Old Cartoons were racists

[Yami]

I found this interesting youtube video explaining how back then racist stereotypes were used in cartoons and how many people find them offensive today. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ewb0ZspDtvs

[erikson]

I found this interesting youtube video explaining how back then racist stereotypes were used in cartoons and how many people find them offensive today. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ewb0ZspDtvs

Some were. I've never considered the maid in Tom and Jerry racist. She was the maid, unless being a maid (like my Italian grandmother was during the great depression) is inherently demeaning.

[Hypercat-Z]

And mention was given of this: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x23xe0 ... cartoon_tv" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Aquarionoid]

I was always under the impression that racism had more to do with treating people inferior and hating them, not throw away jokes in cartoons. Not that is makes these stereotypes from back then any better, but the proper term is insensitivity, not racism.

[disguiseartist1]

It's not just Tom and Jerry, a good deal of the shows back then were really racist.

I was always under the impression that racism had more to do with treating people inferior and hating them, not throw away jokes in cartoons.

Jokes can be racist. If I say something hateful and dehumanizing but then make it a punchline for some chuckles, that doesn't somehow lessen what was just said.