like he's all cool, especially around his friends.

Cleveland's white neighbor's also go along with white stereotypes. Lester is a redneck, who's pretty stupid and always carries a gun with him. Lester's wife is the size of an elephant, sits on a scooter chair, as she's too fat to walk. Cleveland's other white neighbor, Holt, is a dwarf and who claims to be rich, even though he lives in his mother's basement. Cleveland does have a friend who a walking, and talking bear, with bear claws. Tim, the bear, doesn't really fit any racial stereotypes as he's not black or white, however he is a christian, or at least claims to be. Tim may be christian, but he looks for ways to get drunk, when hanging out with Cleveland.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5JlVNcM2Vw&feature=relmfu 

Stereotypes:Dave Chappelle different food

 This clip is about Dave Chappelle doing his stand up comedy. He talks about how certain groups of people only eat certain types of food. This shows that stereotypes still exist everywhere and how they are constantly changing. He says an example of how black people only eat chicken and watermelon, while white people only eat vegetables and drink grape juice. Dave Chappelle uses these sterotypes to his advantage. He makes fun of them and over exaggerates them, which makes them funny.

Brutes In Today's Society

In our American Studies class we have been talking about race.  One of the topics we have been going over are typical stereotypes that were used in slave times.  We were asked if these stereotypes were still present in today's society.  The answer is yes.

The BRUTE was a typical stereotype after slavery was abolished.  This term was brought up because people thought that freed African Americans we these savage mean animals.  This was really a fear for some people because they were scared to even be around a African American just because they thought they would kill them.    

I believe that this sterotype is still around and it is portayed in rap music.  Rap music is assoceated with this tough ganster type thugs that people are supposed to be scared of.  A perfect example of this thug type would be the rapper 50 Cent. 

This just renforces the stereotype that the brute is a person to be scared of.  It also is about there lyrics in there songs that promote this brute attitudes alot of them but not all of them are about hurting people and killing people.  People who have never heard rap music and listen to the lyrics could be scared by the things they say.