Blog # 5

What has changed since the last five plays were written? Do African-Americans still face racism in the military or on the job? Are African-American’s still treated with disdain when they speak Black English? What about the search for identity that Bibi faced in “Letters”? Are there persons of color who face similar challenges today? If so, who are they?

When asked the question what has changed since the last five plays were written, I would have to respond quite simply that a lot has changed. These plays were written on times on the early to mid part of the century, and since then the way that we look at racism, stereotypes, and other types of grouping minorities has changed hopefully to a newer world. With new laws put in place and a full generation has passed since people were accustomed to the “old” ways of treating people, I feel we are on the right tract of treating people more fairly.

I would also have to take a stab that African Americans are treated more fairly in the military. Not coming from a military background, but have watched movies and here what it might be like to go through the training, I would have to say that at this point in time any African American would be treated the same as any white. Don’t get me wrong, I am sure somewhere there is always going to still is a little racism towards someone out there and that there are exceptions to the rules, but in general my way of thinking should hold true. I would hopefully not venture to see that things will turn around and change as they were pressed to do in the end of the play Black Eagles, where the Black Eagles were being asked to sign a document indicating that they would be treated separately that the white officers; even after the white officers stood up for them and were happy to be rooming with the black officers and celebrating their victories over the Jerries. Today I would also believe that there are several superior officers in the military that are of the African American race indicating that we have officially become non-segregated. The military in my opinion was one of the leading ways to have the nation follow us in desegregating ourselves by the implementation by Harry Truman to desegregate the military.

In regards to how African Americans speak Black English, I would have to say that it is still around today if not more than the past. The play Spunk at least reminds me of this. In today’s society we I see blacks using a different type of English when I turn on the television or listen to music. Again, it portrays back to stereotypes and how things are viewed at differently, but when you see it consistently, it becomes engrained in your mind that it is the natural way they speak. Sure the way African Americans speak Black English has changed to a greater way than historically thought of.

In Letters to a Student Revolutionary, Bibi seeks out her own self identity. She is different from Karen and does not act as a typical Chinese stereotyped child would. Even though Bibi often breaks these Chinese stereotypes, I can interpret that she was trying to fit into the American culture in a different way than others would. The play was unusual by using the Chorus and the wolf and cat imagery that was more apparent in China. Coming from a traditional past in China and having some of these kinds of symbols to distinguish themselves and now have the same types of symbols in the United States must be difficult. I would say with immigration being as high is it today, that anyone growing up in the US from a different country could relate to this story at least slightly in that everyone confronts changes to a different society.

These challenges that people of color are going through is evident today just as it was three quarters of a century ago. It may not be as evident, because the time period of change has past. Look at our present President that is one of the finest examples of how people of color are changing for the better. He has his challenges, but they are definitely different than they once were. Martin Luther King Jr. wanted to bring everyone together, and it happened. Now our president is not only trying to bring everyone together, but bring everything together associated with everyone together as well. This statement may sound confusing, but people’s changes of color are different today. Indians are trying to reclaim their lost land. For people on a general society level, there is still some racism out there; it is just not as publically accepted though. Not the people of color themselves are changing and if so are maybe becoming more self secured than before, but the perception of the public and their ability to accept differences that can enhance our society. The answer is yes that people of color are presented with challenges today, but they may not be the same types of challenges.

Blog # 4

Choose any one of the four plays you have read in Week Two and describe a new understanding that you reached after reading the play about racism in our country and its origins.

From our second week’s readings, I have found each of the plays to teach me a little bit about our American history that I did not know. I often found myself thinking that this was a history book and not plays that I was reading about. With many of the plays taking place only miles from me, such as Pow Wow; or, The Great Victory, I found it interesting of how much I didn’t know. Looking at the other stories though, I wanted to talk about 12-1-A, a national event that took place further than my home, but yet is very relevant in our Nations past.

The history of Japanese people during the outbreak of World War 2 at Pearl Harbor was taught to me at one time, but not to the same effect that 12-1-A was able to bring it to me as. Starting with the Japanese Immigration, most of Japanese people seemed to have lived on the west coast. They had their different generations of the issei, nisei, and the sansei of how they were interpreted as belonging to an American status. It was not until the event of Pearl Harbor that these people really were starting to be looked at differently.

Immediately upon the bombing of Pearl Harbor, camps were set up for all Japanese American people. Everyone was forced to sell their belongings and go to these camps. How harsh this must have been on them, living ordinary lives and all of a sudden have to sell everything or pretty much give it up because even money meant nothing in their hands. It reminded me of them going on to the concentration camps across the ocean, no power what so ever, even though they were part of America. The rooms were small and they were surrounded by guards with limited sanitary facilities and luxuries. Wakako Yamauchi painted the picture in the set that all you had with you were pretty much a few pairs of clothes and prized belongings. Your family was dying and you did not know what the future was to turn out to be, these were terrible circumstances.

The worst part of the play seemed to be these surveys they filled out; it was a death trap no matter which way they answered. Once they reached a certain part of the survey, they needed to answer that they were either going to say they were loyal to America and would be willing to fight in the front lines of the war, or you would answer no and be sent to an even worse prisoner camp and risk being separated from the family. Even in an American government controlled facility at this time, people seemed to have their rights taken away and could not stand up for themselves, primarily because of their race and were associated with the people that started the attacks on us at Pearl Harbor. The nation probably looked at it as an act of national security, but regardless, I would not want to picture ourselves in the same predicament if some white Englishmen bombed us, would we all be put in camps to protect the nation because we could have affiliations with the attackers.

Racism has evolved from those times. Now, at least I would hope that we treat people on a more personal basis and don’t condemn everyone. You did not see us starting up prisoner camps for any Middle Eastern People when the world trade towers were hit. The author tried to recreate a piece of history to reflect on the hardship that his people went through. They have the same emotions as we do, but were not necessarily treated with the same respect and dignity and have the same rights as any other Americans. It goes back to what I have said in other blogs, everyone can be an exception to the rule. You do not have to fit your stereotype and everyone should be treated fairly.

After finishing the chapter 12-1-A, I thought; how many other people in our country do not know about these historic events as we now do. I would encourage anyone to pick up these plays and read them to learn our nations past and how racism was dictated to present day and how other races are just as human as white people.

Blog # 3

What does it mean to be a racist? If we laugh at a racist joke are we racists? What is the connection between racism and the act of discrimination?

When confronted with the question, what does it mean to be a racist; many people may feel kind of hesitant to respond. You know that the word does not necessarily reflect well when used, and if you go about describing without careful words, you may offend somebody. My perspective of being a racist is and individual, or a group with a common mindset that looks at another person that belongs to a group of people as being so wrong intended or different that they are inferior to what you believe in. This is by far not a textbook definition, but can maybe be clarified slightly. When I stated that “a person that belongs to a group of people,” it could be a race such a negro, Indian, Japanese, ect, or it could be a group of people that belong to a stereotype. I did not want to use the word different before “a group of people…” because you might belong to the same group that you are stereotyping. It may not be as common to be racist towards your group, but you may look at others and say that they are wrong.

The question of when it is ok to laugh at a racist joke reminds me a lot of our second blog, when it ok to laugh at jokes portrayed at different stereotypes and ethnicities. I feel the same in regards to the last response. It greatly depends on the context in which the joke is given. If you are with a group of your friends and you get off topic and a joke like this a rises, then it may be ok, but I would never go up to a stranger and say a racist joke to them. In plays, or even when told a joke, I may find it funny in that it is suppose to represent a broad stereotype of that group of people, but I will never take it to heart. From our text when talking about Indians, the playwrights state in the style portion that “Audience members are constantly reminded that they are watching a performance and are never expected to accept what is taking place in front of them as real.” This is supporting evidence that the playwrights feel the same about their plays. They are not trying to pick fun at a race, but are instead trying to break the ice and to make fun of stereotypes of people of a race.

The final portion of the question addresses the difference between racism and the act of discrimination. I feel that the difference almost speaks for itself. Anybody may be a racist in one way or another. You may not admit it, but in your head you may have some negative thoughts that pertain to a race or group of people and find yourself saying, “Hey, I shouldn’t be thinking of these people like this,” but this does not necessarily mean you are a racist. On the other hand, the act of discrimination is where I believe you are more defined as a racist. When you are freely willing to speak or act out on your feelings and discriminate against another group of people, you have way more feelings wound up inside of you that you are not able to keep them in. When feel that you have to express these thoughts and are inconsiderate of how other people, you cross the line of being a racist by acting upon and discriminating against people.

Blog #2

The playwrights in the first four plays have appropriated stereotypes created by others for themselves and then used humor to diminish the sting of the stereotypes. So, what is the role of people who are not in or of a particular culture or ethnicity when it comes to humor? When is it “ok” to laugh?

Humor portrayed in different means and dealing with cultures, race, or ethnicities can be a touchy subject when dealing with stereotypes. I would have to say it depends on the environment that the humor is being exhibited in to determine what is socially acceptable and when it is best to laugh or not to laugh at stereotypic jokes. Depending upon the individual, each person is going to respond differently to jokes made concerning these group of human beings. What most important is that the person creating the joke recognizes his or her audience and that they will not be offended. If the person doing the jokes does not know the audience or individual, it is best to keep quiet. On the other hand if you are on the receiving end of the punt and are with a mixed group of peers, I would respond in a modest way to not elevate and reactions being exhibited or not laugh at all. The people you know best are your friends and they are the ones that would understand your humor, but don’t go up to someone you don’t know and try to do a stereotype icebreaker, because it might set you off on the wrong foot. Good stereotypic humor can be seen in many ways indicating that great thought was put into the plays that were written by their playwrights.

The Day of Abscense ward portrayed white and black stereotypes to exhibit the relationship that we have together in a different way than people would normally see it. When playwrights can exaggerate or take something out of context, it gives it an entire different way at looking at something, and gives you reason to laugh at it. Think of an example of yourself that you may have done something dumb and other people laughed, but then you go back and look at it later and laugh along with people too. Sometimes it just takes time to realize how similar or different people are.

In Los Vendidos, the actors portrayed a few different stereotypes that could be related to. Whether it be the no good for nothing Mexican worker, or the city slacker gang busting Mexican, they all were able to exaggerate the “everyday” stereotype of the people into something that could be made into a quick skit that people wanted to see. Whether this is right or wrong depends on the viewer, but as long as you look at it in  a way that everyone has the ability to do whatever they want with their lives (do something outside of their stereotype) and be happy with themselves, then they shouldn’t let stereotypes bother them.

In the satire Winnetou’s Snake Oil Show from Wigwam City, the playwright designed it to portray the stereotypes of Indians and how when all put together, that they still would not make a true Indian out of a white man. They wanted all people, both white, Indian, latino, Mexican and more to laugh at the nonsense that people have fallen into by believing in this snake oil. Like in the example when Ethel said she had hemorrhoids and then the princess gave her snake oil. Just like that it was cured. The people in the audience new otherwise, and the actors were able to build on it throughout the play to prove that Indians were more than what the common man though of them with their stereotypes.

In the last of the four satires, Yankee Dawg You Die exhibits what the average actor has to do on a daily or yearly routine, but again exaggerates it to the point that is funny. With scenes that have vulgar language, and stereotypes towards other races, it emphasizes what the actors are up for competing against. Without clear notation of why they get the role they do, or why they might not get a role, it is a constant guess game of how to improve themselves against their counter parts. The use of humor and exaggeration again are utilized, and I believe the audience viewer has to look past the fact that they themselves could fit into one of the stereotypes portrayed.

Stereotypes and humor are portrayed in several plays, satires, and musicals, and I believe that as long as the viewer does not take it as a self addressed comment if they fit the stereotype, then they should be alright. Everyone has the ability to change how they are viewed and just because someone might judge you, does not mean that you can’t prove them wrong later.

Blog Topic #1

How have the stereotypes of people of color, created and perpetuated by the mainstream theatre and media, impacted our society as a whole?  

Stereotypes of people of color have changed our society over the years. Stereotypes, or the making fun of another individual or group which is different is as evident today as it was a few centuries ago. Our book Playwrights of Color states that starting back in 1766 with The Padlock, satires have been developed to exaggerate our everyday activities to reflect our humorous selves. Back at these times, it was a new way of looking at the changing society and gives an uplifting cheer in the hard times. The skits moved from town to town and were the big hits of entertainment at the time, but now times have changed. There are numerous forms of entertainment that people are drawn to, but the use of typical stereotypes is still seen today. Even though I do not enjoy the shows that are on television and making fun of today’s society like the Jay Leno Show, Saturday Night Live and more, Satires are still used. These shows still use typical stereotypes and poke fun at different ethnicities, cultures and races just as The Minstrel Show was a century ago.

As stereotypes are continued to be ridiculed in some of these sought after modern day shows, I perceive it to be a slowly fading concept of entertainment. Just look over the years of how it has changed. In the Day of Absence, colors for the set and actors were to be bright red, blue and white to help represent patriotism from the south when in reality; a lot of racism is being exhibited. This is ok to try to perceive something that is not entirely true to capture the audience’s attention in a different way, but it kind of reminds me of what The Minstrel Show did; blew the characters out of proportion with cover up to the degree that they looked like caricatures. Their faces remind me of clowns, which I do believe is a more of a thing of the past luckily in our modern shows.

Why are stereotypes of people changing? There are several reasons. For starters I believe that with more rules and regulations, people of today’s society are growing up realizing that everyone is equal, or else there are penalties (laws, violations, ect). At the beginning of the century black people were not created equal as they are supposed to be today. The same has evolved with women over the years. As societies forget the past of how it once was, we will progress with today’s society as being a standard to change. If people don’t learn from the start about what racism is in an everyday setting, then they won’t practice if it is history. This reminds me of a common situation in one of the organizations I am in. When you joined the club, you were told that if you don’t meet certain requirements and be active, that you would be brought up to be kicked out. As a new member when the first round of voting came to kick some inactive members out, they did not receive enough votes to get kicked out. This continued the next voting session or two, and soon you realized that if you were not active, you may be brought up to be kicked out, but the likelihood of you actually getting kicked out is pretty much null. Overtime you learn to accept this as being the norm at that it is accepted throughout the club which is kind of like how things are accepted throughout a society. Stereotypes are viewed differently from one culture to the next, but it all comes back to you because you are part of this in a larger culture.

Looking around, I see can constantly find people that are exceptions to stereotypes, ex. Smart blonds, good women drivers, tall guys that are bad at basketball ect. With the technology available to us to be anywhere in the world within a day, or have access to anywhere in seconds, there are no real secrets out there and all the unexpected should be expected. The differences in stereotypes just as amusing as they once were when you were confined to your ideas in your individual culture growing up decades ago.