2008-07-09
Racist or Misunderstanding?
If I were to look at recent news and form my opinions of the Japanese, I would say they were obsessed with white people and thought black people look like monkeys. Maybe I am overreacting?
Monkey ad apparently portraying Obama pulled
July 3, 2008 Recommend (14)
FROM SUN-TIMES WIRES
A television ad featuring a monkey that appears to portray Sen. Barack Obama has been pulled by a Japanese cell phone company.
The ad shows a crowd cheering as a well-dressed monkey speaks at a podium.
The people are waving signs that say "Change." The monkey encourages users to change providers.
The company that aired the ad, eMobile Ltd., said it had no idea of any racial undertones and insisted the ad was an acknowledgement of Obama's popularity.
Eric Gan, president of eMobile, said their company's mascot is a monkey -- an animal revered in Japan -- and has been used in previous ads.
But bloggers immediately voiced their disapproval of the ad and accused the company of being racist.
Gan said the company was unaware of how the ad might be interpreted.
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26 comments:
Not surprised. We're disrespected world wide.
I can't and I won't.
Gan said the company was unaware of how the ad might be interpreted.
I'm so effing tired of that excuse. It's not even funny. Ugh. This is why people get militant and racist against a group of people they otherwise may not have had a problem with.
I'm going to leave before I say something mean against the Japanese. As though white racism isn't enough, we have to get it from a country thousands of miles away.
It frustrating being black, it seems sometimes everyone hates us, including ourselves.
It took a while for me to even get the ad was selling.
If monkeys are revered in their culture that's fine with me. But what is reverence to one person is just out and out insulting to another.
Sid: I kan haz pics ov yer dogeez?
After seeing this, they are sorely needed.
Some random thoughts:
A black American male friend of mine, in his 60s, moved to Japan several years ago. He was offered a teaching opportunity there. One of the reasons for his decision to move there was because he wanted to live in a country that had no history with the African slave trade. In a way, he wanted some peace from "blackness". He loved living in Japan.
Japan is a very closed society. It is not easy to become a citizen of that country. Once your visa runs out, they kick your ass out. In order to "become" Japanese one has to take on a Japanese name, regardless of your race/ethnicity. One must speak, read, and write Japanese.
I don't think that the makers of this advert were being racist in depicting Obama as a monkey. To equate the use of the symbol of the monkey, in the depiction of a black person, as it is used in Japan with how it is used in the US and Europe (Note: futbol matches in Spain, where the spectators throw banana peels on to the pitch and make monkey sounds directed at the black African and Caribbean players) is like comparing apples to oranges. Perhaps it is true that the monkey is a revered animal in Japan? (There is a dude who posts here reguarly, I think his name is Caspar, who is married to a Japanese woman and who is living with her in Japan: Can you confirm the assertion by the phone company's exec, who says that the monkey is revered in Japan?)
Damn it.
Should I be a prick and say horrible things about the Japanese?
I think, if anything, this situation is indicative of how Americans believe the rest of the world lives, thinks, and breaths just like us.
In many Asian cultures, the Monkey is, in fact, a revered animal (The Monkey is part of the Chinese Zodiac), much in the same way as Wolves, and Bears are revered by Native Americans.
I would wager double nickels on the dime that the average Japanese citizen has no idea that racists in the West equate blacks with monkeys.
Remember, America is not the world.
And of course the Japanese are mindful of white people, white people dropped two atomic bombs on them. They're probably scared shitless.
IF the ad is infact intended to insinuate that blacks are monkeys, the Japs wont be the first to call us that.
All over Europe, Africans are thought of and refered to as Monkeys. Some fuckers will even throw bananas @ Africans (especially in football games) so, I say screw anyone who doest see my humanity. Best thing to do is to ignore such fools.
"I would wager double nickels on the dime that the average Japanese citizen has no idea that racists in the West equate blacks with monkeys."
I would believe the whole monkey thing having a different meaning in Japan, If I didn't know Africans that lived in Japan and were insulted by their bosses and called Monkeys. I will try to look up their articles in the archives of our local papers and post their experiences as they narrate them.
Japanese are not stupid, they know very well the implications of such an ad and they have a perfect excuse which is their culture, so they can insult you and pretend that according to their culture its not an insult.
Japanese believe they are Superior to everyone. How does one establish their Superiority? By belittling other people.
"It frustrating being black, it seems sometimes everyone hates us, including ourselves".
The worst thing you can do is despair. Black people have alot of economic power. And we better start learning how to use it.
This is the 21st century and instead of matching and riots we better start striking back with our wallets.
"I would wager double nickels on the dime that the average Japanese citizen has no idea that racists in the West equate blacks with monkeys".
HA HA LOL! Be ready to loose your money. You want to say that Japanese have never heard of evolution and its subtle assertion that Black people are the least evolved and are closer to monkeys ?
Please. Read up on racism in Japan, especially the whole Black Sambo saga then you will get an idea.
Here is a dose for you, or are you going to claim that we are imagining the prejudice.
Black Sambo in Japan
I would say it is a misunderstanding, but in Asia they have the Monkey God. However in Europe, when black footballers played they would make monkey noises and throw bananas skins, they were being racist.
OMG....i'm really shocked actually. I thought you had laws against those sort of things everywhere ?!
Siddity said: If I were to look at recent news and form my opinions of the Japanese, I would say they were obsessed with white people and thought black people look like monkeys. Maybe I am overreacting?
No you are not overreacting i watched the video before i read anything and -knew immediately they were portraying Obama !!!!
Siddity also said:It frustrating being black, it seems sometimes everyone hates us, including ourselves.
They want us to hate ourselves !!!
Emeritus said: As though white racism isn't enough, we have to get it from a country thousands of miles away.
This is exactly how i feel too !!!! It is so sad, annoying and fustratiing. Obama better win ! Who wants another guy acting like Bush to win again ? I dunno what i am saying i am angry.
To fairlane: that was a lame VERY lame excuse for this japanese advert !!!!!!!!!!!
Redcatbiker and Fairlane,
I have a hard time with Japanese and their culture. They seem to revere white people, but dislike blacks. They love "Western" culture they claim, but only if it looks white.
I can't also help but think that Asian countries are fully aware of the blacks being equated to monkeys stereotype. My great uncle fought in the Korean war, and many times when he was over there, the Koreans would refer to the black people as monkeys and some folks thought they had tails.
I think they knew. Japan and many other asian countries have such a small black population, it doesn't seem to bother them to be racially insensitive. Look at China and their love of "Darkie" toothpaste.
It's not an "Excuse." It's called a "Different Perspective," which I, just as you, am entitled to have.
It makes life interesting.
Here's an ad for E-Mobile from February of this year-
E-Mobile Promotion
The Monkey is the company's mascot or whatever you want to call it.
I agree, the ad was naive, but the Japanese, as the "Black Sambo" article points out, are extremely dense when it comes to other cultures.
As an example of their density, if you've ever been to Hawaii, you'd know the Japanese have overrun the damn place.
The last time I was there we visited a fairly popular beach near Honolulu. In the water, they had, at least, five signs posted, in English, and Japanese, "Do Not Stand on the Coral." (Touching the coral kills it).
But lo, and behold, in the water, was a group of Japanese tourists standing on top of the Coral, completely oblivious.
When I asked my friend, who lived there for 10 years, he said, "Yeah, they've destroyed many of the beaches, and killed off several of the reefs. They don't give a shit because they don't view nature the same way we do." He went on to talk about how the Japanese view all cultures, other than their own, as inferior.
The Japanese continue to whale, and kill dolphins despite protests from the rest of the world.
Even this so-called "Love" for America is based purely on stereotypes, and our Pop Culture.
And, I'll mention it again, the monkey, especially the Macaque, is wildly popular in Japan.
There's a shrine in Nikko built by a famous Samurai, Tokugawa Iemitu, that dates back almost 400 years, which pays tribute to monkeys.
@Fairlane: "...are extremely dense when it comes to other cultures."
Obviously !
PLUS Fairlane said: Remember, America is not the world.
True, but i am not sure Americans realises how much of America influences the rest of the world.
Please. The Ainu and Okinawans— who are racially similar to them in all respects except some quaint cultural differences are treated like third class citizens. Thus they way they see Blacks (despite the exotica of some Blacks in Hip-Hop, etc) is hardly surprising, especially as during World War II, White soldiers used to issue racist propaganda against segregated Black soldiers as Monkeys, which is why many Japanese thought that black people actually had tails. These negative stereotypes were always in Japan along with the negative and disgusting imagery of Blacks in the movies and illustrations from Sambo to other ape-like depictions that you can easily Google.
This supposed social gaffe should be treated with scorn-it is a racial epithet and to think otherwise is living in denial on the perceived animalistic, negative, and dehumanizing portrayal of Blacks—especially for Japan—one of the most wired and literate societies in the world.
Siditty said: I can't also help but think that Asian countries are fully aware of the blacks being equated to monkeys stereotype. My great uncle fought in the Korean war, and many times when he was over there, the Koreans would refer to the black people as monkeys and some folks thought they had tails.
Well, two of my uncles, both black American males, were drafted to fight in the Korean War, too. One of my uncles told me that a Korean once said to him, "You good. White one bad."
I think that the Korean War, and past and present American military aggression across this globe is a helluva lot worse than whether Koreans think of black people as monkeys. They may think that blacks are monkeys, but in this country while we were fighting for supposed American freedom, or whatever the hell we were in Korea fighting for, the Koreans did not subject members of my family to Jim Crow laws and lynchings.
I try to keep things in perspective.
Siditty said: I think they knew. Japan and many other asian countries have such a small black population, it doesn't seem to bother them to be racially insensitive. Look at China and their love of "Darkie" toothpaste.
Perhaps "they" did know.
Also, there is a biiiiig difference between the Chinese and the Koreans and the Japanese. You shouldn't lump them all into one group, given the fact that this advert was created by a Japanese company.
=================================
My first comment on this post was in no way meant to imply that the Japanese do not have racist thoughts, and may just produce adverts that depict blacks in a negative light. But I just can't live my life looking at, looking for racism against blacks under every rock; because, you know what, if you turn it over it will probably be there.
I am not a Barack Obama supporter, neither was Hillary my candidate of choice--with that said, I don't think that this advert in Japan should concern "us" all that much. I was muuuuuuch more insulted, even as a non-supporter of Obama, at the racist campaign that Hillary Clinton ran in her attempt to get the Democratic Party nomination. She, her campaign, did every thing short of calling him a "nigger" in order to win. To me that behaviour was, and is, a helluva lot more detrimental to Obama than some advert that will pretty much only be seen in Japan.
Another thing, the kind of racism that is exponentially more harmful than an advert: If you are black, don't set foot in Russia. Now that Soviet Communism has ended, the ties that Russians made with many African nations were loosened. Blacks in Russia are beaten, they are murdered. Russian law enforcement does not protect these people, neither do they prosecute these people. At least, in Japan--a country that produces an advert featuring a monkey as Obama--a black person can feel safe that if he were to visit that country that he would come back alive.
The Japanese know. They have a word for "nigger," so they know.
After the trouble Sony got in to over the European PSP ads ("white is coming": http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/04/ad-critic-sonys-racially-charged-psp-ad/) and Resident Evil 5 ("We didn't know there weren't just black people in Africa..."), there's no real excuse for not knowing.
This ad may not have been intentionally done to be racist (although it is ill-timed), since it is their mascot and they're trying to get people to switch over to their service, but the Japanese aren't stupid. Not by a long shot.
"I agree, the ad was naive, but the Japanese, as the "Black Sambo" article points out, are extremely dense when it comes to other cultures".
If we are talking about the population being naive, that is a different matter. But a corporation putting out an ad knows what is offensive and what is not. Many times Japanese Ads have been pulled. Check out this You tube Sony PSP Ad.
Sony does it again
If this had not happened before, we could accept naivity on the part of the Corporation. But businesses know the risks of offensive ads. I am not excusing this one.
just because you find a symbol sacred doesn't mean that you associate those same worshipful/positive thoughts towards a person who you think may physically (or otherwise) bear that symbol.
that's like living in india where cows are revered. so when i see a large woman and call her a fat cow, it's supposed to be positive just because i attached a cow to it? the insult remains regardless.
at the end of the day, i'd like to think that if someone calls me something i find offensive, they'll stop, regardless of their reasons for doing so. and then hopefully, they'll try to remember not to do it again.
in the 21st century where information isn't exactly scarce, i find it hard to believe and even harder to forgive that people 'just don't know.'
http://www.txcn.com/sharedcontent/
dws/txcn/houston/stories/
khou080707_tj_meminpinguin.3392f00d.html
The above link will take you to a story about the cartoon monkey that is "revered" in Mexico. The character is refered to as a "negro" (Spanish for black). As well, he will be running for office in a future issue.
This use of the monkey, a cartoon one, is racist. The Mexicans are not revering an animal, but mocking black Africans and their descendents. Also, this shit is happening directly south of the US border--so this is very, very close to home; not to mention the fact that millions and millions of Mexicans have immigrated (whether legally or illegally) to this country, and millions and millions more are crossing the border, will cross the border in the future. They will bring with them their love of this negro monkey cartoon character, which is just a different version of hatred for blacks. Soon this group of Spanish-speaking people will be the majority minority, who will, in the near future have more political sway in the US than do blacks--I can only imagine, tragically so, how this will change the political discourse in this country, wherein, blacks will now have to contend with the policies that will most assuredly come from this "new" group who have such contempt for us.
"They will bring with them their love of this negro monkey cartoon character, which is just a different version of hatred for blacks".
Ah! The Mexicans are unapologetic about their racism. They need something to step on. That is why the laws on discrimination need to be made even tighter. They just ran a series of black face postage stamps. And they dont include their Afro blacks in their population census. They make about 1% of the population.
I'm sure there are people in Japan who think black people are idiots and so on. At the same time, I'm not going to read a few articles about a country and decide that it's hostile to black people; that's kind of the same behavior that people use to dislike black people.
Also, I just know from experience that black people are not the only people who are disliked in this world; it always feels like a big pity party gets started when something like this gets posted.
I'm sure there are people in Japan who think black people are idiots and so on. At the same time, I'm not going to read a few articles about a country and decide that it's hostile to black people; that's kind of the same behavior that people use to dislike black people.
Also, I just know from experience that black people are not the only people who are disliked in this world; it always feels like a big pity party gets started when something like this gets posted.
I never said that all of Japan dislikes black people, what I will say that from personal experiences and various news stories, I find that Japan tends to have a racial hierarchy, where they as Japanese is on top, whites next, and everyone below that. I don't think it is a pity party to acknowledge there is racism, not just against whites and blacks, but between minorities as well. Does pretending racism is doesn't exist means it goes away? Or is acknowledging racism or differences in cultures having a "pity party"?
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