PSA: Don’t Blame Transformers, Blame the Wayans Bros.
I came home from the movie to find the internet going nuts, making claims of “little black sambots” and accusing Michael Bay of unapologetic racism. These caricatures represent Black people? While I’m not suprised at the comparison, I don’t blame Michael Bay. I’m not angry at the hundreds of thousands of movie goers who will find their antics hilarious.
I’m pissed at the Wayans Bros.
When I first saw the duo, the Wayans Bros were the first thing that popped into my head. The Wayans Bros. are RICH from making jokes just like this and no one bats an eyelash. Can you honestly look at Skids and not see the likeness to Marlon Wayans’ gold toothed, weed junkie character, “Shorty” from Scary Movie? The way the two Bots interact, its almost like watching an episode from Sean and Marlon’s hit 90’s sitcom.
The Wayans are the reason these images point back to black people; otherwise, we wouldn’t have to own such tacky stereotypes1. We need to represent ourselves better, or the imitations are gonna come out in the form of Jar Jar Binks and dancing robots2. Until then, Americas laughing and we’re writing angry blogs.
By the way, Tyler Perry gets the finger too.
9 Comments, Comment or Ping
Herb
I don’t think the writers do it on purpose, I think they just dont know any better. I dont think its theyre job to define “modern, black, and humorous.” We give them the material, they just use it.
I said this on FB to the same topic: “Why is black the only stereotype this guy uses? Jazz was black, and of course was the first to die. They shoulda uploaded Kung Fu movies and dueled every few scenes and then ate hoses and belts with chopsticks to Carl Douglas.”
Jun 25th, 2009
Yamoms
Why was it automatically assumed that these two autobots were “black”? If anything, they come off as white boys trying to act “black” haha. You know how when white folks find shit funny it’s really played out!
Jun 25th, 2009
Teech
I agree. I think the writers are just going for what’s funny and everybody loved White Chicks, right? Seriously, people eat the Wayans schtick up.
Jun 25th, 2009
Royce
What I hate most about this is that it puts me in a position to have to see this piece of shit movie just so I can see these characters in action for myself. I see the Wayans brothers reference. Still, the last Transformers left a bad taste in my mouth, and not just because I thought it stunk. The Autobot named Jazz was that movie’s version of the “black” Transformer. Not only is he named after an African American art form, but he was voiced by Darius McCrary, the only black actor doing voices for the Autobots. His specialty: guns. His fate: only dead Autobot by the end. I caught my attention and bothered me.
Jun 26th, 2009
Teech
While I can agree with the ignorance surrounding Jazz, I still feel like its only a reflection of Hollywood’s perception of Black or cool. Hip Hop culture has been pop culture for the past 8-9 years, so characters like Jazz and the Twins are attempts to tap in. I can’t watch TV without seeing equally dumb commercials (one that immediately comes to mind is of a McDonald’s commercial where a Black family decides to sit down for a round of Happy Meals. Their son joins, complete with a boom box on his shoulder, and break dances while eating his delicious chicken nuggets.). While its still unacceptable, Hollywood is only mimicking cash cows like the Wayans and Tyler Perry.
Jun 26th, 2009
cjsunshine
Cpla things:
1. Luv your Wayans reference…its just too bad that they weren’t the first to step and fetch nor will they be the last!
2. Yes, white boys trying to act black…hmmm… Doesn’t take away from the stereotype…in fact its the genesis of it…white boys acting black that is.
4. We know them to “be black” because we’ve lived with the stereotype being shoved down our throat for generations!
3. The sad thing is that A. There probably were NO black writers on the script..and B. Had there been, the whites in the room wld turn down what they were writing anyway…because to them what we write and what we find funny, they don’t think is funny… So unless we write to their funny bone…shyt ain’t funny…
4. And yes, if u don’t know… The robots pissed me off!
Jul 1st, 2009
Teech
You’re dead on about the writing. But like I said, until we change the paradigm in reference to what is funny (to us), this is what will sell! Who wouldn’t want a piece of that “House of Payne” cake?
BTW CJ, this was hardly “a comment”! LOL Thanks for the reply!
Jul 2nd, 2009
Marcus
I know I’m late but I think about movie writers and how sometimes we put them in a damned if you do, damned if you don’t type situation. They try to insert over the top “Black” characters and racism is called. No “Black” characters and…
Nov 7th, 2009
Teech
This is a Black character? That’s the only problem I’ve got with it. They could have had a character that sounded like the Allstate guy or been smooth like a Denzel and we would have known it was a brother. Its the over the top stuff that gets under my skin.
Nov 7th, 2009
Reply to “PSA: Don’t Blame Transformers, Blame the Wayans Bros.”