jar jar binks + racism = does not compute

[Helnurath]

I find that the Aunt Jemima maple syrup bottle is racist, because it portrays Black women as being filled with delicious maple syrup which is clearly racist.

 

[Helnurath]

Also, Uncle Ben's rice is racist as well.

 

[Brett Alex]

There was a lot of symbolism in the Ewoks. I don't think it was a coincidence that a species that would be basically the bottom of the barrel according to the Empire's program of Human High Culture [http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Human_High_Culture]--they're basically Wookies without the exploitable strength--wound up being the species that provides the critical...'man'power in the mission that brings down the Empire.

Yeah, I agree entirely that the use of Ewoks in that capacity 'meant something', I was just pointing out that cute, comic relief characters were not introduced in Episode I.

In fact, I think I even remember Lucas (it might have been a lead costume designer or someone, can't be sure) describing the Ewoks in an interview. He said that he kept asking the designers to make them cute and friendly/harmless/primitive looking, so that the Empires defeat by them would be made even more ironic.

 

[BiscuitWheels]

I think it's pretty straightforward. He's a caricature of black people. His speech pattern is definitely influenced by Ebonics, his dress, and that of the Gungans as a whole, seems related to Caribbean modes. Finally, a great deal, if not all, of the Gungans are portrayed by black actors. It's a pretty clear he's as much a caricature as Al Jolson in The Jazz Singer. It's equating blacks with "the Other" by literally making them alien.

And, if you want to argue that "oh, well, that's sort of an accident, or maybe Lucas doesn't mean it to be taken that way" I'll say this: I'm sure it was an accident, and I'm sure it wasn't meant to be taken that way. But as aliens, evolving entirely separately from humanity, there's absolutely no reason they should have speech patterns even remotely resembling ebonics.

Lastly, the issue is not even really that Jar Jar is a caricature in his similarities. Its that George Lucas then makes the blunder of having what essentially boils down to "the black character" be a bumbling stupid idiot who succeeds solely by screwing up SO BADLY that he comes out the other end of failure into grand success. Also, to really drive home the point, Lucas makes the Gungans spear and catapult wielding jungle people.

This. Also, let us not forget Truman Capote the Hutt in Clone Wars. *Shudder*

Or the money-grubbing-hook-nosed jew. George Lucas loves his stereotypes.

And the wonderful 'Ahh-so! Me so Japanese' sounding Trade Federation.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

To add to what HobbesmkII has said, most of the aliens were based on "other cultures" with both the Jawas and the Sandpeople having languages based on Afrikaans and fulfilled stereotypical images of "the black men". (Spear-Chuckers/Thieves)

Like Capcom, Lucas may not have been aiming to be racist, but the use of racial stereotypes to portray aliens (Like any bald, black guy in Star Trek) is really not a good plan. (See also the Ubermensch Skywalker (Blonde, blue eyes), the evil black guy Vader who becomes white when he dies, the ultragay translator droid, the scheming hook-nosed "Watoo" (Not a Jew))

However, this may just be because Lucas can't actually think of anything better than Mario Kart for the premise of Phantom Menace. Proof? Look at his other films Willow and Howard The Duck.

 

[Yormungandr]

I find that the Aunt Jemima maple syrup bottle is racist, because it portrays Black women as being filled with delicious maple syrup which is clearly racist.

...and false. I've tried, no maple syrup to be found.

 

[The Infamous Scamola]

-snip-

This. Also, let us not forget Truman Capote the Hutt in Clone Wars. *Shudder*

Or the money-grubbing-hook-nosed jew. George Lucas loves his stereotypes.

And the wonderful 'Ahh-so! Me so Japanese' sounding Trade Federation.

Jesus, I forgot about that! This really isn't looking good for Lucas, is it?

 

[dwightsteel]

Ok, the idea, at the time, was that, in his mannerisms, his speech, and the way he moved, that he was the embodiment of a stereotypical black person. I guess there were even people who were upset that when he said "meesa", it sounded a lot like "massa." There was also something about Naboo sounding like nubian, and something in the name gungan. I don't remember all the specifics. At the time, there were all sorts of African studies professors and organizations saying that Lucas was racist in his depiction of the character.

The racial argument isn't as strong as it was when it first came out over a decade ago. People now just find Jar Jar an annoying CG gimmick as opposed to a giant racial slur. It's really not a prominent argument. Although, if any CG character is the embodiment of horribly stereotyping black people, look at the new Transformers movie. Mudflap and Skids? One of them even had a gold tooth for god sakes.

 

[humanizer]

You call that racist what about Kit Fisto on the clone wars tv show
A. Jamacian accent
B. tentacles in the back of his head resembling dreads
C. He was a fish man
and I'm am pretty sure that Kit Fisto had an english accent before that so do you here that
yep its the racist alarm ringing.

 

[Mullahgrrl]

So basicly, Jar-jar is racist because he is stupid, like blacks are?

 

[The Infamous Scamola]

Although, if any CG character is the embodiment of horribly stereotyping black people, look at the new Transformers movie. Mudflap and Skids? One of them even had a gold tooth for god sakes.

They're not to keen on reading either.

 

[dwightsteel]

Although, if any CG character is the embodiment of horribly stereotyping black people, look at the new Transformers movie. Mudflap and Skids? One of them even had a gold tooth for god sakes.

They're not to keen on reading either.

Damn, I was even intending on writing that in my first post, but forgot. Thanks for pointing it out. Yeah. Exactly my point. I'm surprised Michael Bay isn't getting more flack for that.

 

[Gerazzi]

He's supposedly Jamaican.
I hate Lucas for creating him regardless of the racism.
he's just so freaking annoying.

 

[mooncalf]

Never heard anything about racism in regards to Jar Jar Binks, just alot of people finding him annoying...

Actually, I've heard how people say Jar Jar is a "tired stereotype". Stereotyping people is bad and ignorant.

Tired stereotype of what? Other Gungans?

 

[TheTygerfire]

His ears look like dreads, he speaks like a Jamaican, and he's stupid.

I think it was more the fact he talked like a Blackface vaudeville actor

"OH NOSA! MESSA BEIN' CHASEDED! LORDY!"

While that in itself is racist, Jar-Jar isn't. He just sucks.

 

[Iampringles]

I don't know, all I thought of him was how unfunny he was and how they were trying (And failing) to make him funny.

I thought Jar Jar had a clumsy sort of charm to him.

 

[Lexodus]

His ears look like dreads, he speaks like a Jamaican, and he's stupid.

No one had any problem with the troll race of world of warcraft.

That 'cause they awesome.

 

[Lexodus]

Jar-Jar is Jar-Jar a Gungan: anyone who is bound and determined to find racism in any character, will.

Thing is, if we're not supposed to find anything symbolic in Jar-Jar, then it means everyone who sees echos of Nazi uniforms in the Imperial uniforms is also "bound and determined to find" that too...

Well, you are. Most people don't see that. You're reading too much shit into it.