Sterotypical character

[mynameisash]

do you guys think that some of the African American joes were sterotypical in the cartoon. I mean, Roadblock was always rhyming like a rapper. He was hugely dark skinned and he was a cook. Always in the kitchen wanting to cook!!! Now I feel that Hollywood did something politically correct by taking a sterotypical black man and turned him into THE ROCK!

Would you say that the Sunbow Series writers were racist?

These are two different entities of Roadblock. I will always love the Sunbow version, but people would point at me and say "Thats because you're from the south!"

Remember when THE ROCK was rumored to be playing Shipwreck in ROC????? Now heads woulda been rolling then and it would be all pointed to racism. Ripcord not so much because he was most of the time a "Background" character. I still dont like Marlon Wayans portrayal and its not because of race. That character should not have existed. Now if we had gone with a goofy Stalker character portrayed by Wayans, I could somewhat halfway stomach that.....but then the writing of the movie got in the way. I'll never eat before watching that movie again or therefore, Ill prob lose my lunch.

I hate you Stephen Sommers (Director who only does it for a paycheck)

[kneroh]

this again...

[ero]

I feel like we've been down this path before ...

No, they weren't racist. It was a cartoon. There wasn't a lot of time to get too deep in to a character, so, like other cartoons, they played to archetypes. But they were hardly racist. Also, Roadblock was a chef in the Marvel series, and that's all Hama. And I don't think Hama is racist.

this again...

Right? I almost thought it was donmagic under a different moniker.

[zedhatch]

Yeah, Iceberg was a racial stereotype cause he hated hot weather.

PLEEEAAASE

[kneroh]

I will seriously never understand whenever this argument is brought up people use Roadblock's training as a world class, gourmet chef as a point of racism?

A french trained culinary expert?!? That's racist?

[ero]

And what about Doc? How was he a stereotype?

[mynameisash]

This again???????


what does that mean to someone who doesnt read the boards everyday? This is a first post on the topic by me. I am an off and on member here who comes and goes, but because you guys have been over it before doesnt mean that everyone has. Im just voicing my opinion.

[Colder Soldier]

I don't think Sunbow or most the GIJoe ARAH franchise was racist at all. I also don't understand why you think changing Roadblock from a "hugely dark skinned" man to a half-black man, Dwayne Johnson, is less racist.

That being said, I have no problem with The Rock playing RB. I've always liked him and hopefully his presence will bring in the bucks Joe needs. But like I said, he's only half-black and doesn't perfectly fit the character aesthetic. I'm not gonna go off about this like many folks did with Ripcord. Some Tankers even had the gall to say "If it were a black character they turned (white), they'd have the NAACP up in arms". None of "they" (black people I guess) have said anything about the Rock yet, even though he surely no longer matches my skin color.

And people being annoyed that RB is "just a cook" and feel that it's degrading to a black man, are actually guilty reverse racism. RB was never "just a cook". He was a gourmet chef. Still a role seemingly subservient to others but cookery is a noble art form. An art form in good contrast to a muscular black man whose main job is killing people with an 80 lb machine gun. RB was a renaissance man.

Yes, he ryhmed everything he said (we kids loved it). I don't think he was ever meant to be a rapper though. I speculate the real-life characters he was modeled after were Mr. T, and his voice and the rest of his persona was lifted from the most famous man that's ever lived- Muhammad Ali.

In short, no I don't believe the Sunbow Series writers were racists, and I feel RB is still one of the few respectable black characters of the time. As were all the black Joes really. Things only became racist in GIJoe after the 2000's oddly enough.

[ero]

You want racist from Sunbow? The Republic of Carbombya. Now that was racist.

[Xenos]

You want racist from Sunbow? The Republic of Carbombya. Now that was racist.

Wow..I just looked that up. I don't remember that episode at all, but man that is bad.



I've always felt that as far as these things go, GI Joe was always pretty good about avoiding stereotypes. Other then the whole "every Asian is a ninja" thing.

[Jettfire]

Plus, did you ever notice how Roadblock and Stalker were constantly getting ordered around by Duke and Flint? Hella racist.

Oh, and the one real Asian guy in the comics just had to be a ninja assassin bad guy. The writer of those books was projecting his obvious anti-Asian agenda every month for 22 pages.

[zedhatch]

And what about Doc? How was he a stereotype?

I have an actual joke there, but it is just so wrong I wouldn't dare say it.

[ero]

Wow..I just looked that up. I don't remember that episode at all, but man that is bad.



I've always felt that as far as these things go, GI Joe was always pretty good about avoiding stereotypes. Other then the whole "every Asian is a ninja" thing.

I know. I just caught it on whatever episode that was a couple weeks ago and had to look it up. According to the wiki, Casey Kasem left the series soon after. Who could blame him?

I have an actual joke there, but it is just so wrong I wouldn't dare say it.

Probably for the best.

[wertdog91]

Wow..I just looked that up. I don't remember that episode at all, but man that is bad.



I've always felt that as far as these things go, GI Joe was always pretty good about avoiding stereotypes. Other then the whole "every Asian is a ninja" thing.

Tunnel Rat isn't a ninja

[Xenos]

Tunnel Rat isn't a ninja

Hmm..good point. Maybe he's one quarter ninja?

[Colder Soldier]

You want racist from Sunbow? The Republic of Carbombya. Now that was racist.

I remember Karbomiya from Tranformers but what GIJoe episode was that?

Plus, did you ever notice how Roadblock and Stalker were constantly getting ordered around by Duke and Flint? Hella racist.

Well, Duke coming in and being promoted over Stalker was the most racist aspect of ARAH. Flint's argument is only justified being he was a warrant officer. But then again, why was he somehow under Duke?! Hmm...it paid to be a blonde guy in the early 80's obviously.

[wertdog91]

You want racist from Sunbow? The Republic of Carbombya. Now that was racist.

Holy shit. That's insanely racist. I'm offended by that. Offended that I didn't remember that. How the hell did they air that?

[xREDGHOSTRIDERx]

I've always felt that as far as these things go, GI Joe was always pretty good about avoiding stereotypes. Other then the whole "every Asian is a ninja" thing.

Wait, you mean every Asian ISN'T a Ninja? When did they stop that?

[xREDGHOSTRIDERx]

You want racist from Sunbow? The Republic of Carbombya. Now that was racist.

I guess "Attackistan" or "Terrorahn" were already taken? (Borrowed from tfwiki)

[wertdog91]

Hmm..good point. Maybe he's one quarter ninja?

Point taken

[drunknmunky]

Roadblock was originally going to be named Bubba. However Hama rejected it saying ” it's racist, derogatory and stupid. Nuff said”.
However Dusty did refer to someone in the desert as a ” camel jockey”.

[Headman]

I think the white font on this website is racist. Why can't we type in black? Or can the man not handle that?

[wertdog91]

Roadblock was originally going to be named Bubba. However Hama rejected it saying ” it's racist, derogatory and stupid. Nuff said”.
However Dusty did refer to someone in the desert as a ” camel jockey”.

That's the episode with the ufos. I saw that last week and almost spit my drink out across the room when I heard that

[Headman]

What's wrong with camel jockey? As long as the person is actually with a camel I don't believe it's racist.

[the odinson]

I think the white font on this website is racist. Why can't we type in black? Or can the man not handle that?

preach on, soul brotha!

my ipad just auto corrected 'brotha' to 'broths'.
that's some racist shit.

[wertdog91]

I hate Auto-correct on Iphones

[red4]

you trouts with your black font are making it really difficult to eat my damn pizza

[ndb]

And the public! How they sterotype the toy collectors! We are not just 110 pound, acne faced kids with nerdy glasses who sit at computers all day!

It's on topic, so you know. :D

[arthurdent]

First of all, the characters existed in the comic book long before they became cartoon characters. Was the comic book creators racist? As for "Racism", I can tell you this... I was born and raised in california, and therefore I neither speak nor understand very much spanish: I've been on the recieving end of racism, and the worst racists were hispanics who treated me like a pile of cow manure because I didn't smoke, drink, listen to spanish music, make obscene gestures and equally obscene remarks at passing women, and didn't behave like they did. I was called by them (Sorry, but like I said, I neither speak or understand very much spanish, and none of the slang spanish that's used.) "Californiero" and "Chaco de Focho", whatever those terms mean. However, all this never bothered me, any more than the G.I. Joe character Roadblock being black or a chef should bother me or anybody else.

[arthurdent]

and the public! How they sterotype the toy collectors! We are not just 110 pound, acne faced kids with nerdy glasses who sit at computers all day!

It's on topic, so you know. :d

i am not 110 pounds! Lol...

[dmizrok]

Plus, did you ever notice how Roadblock and Stalker were constantly getting ordered around by Duke and Flint? Hella racist.

Oh, and the one real Asian guy in the comics just had to be a ninja assassin bad guy. The writer of those books was projecting his obvious anti-Asian agenda every month for 22 pages.

"one real asian" ....wasnt Stormy 1/2 asian?
...and Hama was asian, so i highly doubt he had an anti himself agenda.....lol

[Crazy Legs]

do you guys think that some of the African American joes were sterotypical in the cartoon.

No.


I mean, Roadblock was always rhyming like a rapper.

He didnt rhymed like a rapper.

He was hugely dark skinned

As oppose to minimally dark skinned?

and he was a cook.

Pretty sure that cooking isnt a stereotype.

Always in the kitchen wanting to cook!!!

Not always at all.


Now I feel that Hollywood did something politically correct by taking a sterotypical black man and turned him into THE ROCK!

Hollywood did something politically correct by having a black character be played by a half black dude?

I......................have no idea why you are trying to say here.


Remember when THE ROCK was rumored to be playing Shipwreck in ROC????? Now heads woulda been rolling then and it would be all pointed to racism.

Yeah man, dont turn one of the few Hispanic JOEs into a half black half Samoan dude.



Ripcord not so much because he was most of the time a "Background" character. I still dont like Marlon Wayans portrayal and its not because of race. That character should not have existed. Now if we had gone with a goofy Stalker character portrayed by Wayans, I could somewhat halfway stomach that.....but then the writing of the movie got in the way. I'll never eat before watching that movie again or therefore, Ill prob lose my lunch.

I hate you Stephen Sommers (Director who only does it for a paycheck)

Ripcord wasnt a problem because most of the JOEs are white dudes. They could have turned Sci-fi, Dialtone, of Mainframe into a black dude and there wouldnt be any problem.

Wait... is Shipwreck the only Hispanic JOE?
Wait.... in the cartoon Shipwreck was lazy.... THAT'S RACIST!!!

[Smokebomb]

Zap is Hispanic also. I researched, there are others too.

[red4]

Do none of you know how to spell sterEotype?

[Breakerfan]

You know what I think is racist? The only person I could watch the cartoon with as a kid was my friend next door, and he was white. Where were all the other cultures of kids when I wanted to watch GI JOE? Am I not good enough to come watch the cartoon with? It's not my fault I grew up in the middle of nowhere.

[red4]

You know what I think is racist? The only person I could watch the cartoon with as a kid was my friend next door, and he was white. Where were all the other cultures of kids when I wanted to watch GI JOE? Am I not good enough to come watch the cartoon with? It's not my fault I grew up in the middle of nowhere.

But wait. Are you white? Because if you are, then you're racist for watching GI Joe while not being another ethnicity.

[red4]

Wait a minute. Shipwreck is hispanic? Why the hell does his RoC toy look like such a fruity tanned caucasian?

[Jettfire]

"one real asian" ....wasnt Stormy 1/2 asian?
...and Hama was asian, so i highly doubt he had an anti himself agenda.....lol

I'm going to have to take your word for all of this, but it all seems highly dubious.

[Breakerfan]

But wait. Are you white? Because if you are, then you're racist for watching GI Joe while not being another ethnicity.

I was only white when I watched the transformers. When I watched GI JOE, I closed my eyes and just listened to the awesome soundtrack so color did not apply to me.

[red4]

I was only white when I watched the transformers. When I watched GI JOE, I closed my eyes and just listened to the awesome soundtrack so color did not apply to me.

Transformers is so racist, I mean none of them are human ethnicities. They're just robots! I want to see a black guy transform into a Ferrari!

[Breakerfan]

Transformers is so racist, I mean none of them are human ethnicities. They're just robots! I want to see a black guy transform into a Ferrari!

Sigh!!! Ferraris are RED! Dream on!

[red4]

Sigh!!! Ferraris are RED! Dream on!

A Cadillac Sixteen then! Or as I call it: The Elephant Crusher

See the black guy at the back, starring at Dat Ass of the Sixteen? He knows what's up.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3011/2719904880_df7347ffaa_b.jpg

[Breakerfan]

A Cadillac Sixteen then! Or as I call it: The Elephant Crusher

See the black guy at the back, starring at Dat Ass of the Sixteen? He knows what's up.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3011/2719904880_df7347ffaa_b.jpg

There goes the neighborhood?

[kneroh]

I asked the series executive producer Margaret Loesch which minority she hated the most... she refused to answer though because she's afraid Clutch will put a sheeny curse on her.

[GeneralxRon]

Why can't it be like Star Wars where everyone gets along..

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/9242/sljsm.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/23/sljsm.jpg/)

http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/9553/councilzd.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/714/councilzd.jpg/)

[Breakerfan]

I asked the series executive producer Margaret Loesch which minority she hated the most... she refused to answer though because she's afraid Clutch will put a sheeny curse on her.

Is that the bitch who used to own the Cincinnati Reds?

[red4]

Why can't it be like Star Wars where everyone gets along..

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/9242/sljsm.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/23/sljsm.jpg/)

http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/9553/councilzd.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/714/councilzd.jpg/)

Ki Adi Mundi is NSFW.

[SDawg]

Lmao

sigh!!! Ferraris are red! Dream on!

[In Like Flint]

All of the Autobot Pretender shells were white. Sheer bigotry right there.

[red4]

Jazz is a white car. That's beyond racist.

[Crimson Rage]

stuff

How did you get from Sunbow being racist to the usual "ROC makes me lose my lunch"/"Sommers is a whore" clichés (and surely if the latter were true, he'd have a film out every few months)?

[Bushmaster72]

Transformers is so racist, I mean none of them are human ethnicities. They're just robots! I want to see a black guy transform into a Ferrari!

And, in the first one Jazz was the only autobot to die...and he was ripped to shreds.

[red4]

And, in the first one Jazz was the only autobot to die...and he was ripped to shreds.

And Bumblebee is yellow, clearly a slight against Asians.