Superman Might Be Just A Tiny Bit Racist

6 responses to “Superman Might Be Just A Tiny Bit Racist”

1. 

   gregorvorbarra

   January 18, 2016 at 8:40 pm

   It’s a pretty obvious commentary on the difference in treatment of different races by police – where a black man walking though a white neighbourhood might be stopped for suspicion of being a criminal, where a white man moving through a black neigbourhood might be offered a lift to somewhere “safer” (and similar incidents). Basically, police do not treat people of different racial backgrounds in the same fashion.

   It would be nice to add “in America” but it’s more or less universal, with various differences in the preferred racial mix; in Australia, Australian Aboriginals and those of middle eastern appearance tend to get the short end of the stick.

   You may remember the abortive operation in Melbourne last year where the Australian Border Force was going to be checking passports.

   Reply
   1. 

      jaded

      January 19, 2016 at 11:07 am

      I don’t think cops in Australia have a rep for shooting unarmed “darkies”. In fact last shooting of a unarmed person he was a “whitey”.

      Also, as an Australian, I strongly doubt you’re not complicit in the marginalisation of “these people”. It’s very easy for us to blame the authority for carrying out our wishes.

      Reply
      1. 

         gregorvorbarra

         January 19, 2016 at 4:22 pm

         It probably happens more often to those of colour than WASPs; there was a case in Sydney around a decade ago when an Aboriginal was shot at his own front door when upon answering he was thought to take an action interpreted as aggressive by the police officer (as part of a drug raid – which found nothing). You only have to take a look at the figures for Aboriginals arrested, convicted and in detention compared to those of the general population to see that it’s not an even playing field.

         I make no claims to not being racist at all but I do try very hard not to let it colour my thinking. For example, around half the population seems to think that the treatment of (mostly) perfectly legal immigrants in the PNG/Nauru/Christmas Island detention camps is somehow justified by saving lives “on the water” when it seems to me to be perfectly obvious that these are two separate things.

         (Ignoring the separate but valid issue that the current regime is ludicrously expensive.)

         I’m quite certain that 99% of police are entirely honest and attempt to be impartial. I’m just as certain that they don’t always succeed. The general population likely follows a similar proportion – but that 1% poisons the barrel.

         I suspect that we’re not nearly as bad, generally speaking, as parts of the US. I can’t help but wonder how much of that is due to the relative size of the white majority.

         I also suspect that Australians in general (not excepting myself from this) are more racist than they themselves recognise, although most people do try not to let it affect their actions.

         Reply
2. 

   weresmurf

   January 18, 2016 at 8:52 pm

   By god that was painful to watch…

   Reply
3. 

   bodmaniac

   January 18, 2016 at 9:41 pm

   I feel that the video could’ve done with some better framing and timing. As it currently is it was a bit more cringe-inducing than funny. Still entertaining but definitely has room for improvement. 🙂

   Reply
   1. 

      weresmurf

      January 18, 2016 at 11:47 pm

      There’s also the problem that the people critiquing him, standing around are all white? I dunno if they bothered noticing it while making it. But… maybe having a black cast member beyond the guy would’ve helped the video? As it stands… it feels… like it grossly misses the point and comes across as really half arsed, almost condescending?

      Reply