The Onion calls Quevanzhane Wallis a cunt.

[Frylock]

@SleuFeets

How do you get to tell someone that it wasn’t racist?

I assume it’s a matter of empirical fact whether something is racist or not. In other words, it either is or it is isn’t, based completely on facts about the incident and its context, and anyone who understands what racism is and has access to all the facts could determine objectively whether the incident was racist or not. Is that not something you agree with?

If it is something you agree with, then the way you tell someone that it wasn’t racist is, you figure out what false belief about the situation made them think it was, and show them the evidence that the belief is in fact false.

So, what facts do you believe there are which support the view that the tweet was racist?

[WhyNot]

@MeanOldLady

Okay, so they satirized someone calling her a name, and she’s black, therefore it’s racist. Edit: @ Miller - I know, right? What’s worse is I said I don’t find it racist without even bringing up that I’m black because it actually is irrelevant. The Onion’s readership being a bunch of white guys, or my being a black woman, or respondents here liking or disliking the Tweet being whatever combination of black, white or yellow is all irrelevant.

You wanna break it to her about the OP, Nzinga, Seated, or should we just let her keep playin’ the fool?

Wait, is “playin’ the fool” racist? Maybe if I leave the “g” in? Is it not racist then? I’m white, so I can’t tell. Help me, MeanOldLady! You’re my only hope! Will you be my Black Friend?

[Marley23]

@Bob Ducca

Am I doing this right? I want to make sure I’m really good at crying racist-wolves.

I can’t believe you used the W word.

@SleuFeets

To be fair, her being black isn’t irrelevant - it’s very relevant. It would just be neccesary for me to go into several other avenues of black political thought to address why her proffessing it has nothing to do with “black baby jesus” is apart of the problem - not the solution.

If it’s anything like your theories on melanin, I would love to read it.

[GrandWino]

@SleuFeets

Actually you are.

here’s a well written article on the negative racial sterotypes the movie propagated.

The Racism of 'Beasts of the Southern Wild' | The New Republic

good job Bob.

• The key is to think for yourself. lol. It’s funny that you were politically conscious while trying to be..otherwise. LOL. I do appreciate the critical thinking. none the less

Except that the movie portrays not only Hushpuppy’s family in the Bathtub, but also a bunch of others in her community that are both black and white. Mostly white, if I recall correctly. The film can certainly be said to have issues regarding glamorizing poverty - but that’s not because of the color of the main character’s skin. That’s just the demographic of that part of the world.

[Frylock]

@SleuFeets

Actually you are.

here’s a well written article on the negative racial sterotypes the movie propagated.

The Racism of 'Beasts of the Southern Wild' | The New Republic

good job Bob.

• The key is to think for yourself. lol. It’s funny that you were politically conscious while trying to be..otherwise. LOL. I do appreciate the critical thinking. none the less

I avoided the movie because I had the impression that it was basically a story about a magical negro kid growing up in magical negro land… (I trust you know the reference…)

That article’s making me thing I may have been right.

[Jragon]

This:

@SleuFeets

I saw it as racist.

Does not entail this:

It was racist.

[GrandWino]

@Frylock

I avoided the movie because I had the impression that it was basically a story about a magical negro kid growing up in magical negro land… (I trust you know the reference…)

That article’s making me thing I may have been right.

Nah, that’s not quite right. Many of the others in the community are white. Most of them, actually. It’s more about extreme poverty, and what it means to be “family” or a “community.” Also a bunch of other stuff about pigs and shit.

[Weedy]

@Simplicio

Eh, the only context you need is that The Onion is a satirical website that makes jokes. Calling a 9 year old a cunt factiously is a joke, actually calling her a cunt isn’t.

I mean, what’s the alternative explanation? That the guy that runs the Onion tweet actually has some personal beef with a nine-year old?

The way it reads to me is that this girl is a bit of a princess and the Onion thought it would be funny to say out loud what they think everyone is thinking.

[Frylock]

@Bob Ducca

Nah, that’s not quite right. Many of the others in the community are white. Most of them, actually. It’s more about extreme poverty, and what it means to be “family” or a “community.” Also a bunch of other stuff about pigs and shit.

That’s good to know.

Still sounds unbearable though.

(I’ve never been a big fan of any movie that featured a precocious kid anyway.)

[MeanOldLady]

@WhyNot

You wanna break it to her about the OP, Nzinga, Seated, or should we just let her keep playin’ the fool?

I mean, I guess someone could tell her, but the idea of Nzinga being a hipster white guy is pretty funny, and actually, the more I think about it, the more I think that might be the case. Evidence 1) The OP found the Tweet funny. 2) The OP has professed love elsewhere in these parts for musical stylings referred to as “hip hop,” which I believe is pretty in with the bearded fixie crowd.

[Frylock]

@Weedy

The way it reads to me is that this girl is a bit of a princess and the Onion thought it would be funny to say out loud what they think everyone is thinking.

Well, that wasn’t the intention. There’s no common notion out there that she’s “a bit of a princess.” In fact if there were, I think the joke would no longer be funny–because then it really would be a vile insult aimed at a nine year old.

Anyway the Onion doesn’t work like that. Basically, you can’t take anything the Onion says ever in any sense as actually expressing any actual person’s actual opinion.

[Snowboarder_Bo]

@SleuFeets

Not at all.

As a black woman, whose an Onion reader and movie fan. I feel confident in educating people who consistently say that there was nothing “racial” about the insult. Wether it was a conscious problem or not is another discussion. You can accidentally be racist you know.

I mean, we’re fighting ignorance since 1973…right? -__-

What do you think made this tweet a racist remark?

[Snowboarder_Bo]

@SleuFeets

Great observation.

Also keep in mind that Dakota Fanning had not actually been in rehab, so the joke poked a little fun at child stars. And D fanning was Hollywood veteran by that time.

Calling a 9 year old, unknown, first time actress who starred in a small independent film a deragotory name with no context is – well, lazy.

Wait. You’re now characterizing an actress who, at 9 years old, in her first movie, was nominated for the highest acting award that American culture can bestow as “unknown”?

And somehow the name of the film is derogatory? How is the name of the film derogatory?

[Frylock]

She didn’t say the name of the film is derogatory.

[Frylock]

@Snowboarder_Bo

What do you think made this tweet a racist remark?

Yeah, I’ve asked this twice now.

[Snowboarder_Bo]

@Spatial_Rift_47

Here’s the real problem with the Onion’s tweet. Well, first, here’s what it isn’t:

-It isn’t that the Onion “backed down” by pulling the tweet.
-It isn’t a connection to Douchebag McFarlane’s joke about Wallis and Clooney.
-It isn’t even specifically the question of a racial element to this whole episode.

The major problem I see is the overwhelming response in this very thread. Forget any abstract notion of good taste, bad taste, or society. Right here, right now, what I see is a group of people deciding on behalf of someone else that something isn’t hurtful. That despite the use of her name, it isn’t “about her”. That any potential problem in using the word “cunt” to describe a nine year old child doesn’t really exist because “it’s a joke”.

You don’t get to decide for someone else whether or not something hurts.

You don’t get to negate someone else’s presence, especially when they are mentioned by name.

You don’t get to use “it’s a joke” as a shield to protect your own interest in finding something funny from the idea that maybe you laughed at something that caused pain to others.

I’ve now said what I needed to say. I’m not coming back to this thread. Go ahead, tell me I don’t understand, that I don’t get the joke. Feel free to get angry, or offended that I’ve insulted your good character.

Because you see, I’m not deciding for you how you feel about this.

No, you’re just passively-aggressively suggesting how we should feel, or else we’re horrible people. :rolleyes:

[Snowboarder_Bo]

@Frylock

She didn’t say the name of the film is derogatory.

Ah my bad… I misread her incredibly poorly constructed sentence. I withdraw that question. Thanks for pointing out my error, Frylock.

[MOIDALIZE]

Wait, was it racist, or sexist? I can’t figure out where my outrage is supposed to be coming from.

[SleuFeets]

@MeanOldLady

I mean, I guess someone could tell her, but the idea of Nzinga being a hipster white guy is pretty funny, and actually, the more I think about it, the more I think that might be the case. Evidence 1) The OP found the Tweet funny. 2) The OP has professed love elsewhere in these parts for musical stylings referred to as “hip hop,” which I believe is pretty in with the bearded fixie crowd.

I don’t know anything about the OP other than that in his OP message he admitted to being run out by black people. In context, I believe it would be safe to say that a healthy amount of black people found the tweet to then be offensive?

Also , fyi ..guess who buys the most hip hop albums. sales wise.
1 guess…

[Miller]

@SleuFeets

Cute anaology. Now imagine that you are a 12th grade white guy with a trust fund and you called Cynthia - a 4th grader - a cunt in the mall. Because you didn’t call Kerri Washington a “cunt” who is in your grade. It’s all context. That’s the point.

I’m not clear exactly what is supposed to be revealed by your analogy.

When did I say I was speaking for all women of color?

When you established skin color as a necessary determinant for having a valid opinion on the subject. When you say, “You don’t understand this because you’re not black,” you are creating the necessary implication, “If you are black, you will understand this.” At which point, you are presenting your own opinion as representative of your group.

I merely stated that as a person of color, woman, who understands satire/humor - Yes. I saw it as racist. It was racist.

Yeah, see, you’re doing it again right there. You’re using “person of color, woman” as some sort of expert credentials. You can be a “person of color, woman” and still be wrong about this issue - as is demonstrated by the other “person of color, woman” in this thread who disagrees with you. Obviously, one of you must be incorrect on this issue, despite the enormous rhetorical advantages granted to both of you by your skin tone and genital configuration.

However, similar to a user stating how you don’t get to negotiate someone else’s space. If there are tons of black writer’s and political blogs discussing how the tweet had racial implications.

How do you get to tell someone that it wasn’t racist?

Well, I can examine the statement, consider relevant cultural and historical issues, factor in the context in which the statement was made, apply my own standards for acceptable ethical and moral behavior, and arrive at my own conclusion. Although it would be more concise to just quote Frylock’s post and add a “+1”.

What I would not do, is say, “I’m a white male, and that means I’m right.”