Accidentally racist?

[Glen]

So I was scrolling through my facebook feed and saw this picture from the ScienceDump page:

 

''

 

 

 

Is this racist, or am I just a hypersensitive douchebag?

[yk9001]

Assume they meant to put a black guy in that picture.  I am not sure that making a joke about a black person and watermelon is automatically "racist".

 

 

A person who shows or feels discrimination or prejudice against people of other races, or who believes that a particular race is superior to another:

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/racist

 

If you make a joke about blacks and watermelons, whatever race and whatever stereotype, are you really showing discrimination, or feeling superior?

[Brandon]

I hate how these days any kind of joke regarding race is now racist. PC people are getting out of hand...see Bill Maher thread in the Pol board.

I'm more interested in seeing the pic of the person who posted a terrible joke.

[Brandon]

Actually, if it was funny you would have laughed and not thought twice. But when it's a generic stereotype joke we've all head before then it's cross the line or overboard.

People tend to think racist with the rehashed or old school jokes opposed to realizing the person had a terrible sense of humor.

[Glen]

The idea of "watermelonium" itself isn't really funny.  Adding a black guy to it and the word "finally" does make it somewhat humorous, but I think that's partly because of the old stereotype about black people loving watermelon.

[arch stanton]

In that case I don't see any real attempt at humor. Just an opportunity to take a shot at a stereotype in the name of humor. And for the record my wife and daughter both love watermelon as much as any black person could.

[mtangelsfan]

The biggest problem I have with the automatic responses of bigotry or racism is how selective they are.

 

There seems to be only a few targets that will get a person labled as racist, bigoted or hateful.

[Adam]

Black people love watermelon. But I love it too. 

[Blarg]

I had fried chicken for dinner last night.

[Lhalo]

I played basketball when I was a kid.

[Jay]

I drive a Cadillac

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

not really

[Angel Dog and Beer]

I giggled a bit when I saw a sign at Petsmart saying the sell "Black Convict Chichlids":

[Adam]

I had bad credit

[Crampknees]

Water melon should be red, that looks more like collard greens. 

[Tank]

Water melon should be red, that looks more like collard greens. 

 

maybe it's turnip greens or mustard greens, you klansman.

[Spirit]

The idea of "watermelonium" itself isn't really funny.  Adding a black guy to it and the word "finally" does make it somewhat humorous, but I think that's partly because of the old stereotype about black people loving watermelon.

 

 

Stereotype?  Absolutely.  Racist?  Interesting question.  Does the fact that something is a stereotype automatically make it racist?  Or are stereotypes only racist if they apply to certain groups?

Blacks like watermelon.  Racist? 

 

Irish like to drink too much and fight.  Racist? 

 

Mexicans travel with lots of people in a car.   Racist?

 

Italians love Cameros.  Racist? 

 

Scottish are cheap.  Racist? 

 

British people have bad teeth.  Racist?

 

French people smell.  Racist?

[mtangelsfan]

Coloradoans get high-racist?

[Lhalo]

I've never heard the Scottish are cheap stereotype.

[Spirit]

I've never heard the Scottish are cheap stereotype.

 

That's because you often use a much more PC term:  thrifty! 

 

 

Here you go:   http://www.rampantscotland.com/humour/blhumthrift.htm

Edited April 13, 2015 by Geoff

[Adam]

[tdawg87]

I smoke menthol

[ten ocho recon scout]

I smoke menthol

why?

[tdawg87]

Cuz

[ten ocho recon scout]

[mp170.6]

Is it racist to accidentally play Johnny Rebel songs in your car?