racist to the white person - Guess Who (2005) Discussion

[–] TR_Wolf 16 years ago

This is based on the movie "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner" where it was a white girl bringing home a black man.

Just so you know.

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[–] KP-Nuts 16 years ago

This is based on the movie "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner" where it was a white girl bringing home a black man.

Just so you know.

I know, made in 1967. But if that movie was made today there would be an uproar. Don't get me wrong - I really liked this movie but you could not make it today the other way round which means we need to stop and look at where we are with equality.

Better to regret something you did, than something you didn't do!

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[–] Virgil_Hawkins 15 years ago

I know, made in 1967. But if that movie was made today there would be an uproar. Don't get me wrong - I really liked this movie but you could not make it today the other way round which means we need to stop and look at where we are with equality.

What are you basing that on? Ray, The Great Debators, any other movie about the first black person to do something, where was the uproar over those films.

Don't tell me what I can't do!

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[–] jackrabbit83 10 years ago

Wait a minute, you are not the OP. Why are you using different account?

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[–] adam678 11 years ago

Who cares? Times have changed, it's not okay to flip the roles just because racism as a comedy concept is no longer socially acceptable (and rightfully so!).

There was a British comedy back in the 70's called "Love Thy Neighbour", which couldn't be more politically incorrect for a prime-time sitcom if they tried. I'd never even heard of it until a few years ago, why? Because TV stations refuse to air re-runs (and believe me, in the UK we have channels that air nothing but old re-runs).

When I first saw it I couldn't believe what I was seeing (look it up on YouTube). I've also never seen "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner", and probably for the same reason, TV stations refuse to air it.

Slavery was abolished nearly 200 years ago, the fact that racism was still social acceptable in the media up until only a few decades ago is disgusting.

White people are not a minority and they have a rich heritage, but that doesn't mean white people are exempt from racism. Did I find this movie offensive? No, not personally, I actually found it to be quite funny, but I object to the storyline on principle.

Obviously racism against black people has much deeper connotations than racism against white people, but racism is still racism.

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[–] TR_Wolf 11 years ago

You'd never heard of Love Thy Neighbour? Look up Rising Damp for similar in tone.

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[–] indignant_black_man 16 years ago

Given the racial attitude White America has created around the black experience (slavery, Jim Crow, segregation, etc...) I find it almost impossible to understand how whites feel they can be discriminated against.

Had it been a white girl taking a black guy home to meet her parents the film would have been more violent if anything - the white father threatening the black guy, etc...

Whites are so delusional when it comes to the issue of race in today's society.

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[–] 16 years ago

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[–] Lord_Flasheart 16 years ago

Most of all your posts are about racism and White America when in fact you are the racist. Have you thought about that?

You are a reverse racist. What makes that even worse than the normal racist, is that you can throw hypocritical on top of it too. If you can't see that even, then you can also throw slow into the mix. A slow, hypocritical, reverse racist. Nice.

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[–] lauraly 15 years ago

Peace people! This movie happened to be based on an African American woman presenting her European American fiance to her family. In America-LIKE ALOT OF OTHER COUNTRIES who don't want to admit, there are racial issues. This was presented from one of the African-American POV. And there are many. Because all peoples and racial groups are very diverse. PEACE!! It was a good movie! Bernie Mac and Ashton Kutcher were hilarious...who else loved the dance scene when Ashton Kutcher taught Bernie Mac the Tango?? Who else loved the racing scene on the go-carts?? SHOW ME SOME LOVE PEOPLE!!

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[–] MariMcCabe 15 years ago

Peace people! This movie happened to be based on an African American woman presenting her European American fiance to her family. In America-LIKE ALOT OF OTHER COUNTRIES who don't want to admit, there are racial issues. This was presented from one of the African-American POV. And there are many. Because all peoples and racial groups are very diverse. PEACE!! It was a good movie! Bernie Mac and Ashton Kutcher were hilarious...who else loved the dance scene when Ashton Kutcher taught Bernie Mac the Tango?? Who else loved the racing scene on the go-carts?? SHOW ME SOME LOVE PEOPLE!!

What the hell is a European American?

And how do you know the character was supposed to be African American? NOT ALL BLACK PEOPLE ARE 'AFRICAN AMERICAN'.

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[–] leosgr8 14 years ago

by - indignant_black_man on Sat Aug 9 2008 09:43:44
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Given the racial attitude White America has created around the black experience (slavery, Jim Crow, segregation, etc...) I find it almost impossible to understand how whites feel they can be discriminated against.

Had it been a white girl taking a black guy home to meet her parents the film would have been more violent if anything - the white father threatening the black guy, etc...

Whites are so delusional when it comes to the issue of race in today's society.

YOU, SIR, ARE A RACIST! I never owned any slaves. You never were a slave. I have both black and asian nieces and nephews - I'm white, and no way am I racist. You hate whites because they are white. I suppose you think everyone who voted against Obama is a racist too.

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[–] terryperring104 11 years ago

"Whites are so delusional when it comes to the issue of race in today's society"

-is- a bloody racist statement in itself!!!!!!!!!!
I'm white and the colour of skin, is to me, as irrelevant as the colour of the eyes!!!

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[–] dangitau25 11 years ago

you just proved his point. color of skin is irrelevant to you because you don't suffer because of it.

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[–] terryperring104 11 years ago

Your making assumptions there pal.
I HATE being white. Just as many, many caucasians do.
Proof?
Well see what happens when the sun shines in the summer. Millions of pale people head for the beach/patio/fields- and lay down and scream 'CHANGE MY COLOUR!!'
White is so scawny and ill looking.

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[–] ctomvelu-1 15 years ago

Interesting that in the original, the black boyfriend was played by Saint Sid Poitier, and he was a fricking doctor, to top it off. In theremake, the white beau is out of work and a liar. Imagine having cast a black actor in the original whose character is out of work and a liar, and someone other than Saint Sid. Heads would have rolled. But the dice was loaded. The remake is more loosey goosey about ll this, so that Mac can be openly hostile to the white guy, as we supposedly have come much farther along in our race relations. Let's be honest: what black family would have accepted this white goofball as a member? And how many black loan officers do you know? I have known a black lawyer and black insurance agent, but never a black loan officer. Seriously.

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[–] butterflybabyeva 15 years ago

Ummm... my dad is a loan officer... and very much black. So, that's taken care of.

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[–] EvasiveDream 15 years ago

If you actually WATCHED the movie, you'd know that the only reason Simon quit his job was because his boss told him he shouldn't marry a black girl. His boss was a RACIST and so he quit because he didn't want to be around that. What about that isn't honorable? He admitted he made a mistake, just as his finace admitted she made a mistake for not telling her family he was white. They were both "liars" and both made up at the end. So, why bring it up? I know lots of black families who would have accepted him, ie. my own. Maybe if you've never met a black loan officer you should get out and meet more people. Just because you don't know any, it doesn't mean there are none. I've never met a famous singer before, does that mean they don't exist? I've never been to France, so is the entire country a figment of my imagination? You get my point. Open your mind, open your heart.

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[–] cooldiva_2 15 years ago

I haven't met God yet, does that met God doesn't exist??.....TIME OUT EVERYBODY..TIME OUT!!!!!!

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[–] EvasiveDream 15 years ago

God is a completely different thing altogether. We're talking about absolute certainties, and God isn't an absolute certainty.

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[–] I_Created_U 11 years ago

Hmmmmm..... Yes!

"People who don't like their beliefs being laughed at shouldn't have such funny beliefs"

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[–] solex10 11 years ago

I have known a black lawyer and black insurance agent, but never a black loan officer. Seriously.

Then you need to broaden your experience of life, and of black people. All that you're doing is proving the point of one of the posters.

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[–] always_keep_fighting 14 years ago

Nope, not all black people are African-American. An African-American is a person born in Africa who emigrates to America. If you're born in America, no matter what color you are, you are an American.
I think a bigger deal than the race of a person is their attitude towards other races. If my daughter brought home a black man who was not still pissed off at all white people about slavery, and treated her well, I'd be happy. She'd be doing a lot better than she did with the first husband, a white redneck who has made her life hell for years. (I'm from the Deep South, by the way, where there is a lot of racial tension; people of both races, black and white, are quick to anger here. Sad.)
I love this movie; it's hilarious, and I love the way BM and AK's characters end up just like any other FIL and SIL..."Get your feet off the table, boy." "Sorry, sir." That always cracks me up!!

BIH Michael Jackson. The world is a little safer for kids now.

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[–] trickg1 14 years ago

There has been some interesting comments on this thread.

First off - the subject of racism. There is no such thing as "reverse racism." Racism is racims - period. It doesn't matter which direction it goes, and it sure as heck doesn't have anything to do with events that took place 50 years ago and more. In order to move forward we have to get past what happened before and truly think in terms of equality.

I think that the movie did a good job of exposing the fact that racism can certainly be (and often is) a two-way street, and that it's wrong no matter which direction it goes. It also did a good job of showing that while there are cultural differences between whites and blacks in this country that deep down we area all people and deserve to be treated with respect regardless of skin color.

My dream is that one day the world's population will all be more or less the same shade of brown, and that the races and cultures are so intermixed that no one will be able to tell where you came from or what "race" you might be by heritage and lineage. Only then will there be true equality.

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[–] 14 years ago

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[–] trickg1 14 years ago

Geez dude - chill out. I would never force anyone to do anything. My point is that with cultures and races so intermingled (who says we have to eradicate cultural identity?) there would be no way to determine simply by looking at someone where they came from. Keep in mind it's those very cultural identities and the differences between different cultures that have caused the major conflicts between people over the course of history.

Whether you like it or not, it's going to happen. Not in my lifetime or yours, but several hundred years from now? The transportation age changed all of that. Prior to 100 years ago races and cultures mixed, but not with nearly the rapidity they mix at the present. Now with global transportation being what it is along with a higher degree of acceptance of interracial and cross-cultural marriages, it's already starting to mix much more rapidly. There's no stopping that.

As a side note, I have recently done a lot of research into my family tree. On the surface, based on the little I knew of my family heritage, I was Irish and German. Now that I have delved into it a bit deeper I'm:

Irish
German
Czechoslovakian
English
Scottish
French
Austrian
American Indian

Give it time. It will happen.

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[–] 14 years ago

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[–] trickg1 14 years ago

I fully agree that it's ignorance and racism at the root of the issue, however, it's very difficult to separate one from the other. Of course racism isn't new - it's been going on since the dawn of man. The idea of the eradication of minority cultures by dominant cultures is also not new. Are the results of that tragic? Depends on the point of view - some would think so, but it's part of change.

I also disagree with your assertion that improved education will garner respect and harmony among disparate races and cultures. Seriously - how long has their been conflict between Christians, Muslims and Jews? Will that ever come to a peaceful resolution? I doubt if it will occur in my lifetime.

Also, just because there are so many ethnicities in my background doesn't mean that much - my ancestors were here in the United States before the 1880s at the latest, and since English has long been the predominant language in this country, I only fluently speak one language - English. I am eager to learn other things though and I pick up language tidbits here and there, but unless I actually move to another country where another language is spoken, I doubt if I will learn anything else.

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[–] 14 years ago

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[–] 14 years ago

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[–] tedrobcool 14 years ago

Nicely Said!

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[–] MikkelKessler 14 years ago

Intelligent post(applause)

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[–] ghezoi 14 years ago

i find black racism on whites funny.. why would you get offended?

"All governments are lying *beep* Hicks~

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[–] duckaries 14 years ago

IM WHITE AND THIS MOVIE DIDN"T BUG ME AT ALL!!

Cas!Squad
Supernatural= Uploading....please stand by.....

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[–] SofaOnWheels 14 years ago

It's been a 180 since 1967. Back then, you could make a movie like Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? with a white family rejecting a black man and it would be ok. But if a movie were made about a black family rejecting a white man, it would be racist and probably would never see the light of day.

Now, in 2010 (or 2005, whatever) you can make a movie about a black family rejecting a white man, and it's fine. But if you were to make a movie about a white family rejecting a black man, it would be horrendously racist, and would have Bill Cosby and Oprah breathing down your neck ready to shank you. It's a damn shame nothing has changed since the 60's, and racism's just as prevalent, but now the shoe is (predominantly) on the other foot. Absolutely, there are still racist people around, but it's shocking how many black people are prejudice towards white people. And the defense that they earned it is twice as shocking.

Just my two cents.

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[–] bite_me_loser_86 13 years ago

LOL! So the biggest victims of racism in America today are white people??! You seriously believe that?

Hahaha!

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[–] Hammer_Smashed_Face 13 years ago

The double standard in this movie is as obvious as Don Imus and his "nappy headed hos" comment and "The Barbershop 2" having one of the barbershops named Nappy Cutz. There was absolutely zero outrage over the latter, including from the black community. Yep, just another double standard.

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[–] Shanak41 13 years ago

Not only that, I'd also say it's kind of sexist to the man.

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[–] MariMcCabe 13 years ago

The double standard in this movie is as obvious as Don Imus and his "nappy headed hos" comment and "The Barbershop 2" having one of the barbershops named Nappy Cutz. There was absolutely zero outrage over the latter, including from the black community. Yep, just another double standard.

Um yes there was outrage, just as there was outrage when Cedric's character started talking negatively about Rosa Parks.

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[–] alhafeez1 12 years ago

Sometimes it seems we are all too sensitive, too defensive. Perhaps a good rule-of-thumb: if it is too much for one, it is too much for all. Humor is a funny thing, very individualized. It's based on cultural reference, double-meanings. So it doesn't necessarily translate well from one cultural reference to another. That doesn't mean it isn't funny in one place if it may not be completely gotten in another place. Can we just appreciate what happened where it is, and not bring our built-in outrages to the piece at hand? I just saw this movie and I found it rather light for the most part.

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[–] SteveH2002 11 years ago

I just saw this movie and I found it rather light for the most part.

Same here. Inter-racial dating doesn't carry the charge it did in 1967, which is probably why in this one you get Ashton Kutcher and Bernie Mac in place of Sidney Poitier and Spencer Tracy.

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[–] GattiPL 9 years ago

I'm a eastern European Slav who immigrated to America after communism and I find the racism towards white people prevalent. Of course not as bad as for black people but to say that you can't be racist towards white people or that they should just accept it for what they have done EXTREMELY offensive

My people NEVER had slaves, my people NEVER had colonies, my people were made to be slaves by Arabs for a THOUSAND years and I'm supposed to feel bad cuz people that are the same color as me did bad *beep* to people? My people had no part in that, so you're judging me simply by my skin color. That sir, is racist.

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[–] lauraly 8 years ago

Well, so much for the love :( crying...I enjoyed this movie, and I miss the work of Bernie Mac. RIP

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