Is the Backyardigans racist? - Page 3

[sabrinat]

We actually like that it's about diversity to some extent. I love their names: Tyrone, Uniquwa (sp?), Pablo, Tasha & Austin. They tried to be the rainbow coalition for sure.

[fremontmama]

Originally Posted by Niamh

Caught this comment when I was googling for the lyrics to the Backyardigans mermaid lullaby (and I STILL can't find them! )

Apparently, the thought process goes that Austin is white (which, of course, is why he's ignored in so many episodes), Pablo is Hispanic (which is why he stinks in the Yeti episode and is so hyperactive), and the other three are black (which is why they are in every episode, Tasha is bossy, Uniqua is sensitive, and Tyrone is funny).

Leaving aside all the laughably broad (and some offensive) generalizations in the above thought process, do you think it's possible that the creator (who is AA) has created a racist cartoon? (This would mean that you'd have to believe, contrary to the beliefs of some on this board, that somebody who is not white could be racist.)

Or do you think that it's more likely that the creator made a cartoon that, if you look carefully (if you even notice the choice of names), actually <gasp> has minorities as the majority!

I have to admit that I laughed it off since I love the show and don't think it racist in the least, but what do you think?

(highlights mine )
I think this opinion you have found goes in the same category of trying to figure out what sexual orientation the teletubbies are. What kind of person tries to figure out what race a bunch of bugs on a kids show are? I'll tell you what I think, that person is just trying to get everyone riled up. I think this opinion you ran across on the internet is just some person trying to get everyone's goat.

[bobica]

um, i sit & actually watch it with dd! : i love the show. i love the songs. i love how much dd takes away from the show. i love the choreography & the musical theater-ness of it all. racist? ugh.

[Mamma Mia]

Originally Posted by bobica

um, i sit & actually watch it with dd! : i love the show. i love the songs. i love how much dd takes away from the show. i love the choreography & the musical theater-ness of it all. racist? ugh.

I watch it too. We dont' have a TV anymore, but when we visit someone who has a TV we will watch it sometimes. I like the music and I think the plots are really cool. There's nothing better than hearing your daughter singing that she's brave and smart and strong, either. This is the best kids' show on television, IMO. Perhaps I'm a musical theater geek though.

[crescentaluna]

Seems like there are 2 questions: "Is the Backyardingans racist?" Folks here say NO, apparently others in the world say YES. OK. Second question: "Are there different races/ethnicities represented on the Backyardigans?" which to me is more interesting ... because of all the folks here who indignantly say, "They're just ANIMALS, they can't have a culture!" One question, folks: Seen Dumbo lately? Go on, rent it and watch it, then see if you still believe that those are just cute lil cartoon crows, not caricatures of African Americans. Would you still say, "They can't possibly be racist in intent, they can't have a race. Hey, they're just made-up little animal characters in a kid's movie." Ya know?

I'm certaintly not saying anything about the cartoon, I don't know enough, but I want to throw that out there - everything we create reflects our values, beliefs, backgrounds, cultures. No human creation, the Sistine Chapel or a pre-schooler's cartoon, is ever going to be a vacuum. And that ain't a bad thing, either.

[Doodlebugsmom]

Originally Posted by crescentaluna

Seems like there are 2 questions: "Is the Backyardingans racist?" Folks here say NO, apparently others in the world say YES. OK. Second question: "Are there different races/ethnicities represented on the Backyardigans?" which to me is more interesting ... because of all the folks here who indignantly say, "They're just ANIMALS, they can't have a culture!" One question, folks: Seen Dumbo lately? Go on, rent it and watch it, then see if you still believe that those are just cute lil cartoon crows, not caricatures of African Americans. Would you still say, "They can't possibly be racist in intent, they can't have a race. Hey, they're just made-up little animal characters in a kid's movie." Ya know?

I can promise you that almost every mama here knows that cartoons geared toward children CAN be racist. There have been numerous threads about Dumbo, and many other older cartoons. This thread is about The Backyardigans, and the possibility that it is racist toward white people because some of the characters have names and/or voices that make them seem to be representative of people from other cultures. Also, apparently some think that one particular character has been given negative, stereotypical of the Latino culture. I personally have never noticed, and I am very sensitive to race issues.

[muttix2]

I don't think that it's racist. I'm mixed and my kids are mixed and I've got to say, I do notice "race" in kids' programs. The tone of voice, the name, whatever. That's part of the reason that I like Backyardigans, the diversity. Before I had kids I didn't care so much but now I love to find shows that are racially diverse. There are so many "white" shows that showcase a just a couple other races now and then and no one minds, they call that diverse. But when a "black" show does the same it's called racist. Anyway, I don't think that Backyardigans is racist at all although I've only seen it a few times. But I have to admit that when I watched it the first time I made it a point to try and get ds to watch it because it was different from the everyday kids' show.

[Mackenzie]

Originally Posted by Doodlebugsmom

The more I think about this comment, the more upset I get. Pablo was "pretending" to stink because he was "pretending" to be a Yeti. I have never even considered that Latino people stink and it highly upsets me that some people do. I have never even heard of such a thing. I don't get the hyperactive thing either. It makes me wonder if the person who these thoughts originated from may be racist themselves. I'm assuming that these are not the OPs own thoughts. If so, I don't mean to offend. I just don't understand where these thoughts would come from.

My husband is Latino and he does not stink at all...the mans feet nor farts even stink....it is a little peeving actually...... :

[Doodlebugsmom]

Originally Posted by Mackenzie

...the mans feet nor farts even stink....it is a little peeving actually...... :

Dang mama! How'd you score that one?

[Mackenzie]

It was a requirement in the ad I placed No, really, I have no clue...of course I don't tell him any of this, I always argue with him when he claimes to be odor free.....otherwise he would want me to touch his feet or something

[sabrinat]

Originally Posted by fremontmama

(highlights mine )
I think this opinion you have found goes in the same category of trying to figure out what sexual orientation the teletubbies are. What kind of person tries to figure out what race a bunch of bugs on a kids show are? I'll tell you what I think, that person is just trying to get everyone riled up. I think this opinion you ran across on the internet is just some person trying to get everyone's goat.

I didn't even know that they were bugs!

[leaveittolaura]

Actually after seeing just about every episode it is actually austin and Tasha that don't always make it in. I have never not seen pablo in an episode. It's always at least pablo, tyrone and uniqua.

[MusicianDad]

Ok, never seen the show I will admit, but I looked it up...

I can't see race.... I see animals and one funny pink bug but no race. Just species...

[annettemarie]

Holy thread resurrection. I'm going to close it and ask that you please start a new thread if you want to continue the discussion. Some of the people who were in on it the first time around aren't here anymore to defend their position.