Trackbacks & Pings

1. In case you missed it… at Anti-Racist Parent - for parents committed to raising children with an anti-racist outlook on 13 Oct 2006 at 10:51 am

   […] Eddie Murphy in yellowface: Murphy plays a dorky, meek Black man adopted as a child by an old Asian man and, in adulthood, who is dominated by a fat black woman stereotype. The catch? Murphy plays Norbit, Norbit’s girlfriend, and the Asian man who adopts him. […]

2. The Primary Contradiction » The Colorface Extravaganza! on 14 Nov 2006 at 3:34 am

   […] Angelina Jolie playing Marianne Pearl in a new movie about Pearl’s late husband. David Carradine resurrecting his sorry kung-fu master shtick in an ad for Yellowbook.com. Dumb white hipster kids who put on blackface to be “ironic” and “subversive.” And now Eddie Murphy (an alleged Black man) donning a fat suit and pancake makeup to play an “Asian man” and a “Black woman” in yet another lame-ass comedic “blockbuster” (yeah right) coming to a theatre near you next February. […]

3. O.J., WTF dude? at Racialicious - the intersection of race and pop culture on 25 Nov 2006 at 9:23 am

   […] Yeah I really don’t know what to say about this. I guess we should add this to our “will do anything for a paycheck” category, along with Eddie Murphy and Mike Tyson. […]

4. The Primary Contradiction » Massa Kramer—I done seen’t da light! on 29 Nov 2006 at 4:25 pm

   […] Maybe this tendency toward revelation will become the hot new trend. Will Tom Cruise lash out at Katie Holmes in a violent rage, thus compelling her and all women in Hollywood to quit attaching themselves to male power? Will Madonna or Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie utter some deep White Parent’s Burden insight about their “color-coordinated” children, thus provoking their best friend Oprah to issue a strongly worded militant rebuke live from Harpo Studios? Will white movie execs make sickenedly orientalist jokes about Eddie Murphy, compelling him to apologize deep from the very bottom of his heart for that shithouse yellowface role in Norbit? Will George Bush and Dick Cheney come out and trash the good white folks of America publicly, moving the masses of John and Jane Does across the Heartland to agitate for impeachment, criminal tribunals and an end to the bloody Iraq War? […]

5. afrobella » Dumb and Dumber on 24 Jan 2007 at 1:39 am

   […] This time around, he’s not just reveling in the Mammy stereotype, he’s adding a touch of oversexed Jezebel in there too. Because why stop at offending black women? Why not also piss off overweight people, and put on yellowface? […]

Comments

1. mtevc wrote:

   okay…all i can say is TIRED!

   Posted 09 Oct 2006 at 11:11 am ¶

2. t-hype wrote:

   I can’t believe this got made.
   Apparently, times are really hard in Hollywood these days…

   Posted 09 Oct 2006 at 1:23 pm ¶

3. Jenn wrote:

   There should definitely be buffonery awards.

   Posted 09 Oct 2006 at 1:25 pm ¶

4. Kenda wrote:

   After seeing that clip, I say Eddie is tied with Tyler Perry.

   Posted 09 Oct 2006 at 1:45 pm ¶

5. Tariq Nelson wrote:

   I was like one of the only people I knew that did NOT like The Nutty Professor or its sequels.

   The last Eddie Murphy film I liked was Boomerang.

   Posted 09 Oct 2006 at 2:09 pm ¶

6. MizuWari wrote:

   I’m going to hate seeing this preview in the theaters when going to see a flick. I’m REALLY REALLY going to hate it and I wish I had some sort of sensor to detect the theaters running it so I could avoid them. The only way I can bet my dice on doing so is that these types of trailers are almost ALWAYS shown in “urban” theaters (regardless of the movie) and will possibly be shown before comedy-themed movies, with children’s/family comedy movies a close third.

   So, really, the only way I can protect my eyes from being burned by the embarrassment of seeing Eddie’s genius sellout to shill LCD humor for the masses is not to go to the Regal Cinemas (most esp. the 34th St. & 8th Ave. one) and to continue frequenting the indie cinemas like Angelika and Sunshine. Even though most indie cinema has a recognizable low quota of showing people of color in multifaceted, non-predictable roles, it’s infinitely preferrable to THIS TIRED CRAP.

   Oh, man. Eddie, say it ain’t so! It’s gonna burn seeing this trailer in a full, mixed-crowd theater. It’s gonna burn like squeezing a ripe lemon directly over your open eyeball.

   Posted 09 Oct 2006 at 3:46 pm ¶

7. merq wrote:

   “Ugry brack one?”

   All I can say is… Wow!

   And props to Carmen, Jen, and Jenn for hitting on all the flaws in that trailer. I picked up on quite a few, and I’m glad to see I wasn’t the only one.

   Eddie, not only is this shit grossly offensive, it’s also played out. Damn, dude!

   Posted 09 Oct 2006 at 7:47 pm ¶

8. mr guy wrote:

   Tyler Perry isn’t as bad as people make him out to be…

   Posted 09 Oct 2006 at 8:26 pm ¶

9. mr guy wrote:

   As for Eddie’s new movie?Yeah……

   Posted 09 Oct 2006 at 8:33 pm ¶

10. brad wrote:

    Okay, I think we know how desperate Murphy career is that he is now rehashing this joke casting of himself in multiple roles. I think the broken Chinglish is bad.

    Murphy has always used make up to assume identities in his films. Remember he played an old Jewish man in “Coming to America.” I have less problem with Murphy playing different roles in his movies with make up when he is doing it across the board. The problem becomes one when he falls into stereotypes, Asian immigrant with poor English or fat, aggressive Black woman.

    As for Tyler Perry, I don’t find him offensive. His movies are usually pretty maudlin but pro-female empowerment. The character of Madea is a device intended for an African-American audience reminiscent of “Aunt Esther.” I think the Madea films message of women not allowing themselves to be abused and recognizing their worth surpasses any objections I might have.

    At a certain point, I think that comedians of color are judged more harshely than their white counterparts. Jim Carrey or Owen Wilson can play foolish and absurd characters without worry of damning “the race. ” I think Tyler Perry is light years away from the Stepin Fetchit routine that Chris Tucker displays so enthusiastically and shamelessly in his movies. Similarly, Martin Lawrence as Big Momma was different than his ministrel roles in “Martin” or God knows how many times he’s played a thief. (Have you notice how many black comedians always play crooks at the start of their careers? Murphy, Lawrence, Foxx, etc. )

    I do think a reward for buffoonery is warranted. I nominate 50 Cent, Flava Flav, the President of MTV/VH1, and George W. Bush.

    Posted 10 Oct 2006 at 2:27 am ¶

11. Gandalf Mantooth wrote:

    Owen Wilson only plays his weeded out self in every movie. I don’t recall Jim Carey having ever donned the Mickey Rooney thick glasses and buck teeth.

    Posted 10 Oct 2006 at 10:46 am ¶

12. gatamala wrote:

    Chingrish as a cheap laugh…Now all we need is an A-rab & we’re in business.

    I want to see Chinese (and everyone else) write their own movies with their own injokes as if they were the only ones watching. I want to see the Chinese-Am shopowner’s (intelligent) take on his/her community and non-Chinese! I would love to see that movie even if (when) I don’t get it. There IS a way to poke fun at yourself and others that isn’t crass. There must be nuance and humanity throughout the script. Even when characters represent a type, they are still intelligent, witty and capable of growth/transformation.

    Example: Apu (Sanjay, Manjula) on the Simpsons makes me cringe. If they must have the Indian shopkeeper, let an Indian artist (who actually knows a shopkeeper) write not just his own lines, but entire episodes. Let an Indian perform the voice. Give him a real last name and a culturally/regionally accurate backstory. Let Apu have a family, not a litter. Let him be a [hu]man.

    Carm/Jenn - do you all know of any such movies regarding Asians/AsAms?
    ****
    [don’t kill me] I think Eddie got close w/ the PJs. There were a lot of injokes and subtle digs towards the govt and civil servants in that cartoon. I think too many of “us” didn’t want those injokes exposed. Comedy and fame is catch-22.

    Bless his heart…but I hate Tyler Perry. Back in the day he used to do plays that ran the chitlin circuit. I remember the commericals on cable access. One of which included Madea jumping up and down screaming, wig flopping, w/ massive Mammy boobs bouncing uncontrollably. Aunt Esther looked like Aunt Esther. Notice how many of the characters have oversized chests - Madea, Granny Klump, Big Mama

    NEVER…NEVER would I have thought in 1994 that that crap would end up for the whole world to see.

    Posted 11 Oct 2006 at 9:32 am ¶

13. Y. Carrington wrote:

    Subtext: Black boy is reared by Asian man into an emasculated nerd who can be dominated by fat ugly ballbreaking Black woman. Hollywood, Hollywood!

    Fuck Eddie Murphy.

    Posted 12 Oct 2006 at 9:01 am ¶

14. Eloise wrote:

    A new low. Once again, Eddie Murphy showcases his hatred of black women, and deserves a bitchslap for the yellowface bit. I’ll be glad when folks get tired of this rehashed bullshit and stop paying to see it.

    Posted 16 Nov 2006 at 11:02 pm ¶

15. kim wrote:

    Gatamala,

    Bless his heart…but I hate Tyler Perry. Back in the day he used to do plays that ran the chitlin circuit. I remember the commericals on cable access….NEVER…NEVER would I have thought in 1994 that that crap would end up for the whole world to see.

    Thank goodness someone said it. I was a bit trepidatious about even mentioning the circuit in this forum (lately, I have had the strangest feeling…) , though it is all I ever think of when I see Tyler Perry being lauded as the heir apparent to … hmmm, I hate to blaspheme any one.

    Posted 17 Nov 2006 at 12:01 am ¶

16. Lina wrote:

    For those who don’t like Tyler Perry. You shouldn’t hate. Just because the man made something of himeself, you shouldn’t put him down. Stop being so jealous, and get a life. It’ s not like he’s listening to you low life people any way. No one asked you all to see his movies any way. Who cares what you think. This message is for the ones who had comments bad comments on Tyler. Your not worth the time or a dime.

    Posted 30 Nov 2006 at 6:26 am ¶

17. Lyonside wrote:

    Fangirl Lina:
    >No one asked you all to see his movies any way.
    Welcome to the grown-up world, honey… if someone does something in public for money (i.e. a public entertainer, actor, singer, what have you) then it is allowed PUBLICLY for people to say they like it, they don’t, they used to like it but changed their mind, they like some of it, etc.

    Free speech. What a wonderful thing.

    >because the man made something of himeself
    Here’s a hint to aid your reading comprehension: that’s NOT the reason people “put him down.”

    *sigh* what, do people google their favorite person’s name and then track down every hit and gush or vent? Who has that kind of time?

    Posted 30 Nov 2006 at 11:04 am ¶

18. twil wrote:

    Men dressing as women is as old as comedy itself, do the knowledge:
    Bob Hope
    Milton Berle
    Jim Carrey
    Mike Myers
    Adam Sandler
    Chris Farley
    Dan Ackroyd
    John Candy
    Tom Hanks
    Patrick Swayze
    Dustin Hoffman
    Robin Williams

    and a HOST of other White comedians/actors have dressed in drag for cheap laughs at some point or another, but when we see a Black man in drag, conditioning causes us to start slinging darts at him like he’s a sellout. But, honestly, he’s just doing what American comedians do. I do think this crap is unfunny, but to blast Murphy, (and Perry) is a little unfair and hypocritical. We seem to be creatures of habit sometimes, ignoring that in this year, we’ve seen Forrest Whitaker as Idi Amin, Will Smith as a up-from-his-bootstraps stockbroker, Denzel as a federal agent, Queen Latifah as a publicist, and Eddie/Jamie/Beyonce in a brilliant musical. But, Eddie dresses in drag and none of the other films matter. The struggle isn’t over, but we can’t keep running in place by making the same tired arguments. Psuedo-intellectuals usually do more harm than good anyway.

    Posted 26 Dec 2006 at 5:00 pm ¶

19. Q wrote:

    There are more black men in drag playing mammies in mainstream film than there are positive potrayals of black women.

    For every white comedian that does some lame bit in drag there’s a white woman on screen being a hero.

    Coon Latifah stepping out of her usual role as a mammy to be a publicist and Beyonce playing a diva would have mattered if it weren’t 2007. That short list is an example of the problem.

    Posted 17 Jan 2007 at 2:31 am ¶

20. specialtea wrote:

    Mr. Murphy is color-struck. In most of his films, the leading lady/love interest is a light-skinned African American woman…Halle Berry, Jada Pinket-Smith, Don’t know her Name-the girl who played his wife in the The Nutty professor, and now Thandie Newton.

    The Dark brown women in his films usually are the evil/not to be trusted type, (Robin Givens in Boomerang). Now he gives us dark-sninned women that are loud, bossy and scary enough to run from. Thanks Eddie! Little black girls eveywhere appreciate your support.

    Speaking of scary, I don’t even want to start on his Scary Spice fiasco.
    This man has no class. Let’s not forget folks-he picked up a prostitute from a well known ‘ho-stroll’ while he was married.

    All that said, I was happy when he won the Golden Globe for Dreamgirls.

    Posted 21 Jan 2007 at 10:47 pm ¶

21. Candy wrote:

    Its official. Eddie Murphy’s believes in his own stereotypes - Norbit is supposed to be a man’s nightmare- being married to a black woman who is overweight, has true African features, is overpowering and who is promiscious. Oddly, Thandie Newton is the proper alternative - light skinned (mixed), slender soft-spoken and sweet - just like the girls (and men in drag) Eddie pursues in real life. Sad.

    Posted 05 Feb 2007 at 1:25 am ¶

22. Real_Talk wrote:

    I think people make a big deal out oof nothing, Its just a movie…Talk about them college kids painting their faces and entire body black, talk about the damn ignorant white girl dressed like aunt jemima. Thats disrespectful that blatant racism. But hell it all doesnt matter cause at the end of the Eddie is going to make his money and those kids we go off to run their parents companies thats just reality

    Posted 05 Feb 2007 at 9:17 am ¶

23. Lyonside wrote:

    RealTalk:

    OoooK, so everyone should just tuck their heads in the sand and pretend that is doesn’t matter? Nice defeatist attitude - lets see how that works for you. Must be a horrible way to go through life.

    Actually, my guess is that Norbit is gonna bomb (like most of Murphy’s recent movies, not counting Dreamgirls, which was not a Murphy vehicle), and even if it doesn’t, the movie won’t get any cash out of me. As for something more serious (like college-age students whose ethical and moral equipment is calibrated to the 1950s), all I can say is that they are outnumbered, and the quicker society at large recognizes that and lets them know it, the better.

    SpecialTea: you forgot Coming to America (same idea)! Otherwise, interesting list… just playing devil’s advocate here, but could studio dynamics also play a role, rahter than personal preference in casting female leads?

    Posted 05 Feb 2007 at 11:57 am ¶

24. Bill wrote:

    Why must you write such garbage about Eddie Murphy. Your so called racism is nothing more than a little comedy. Racism is bad, but all Eddie Murphy did was take a few stereotypes all in good fun. You say you want to get rid of racism, but to do so we must allow for freedom of speech, we must take jokes for what they are, and we must not go off like lunatics every time someone wants to make a little fun out of race. To make such a big deal out of race is to create the message the race is such a big deal that we can’t even make some jokes. Movies like this get the races together and create the message that we can all get together fore the sake of comedy. STOP making a big deal out of nothing and fight some real racism.

    Posted 10 Feb 2007 at 10:40 pm ¶

25. Lyonside wrote:

    *sigh* bill, bill, bill….

    >Movies like this get the races together and create the message that we can all get together fore the sake of comedy.

    Oh yeah, we’re all getting together - to beridiculed in the movie? You must be joking.

    Comedy is very subjective by its nature, so you don’t get the right to tell anyone else what’s funny… but society has these little things called STANDARDS, and they can be applied more or less universally. There is also a thing called subtext - and the subtext of this particular movie IS offensive on many levels.

    Is anyone here calling for boycotts? Censorship? Hell no - we’re voting with our feet, and our wallets, pro or con. So, while I support the right of Murphy et al. to make whatever movie they can, and I support their freedom of speech, I also support MY OWN freedom to not only avoid the movies but to VOICE MY DISAPPROVAL in an appropriate forum.. that would include, oh, THIS ONE.

    Unless, my freedom of speech is less important to you than hearing that race and gender sterotypes are hysterical to everyone, universally, in a kimbayah kind of way (bringing all the “races” together)?

    I’m an ethnic minority. I struggle with my weight. And I’m female. Maybe if I weren’t all of those things, I’d think that this movie was hysterical. But my tastes haven’t run towards slapstick and potty humor since preschool. And I dont’ need to be any more a target than I already am. Racism, sexism, and other prejudices come in many forms, subtle and overt. Just because racism is less overt (i.e. wearing hoods is SO 1933) doesn’t mean that race prejudice is extinct.

    This has been voiced before, but YOU do not get the exclusive right to tell others whether they should or should not be offended, especially when they can define exactly what offends them and why (i.e. an intellectual rather than sheer visceral reaction). But I support your right to say it. See how that free speech thing works?

    Posted 11 Feb 2007 at 10:39 am ¶

26. Bill wrote:

    At least you have enough sense to say that just didn’t like the movie. I happened to think the movies was great, but if you don’t find it funny then you don’t find it funny. I’m upset with comments like, “And when are people going to realize that yellowface is just as offensive as blackface?” Racial comments can only be offensive if it is used to hurt someone. If it is just for jokes then too big of a deal is being made. Jokes aren’t meant to make people think. Forget race for a second. Think how many jokes don’t make that much sense but are just there to make you laugh. Most jokes are meaningless when it comes to logic. So to make racial jokes, makes the concept of racism meaningless. Are Knock Knock jokes racist to people who answer doors. Chances are you think that’s a dumb question. But as much seriousness you give to any joke should be given to racial jokes. “This time around, he’s not just reveling in the Mammy stereotype, he’s adding a touch of oversexed Jezebel in there too. Because why stop at offending black women? Why not also piss off overweight people, and put on yellowface?” comments like this are made by people who over react to everything and need to understand the difference between offensive and a movie.

    Posted 11 Feb 2007 at 1:40 pm ¶

27. merq wrote:

    Norbit: #1 at the box office this weekend. Damn.

    Specialtea:
    While I agree with Lyonside in both respects, I must add that, short of a paper-bag test, the “black complexion continuum” is a very subjective experience. For example, you’re the first person I’ve ever heard describing Robin Givens as “darker skinned.”

    Not trying to question the validity of the “light is right” black female lead, just figured Id point that out.

    Posted 11 Feb 2007 at 3:01 pm ¶

28. merq wrote:

    Bill,

    I’m going to go out on a limb and guess you’ve never really had to worry about being stereotyped, mocked, and sold short, thanks in part to media representations.

    White male, I presume.

    Posted 11 Feb 2007 at 3:06 pm ¶

29. Lyonside wrote:

    Thanks, Bill, being told I have “enough” sense in your mind makes my day and in no way comes off as patronizing, paternal, or demeaning. *wipes away dripping sarcasm*

    >Most jokes are meaningless when it comes to logic.

    Your definition of “humor” and “jokes” are what defy logic. Logic IS a basic tenet of humor: most jokes work on leading the audience or participant into assumptions, and then flipping the tables in some way, either verbally, physically, or situationally. I.e., the physics behind Charlie Chaplin or the Marx Bros. don’t really happen in real life, but because we see that they do, with no negative result (noone is hospitalized, no bone is broken, crazy Rube Goldberg situations arise), it strikes many people as funny. It also applies to wordplay and puns, absurdist scenarios and conincidences (i.e. your average sitcom), comic relief characters, extreme/abridged versions of history or historical anachronisms (think Monty Python’s Holy Grail), etc.

    Humor also works by making extreme examples that either reflect a real life situation, or point out disparities between real life and the situation presented. My personal favorite are the extreme examples that make you laugh with the absurdity, and then go “hunh” at the parts of it that are true or relevant. As far as I can see, this movie thinks that the “hunh” part of it is that the race and gender stereotypes are true… and THAT is offensive.

    All race humor is not racism - (and no “X” humor is not “X-ism”) and I never said so… But that sure doesn’t mean that there is EITHER racism OR humor. Or, as you put it, “offensive” or “a movie.” Movies can definitely be both. Your dichotomy makes no sense to me.

    Posted 11 Feb 2007 at 4:20 pm ¶

30. Lyonside wrote:

    >(and no “X” humor is not “X-ism”)
    Correction: I meant “(and all X humor is not X-ism)”… I think that’s apparent, but well, you never know…

    Posted 11 Feb 2007 at 4:24 pm ¶

31. Colin wrote:

    Bill,

    I am confused — is it the fault of the offended for the offense they feel? That’s what it sounds like you’re saying.

    “Are Knock Knock jokes racist to people who answer doors?”

    Do you know what racism is? I am quite worried that you just think “racism” is some schoolyard insult people throw around to win the dirty dozens. When someone makes a movie like this, a movie paying homage to horrific stereotypes like the Mammy stereotype or the Meek Asian man stereotype, ‘racist’, like Kai has said before on this blog, is “descriptively accurate.”

    Bill, you say we should ignore the racist stereotypes in this movie and fight some “real racism”, but I’d say this is real racism and we shouldn’t give it a pass because it’s framed as comedy, though.

    Posted 11 Feb 2007 at 6:08 pm ¶

32. ren wrote:

    Not going to comment on the film since I haven’t seen it, but does bring up the issue of what side of the joke you find yourself standing on. A while back I had the chance to see Gwoemul (The Host) a very popular Korean film, that takes some swipes at the US military. One of the characters in the film is the guy from Silence of the Lambs, the researcher with the crossed eyes that kept uncomfortably hitting on Jodie Foster’s character. Since I had seen the film with some Korean nationals, an adopted American Korean, and a couple of white friends, I had the pleasure of witnessing their reactions.

    My white friends were noticeably irritated, feeling like “guests” in the country, they felt a bit betrayed by the representation. The foreign born Koreans were like “hey, it’s just a movie, it’s not to be taken so seriously.” For the most part I agree. There was nothing in the film that was overtly negative or offensive concerning white Americans, it was simply unflattering. It didn’t give unwarranted praise simply because they were Americans, they didn’t cast the most handsome, most likable, white guys in lieu of an average looking person… and so they took offense to not being represented in the BEST possible light.

    As for the adopted Asian, since we are both Americans, we both found it mildly disorienting (and subversive) at first. We were both raised on American popular culture to the extent that we are used to seeing whites portrayed in a way that was never questionable. For the most part they had a well-roundness to them, even the bad guys had characteristics and motivations you could find to a degree, likeable. We both experienced the discomfort in seeing what was ultimately an embarrassing portrayal but, as I said not vitriolic… just unflattering. But after the discomfort was a bit of subversive pleasure, like taking a piss on the golden calf, it’s not unwanted to witness idols crumbling. Realizing how encoded we are to evaluate race based on popular representation, requires one to step outside the safety of their community. It doesn’t seem like a harmless joke when you’re not home with the majority.

    Is The Host anti-American propaganda, I don’t really see it as such. But films have been put forth as propaganda without resorting to massive rallying of crowds (who can forget the heroic Klansmen in Birth of a Nation?). Portrayals that become ingrained through constant cultural reinforcement is possibly more destructive than obvious racist vitriol. It might be something to consider… or not, because hey, the Host is making a ton of cash and by Real_Talk’s logic, it’s monetary take-in is a testament to how right it is, just like Mozart dying in poverty is a testament to what an idiot he was. I heard that Hollywood is in the plans of remaking it, it’ll be interesting to see what they leave in and what they take out (I’m betting the Asians).

    P.S. considering all the outrage by offended Americans, did anyone see Valley of the Wolves?

    P.S.S. about the postscript thing… for the internet age, is that a bit tacky? Considering days of yore when you couldn’t just go back after you placed your signature?

    Posted 11 Feb 2007 at 6:40 pm ¶

33. Rebekah Cheng wrote:

    When are Americans going to realize that yellowface, brownface, redface, and any other practice of coloring your skin to mock another ethnic group is offensive, dispicable, and unacceptable? I am Asian and I am so disappointed when I see African American or other minority actors make fun of people of another race. Yes, the media treats white people as fair game because, after all, their ancestors enslaved Africans. But when I hear African Americans complain about racial stereotypes and discrimination, it makes me angry when I see an African American actor racially stereotype Asians. The way I see it is you should not be complaining about racism and then turn around and be racist to someone else. It’s call HYPOCRISY.

    Posted 11 Feb 2007 at 8:17 pm ¶

34. BlackContractor wrote:

    I can see the anger at Eddie Murphy for doing yellowface. It is absolutely shameful and he needs to be condemned for doing it. Eddie has been having a lot of problems with movies as of late with the exception of “Dreamgirls”. I guess he was trying to cash in on the Tyler Perry drag-queen thing.

    But I don’t understand animosity towards Tyler, however. Mayhap some “Black” folks are tired of this kind of comedy, but many are not. And if Tyler can sellout movie theaters and concerts he is doing so with the permission of many “Black” people. His character might be extreme. But she is loving, caring, and respected in the community.

    The issues Tyler covers with his comedies should be evident enough that there is much more going on than a cheap laugh at a man in a dress.

    Eddie doesn’t usually cover stuff like violence, extra-marital affairs, drug use, etc., etc. within our communities.

    Posted 11 Jun 2007 at 3:29 pm ¶

35. Yume wrote:

    This movie is made out of epic fail.

    Try as we may, those of us intellectual Blacks have little following to change the way the idiots in our race try to portray the entire group or what people want to see Black doing. The ones hit hardest by this movies are dark-skinned Black women whom are not all the same in persona and looks… I am ashamed that we cannot do better to fight the crap being put out.

    I feel even more ashamed for the “yellow face” in this movie. What makes it okay for us to pass on cruelties of ridicule from us to our Asian brothers and sisters?

    Posted 23 Feb 2008 at 5:28 pm ¶

36. Jeffrey Ethan Lee wrote:

    Hi and thanks for writing about these strange and toxic images of Asians/Asian Americans.

    I teach at West Chester U and am a little alarmed at the lack of racial sensitivity everywhere among students etc.

    Posted 19 Oct 2008 at 4:39 pm ¶

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