October 2, 201412 yr Fans of classic Tom and Jerry cartoons have been warned that episodes of the iconic show may depict scenes of 'ethnic and racial prejudice'. Subscribers to Amazon Prime Instant Video are now met with a caution before viewing certain episodes of the long-running cartoon. It follows concerns that the representation of a black maid on early episodes of the cartoon show - which made its first episodes in the 1940s - was an example of the era's prejudices. Read more: Amazon adds Tom & Jerry cartoons to Prime Instant Video despite RACISM fears | Daily Mail Online Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook What say ye BGP?
October 2, 201412 yr It is true. The racial stereotypes, like the maid in Tom and Jerry, or the blackface characters in some other cartoons are there in a lot of the old cartoons.
October 3, 201412 yr It is true. The racial stereotypes, like the maid in Tom and Jerry, or the blackface characters in some other cartoons are there in a lot of the old cartoons. The "mammy" housekeeper character is the best example of playing to stereotypes. Those classic cartoons are rife with this stuff. For example, there's this one from the '40s by Walter Lantz, best known for the Woody Woodpecker cartoons: [video=youtube_share;q7xbJ11EyOg]http://youtu.be/q7xbJ11EyOg That being said, they should not be hidden from public view, in my opinion, but rather shown and discussed as a "teachable moment."
October 3, 201412 yr ..... I watched an episode of "All in the Family" a while back, one of my all-time favorites, and counted 5 lines that would NEVER fly today. I don't necessarily think it is a bad thing, and I know many think we have gone too far (however, every single person I've ever heard say "this country has gone too far with the PC nonsense" is white and Christian), but it was weird hearing some of those lines and references on TV. I still love that show -- just to be clear.
October 3, 201412 yr I hope they don't watch Good Times, The Jeffersons, etc. without warning. Both great shows, by the way. Also loved "Sanford & Son" and "Chico & The Man" too.
October 3, 201412 yr ..... I watched an episode of "All in the Family" a while back, one of my all-time favorites, and counted 5 lines that would NEVER fly today. I don't necessarily think it is a bad thing, and I know many think we have gone too far (however, every single person I've ever heard say "this country has gone too far with the PC nonsense" is white and Christian), but it was weird hearing some of those lines and references on TV. I still love that show -- just to be clear. Maybe that's because there is no outcry from white people or anyone about names like, cracker, ghost or Casper, Crisco, vanilla, blue-eyed devil, Wonder Bread, H-----, and a host of others.
October 3, 201412 yr Both great shows, by the way. Also loved "Sanford & Son" and "Chico & The Man" too. 100% agree.
October 3, 201412 yr Some of those old cartoons are... shocking. The racism was very real. Kids don't get what it is these days because a lot of those stereotypes are gone. How many people today even get what's racist about the jive-talking crows in Dumbo? Or the buck-toothed Japanese in old Warner Brothers cartoons?
October 3, 201412 yr Some of those old cartoons are... shocking. The racism was very real. Kids don't get what it is these days because a lot of those stereotypes are gone. How many people today even get what's racist about the jive-talking crows in Dumbo? Or the buck-toothed Japanese in old Warner Brothers cartoons? Honestly, I doubt that kids got the stereotypes in those cartoons when they first came out. Adults, yes. Kids (probably under 13 or so), not likely.
October 3, 201412 yr Some of those old cartoons are... shocking. The racism was very real. Kids don't get what it is these days because a lot of those stereotypes are gone. How many people today even get what's racist about the jive-talking crows in Dumbo? Or the buck-toothed Japanese in old Warner Brothers cartoons? Or the redneck freckled face kids in tattered bibs with an accent so thick you could cut it? Is it really racist if it's a parody for all races?
October 3, 201412 yr Honestly, I doubt that kids got the stereotypes in those cartoons when they first came out. Adults, yes. Kids (probably under 13 or so), not likely. Agreed.
October 3, 201412 yr The old cartoons were very stereotypical now that I look back on them but when I was a kid, they were just funny talking crows to me! The woman in the Tom and Jerry cartoons - I just thought Tom was her cat; I never had racist thoughts about her and it never crossed my mind that I should think any different of her. Just examples of the innocence of youth and proof that racism is a learned behavior; you are not born that way.
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