Is This Ad Racist?

As another Jamaican here, I disagree to a certain extent. It may be a little stereotypical(besides aren't stereotypes often based on truth?), but it shows Jamaicans in a more positive light. I mean I'm only speaking for myself and not any other Jamaicans, but I liked it and I wasn't offended or annoyed by the guy's upbeat and positive out look on life. Isn't that a good thing? Of course Jamaica is like anywhere else. You have your positive people and your negative people. A matter of fact, I need to be more like that guy myself. I'm more of the negative, cynical, pessimestic, half glass empty, kind of person myself. lol

 

The commercial is awkward pushing right up to the line of cultural insensitivity. Doesn't mean it's racist, just like a White friend inviting you to a weekend lunch buffet of fried chicken and watermelon fruit salad isn't racist either...but.

It would have worked better IMO if it had been maybe a white woman talking in that accent.

The message I guess overrides the insensitivity, but like others have said if he'd been talking in stereotypical Black American ebonics but with a 'positive' message, they never would have played the commercial.

 

i don't know how ppl could like this.......they even calling this complimentary and as a positive? shaking my head at the coonery. rg3 worthy.....

 

speaking and writing the white man's language makes you just as much of a coon as anyone else, genius

why dont you go learn some swahili and keep it real, brotha

 

Well said
+1

 

Oh please! This is like the Fosters How to speak australian ad's..in the scheme of things they are just silly ads

Even Jimmy Cliff is in on the silliness...He makes fun of cat ladies...that VW make fun of...its all just SB commercial craziness...lighten up, jezuss! :smt101


[YOUTUBE]NfCm9P8naDQ[/YOUTUBE]

 

Easy to say when you're not part of a group that's constantly marginalized. Again not saying its racist just a little culturally insensitive.

 

Are Jamaicans constantly marginalized?

 

In the way they are crammed in a monolithic stereotype of weed smoking everything is gonna be alright caricatures yeah. I'm not saying its the most offensive thing in the world but in response to the OP's question I do find this mildly offensive. Like I said if it were the same guy speaking like he was from the "hood" it would be a different conversation.

 

What about the stereotype that they are hard workers, great cooks? Must you find negativity in everything? Even something conveying a message to be happy?This isn't an ad of them smoking...
it's playing on Jimmy Cliff's very famous 'C'mon, Get Happy song.

Furthermore VW market-tested this ad to over 100 Jamaicans who loved it.

But I will take the Ad in the spirit it was delivered. Seems that Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism and Entertainment Wykeham McNeill agrees...he issued a statement supporting the ad as: “a tribute to reggae’s popularity worldwide”. He saluted Cliff for being “a true Jamaican ambassador” and urged people everywhere to “do exactly what the commercial portrays, tap into your inner Jamaican and get happy.” :freehug:

 

Holy shit am I not entitled to my own opinion. I see differently. So what?

 

Shit r u serious right now

Australians are constantly stereotyped

 

As what? Associating them with kangaroos? Their represented pretty damn well from what I've seen

 

I said the Irish are constantly stereotyped as drunken thugs named mick that like to fight

Who said anything about aussies

 

I mean jeez...'fighting Irish'.......come on

 

Look, Athenos had fun with the revered and respected Greek grandmother by playing off of a stereotype about them...:smt036

She calls them porn-actors-

[YOUTUBE]ZuyCW8pDdao[/YOUTUBE]

She insults, calling DIL a hooker-

[YOUTUBE]dcD6JaEArPc[/YOUTUBE]

Insults, calling a wife a sick pervert-

[YOUTUBE]mFSKqkDiSJY[/YOUTUBE]

Insults a stay-at home dad-

[YOUTUBE]9wLeuVoWUkk[/YOUTUBE]

No one got hot-and-bothered or complained. Greeks laughed their asses off. :smt043

 

Greeks aren't blacks, the most hates people in da frakkin galaxy

 

So now it's a racist offense and not a cultural offense? :smt017 Make up your bloody mind. :smt101

 

Frakking cylons!