Because She's Ignorant Is Not a Good Enough Excuse

I guess I'm trying to view this from both perspectives. I'm not sure I would classify the girl's impression as particularly racist, just poking fun at a common stereotype, which, let's face it, became stereotypes for a reason. Not that I'm endorsing her impression, but sometimes it's just wise to pick your battles, and seeming as how "getting one's nails did" isn't really that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things I personally would probably just laugh it off. However, it seems most of your issue is with the use of the word "shvartz". I'm not Jewish, so I had no idea what that word even meant when I read your post, but there are a few things to consider. In your opinion, unless Yiddish is your first language "shvartz" is considered derogatory; maybe they didn't grow up with that mentality. Or perhaps they are extremely religious and use Yiddish on a daily basis. Maybe they are simply trying to make their Jewish religion compatible with the American youth culture they are growing up in, which let's face it, consists of many stereotypical impressions based on ethnicity or race. I can understand your opinion on the issue, but for some it may not be seen as a big deal.

Rachel, you'd realize that it wasn't so much her video that I was put off by...but, instead, the fact that she and her cousin seem to so carelessly toss around the word shvartza...which is IN ABSOLUTELY NO WAY funny, not even in the least and is RACIST in every way possible.

I think this is pretty funny. It's not every day you see an orthodox woman doing a spot-on impersonation of a black person. And, if it was the other way around- a black person doing a spot on impersonation of an orthodox woman- that would be just as funny.

This is stereotypical, yes. But racist? I don't think so.

Read Rachel's Tel Avivian rambles, raves ( http://therayve.blogspot.com ) and rave reviews at: http://therayve.blogspot.com

Agreed.

my previous comment was not meant to give the woman in the video a free pass. I just wanted to point out this kind of behavior I've seen. I have to wonder if it's rooted in some kind of coping mechanism or misguided attempt to seek empowerment.

But two wrongs definitely do not make a right.

Grace Hwang Lynch blogs at HapaMama ( http://hapamama.com ) and A Year (Almost) Without Shopping ( http://www.blogher.com/ A Year (Almost) Without Shopping ).

I wonder how Black women would feel about this video. I don't think it's up to white women, etc. to say that such a video mocking black women is acceptable or inoffensive. I wonder how this woman in this video would feel about having a video mocking her as a heavy Jewish woman would feel, as the tables would be turned.

Sorry, but it's not funny.

And just because several minorities are bashed by the media does not give permission for one minority to go about bashing another, or to go about bashing the majority either.

Bashing is bashing. Racist humor is racist humor. Two wrongs do not make a right.

Polish Mama on the Prairie

http://polishmamaontheprairie.blogspot.com/

@PolPrairieMama

Your post makes me wonder if this is a case of a person thinking that because she herself is part of a minority group that it is more acceptable to be imitating others.

You know... "We [insert name of group here] have taken so many hits from the mainstream, wouldn't be funny if we joked about [insert name of other group here]?

Grace Hwang Lynch blogs at HapaMama ( http://hapamama.com ) and A Year (Almost) Without Shopping ( http://www.blogher.com/ A Year (Almost) Without Shopping ).

Scratching my head. As usual, I find myself with more questions than answers.

Is doing impressions always racist? Part of the "funny" is nailing someone's voice that you are so clearly different from. The stronger an accent, the bigger the challenge and the more amazing it is to pull off. She didn't say anything in the text of her imitation that was overtly racist - it was all in her delivery.

One might even argue that considering a spot-on imitation racist in itself is insulting, because you are assuming that to speak a certain way is less valid than another.

Still, imitations usually aren't the sincerest form of flattery, but are usually done by a one group to reinforce their position over the other - which is why men putting on women's clothes and imitating women is a comedy staple, while women dressing and acting like men is much less common.

Then the other part of this is the humor angle. Most of our humor comes from confronting subjects that are uncomfortable, weird, awkward and painful. That's why humor exists - as a pressure valve. So saying something "isn't funny" when people find it funny is sort of blaming the messenger, isn't it? People 30 years ago would have found the idea of 2 men getting married hilarious, but now a lot of people would meet it with a "So?" Society has changed enough that the subject has lost its zing, and therefor it isn't funny anymore.

I completely agree with you! Just because it's funny is not enough. I've heard racist jokes about EVERYONE which were funny but because they were racist, I didn't think they were worth laughing at. BUT I did think they were worth pointing out and saying "What in the world is wrong with you for laughing at and encouraging such racist dribble?"

Polish Mama on the Prairie

http://polishmamaontheprairie.blogspot.com/

@PolPrairieMama