Racism Today

Hey, you guys, it's 2010 now! We made it! In honor of the new decade, I decided instead of making my own New Decade Resolutions, I would come up with condescending, personal responsibility-denying resolutions for everyone else in the world besides me. Because I am perfect already (Duh). One of these resolutions is to stop being racists. "But we're already living in a post-racial society, Wolfgar! Obama!," is what you might say if you are a willfully ignorant, self-congratulatory white person (unlike myself) who thinks that casting a single vote can erase centuries of institutionalized fear and hatred. To such a person, I offer the following examples that race still plays a large part in our modern, liberal society:

1. This recently released (and quickly rescinded) KFC commercial, which aired in Australia.

2. Avatar

We have all heard of this movie by now. It is huge. It is definitely going to be the second highest grossing film of all time (it's already the fourth after only three weeks), if not the highest (a spot occupied by another James Cameron film). Much has been said about the film's groundbreaking effects and revolutionary CG techniques, which are so fucking cool, as well as the film's less than revolutionary plot. Not so much, however, has been said about the fact that the film's unoriginal plot is also kind of racist. With Avatar we have yet another film about a white man who integrates himself within a native population, wins the heart of the hottest chick in the tribe (often, as here, also the chief's daughter), and becomes their savior and leader (see also: Last of the Mohicans, The Last Samurai, Dances With Wolves, etc.). Cameron goes to great lengths in this film to portray the Na'vi (native) alien's (people's) way of life as superior to that of their human (Western) counterparts. But he still portrays them as needing some sort of superior Western savior to rise above their oppressors, which is fucked up. Like, why is Jake Sully so much better at being a Na'vi warrior than any of the real Na'vi? Because he's white? a marine? American? One guess I would make as to why this happens in films is that Hollywood thinks that films of this sort need a white, male protagonist that audiences can "relate" to. To which I would say: "Come on, Hollywood! Obama! Give it a shot!"

To be fair, I generally liked this movie as far as blockbusters go, and appreciated many of the issues it champions. The film is eco-centric, anti-capitalism, and anti-imperialsm. That's a good start! But it still plays into the bullshit "white messiah saves the indigenous peoples from other white people" trope that simultaneously serves to portray minorities as being unable to save themselves and assuage white guilt through pure fantasy. Just something to think about.

3. This bullshit:

Looking at this picture, I find myself suddenly hoping that there is a hell, so that Vanity Fair can go there. This whole scandal surrounding Tiger Woods is really fucked up. As I understand it, the man seems to have some serious issues with sex addiction. And that is something that almost the entire world now hates him for. Setting aside the impossible character expectations that society places on people who play sports professionally, we're talking about an addiction here, folks! That is something that generally makes you feel sorry for someone, not hate them! Especially when their addiction has in no way harmed you personally!

The racial component to this is all over the place, but by far the most despicable reaction I have seen to this whole situation is the above-pictured Vanity Fair cover, which portrays Woods as some sort of "thugged out" prisoner. Fuck you, Vanity Fair.

But, wait, some good news! Comedy Central cancelled the Jeff Dunham show!!! In case you don't know about this racist, homophobic, hate-peddler who poses as a comedian, here's a sample of that show:

So at least there won't be anymore of that on your TV!

So lets take a page out of Comedy Central's book and stop being racists this decade, okay guys? Okay.