So, what you’re saying is that because you don’t remember ever hearing the term “swarthy” in a history class when you were a teenager, therefore the pool safety poster being discussed isn’t racist?
If they didn’t teach you that prejudice exists, they didn’t teach history very well.
This happened to me: I worked for a company in the R&D department. I came up with a research idea, and showed it to work using some makeshift apparatus. This idea was not taken seriously until someone of the race that owned to company found someone of their own race that had thought of something that was not quite the same idea but something broadly similar; whereupon they agreed to develop the idea provided it was credited to the other guy.
You have probably guessed that the races are not the usual ones (I won’t say what they were but I am caucasian). However, I only thought how insecure they must be to think this way. I never recognised this as racial discrimination until someone else pointed this out, twenty years later. I had never felt discriminated against because I don’t get a lot of that, and I didn’t recognise it when it happened. But if the races had been different, and this happened all the time, then I would be ground down before long.
Moral? Ain’t no steenkin’ moral. You are super lucky you can miss these things. This one felt pretty much in my face, but I miss other things (see above). That isn’t a bad thing, and you shouldn’t become super prickly to compensate. But we aren’t done until everyone can feel like that way when it happens to them.
After further introspection I’d like it to change my opinion regarding the kid with the glasses. That’s clearly a bottle of beer he’s holding, not soda pop.
I’ve got a story that somewhat relates.
A few years ago, there was a big hullabaloo on the interwebs about a Cheerios commercial which featured a biracial family;
When I first saw it, my only thought was that it was cute; it wasn’t until the vehement backlash that I even noticed the fact that the family was biracial… because to me, they just look like your standard American family.
At first it didn’t even dawn on me, a multiracial black woman, that such a commercial probably would have never aired when I was a kid… until the bigots loudly reminded me that our society still has such a long way to go.
What a complete load of horseshit. This is “super racist” according to who exactly? Because there are a larger number of Black children than White children in the picture that are “uncool?” How can anyone with even half a brain take any offense to this when it’s clearly a safety ad, and a bad one at that? How can anyone, regardless of color, be “uncool” for diving when there’s clearly a diving board in the picture? More so, how could someone be offended by something like that that doesn’t even make sense? Americans need to spend less time on the Internet and go out and get some serious human inaction.
But can’t you see, that commercial was another example of how political correctness has simply gone too far!
Ugh, sorry, I’m just not all that good at imitating wingnut outrage.
Welcome to the BBS.
Wait, you’re still here?
I thought you were “closing the tab?”
I got an email.
I don’t think funny gifs replace arguments, though.
Nope. What I’m saying is that none of my 4 history teachers ever used the term “swarthy” to describe Italian Americans.
As for the poster, I’ve already stated I find in unintentionally funny, but not racist.
The point of a gif is generally to say without words that you don’t have much of an argument.
You weren’t bothered by the coloration. I rejoice for you - obviously skin color hasn’t been a huge big deal in your life. Perhaps someday we will all live in that utopia.
In the meantime, the red cross is fixing their poster. The people who were bothered will have a better poster. If you really care as little as you claim, you’ll probably be just as happy with the new safety poster. That makes the change clearly good - some people win, no one loses. We’re all good.
Can you post about twice more? My white privilege bingo card isn’t full for this thread yet. Thankyew.
Well, there’s your problem.
wow. so much dumb in this thread.
“not cool” is clearly directed at certain actions, not individuals.
I’m amazed that anyone could possibly take offense to this (well, ok, really not that amazed, I have low expectations at this point).
Oh Christ, yet another one!!
Ready the gifs!
It’s flagged.
some people just rub each other the wrong way. I know there’s one specific member of the community who I find myself at odds with more often than you’d expect. Life goes on. the best you can do is to try not to seek conflict, try not to be an ass, pray for the spiritual guidance of saint humbabella, and consider sometimes taking a couple hours away from the board for reflection and perspective
good night
The consensus we have reached is thus: ‘Super racist’ pool safety poster prompts Red Cross apology
nope, nothing subliminally racist about this either.
