Toon Zone Talkback - BET Courts Controversy Over "Read a Book" Cartoon

[Wanted]

not that I appreciate it

Rap died when that group (um D5s, D4L,something), started "Snap Music" in 2005. "Laffy Taffy"? Lean Wit it, Roc Wit It? Now, non-Southern artists are doing this as well. Where's the Jamaican dances at? Sick and tired of the same old music. At least we have real artists like Talib Kweli and Common, and other positive artists to keep it alive.

So you're saying rap "died". However, other artists are keeping it "alive", despite it being dead, at least, by your reasoning. That's like saying cartoons died when Cartoon Network started airing live-action, and it doesn't make sense.

I think that's where it comes from. If a black person says it to another black person it seems almost like a term of enderment or comradere. It's ike I'm one to so I can call you that. But when a person of another ethnicity, specifically a white person says it whole centuries of bad history kind of gets dragged up. I remember in 8th grade a Mexican friend of mine called me that, and it hurt really bad. I know he didn't mean to hurt my feelings but he did.

First off, let's tone it down to size 2. Second, it's "camaraderie". Third, people in groups that aren't white (and, even certain white people here in Jersey) use the n-word... especially the Hispanics. Who knows; maybe the word will die out in a century or two?

Oh yeah; I almost missed "endearment".

 

[Cactusjack1999]

First off, let's tone it down to size 2. Second, it's "camaraderie". Third, people in groups that aren't white (and, even certain white people here in Jersey) use the n-word... especially the Hispanics. Who knows; maybe the word will die out in a century or two?

Oh yeah; I almost missed "endearment".

I think that's the problem.

When african-american people use it to describe one another it's a term of endearment. When white people use it in any context, even in the same as I just mentioned It's considered offensive.

Gotta love double standards.

 

[maczero]

I think that's the problem.

When african-american people use it to describe one another it's a term of endearment. When white people use it in any context, even in the same as I just mentioned It's considered offensive.

Gotta love double standards.

Let's not generalize here. I've seen young whites and latinos throw the "N" word out there and not catch a beat down from their black friends. I've also seen blacks chastise other blacks for saying it.

 

[btv]

This is honestly the most ignorant problem that has arisen out of television in months now. There shouldn't be a problem with any of this, it's just TV. If people really don't like this, that's where the V-Chip comes in.

I hate that in a land of free speech there are people actually using it to crush others with the same inspiration to speak out about other things people are talking about (a 'vicious circle' of sorts). Our greatest card is the one thing that holds our nation (and our world) down every single time.

If skin color is really so bad that even the people who have that color can't get passed it, then where are we really going to end up on racial relations with each other?

Also, this show has gotten so self-conscious about itself that there's no point in airing it anymore. Any attempts to make a point will just be buffered out by a 'Hey it's for your own good hahah it's just a joke see?' type of thing.

I could say other things but I don't really think the main Toonzone cartoon discussions have a capacity for discussions like this that stray off of actual cartooning (It's more of a Cafe type of thing).

 

[I.R Joey]

First off, let's tone it down to size 2. Second, it's "camaraderie". Third, people in groups that aren't white (and, even certain white people here in Jersey) use the n-word... especially the Hispanics. Who knows; maybe the word will die out in a century or two?

Oh yeah; I almost missed "endearment".

Sorry, my computer was acting funny that's why the font was weird. Sorry about the spelling errors too.

I didn't mean to generalize and say that people who are not black or white don't use the N-word, in fact, like I pointed out, I've been called that name by a Mexican person. I'm simply stating that the dynamic is different when it's a white/black interaction. That word (in America and other places involved in the Transatlantic slave trade) dredges up thoughts of things like plantations, Jim Crow, segregation, and many examples of injustices perpetrated by white people against blacks. I don't think the historical dynamic is 100% the same when say, a person of Korean heritage calls a black person that word.

 

[tb4000]

It's like Stan told Token....I just don't get it. Leave it at that. Yes, it's a double standard, but the world is full of them. You see two chicks playfully calling each other the b-word, think you can go up to one of them and do the same, even if you know her? Gotta deal with it, buddy. You'll live.

 

[SirLemming]

You see two chicks playfully calling each other the b-word, think you can go up to one of them and do the same, even if you know her? Gotta deal with it, buddy. You'll live.

Not a bad solution. I have no desire to say that word anyway.

Also, that sounded pretty hot.

 

[I.R Joey]

This things been on my mind for a while now and it’s really making me think. When Tyree showed me the video in class last Spring it made me think.
“That was the most offensively pro-social thing I've ever seen.”
That’s what I told him, and with the recent controversy it’s made me think about one of my favorite essays of all time…

Jonathan Swift, most famously known as the author of Gulliver’s travels, was an Irish writer who lived in the eighteenth century. In his time orphans littered the streets, and very little was done to help them, they were a big strain on the society. So Jonathan Swift wrote an essay called “A Modest proposal.” In it he suggests that all of the small children living in the streets be rounded up and cooked. Then they were to be served as food to people in any number of delicious ways. When the essay was published it created a great deal of outrage, and many people felt that it was an affront to human decency. People who had apathetically ignored the problem of children living in poverty suddenly turned their attention to a social ill that was hurting their society. In other words Mr. Swift hit his target dead center. He was never seriously arguing for cannibalism but was shouting at people to pay attention to what was happening in society. Social justice was his goal, and if he had to be upset to get his message across than he is willing to do it.

Sometimes the only way to break through the apathy of society is to do it in such a loud, offensive way that people are forced to pay attention and really address a serious issue. In other words sometimes you need a sledgehammer instead of a pick axe to get a message through. That being said I think that the Read-a-Book music video is very much in the spirit of Mr. Swift’s work. A much needed, if offensively worded, sledgehammer. Let’s be honest, if the creators of this video had sent out his message in a polite town hall meeting or in an eloquent written letter few people would have cared, and even fewer people would have heard the message. By inviting the controversy we also invite the debate that we (and unfortunately this applies to many in the black community) desperately need. There may be the concern about airing our dirty laundry in the public, outside of the community, but it’s stuff that needs to be said and apparently loudly. I speak as a 22 years old African-American man when I say that it’s GOOD we’re getting offended by these things. Don’t be offended by the people who are pointing out these things, be offended by the fact that in some parts of our community ignorance is celebrated.

I think much of the controversy also comes from the still firmly implanted idea that because something is animated it must be for kids. It’s something that many fans of animation and those of us trying to get into the industry (or already there) have been fighting for a long time. Let’s not mistake the medium for the intended audience. Animation, like live action, can be made for any age group and should not be the exclusive property of kid’s programming.

Anyway Tyree put up a CNN segment on it right here from Sept. 1st. Feel free to click on the link.
http://tyree-dillihay.blogspot.com/
Wow I had a teacher on CNN!!!

 

[Cactusjack1999]

Let's not generalize here. I've seen young whites and latinos throw the "N" word out there and not catch a beat down from their black friends. I've also seen blacks chastise other blacks for saying it.

I'm white and i chastise people for saying it. I know it's offensive and I know it can't be anything but offensive regardless of how many hip-hop artists use it.

And honestly, why do you think they get away with it. Because they're friends. If some white kid were to use it in the presense of someone that wasn't, they might not be so understanding of it's usage.

EDIT: BTW I.R. Joey. I agree with what you are saying and watching the CNN clip on YouTube, it is obvious the host is making this out as something that it's not. That the video is on during "daytime" hours and such. To those parents I say "Have you listened to ANY of the video's that proceed or are after it in their uncensored formats?"

 

[Master Moron]

Anyway Tyree put up a CNN segment on it right here from Sept. 1st. Feel free to click on the link.
http://tyree-dillihay.blogspot.com/
Wow I had a teacher on CNN!!!

Man, that story pissed me off. Especially that one woman who said "Now you're putting this stuff in cartoons and you're saying it's being marketed toward an adult, you know, an older crowd, but at the same time, who watches cartoons? Kids." So, because it's animated that means it's for kids? Give me a break.

That host really didn't seem to have a clue what he was talking about. Are all CNN anchors that bad? It looked like all three of the guests had interesting things to say and I might have wanted to see them converse more, but the host was really bad and asked rather pointless questions.

 

[Patchwork]

but the host was really bad and asked rather pointless questions.

Actually, it seemed more like an out and out attack, drilling out questions that really never got a chance to be answered, he kept cutting them off so much, not allowing much room for arguement.

 

[maczero]

And honestly, why do you think they get away with it. Because they're friends. If some white kid were to use it in the presense of someone that wasn't, they might not be so understanding of it's usage.

That was the point. Acceptance and tolerance of the "N word" has a lot to do with familiarity with the person using it. For instance, I would be offended if a black person I didn't know called me a "n!gg@" or "n!gg&r". Otoh, I've tolerated it from a non-black girlfriend. Now you are correct that there is generally more acceptance of the word among blacks but that's typical of most minority groups. I've seen gay guys constantly hurl the "F word" at each other.

 

[Kid Cloudkicker]

Seconded.

And I honestly thought it was pretty damn catchy, too.

So, I'm black and not offended. All is ok.

and i third that. i first saw it at ("Read a Book")the BET animation panel at the NY Comic-con '07 and i my girlfriend who is white got the message. and believe it or not it there was a message in it.