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meegbear

(25,438 posts)
Fri Jun 20, 2014, 02:15 PM Jun 2014

The Rude Pundit: Regarding Racism and Redskins



That's a picture of one of the biggest stars in American history, Bing Crosby, in the 1942 film Holiday Inn. In case you think otherwise, Crosby was a white man wearing blackface in this scene, a celebration of Lincoln's birthday where Crosby and others, some in blackface, some black (and still in blackface), sing the praises of "Abraham." Holiday Inn was a hit, and it was nominated for three Academy Awards, winning one for "White Christmas" (yes, it is ironic). It is a beloved classic, something that plays around Christmas and, often, the "Abraham" scene is cut out.

The funny thing about this is that in 1942, very, very few white people would have thought twice about Crosby acting like a black man. In fact, it was still seen as a mighty fine form of entertainment. It was acceptable. It was the way things were. Casual, quotidian racism was everywhere; it was a part of the American cultural landscape as much as it was part of the American sociopolitical landscape.

Advertising was filled with unsubtle racist caricatures. Tom and Jerry cartoons, into the 1950s, featured a Mammy who was constantly reacting to Tom's behavior. Aunt Jemima? Uncle Ben? Rastus, the Cream of Wheat chef? This shit was America, inescapable, insidious, and ubiquitous.

Times change, good people of the USA. Aunt Jemima got a makeover. Tom and Jerry was redubbed. We warn people when something awful from the past is going to be shown. And General Electric doesn't advertise its products like this:



You don't hear much from anyone about how much they miss having smiling, chicken-eating boy in their advertisements. Very few people are wistful for do-rag wearing Aunt Jemima (except in a kitschy way). Oh, sure, sure, when the change first happened, you heard idiots talk about "tradition" and "oversensitivity" and some such shit. But now who cares? Gone and good riddance.

So it must be with the Washington Redskins. We are long, long past the time when the name and logo should have been changed. To believe otherwise is to stand with the blackface performers and the Aunt Jemima originalists. "Redskin" is an insult, purely and simply. That this is even a debate is ludicrous, and, frankly, it speaks to the fact that Native Americans lack even minimal power in the nation.

This is one of those "controversies" that the Rude Pundit simply doesn't understand. You're a business. Your name pisses people off. You fucking change it, especially when representatives of the group you're offending say things like, "We have to be careful about making another human being a mascot of anything...We’re no one’s mascot.” You change it because, if you don't, your business will suffer. Or, fuck it, you can go down with the ship.

And after you've changed your name, Washington football team front office, which you know you're going to do and are just fucking around with people to sell more of your shitty merch before it's all history, maybe you could get around to getting rid of this Robert Griffin III mask:



http://rudepundit.blogspot.com/2014/06/regarding-racism-and-redskins.html
38 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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The Rude Pundit: Regarding Racism and Redskins (Original Post) meegbear Jun 2014 OP
HE SAID REDSKIN!!!!! ALERT!! ALERT!!! ALERT!!!! truebrit71 Jun 2014 #1
He said it four times too, so he said four skins! What a dick move! Electric Monk Jun 2014 #3
Nobody alerted on a word. There can't be this many people who don't understand context and usage. redqueen Jun 2014 #6
Good column. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jun 2014 #2
I'll be riding by the long defunct Sambo's restaurant this afternoon IDemo Jun 2014 #4
We still have Lil' Sambo's in Lincoln City Oregon. dilby Jun 2014 #29
IBTL- hope not, but just in case the power of stupid wins again. Exultant Democracy Jun 2014 #5
why do high schools on reservations have the same mascot Travis_0004 Jun 2014 #7
Two terms you need here LadyHawkAZ Jun 2014 #9
+1 nomorenomore08 Jun 2014 #19
Nice! ismnotwasm Jun 2014 #36
Their heritage their call, not understanding is white privilege in action. Fred Sanders Jun 2014 #37
Why aren't you offended? Iggo Jun 2014 #10
then why dont the mesa high redskins change their name Travis_0004 Jun 2014 #14
This message was self-deleted by its author Iggo Jun 2014 #15
I quit. You win. Iggo Jun 2014 #16
k and r dembotoz Jun 2014 #8
I remember Sambo's in the 1960's n2doc Jun 2014 #11
The original Sambos in Santa Barbara is still in business. LibDemAlways Jun 2014 #27
I always thought calling themselves the 'Washington Feds' would be much cooler. Scurrilous Jun 2014 #12
DC was built on a swamp.... Spitfire of ATJ Jun 2014 #18
Now somebody's got to go after those darn racist potatoes. tclambert Jun 2014 #13
K&R! DeSwiss Jun 2014 #17
NIIIPPLLEEEEE!!!!! RUUUNNNN nadinbrzezinski Jun 2014 #24
You don't need a photoshopped gif for that JVS Jun 2014 #33
It's really not that complicated. Those who say otherwise are being disingenuous. n/t nomorenomore08 Jun 2014 #20
Casual, quotidian sexism and homophobia is everywhere; it is a part of the American cultural bettyellen Jun 2014 #21
His typed words have caused my spleen to burst and I am in great pain. Dragonfli Jun 2014 #22
I agree that the name of the team should be changed. Nye Bevan Jun 2014 #23
omfg boston bean Jun 2014 #25
They are majorly wrong about one thing. Kurska Jun 2014 #26
They've lost the right to control counterfit merchandise BainsBane Jun 2014 #30
No they haven't not yet, not yet at least. Kurska Jun 2014 #31
What makes you think they will win on appeal? BainsBane Jun 2014 #32
I have no idea where you got that I thought they would win. Kurska Jun 2014 #35
Admitting you are not an expert is the most honest thing I have read here in a while. Sir. Fred Sanders Jun 2014 #38
That isn't very rude BainsBane Jun 2014 #28
Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Jun 2014 #34

IDemo

(16,926 posts)
4. I'll be riding by the long defunct Sambo's restaurant this afternoon
Fri Jun 20, 2014, 02:45 PM
Jun 2014

It's now a sushi joint, undergoing its second remodel.

 

Travis_0004

(5,417 posts)
7. why do high schools on reservations have the same mascot
Fri Jun 20, 2014, 03:07 PM
Jun 2014

If the term redskin is so offensive why are there High schools on Indian Reservations that have the Redskin as their mascot? Shouldnt they be offended too? I would think a reservation would be a lot more receptive to changing their mascots.

LadyHawkAZ

(6,199 posts)
9. Two terms you need here
Fri Jun 20, 2014, 03:13 PM
Jun 2014

Ingroup and outgroup.

It's their heritage and they have a right to use it and/or profit from it if they want, however they want. The rest of us do not.

 

Travis_0004

(5,417 posts)
14. then why dont the mesa high redskins change their name
Fri Jun 20, 2014, 04:31 PM
Jun 2014

It cant be that difficult for a high school with a native american principal to change their teams mascot.

The principal says he is not offended. Ill let him know that the internet has decided he is wrong.

Response to Travis_0004 (Reply #14)

LibDemAlways

(15,139 posts)
27. The original Sambos in Santa Barbara is still in business.
Fri Jun 20, 2014, 11:56 PM
Jun 2014

How they've lasted 56 years with that name is a mystery, though their website claims the name was simply a combination of the names of the founding partners. They don't deny, however, a later "afterthought" tie in to what they refer to as a "children's story." Uh, huh, sure.

tclambert

(11,080 posts)
13. Now somebody's got to go after those darn racist potatoes.
Fri Jun 20, 2014, 04:09 PM
Jun 2014

Although I really like them boiled, with butter and a little parsley.

 

bettyellen

(47,209 posts)
21. Casual, quotidian sexism and homophobia is everywhere; it is a part of the American cultural
Fri Jun 20, 2014, 05:08 PM
Jun 2014

.... landscape as much a sit is part of the American sociopolitical landscape.
Advertising is filled with unsubtle sexist and homophobic caricatures.

Dragonfli

(10,622 posts)
22. His typed words have caused my spleen to burst and I am in great pain.
Fri Jun 20, 2014, 09:41 PM
Jun 2014

This man and all he writes should be banned from DU.

OFF WITH HIS HEAD!!!!!

Nye Bevan

(25,406 posts)
23. I agree that the name of the team should be changed.
Fri Jun 20, 2014, 09:49 PM
Jun 2014

But if Robert Griffin himself is OK with the mask (and I assume that he granted permission for it to be sold), what is the problem with it? It's not like it's any kind of caricature of him, racist or otherwise, it is simply his likeness.

Kurska

(5,739 posts)
26. They are majorly wrong about one thing.
Fri Jun 20, 2014, 10:38 PM
Jun 2014

"This is one of those "controversies" that the Rude Pundit simply doesn't understand. You're a business. Your name pisses people off. You fucking change it, especially when representatives of the group you're offending say things like, "We have to be careful about making another human being a mascot of anything...We’re no one’s mascot.” You change it because, if you don't, your business will suffer. Or, fuck it, you can go down with the ship."

They make money from the name. They view it as an asset with history and a critical part of their branding. If they thought they could make money by changing the name, they would.

Ignoring everything else about whether they should change the name morally and ethically, the economics of the situation are simple. People who want them to change the name are very unlikely to ever actually consume the product that the name is representing (i.e they probably aren't redskins fans). Meanwhile, people who don't want them to change the name are some of the Redskin's most dedicated consumers.

That is why they don't want to change it. Now, economic pressure (like boycotts and loss of sponsorship) could eventually outweigh the current incentive for keeping the name. The redskins clearly do not think that that point has come yet though.

BainsBane

(53,001 posts)
30. They've lost the right to control counterfit merchandise
Sat Jun 21, 2014, 12:06 AM
Jun 2014

with Redskins logos from coming into the country, and they can no longer seek a criminal prosecution for violation of their copyright. The only remedies remaining to them are civil. That is a result of last week's decision in which the federal government refused to certify their copyright. That will hurt the bottom line.

Kurska

(5,739 posts)
31. No they haven't not yet, not yet at least.
Sat Jun 21, 2014, 12:09 AM
Jun 2014

The appeals process is not over and until it is (and they lose), they will be able to enforce their copyright.

Honestly they have no reason to change it now. If they are indeed forced to by the copyright, they can placate their fans by saying they had no choice.

Kurska

(5,739 posts)
35. I have no idea where you got that I thought they would win.
Sat Jun 21, 2014, 12:27 AM
Jun 2014

I'm not an expert on these sorts of legal matters. Frankly, I have no idea if they will win.

BainsBane

(53,001 posts)
28. That isn't very rude
Sat Jun 21, 2014, 12:03 AM
Jun 2014

at all. We've been told for several days now that bigoted slurs were essential to his punditry. This entry would suggest otherwise.

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