Unintentional racial stereotyping in kids cartoons?

[Queasy]

I've been joking with my wife about this for a few weeks now but I saw an episode of Little Einsteins over the weekend that just had me in stitches.

For those that don't know this is Little Einsteins. It's a show about 4 small kids that have adventures with classical music playing in the background, famous painting as the background, and generally tries to be educational.

The four characters are:
Leo - 6 years old, white, and loves to conduct music.
Annie - 4 years old, Leo's little sister, and loves to sing.
June - 6 years old, asian, and loves to dance.
Quincy - 5 years old, black, is a comedian, and loves to play music.

Quincy is the one that cracks me up...black...comedian...plays music. Ok then. He's also got the hots for Annie.

This episode I was watching over the weekend with my kids had them flying around in their ship, Rocket, on an adventure when they get stuck. Here is how the exchange goes something like this (paraphrasing):

Leo: "Oh no it's a rhythm gate!"
Annie: "We can't get through. What are we going to do?"
June: "Quincy can get us through. He's got rhythm." 😕

LMAO - maybe I'm reading too much into this and maybe it it unintentional but that just cracked me up.

 

[moshquerade]

much ado about nothing 😉

which brings up the question, are some stereotypical things actually true? if yes, then why do we have to deny them?

 

[ViviTheMage]

ahhaha, im sure they could substitute quincy for Leo...they all love music.

I think they kind of add the odd one out into these kind of shows....or whats worse in shows like real world 5 white people and a black guy.

I love the comedy central version 5 black people and 1 white person!

 

[Zolty]

Originally posted by: moshquerade
much ado about nothing 😉

which brings up the question, are some stereotypical things actually true? if yes, then why do we have to deny them?

Many sterotypes are true, however when you start to make assumtions based on those sterotypes you run into trouble.

 

[TheoPetro]

Originally posted by: moshquerade
much ado about nothing 😉

which brings up the question, are some stereotypical things actually true? if yes, then why do we have to deny them?

when we dont deny the good or neutral sterotypes then its ok but this opens the door to accept the bad sterotypes that may also be true. People dont like to accept that 90% of their race is bad at something and they may be lumped into that 90% wether or not they should be. Even if the sterotype is true for them, noone wants to admit that.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: TheoPetro

Originally posted by: moshquerade
much ado about nothing 😉

which brings up the question, are some stereotypical things actually true? if yes, then why do we have to deny them?

when we dont deny the good or neutral sterotypes then its ok but this opens the door to accept the bad sterotypes that may also be true. People dont like to accept that 90% of their race is bad at something and they may be lumped into that 90% wether or not they should be. Even if the sterotype is true for them, noone wants to admit that.

but they can admit it, and joke about it. just others aren't allowed to.

 

[TheoPetro]

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: TheoPetro

Originally posted by: moshquerade
much ado about nothing 😉

which brings up the question, are some stereotypical things actually true? if yes, then why do we have to deny them?

when we dont deny the good or neutral sterotypes then its ok but this opens the door to accept the bad sterotypes that may also be true. People dont like to accept that 90% of their race is bad at something and they may be lumped into that 90% wether or not they should be. Even if the sterotype is true for them, noone wants to admit that.

but they can admit it, and joke about it. just others aren't allowed to.

Lets hear it for doubble standards. There what make the world go round.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: moshquerade

but they can admit it, and joke about it. just others aren't allowed to.

by using the word 'they' signifies a belief that a whole group is included, this is where stereotyping becomes racial and negative.

Stereotypes can be true...this is not the fault with them. It's when someone takes that stereotype as how each and every member of that group behaves no matter what.

I know many people of a certain race/culture that make jokes about their race/culture and others that would never. In those groups, both sides of that fence find offense and no offense when other's make jokes.

 

[JS80]

did he say it in a ghetto accent?

 

[JS80]

how these guys little "einsteins"? afaik einstein was a scientist, not a musical prodigy.

EINSTEIN and ALBERT EINSTEIN are trademarks of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

😕

 

[Leros]

You notice how the cartoon familes are always one race. All black, all white, all asian. You never see mixed couples on cartoons or childrens shows.