I was surprised to read the Toronto Star this past week to learn that Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff was accused of using racist language with the phrase: “cotton-pickin’ minute.” I thought I would write about it here because my website's aim (kinlinks) is to raise the specter of slavery and racism using some characters that we all know and love. In particular I talk about Bugs Bunny - who has elements of brer rabbit and of the culture of africans enslaved in the southern US at the time. It is 'funny' to see that the influence of brer rabbit and bugs bunny extends into the great "White North" in the 21 st century.
Check this link to find out more info on this phrase which originated in the 1700's when african slaves were forced to pick cotton.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Friday, March 05, 2010
This work - Kinlinks, is about who creates and controls the production of culture. To wipe away traces of ownership is to wipe away (or to attempt to wipe away) the existence of those who gave birth to the idea.
Everyone knows the importance of giving credit where it is due. We do it when we write our newspaper articles, our novels, our political and critical papers and even our school essays. Otherwise you end up being accused of plagiarism or worse...re-writing history.
For example, Mickey Mouse is not just a mouse...he is a cultural icon influencing thought and a spokes'person' for an empire. In this case he is an example of how 'Black' culture is stolen, commodified, misrepresented and then finally written out of history as if we never existed.
If you want to check out another interesting website, you should check out the Jim Crow Museum at http://www.ferris.edu/news/jimcrow.
Sometimes the only way to deal with stereotype, racism and erasure is to use irony, humour and satire. It gets people talking.
Everyone knows the importance of giving credit where it is due. We do it when we write our newspaper articles, our novels, our political and critical papers and even our school essays. Otherwise you end up being accused of plagiarism or worse...re-writing history.
For example, Mickey Mouse is not just a mouse...he is a cultural icon influencing thought and a spokes'person' for an empire. In this case he is an example of how 'Black' culture is stolen, commodified, misrepresented and then finally written out of history as if we never existed.
If you want to check out another interesting website, you should check out the Jim Crow Museum at http://www.ferris.edu/news/jimcrow.
Sometimes the only way to deal with stereotype, racism and erasure is to use irony, humour and satire. It gets people talking.
Monday, March 28, 2005
Mickey Mouse
I started this project thinking that icons such as Mickey Mouse could not possibly have any kind of African heritage. I was surprised at the evidence I uncovered. I estimated that Mickey does have about 25% African blood and I have left a message on my website asking him to come out and be proud of his ancestral heritage.
NatBwood
NatBwood
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