Australian Soft News Panel discusses 'Racist' KFC Commercial

TRY READING THIS BEFORE POSTING.
A lot of people are having trouble understanding the objections to the assertion that the advertisement is racist, so i'll explain it slowly;

- American culture doesnt equate to world culture.
- The connection of African-Americans with chicken is a product of American history.
- There is no inherent connection between black people and chicken.
- Therefore in much of the world theres nothing more racist about giving a black person chicken than giving them pizza, a hamburger, or anything else.
- The people in the ad are West Indian, not African-American, nor are they all black.
- The people in the ad are West Indian cricket fans, the West Indian cricket team are touring Australia.
- KFC is a major sponsor of the cricket.
- KFC sells fried chicken, their ads involve fried chicken.
- The advertisement is only one in a series in which the Australian cricket fan uses KFC to improve his cricket experience, whether by distracting people/shutting them up, or in this case relieving the tension of being placed in the wrong stands.
- Other ads in the series involve white people.

In America a culturally specific racial stereotype exists, but the ad was screened in a different cultural context. This does not mean that Australians just dont realize that it is racist, it means that it is not racist at all, and asserting that it is just means that you cannot separate yourself from the racial stereotypes of your own culture. It also means that youre looking at the characters first as blacks rather than West Indians, or more specifically West Indian cricket fans, which is the obvious reading in its proper context.

- Should Australian advertisers change their productions on the assumption that other cultures will misinterpret them?
- Should KFC have apologized and withdrawn the ad due to misinterpretation of its context by some American commentators?
- Did The Young Turks blog and video follow-ups demonstrate better understanding of the commercial then the original video?

Note: Nationalistic chauvinism and racism may be moderated.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Australia
• West Indies
• West Indian
• America
• United States
• USA
• African American
• Young Turks
• TYT
• racism
• racist
• stereotype
• fried chicken
• KFC
• culture
• cultural codes
• misinterpretation
• prejudice
• aussie
• cricket
• presumption

[BohemianLeaves]

Okay what I found racist was that he was stuck in 'an awkward situation' do coloured people say that when they're surrounded by whites? Not really.... So why does he say that

[nonameisacat]

@BohemianLeaves Because he was in the OPPOSING CRICKET TEAMS SUPPORTERS STAND. How do so many people need it all fucking spelled out for them.

[nonameisacat]

@BLACKADEE1 That's not how it works.

[EmpFaith0101]

I don't think this add was meant to be taken as racist at all, here in Australia we don't have that stereotype that fried chicken is primarily eaten by black people.

[FallinInLoveEveryDay]

@Roxy4217 Americans don't have a problem with blacks and whites being friendly and enjoying each others company. We have a problem with stereotypes. When I see that ad I see a white person who is uncomfortable, surrounded by a bunch of black people who are dancing. The white person gives the black people chicken and suddenly they start to calm down.

[AussieOddball]

Did anybody ask the West Indian People if they thought it was offensive probably not because people who blindly call things racist never bother to actually ask a member of the group that is supposedly being offended they just come to their own conclusions. What I find really ironic is that the people who call this racist are assuming that every black person is the same, the stereotype only really applies to African American people these people are West Indian and they can't tell the difference

[Roxy4217]

Whats more worring than the ignorance that over spills our Australian shores by this American influence that these shallow ideas of miss conseption bassed on ignorance has made it too prime time T.V. At the end of the day there is a reason wy Gerorge Negus left is because he could not deal with reporting on stupid pointless events. Seriously 

[Roxy4217]

This add confuses Americans becuase they see black and whites enjoying each others company. This for them is not allowed and there for has to be miss interpruted and rdiculed on the bases of ignorance. 

[SecularZone]

Love it! This ad needs to run in the US.

[GabrielJChenoweth]

@0s0e0a0n0100 You are wrong about us. The fact that you make this generalization about us is sad. The world always judges us (incorrectly) based on the actions of our government, media, and big companies... and our 10 to 16 year olds trolling on the internet. What most of you fail to realize is that most of us have nothing to do with them and hate all of them. I don't have any generalizations of you. Even though our tv and online media would have us believe you're all uneducated alcoholics.

[0s0e0a0n0100]

@GabrielJChenoweth america always has a cry if someone is offended. WOW HOLYSHIT fucking get over it mate, you guys are pathetic saying ''oh you called him black that is racist'' and stuff like that. aussies are chilled as fuck and no one really gives 2 fucks. and yes we treated abos like shit but they got over it because they are probably more civilised than blacks in america. learn to live with other nationalities and not kiss their ass

[GabrielJChenoweth]

@0s0e0a0n0100 Well normally America wouldn't give a damn. You must remember that this is an American company and that most of the Americans that saw the comercial didn't know it was for Australia. Here in the USA that ad is offensive because it fits a stereo type and people over here get offended. That's why the company pulled the ad. Not because we actually care about your television. Get real. And by the way, most Americans are NOT rednecks. Such an ignorant thing to say.