Hi, I’m a Mac, and I’m racialicious
by Carmen Van Kerckhove
Check out these two spoofs of the ubiquitous “Hi I’m a PC/Mac” commercials. Interesting that both went with the Mac as well-endowed black man concept. Thanks to Tariq and Philip Arthur Moore!
Carmen Van Kerckhove is co-founder and president of
dcase wrote:
Out of pocket!
Posted 15 Nov 2006 at 1:05 pm ¶
mr guy wrote:
Macs=good but overrated computers
Posted 15 Nov 2006 at 4:28 pm ¶
S wrote:
I know these are based on “good” stereotypes, but that are funny!
Posted 15 Nov 2006 at 5:11 pm ¶
Kenny wrote:
I got news for you.
There is no such thing as a “good” stereotypes. A stereotype is based on a gross generalization of a group of people so, in essence, if one is true, the others are true as well.
If you’re more stronger than whites because you’re black; that also means you’re a criminal and are dumber than whites because you’re black.
You can’t pick and choose what you like at the “stereotype” buffet.
Posted 15 Nov 2006 at 5:38 pm ¶
S wrote:
Uh, Kenny, that’s why I put the word “good” in quote/unquote. I already know the effects of stereotypes. Your news is not new.
Posted 15 Nov 2006 at 5:43 pm ¶
J wrote:
See, that’s the funny thing.
This just reinforces all the racial limitations this artificial construct has placed on us. It’s momentarily amusing, but it’s ultimately trashy and stupid. Sadly – most Americans won’t see it this way and just applaud the ad as a step in racial equality and a lightheart observation on race, as though the myth of ‘black sexual prowess’ was some truth. How wonderful. How adorable. How cute – and what twisted, myopic logic.
So to extrapolate from the message of the ad – if you’re Asian and male, you can never be a Mac because your ‘hard drive’ is too small. If you’re white… well I guess you can be second best – good enough, but in need of an upgrade. A penile implant just might make the ‘white’ Mac good enough, after all.
These people who write these ads, in all probability are white writers with liberal higher education in the Humanities. I don’t bring up the race of people gratuitously – but I’m doing it to make a point. Do they think they’re being ‘cute’ and good-humored? Probably. But I wonder if they’ve ever thought of the issues at hand on a deeper level. I doubt it – it’s not easy to look at the world outside of your own lens, and because of this they’ll see their attempt at good-natured racial humor as funny and harmless.
As for the black man in the ad…. and other black men watching it – they’re not going to object. Would your ego allow you to object if the world tells you that they revere and perhaps even fear you because you supposedly have a massive penis, and that white women secretly want to try you out, and that white guys envy you? Probably not. Positive stereotyping is just that – stereotyping, but most black guys are probably just smiling and feeling good about themselves, whether or not this black penis thing is a myth or not. I can’t blame them for being human. If you’re Asian and someone told you that you were smart because you are Asian, you probably won’t agree with it in your head, but you wouldn’t raise a stink or create a scene either. Within the practical flow of day-to-day living, this isn’t practical… you’d only alienate people.
So for these black guys – if white people (who create the myth anyway) go on and on about ‘big black penises’ – then they’ll probably go, “So be it. Prolly won’t hurt that white chicks think I’ve got a big one. *wink*.”
Hey… and maybe if you’re Asian and a female, white people will throw you a bone because your harddrive is…. exotic! Yay! Luv yoo long time! Good fer you girls! *end sarcasm*
My point is this… in the end, this is a shoddy attempt at ‘nudge-nudge, hardy-har-har’ “good natured” racial humor… but as Kenny said you can’t pick and choose one stereotype over the other – enforcing one only enhances the other. Kind of like a measuring scale – if there is no equilibrium there will always be an inequality, injustice… stereotyping.
Posted 15 Nov 2006 at 7:30 pm ¶
S wrote:
Good points, but again, nothing new.
Posted 15 Nov 2006 at 7:52 pm ¶
Andrew wrote:
Bad acting. :/
Posted 15 Nov 2006 at 8:42 pm ¶
J wrote:
Actually S -
I wasn’t speaking direct to you. Sorry if you misunderstood. My hope is that more and more people will read this thread and internalize what I and others have presented – this may be ‘business as usual’ for you, but it may be new territory for others. Keep that in mind.
Have a nice day….
Posted 15 Nov 2006 at 9:56 pm ¶
elodie wrote:
“good” stereotypes! What in god’s name is that!
Posted 15 Nov 2006 at 10:35 pm ¶
kim wrote:
Elodie:
Positive stereotype :
It’s the image that is socially advantageous to exploit when the host feels like others may bend to the hype:
A 6′3″ dark-skinned (use whatever barometer you want as the line) Black man at 129th St. and Amsterdam is not going to try to convince the bodega owner to take back a vegetable platter (okay, fruit bowl) because, four hours after purchase, he decided he just didn’t want it anymore.
Self-same big guy walks into, say, Kroger in middle-America, in a zip-code where the denizens have voted down public transportation going through their community year after year. Returns the platter while the car is running in the parking lot. In and Out.
After being called on the return by a friend, “you never kept it refridgerated, and now you’re returning it because your party only ate one of the platters? Just put it in the refrigerator and eat it later, ” he smiles and says, smirk on, and chest out, “Yeah, well, what are they going to say to a 6′3″, dark-skinned Black Man?” [emphasis to match the cape I'm sure he felt flying around his neck]
Posted 16 Nov 2006 at 12:02 am ¶
Marshall wrote:
J, as an African-American male I can inform you that your statement (”As for the black man in the ad…. and other black men watching it – they’re not going to object.”) was incorrect. I do not appreciate any stereotypes, “positive” or otherwise.
Posted 17 Nov 2006 at 1:33 am ¶
Rex Osborne wrote:
Those are about the stupidest ads I’ve ever seen. Modern society has virtually lost all contact with good taste.
Posted 21 Nov 2006 at 7:18 pm ¶
Ro Ro wrote:
This is just the proof that our black genetics are superior…bigger dicks,better bodies,and smoother skin. The genetic superiority of the African race will mix recessive White genes to extinction by taking white females and using the media on our side to promote tolerance ! White/Caucasians are down to 8% of the world population and declining,so welcome your own genocide Whitey ! White girls naturally prefer black males.
Posted 25 Nov 2006 at 11:55 pm ¶
Antoinette - san wrote:
Roro .. not trying to direspect you or anything but .. seriously keep your racist comments to yourself because that’s not at the least bit true .. everyone’s different .
That propetuates racism ..
Posted 26 Nov 2006 at 1:05 am ¶
Jeremy Pierce wrote:
This just reinforces all the racial limitations this artificial construct has placed on us. It’s momentarily amusing, but it’s ultimately trashy and stupid. Sadly – most Americans won’t see it this way and just applaud the ad as a step in racial equality and a lightheart observation on race, as though the myth of ‘black sexual prowess’ was some truth.
In my experience, most white people would think this is either stupid or innocently funny, certainly not a step in the right direction but probably not a major problem either.
But one thing that sort of response does not in any way require is thinking that the myth of black sexual prowess is some truth. Most ethnic humor that relies on false stereotypes can draw laughs among people who don’t believe the false stereotypes. Think Polish jokes. No one really believes Polish people are all stupid. It’s just a placeholder for stupid people. I realize that it’s very different with racial jokes, because a lot of people do believe the stereotypes and because the issues are much more live in a number of ways, but my point is that someone might find it funny without endorsing the stereotype. They may in fact be making fun of people who believe the stereotype. I know people who deliberately use that kind of humor in order to make fun of those who accept the myth. Whether it’s a good idea is another matter, but it shows that finding racial humor funny does not require believing the stereotype.
Posted 27 Nov 2006 at 9:26 am ¶
Lyonside wrote:
>Most ethnic humor that relies on false stereotypes can draw laughs among people who don’t believe the false stereotypes.
I sincerely doubt that – why laugh if you KNOW something is false? If you’re willing to at least say that there is a grain of truth, and it’s presented in an absurd or extreme way, then you laugh. Case in point: I’m an Eddie Izzard fan – his take on European and US history is funny BECAUSE of what I know to be fact, and I laugh because of the presentation/colloquial language/ analogies that come with the presentation. If it were categorically wrong, I wouldn’t laugh.
>my point is that someone might find it funny without endorsing the stereotype.
Once again I think you give people too much credit.
Posted 27 Nov 2006 at 11:39 am ¶