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Is “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” Racist?
Autobot twins Skids and Mudflap strike a b-boy pose during their minstrel show.
According to a leaked memo, director Michael Bay is pissed off at Paramount Pictures for not putting enough hype behind his new sequel, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Having seen it, we can’t help but wonder if Paramount is keeping quiet because his flick about warring alien robots transforms into a vehicle for racism.
As if black people didn’t catch a bad enough one from the Jar Jar Binks character in Star Wars Episodes I-III, Bay’s Autobot twins, the “black”-voiced Skids and Mudflap, are the 2009 version of the Amos n’ Andy minstrel show. It’s hard to believe a big-money director would show his ass like this in what projects to be a much-watched blockbuster, but maybe he’s gotten too comfortable hanging out with his boy Black-Ty. Whatever the rationale, it’s clear that Bay is violating. How can we be so certain? Check out 7 reasons why Transformers 2 might be racist…
#1: “Skids” and “Mudflap” sound suspiciously like “skid-marks” and “mud people.” Tell us how you really feel, cracker!
#2: Skids not only has old-school Raekwon bucked teeth, one of them is actually gold! We’re assuming the rope chains and 40s for the action figures are sold separately.
#3: The twins constantly fight and snap on each other in inappropriate situations, like in the sacred tomb of the Primes. Sigh. Black robots just don’t know how to behave in public, do they?
#4: Skids and Mudflap refer to Leo, the Latino college student played by Ramon Rodriguez, as a “shrimp taco.” All black robots gotta be ign’ant though, right? That’s just like the white devil to put his secret racist thoughts into the mouths of black robots.
#5: In the twins’ vehicular incarnation, they’re flashy compact racing cars. Black robots aren’t concerned about the safety and security of their loved ones? Family sedans aren’t “urban” enough for you?
#6: The hip-hop jive that Skids and Mudflap spew comes from the mouth of WHITE voiceover comedian Tom Kenny, a.k.a. the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants. At least if Mike Epps was the one bamboozling, talking about “bustin’ caps,” we could take solace in a black actor getting work.
#7: The twins make R. Kelly look like an advocate for literacy. When Shia LaBoeuf asks if the twins can read ancient glyphs, they nervously respond, “Read?! Nuh-uh…” “No, we don’t really do much readin’!” (watch the exchange below) Well, not only can we read, we can also read between the lines: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen isn’t a blockbuster, it’s a black-buster!
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NIG July 24, 2009 at 10:21 am
GUESS WHAT YOU RACIST FUCKHEAD,
“BLACK PEOPLE” DON’T ACT A CERTAIN WAY, SAYING DRINKING 40′S AND HAVING A GOLD TOOTH IS A “BLACK” WAY OF BEING IS YOU BEING RACIST, NOT THE MOVIE.
Robert November 21, 2009 at 1:30 am
Ok Shut up dude. We all know that all black people don’t act like that. You are either really confused or mixing up the issue that the way those robots were acting were the stereotypical way that people find black people to act. Just because someone points out racism doesn’t make him a racist.
Andy August 6, 2009 at 9:26 pm
To be honest, while I can sort of see where the complaints are coming from, I do think they’re kind of misplaced. The fact that Tom Kenny voices them should be a clue.
To me, they come off not as stereotypical black gangstas, but as white hicks who fancy themselves as such, but haven’t quite got it right. Given that the first movie pointed out that the Autobots learned most of what they know of Earth culture through our electronic media, I can see how they might have misunderstood.
Actually, I think Skids and Mudflap are among the least insulting thing in the film…
T. Washington August 11, 2009 at 10:25 pm
Maybe i dont get it but does it really matter? I mean, I’m black and it doesn’t offend me in the least. Like if they said something about slaves or cotton maybe but i dont know.
(insert Carlton Banks insults below)
Political August 17, 2009 at 10:15 am
Guys … you need to relax and pull all heads out of all asses. aren’t your assumptions of sterotypical “Black behaviour” in itself racism? … and please go after the REAL biggots … this, to me, stinks of reaching way too far … you absolutely lost all credibility with your “Family sedans aren’t “urban” enough for you?” comment. Complete reaching … get off your soapbox
rico August 20, 2009 at 7:56 pm
When I saw the twins, I said to myself “Damn! they got the G’s in em!” Face it peeps, gangsta talk sells. Peace out.
Russkin August 29, 2009 at 5:15 pm
What I find amazing about all the stink about two dumb, black robots is the lack awareness about how the actual black (human) characters are protraying in both Transformers movies. They yell at and threaten their mothers and grandmothers, they turn on their friends under pressure, they try to dupe their customers. OR they are the big-gun sidekicks (trusted to kick ass, basically). Jazz (the original black transformer) is killed off without much ceremony and Tyrese Gibson’s character (what’s his name, by the way?) just exists to support the Cap’n hero.
plain true September 13, 2009 at 1:47 am
The plain truth is as long as people think and look at life in this way we are all left feeling hopeless. It would be much better to put energy into bettering ourselves and breaking the stereotypes than constantly pointing out our failures.
meka January 9, 2010 at 3:18 am
i really have to say whoever wrote this piece of crap is an absolute idiot..i am probably blacker than u’re(i am a western African)..if that was directed by a black man u would give it all sorts of props..the Hughes brothers made a movie about pimps and that was okay by your standards..i think u’re sick..u need help..all u want to do is bring up an issue that isn’t an issue..same as saying it is okay for a white man to buy a black rappers cd but cant sing the songs cos the word nigga is all over the lyrics..i am disappointed in african-americans in general..someone makes a little money and they go get guns,grills,big houses..how in the world do u want to have a good image..
k January 12, 2010 at 12:27 pm
I think i agree, and not only all this is true, but most likely the commercial success of the movie can be explained by its pandering to the white crowd.
Seriously, the whole muscle car culture celebration in this movie is a throwback to a different, “good olde” times when white guys had jobs, fast cars, and fucked blond chicks on the hood of their Mustang. Guess what, those times are no longer – soon you guys will all be driving chinese cars.