Current Events > family guy is no longer racist

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Shablagoo posted...

Sorry if I havent made it clear, this one person making a decision isnt really the best example. I think his hearts in the right place and everything. Im using the story as a jumping off point to speak on the general trend of corporate media and the establishment making these performative gestures. To me its not much different from McDonalds putting up the pride flag on their logo as if their capitalism hasnt destroyed countless lives.

I'd like to think these kind of personal decisions are in fact an example of something that stands out from performative gestures from corporations. Like Henry is in fact putting his money where is mouth is on this.

And honestly, I don't have too much to say to people who want to talk about something else or something bigger. That's fine. My beef is with people who say these specific kinds of actions are "a bad thing" because of their nostalgia clinging to what they're familiar with, or making those bad faith "slippery slope" arguments.

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CyricZ posted...

I'd like to think these kind of personal decisions are in fact an example of something that stands out from performative gestures from corporations. Like Henry is in fact putting his money where is mouth is on this.

Yeah, youre right. Im probably off-topic.

And honestly, I don't have too much to say to people who want to talk about something else or something bigger. That's fine.

Alright, cool.

My beef is with people who say these specific kinds of actions are "a bad thing" because of their nostalgia clinging to what they're familiar with, or making those bad faith "slippery slope" arguments.

Oh and yeah I have no connection or familiarity with Cleveland Brown so I have no personal reason for being upset by this. The right definitely uses stuff like this to galvanize the public against the movement, though.

Now, when the public falls for it (or a certain section of them), is it their fault? Sure, to a degree, but people who dont have time to keep up with politics can often easily be swayed by the bits of news that they do get to see and regardless of how much blame lies on their shoulders Id rather we have the publics support than not.

Of course, this is only one vector from which the movement is attacked by those who have a vested interest in attacking it. There are also news outlets insanely sensationalizing protesters as terrorists and that sort of thing is obviously a bigger culprit than removing an episode of Fawlty Towers from streaming.

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Shablagoo posted...

Now, when the public falls for it (or a certain section of them), is it their fault? Sure, to a degree, but people who dont have time to keep up with politics can often easily be swayed by the bits of news that they do get to see and regardless of how much blame lies on their shoulders Id rather we have the publics support than not.

The question would be how does one in fact reach those people?

Or... is it worth reaching those people? Would we have to compromise something to reach those people? Pride, certainly, but principles as well?

I feel at some point we have to say "let's focus on doing good, rather than convincing the most opposed among us that it's a good thing".

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CyricZ posted...

The question would be how does one in fact reach those people?

Or... is it worth reaching those people? Would we have to compromise something to reach those people? Pride, certainly, but principles as well?

I feel at some point we have to say "let's focus on doing good, rather than convincing the most opposed among us that it's a good thing".

Oh I agree with everything youre saying but Im not necessarily talking about the MOST opposed. Some are Democrats that are made uneasy by things like CHAZ and the protests in general, and mainly because of the establishments propaganda about them. I know Im way off-topic now though, and really Im kind of just an old man yelling at the wind if I expect those in power to change their ways, but it is frustrating when people are swayed by them.

Youre right, working together with like minds to achieve our goals is the best way.

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I think Jenny Slate is the only one who was genuine in stepping down from voicing a non-white character (even tho the character was half-white Jewish so she, a white Jew, should have been okay to voice her by her standards). But she did set a precedent. Now lots of white voice actors are stepping down from voicing non-white characters because they know they'll be asked by the leftist media "wHy hAvEn'T YoU sTePpeD DoWn???" so they're getting ahead of it.

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AmericaTheBrave posted...

But she did set a precedent. Now lots of white voice actors are stepping down from voicing non-white characters because they know they'll be asked by the leftist media "wHy hAvEn'T YoU sTePpeD DoWn???" so they're getting ahead of it.

A bad faith argument is assuming everyone else will operate in bad faith before they've even done it.

Also this started with Hank Azaria and Apu.

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I always thought the cripple jokes were the most insensitive part of that show >_>.

I watch all the rude humor cartoons but the way they treat Joe now always rubbed me the wrong way. Like damn, mother fuckers can't even walk around and you really gotta drive it home like that? They make him depressed and suicidal over it and everything. I mean, compare it to how respectful Southpark does it with Jimmy and Timmy.

But I'm not mad at this voice acting stuff. I get it. I just wish they'd hire people of color to do more voices instead of fuck with what's already what. But maybe Im missing something. Im waiting for this to keep developing.

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I guess we will have to dub over Darth Vaders voice. And Samurai Jack. And Gin Rummy.

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DeadBankerDream posted...

I don't understand why all these white people were voicing ethnically non-white characters in the first place. I get it's voice acting and anyone can be anyone.

Just seems weird to me.

Because it's voice acting, you can't see the actor portraying the character. Phil Lamarr is a scrawny black man and he has a rogues gallery of characters he plays. He was a blond, blue eyed man in one game.

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Dathrowed1 posted...

Because it's voice acting, you can't see the actor portraying the character. Phil Lamarr is a scrawny black man and he has a rogues gallery of characters he plays. He was a blond, blue eyed man in one game.

It took me too long to realize Phil Lamarr was the guy from Mad TV. Maybe 2 decades.

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Its stupid, just off the top of my head, two iconic white characters in animation from my childhood, Destro from Gi Joe, Scottish character voiced by a black man, and Shedder from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, a Japanese character voiced again by a black man.

Iconic characters and voices, who gives a shit the race of the actor if the voice fits the character. Its acting!

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CyricZ posted...

So you're suggesting that there are white actors who are better at portraying black characters than black actors?

I would say sometimes yes - same goes the other way too. Gay actors can portray straight actors better than straight actors as well. A good actor is not defined by who they are, but rather, who they play.

Also, we cannot 'force' people to do roles. If a production wants to hire a black actor for a voice role, but gets no applicants, does the show go without ANY representation of black characters instead - rewriting a black character as white instead?

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KeeperOfShadows posted...

Wonder who they'll get to replace him. I don't really watch it anymore, but it's hard to imagine Cleveland with a different voice after so long.

After watching that NBA2k video of players voicing themselves, it would be hilarious if they cast a black dude with no talent, who sucked at delivering his lines as Cleveland...it would be a great gimmick for that character.

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Besides the fact that tasteless jokes are a cornerstone of Family Guy, Cleveland's "white guy voice" is a recurring joke across Family Guy & his spinoff.

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Whatever, the show sucks anyway.

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cuttin_in_farm posted...

Eh, he plays Consuela too. So...

And Im gonna be honest. This shit is dumb. Black people dont give a shit about this. Were more worried about lives being taken and abused. This seems like more celebrity virtue signaling about stuff to appear better.

And Ill bet my bottom dollar that its white people praising this stupid stuff.

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ghettoraider81 posted...

Its stupid, just off the top of my head, two iconic white characters in animation from my childhood, Destro from Gi Joe, Scottish character voiced by a black man, and Shedder from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, a Japanese character voiced again by a black man.

Iconic characters and voices, who gives a shit the race of the actor if the voice fits the character. Its acting!

Also this, James Avery (Uncle Phil) voiced a whole host of characters since he could pull off hammy voice acting pretty well

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