Pokemon Racist?
I realize I'm late hitting on this topic but I stumbled on this and was just shocked at how someone can take any image and turn it into something it's not. Several years ago, Carole Boston Weatherford, a children's book author, wrote a letter to Black World Today magazine complaining that Pokemon #124 was a racial stereotype. Said Pokemon's name is Jynx and it features a pitch black face, large red lips, goofy eyes, long blond hair, and a female body featuring breasts, like many females have, and as Carole stated "wiggly hips". As many Pokemon fans know, Jynx is a Pokemon that's only female and is more than likely made to be the mate to Mr. Mime, at least that's what I would assume. If you wish to see the Pokemon for yourself please visit the URL below.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon#Racism
Carole's description of this Pokemon is that it's insulting and resembles a drag queen and states that it looks similar to a stereotypical figure called Little Black Sambo, who was a children's book character who was purged from libraries across the United States. She later states that Jynx was most offensive to African American females. Honestly, it can't be both, an insult to African American females or an attempt to an African American Drag Queen, but whatever the case, she later rants about the Japanese not letting their old racist habits during World War II die. What I'm gathering is Carole, while using proper speech practices and a well informed description at the start of her letter, was just trying to throw stones and claim to be a victim. What I have gathered is Carole was more the racist than the Japanese here. As many Japanese have made characters that look as such and not a one has claimed they were a racist stereotype, Jynx was just a character made to look funny because she was a funny Pokemon, it wasn't made to resemble the African culture. However to avoid more clamor, Nintendo decided to change some of Jynx's features. Instead of blue hands and a pitch black face, Jynx now features purple hands and a purple face. These are the only changes made, just in color, and the complaining has stopped for the most part.
You can find Carole's letter here:
http://dogasu.bulbagarden.net/bashing/racist_jynx_01.html
Honestly, I'm in a place where racism is pretty active, and I fight it as much as I can, but when I look at something like this, a little character made innocently and taken entirely the wrong way, I can't help but shake my head. This was not racist, I'm sorry she took it that way and I'm sorry that she relived Little Black Sambo, but Jynx is not Little Black Sambo, Jynx is an icy goof-patrol.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon#Racism
Carole's description of this Pokemon is that it's insulting and resembles a drag queen and states that it looks similar to a stereotypical figure called Little Black Sambo, who was a children's book character who was purged from libraries across the United States. She later states that Jynx was most offensive to African American females. Honestly, it can't be both, an insult to African American females or an attempt to an African American Drag Queen, but whatever the case, she later rants about the Japanese not letting their old racist habits during World War II die. What I'm gathering is Carole, while using proper speech practices and a well informed description at the start of her letter, was just trying to throw stones and claim to be a victim. What I have gathered is Carole was more the racist than the Japanese here. As many Japanese have made characters that look as such and not a one has claimed they were a racist stereotype, Jynx was just a character made to look funny because she was a funny Pokemon, it wasn't made to resemble the African culture. However to avoid more clamor, Nintendo decided to change some of Jynx's features. Instead of blue hands and a pitch black face, Jynx now features purple hands and a purple face. These are the only changes made, just in color, and the complaining has stopped for the most part.
You can find Carole's letter here:
http://dogasu.bulbagarden.net/bashing/racist_jynx_01.html
Honestly, I'm in a place where racism is pretty active, and I fight it as much as I can, but when I look at something like this, a little character made innocently and taken entirely the wrong way, I can't help but shake my head. This was not racist, I'm sorry she took it that way and I'm sorry that she relived Little Black Sambo, but Jynx is not Little Black Sambo, Jynx is an icy goof-patrol.