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DLW
Registered Member
Date Joined Apr 2003
Total Posts : 2457
| Posted 10/16/2003 5:24 PM (GMT -6) |   | An Ugly Game
By BOB HERBERT
Published: October 17, 2003
Ghettopoly is a board game, based on Monopoly, and it has a lot of people fired up.
Marches and protests by people denouncing the game as racist have distributors running for cover. Yahoo and eBay have blocked the sale of the game on their sites, and the Urban Outfitters chain has stopped selling it in stores.
People are outraged — outraged! — that a game would portray inner-city blacks as pimps and hustlers and ho's.
Kweisi Mfume, president of the N.A.A.C.P., has threatened to boycott sellers of Ghettopoly, which he described as "demeaning, repugnant and reprehensible, to say the least."
For the record: Ghettopoly is without question an ugly game that promotes disgusting racial stereotypes. It presents blacks as murderous, thieving, dope-dealing, carjacking degenerates. Instead of the familiar Monopoly pieces, like top hats and thimbles, Ghettopoly players get to move around the board as pimps, machine guns and rocks of crack cocaine.
So I'm not feeling sorry for David Chang, the game's beleaguered 28-year-old creator. What I'd like to know is why all this outrage is springing up over a board game when so little is heard in the way of protest about the outlandishly self-destructive behavior that gives rise to a game like Ghettopoly, and which is burying any chance of a viable future for extraordinary numbers of young black men and women, and their children.
How can you march against a game and not march against the real-life slaughter on the streets and in the homes of inner cities across America? Violent crime, ignorance and disease are carving the very heart out of America's black population.
The president of the Los Angeles Council of Churches, the Rev. Leonard Jackson, told me last spring about the long line of funerals he's had to conduct for young black men and women, and boys and girls. He seemed on the verge of tears. "The young people have more of a chance of dying here in South Central than in a military combat zone," he said.
Instead of using their influence to help stop the slaughter, certain truly twisted elements of the hip-hop culture encourage it, celebrating it in songs that not only glorify murderous violence, but also degrade black people to a degree that should leave any sensible person stupefied.
"We dangerous," says one song. "Bitches pay a fee just to hang with us."
Trust me, we've got some problems that are bigger than Ghettopoly. We've got insane young men who take their heavy armament into the street and shoot up the neighborhood, and then go back inside to listen to music that celebrates the act of shooting up the neighborhood. That is not a sign of a healthy culture.
It's not that there's been no protest. Marc Morial, the new president of the Urban League, said in a speech last summer that "too many of our young black males believe that manhood is defined by the ability to injure or damage another man, rather than helping another man."
The Urban League, the N.A.A.C.P. and many other groups and individuals are trying to address some of the myriad problems facing black America.
But the efforts have been too few and too timid. And they haven't been accompanied by the bold, honest, creative and self-critical thinking that is an absolutely necessary precursor to action that would be effective.
Ghettopoly is a stupid and offensive game. But its reach is nowhere near as vast or as dangerous as the "Lord of the Flies" street culture that is seducing one generation after another of black children, and producing freakish entertainers like Nelly and 50 Cent.
We learned last month that Nelly, a male rapper from St. Louis, was marketing a new drink called Pimp Juice — aimed, I suppose, at niggaz and ho's. The drink was a follow-up to Nelly's hit song of the same name, a song with such immortal lines as "You ain't from Russia, so bitch why you Russian?"
50 Cent has the top album of the year, and one of the hit songs is "P.I.M.P." He brags in the song that he'll have his ho "stripping in the street." Of one of his women, he says, "The last nigga she was with put stitches in her head."
That's not entertainment. That's a symptom.
Niebuhr thought that sustained moral energy in politics depended on religion's power to mobilize reason along with self-transcending love. The prophetic tradition, meanwhile, gave Jews and Christians some protection against the temptation to identify their social causes with God's will. Lincoln's second inaugural address expressed the prophetic insight, "The almighty has His own purposes." | | Back to Top | | |
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Mayflower
Registered Member
Date Joined Mar 2002
Total Posts : 445
| Posted 10/16/2003 6:22 PM (GMT -6) | |
.
I find Ghettopoly to be utterly revolting.
To refer to this product as a "game" falsely implies a level of childlike innocence -- which hides the true agenda.
Plain and simple, the goal here is to desensitize people to racism.
Bigotry should never be condoned, regardless of its packaging.
Racism is never "funny."
Indeed, the maker of this product should be boycotted.
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Article:
MONOPOLY ON BAD TASTE?
Cheap Trick Avenue instead of Boardwalk? Hernando's Chop Shop instead of Reading Railroad?
October 8, 2003
Black leaders are outraged over a new board game called 'Ghettopoly' that has "playas'' acting like pimps and game cards reading, "You got yo whole neighborhood addicted to crack. Collect $50.''
Black clergymen say the game, the brainchild of a Pennsylvania man, should be banned, and have called for a boycott of Urban Outfitters unless the company stops selling Ghettopoly in its chain of clothing stores.
Urban Outfitters has not publicly commented on the issue, and did not return a call seeking comment on Wednesday.
"If we are silent on this issue there is more of this type to come,'' the Rev. Robert P. Shine Sr., president of the Black Clergy of Philadelphia & Vicinity, said at a sidewalk rally Wednesday in front Urban Outfitters' corporate headquarters in Philadelphia.
Shine displayed the game board, with properties including Westside Liquor, Harlem, The Bronx, and Long Beach City, and squares labeled Smitty's XXX Peep Show, Weinstein's Gold and Platinum, and Tyron's Gun Shop.
Players draw "Hustle'' and "Ghetto Stash'' cards with directions like, "You're a little short on loot, so you decided to stick up a bank. Collect $75,'' and "Steal $$$ if you pass Let$ Roll.''
The creator of Ghettopoly, David Chang, did not immediately answer e-mails or phone calls seeking comment about the game.
On his Web site, Chang is unapologetic, and promises that more games - Hoodopoly, Hiphopopoly, Thugopoly and Redneckopoly - are coming soon.
"It draws on stereotypes not as a means to degrade, but as a medium to bring together in laughter,'' Chang maintains, adding, "If we can't laugh at ourselves ... we'll continue to live in blame and bitterness.''
But the Ghettopoly board depicts figures labeled "Malcum X'' and "Luthor King Jr.'' - intentionally misspelled - noted Rev. Glenn Wilson, pastor of Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church.
"This is beyond making fun, to use the caricature of Dr. King in this regard,'' Wilson said. "There's no way that game could be taken in any way other than that this man had racist intent in marketing it.''
The Philadelphia black clergy and Men United for a Better Philadelphia were just the latest to protest the game. In Chicago, the Rev. Michael Pfleger, pastor of St. Sabina Catholic Church, called for a boycott of Urban Outfitters. In Florida, the St. Petersburg and Hillsborough County chapters of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People urged the company to stop carrying the game.
"I was outraged. We called Outfitters, we wrote them a letter, we held a press conference, but we've had no response,'' Pfleger said Wednesday.
[end]
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ONLINE:
• Ghettopoly Slideshow
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/features/ghettopoly_slideshow/ghettopoly1.html
• GAME WEBSITE: "Ghettopoly Board game - Stolen Property Fencing Game"
http://www.ghettopoly.com/
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honorman
Registered Member
Date Joined Oct 2002
Total Posts : 1137
| Posted 10/17/2003 5:41 AM (GMT -6) | | And you certainly have the right to do that. But the company also has the right to make it. Personally, I don't find it any less offensive than a lot of the rap music out there. But then again, rap music is expression of a part of our "oppressed" society, so that makes it okay.
To answer Herbert's question: its easier to march against a target that requires no investment of time or money. Its all show. | | Back to Top | | |
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Mayflower
Registered Member
Date Joined Mar 2002
Total Posts : 445
| Posted 10/17/2003 7:39 AM (GMT -6) | | Yes, Honorman, it is indeed much easier to simply ignore the
racism in our midst. However, by REMAINING SILENT -- we give "tacit" approval.
Racism / bigotry isn't about "them" -- it's about US.
As brothers and sisters in humanity -- it is our responsibility to voice protest (even if we're the only voice to be heard!), for if one is vulnerable, ALL are vulnerable.
Honorman said ...
quote:
...the company also has the right to make it [Ghettopoly].
True.
However, having the freedom-of-speech "right" to defame and/or vilify a group
of people because they are of a different race is not synonymous with righteous, Christ-like behavior.
Yes -- we have "the right" to make racial slurs. Does this make it right??
Racism is wrong.
ALWAYS.
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Mayflower
Registered Member
Date Joined Mar 2002
Total Posts : 445
| Posted 10/17/2003 7:14 PM (GMT -6) | | Tigress wrote:
quote:
...Laughing about certain characteristics of a culture is one thing, but to characterize a culture as full of moral degenerates is quite something else.
Well said.
For example, the (regional) joke entitled:
"You Might Be A Minnesotan IF YOU" . . .
is humorous to Minnesotans because we
laughingly recognize ourselves in some of the tongue-in-cheek descriptions:
For example (excerpt):
• ..."You think that UFF DA is a standard English phrase.....
• ... Mayo is NOT something that goes on a sandwich!
• ... You know how to say Wayzata, Mahtomedi, and Shakopee...." (etc.).
If we compare such regionally-based "Minnesota" humor, which (good-naturedly)
pokes fun at MINNESOTANS "collectively" -- with the content & agenda of "Ghettopoly" -- which targets a particular group of individuals based upon RACE, the difference
is obvious.
The first is harmless,
while the latter is designed to fuel division and racial hatred.
DLW wrote:
quote:
...What I'd like to know is why all this outrage is springing up
over a board game when so little is heard in the way of protest about
the outlandishly self-destructive behavior that gives rise (emphasis mine) to a game like Ghettopoly, and which is burying any chance of a viable future for extraordinary numbers of young black men and women, and their children.
How can you march against a game and not march against the real-life slaughter on the streets and in the homes of inner cities across America? Violent crime, ignorance and disease are carving the very heart out of America's black population....
I agree with you. I believe that we should be outraged by Ghettopoly; however, the issue is bigger than an offensive a board game.
It's not enough to protest one of the "symptoms," while ignoring the root of the problem.
Tell me, exactly where should such "protests" begin?
Shouldn't we more closely examine WHY racism (which feeds the secondary "symptoms") continues to flourish in America?
If, as a country, we are becoming *more* educated, enlightened, and wise, how do we explain the ignorance that allows racism to flourish -- amongst supposedly "bright" people?
What gives it "life"? We know it's evil; but, what allows racism to thrive today, as opposed to a century ago?
How does it continue to exist? WHO AND WHAT fans the fire of racism,
and -- causes it to spread?
What about national "role models" -- such as Michael Savage and Rush Limbaugh, who routinely spew the seeds of racism across national (radio) airwaves?
While we all know that a steady diet of racist propaganda feeds overt bigotry -- THIS problem lies not "in the homes of inner cities across America," but in the *comfortable suburbs* of our country.
How do we halt the effect of racism (and, the ultimate devastation it causes
in the lives of countless individuals and families) -- when national radio hosts such as Rush Limbaugh make bigotry "acceptable" in mainstream America, with such
broadcasted comments as, "Have you ever noticed how all composite pictures of wanted criminals resemble Jesse Jackson?"
How, over time, might comments such as these, change the radio listener's perception of black Americans?
How, over time, might such racist propaganda alter the way our law enforcement officials deal with black citizens? For example, could this contribute to Racial Profiling, etc.?
And, in being treated as second-class citizens (as the result of the propagation of negative racial stereotypes), how, over time, might this alter ones feeling of self-worth? And, their life??
This is the impact of racism on people of color.
But, what is the outcome for others who are also touched -- in different ways, by
the ongoing exposure to racist views or attitudes?
What becomes of the children whose parents tune-in daily,
and have their worldviews shaped -- crafted, by (racist) radio hosts such as
Savage or Limbaugh? Through parental example, word and deed, does racism then become a generational curse, to be passed from father to son?
HOW CAN WE HOPE .....
to teach (impressionable) school-aged children about brotherhood
and equality -- when they have grown up listening to beloved parents...
who echo the views of racist "heroes," such as Limbaugh?
RACISM.
Where and how does it begin?
How can we, as a society, work together to root out
THE SEEDS of racism -- so future generations can be free of this senseless sorrow and division?
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honorman
Registered Member
Date Joined Oct 2002
Total Posts : 1137
| Posted 10/17/2003 7:34 PM (GMT -6) | | Like Indians who protest again the "Braves" and the "Redskins," to garnish some cheap publicity while major problems on the reservations continue to flourish, I think these groups need to get their prioities straight. It would be one thing to protest such things if life was grand. But when there are problems of such greater magnitude, I think they are extremely foolish.
And Mayflower your comments on role models would be more convincing if you would take the time to spit out ones on the left as well. Instead, your "take" is just another jab at the "insensitive" right who are so evil.
(Sounds like someone is a right "racist"  ) | | Back to Top | | |
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Mayflower
Registered Member
Date Joined Mar 2002
Total Posts : 445
| Posted 10/17/2003 8:35 PM (GMT -6) | | Say, what?
Honorman wrote:
quote:
Like Indians who protest again the "Braves" and the "Redskins," to garnish some cheap publicity while major problems on the reservations continue to flourish, I think these groups need to get their prioities straight. It would be one thing to protest such things if life was grand. But when there are problems of such greater magnitude, I think they are extremely foolish....
Protesting racism is "foolish"?
Why?
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honorman
Registered Member
Date Joined Oct 2002
Total Posts : 1137
| Posted 10/18/2003 6:36 AM (GMT -6) | | | To be a band-aid on a life threatening disease is foolish. Reread my last post. You simply did not get it... | | Back to Top | | |
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Mayflower
Registered Member
Date Joined Mar 2002
Total Posts : 445
| Posted 10/18/2003 7:16 AM (GMT -6) | |
HINT: Racism is THE CAUSE of the life-threatening disease.
Honorman wrote:
quote:
To be a band-aid on a life threatening disease is foolish. Reread my last post. You simply did not get it...
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