You evidently missed the discussion of blackface vs. "black"face in this thread.
This is blackface; this is not, but still a bad idea.
You packed a gun and mesmerized cats? 
I don’t.
And whatever the intent, I don’t think thowing one unrelated, offensive thing at another is going to solve anything.
I did. Hence:
I have no illusion it will makea difference, but you never know.
Ask Cartoon Network Japan when their next airing of that wartime classic “Bugs Bunny Nips the Nips” will be.
All of those were still airing in the US in the 80s, including ones where some sort of explosion gave the character a black face and nappy hair.
Huh. I don’t remember those guys.
what about “bunny and claude a rabbit and his broad”
That’s a pretty radical assumption isn’t it? There’s no committee of political correctness deciding what is and is not allowed to air. Culture changes and so do tastes, I haven’t seen an episode of the Monkees since the '70s, but that doesn’t mean the episodes have been banned, just that tastes have shifted. The fact that audiences no longer enjoy casually racists cartoons from 70 years ago isn’t a banning anymore than the fact that we don’t see Charlie Chaplin movies during prime time means that he’s been banned. We’ve moved on.
Also, you can buy the DVD with this “banned” cartoon on Amazon or stream His Mouse Friday on Amazon Video.
… And you obsess about shit like this, eh? :dubious:
It may be worth registering a complaint. It can’t hurt to let the network and/or provider know that not all their customers are happy to see such blatant racist stereotypes. Whether they take any action is another matter entirely.
Obviously, different cultures approach these issues from different angles and levels of awareness. In Russia, for example, openly racist depictions of many minority groups are par for the course. It would be impossible to watch Russian TV without seeing them. And they appear in films/programs that are being produced today, not just in decades-old cartoons. For instance, a film called “My Boyfriend is an Angel” from a few years ago. Not only does it portray a Central Asian character in a stereotypical fashion, but there is an entire subplot in which a violent racist lout is magically turned into a black man by the angel of the title. This is meant to teach him a lesson and encourage him to mend his ways. But it is partly played for laughs and the idea of blackness as punishment is (at best) extremely problematic. I like to use authentic materials in my Russian language classes at a US university, but I would never show my American students scenes like these. And this is just the first example among many that spring to mind. Alas, complaining about such things in Russia is an exercise in futility.
Perhaps you will have better luck in Japan. It would be interesting to know how the network and/or provider reacts to a complaint.
I’d use this as a teachable moment with the child.
Point out why the scene is hurtful and no longer accepted in society. Expect the child to ask a few questions. They’ll have the information to use when you aren’t there.
The overwhelming episodes of Tom & Jerry are great fun and entertaining. There’s no need to obsess over the occasional scene that is dated and mildly offensive.
The original writers weren’t trying to be racist. Sensibilities change over time. The writers can’t be expected to know what the viewers will consider inappropriate 60 years later.
I watch 'em all on the video website Daily Motion. As well as all the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies.
That’s what we did with our kids.
And they quickly learned that Dad thinks racism is so stupid that it’s hilarious. So they’ll see stuff like this and say “Dad, you gotta come see this [Black, Asian, Hispanic] stereotype, it’s so over-the-top!”
No, I don’t.
Did I give that impression? 
Yep. Like I said, already posted off a brief complaint.
Haven’t received any reply yet. Don’t really expect to.
(My bolding): Now there’s an easy setup for a gag to which I shall not stoop.
Interesting perspective on Russian TV programming though. Thanks.
I agree with this idea that even benign/benevolent depictions of stereotypes can be harmful when they make that stereotype the butt of a joke or trivialize an issue. Sometimes the satirizing of prejudices can work, sometimes it doesn’t, and sometimes it ages poorly and needs to be left behind.
What comes most readily to mind is the blackface routines of one of my favorite BBC shows, The Goodies.
I don’t think they were done with any ill will, and were likely made with the intent to shine a light on racial prejudices (South African apartheid, in one instance), but they were mostly just played for laughs and seem very cringeworthy today.
Well, my kid is a junior-high-schooler who already has a pretty good grasp on what racial prejudices are and why they’re bad.
(T’other day he asked me what I thought of Pewdiepie’s rather questionable T-Series diss rap. We both agree it’s pretty suspect.)
Thing is, I also laughed out loud in disbelief when I saw the T&J episode in question.
But I don’t want my kids to get the wrong message and think it’s OK to joke about racist stuff just because you’re woke to how stupid it is.
Like aceplace suggested, it’s important that they realize not just how stupid it is, but how hurtful it can be.
Not saying that T&J’s antiquated antics are in anyway the worst example.
I’m more worried about the kind of casual/sneaky racism and bigotry that floats around social media and YouTube.
Heh!
Watching T&J right now while waiting to get a haircut.
Gotta say, this cartoon has real staying power.
(Current episode: “Heavenly Puss”!)
This thread for some reason reminded me of the Louis C.K. standup bit about how Mark Twain was such a great author and he wanted to read his books to his daughters. But he said he refused to read them Huckleberry Finn because he refused to sit there and say nigger like a hundred times to his six year old during bedtime. He decided to read them the more wholesome tale about Tom Sawyer but goddamnit if that dirty white trash creep Huck didn’t decide to show up in that book as well. He had a magical cure for warts you see.