JUST CURIOUS: Can Furniture Be Racist?
Unlike the commercial for “Jones’ Good Ass BBQ & Foot Massage”, THIS commercial is, indeed, real. And for all those people out there thinking I’m just crying wolf all the time, the makers of this ad actually ACKNOWLEDGE the curiously racist, rather, racialized, images they portray. The following was included in the description of this video on their YouTube page:
To address the controversy around this video: We knew this video was going to be controversial. Anytime race is discussed in any capacity, controversy ensues. The racial reconciliation concept was a joint effort between the Red House staff and us. They pointed out the fact that their employees and customer base were like the “Rainbow Coalition”, and we thought something with a comical racial reconciliation theme would be fun, as well as a conversation starter.
For those of you who think this video is racist, we’d like you to distinguish between “racist” and “racial”. Racism is “hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.” Racial is “of, relating to, or based on a race”. This video is very obviously racial as opposed to racist. This video doesn’t promote or feature hatred or intolerance. Rather, it’s the very opposite. This commercial promotes inclusion and reconciliation, if not in a comical way. To point out the obvious, the irony in this video is that it’s completely ridiculous for people to relate furniture to their race. People of all colors are welcome at the Red House, which is something that is taken for granted today, but there was a time in the not-so-recent past during which things as simple as a water fountain were NOT for everyone.
Discussing race in the US is taboo. It always makes people feel uncomfortable. We think it’s a shame that someone saying “I’m white” or “I’m black” creates such a stir. There are real cultural identities within different people groups, and these things should be celebrated and embraced, not swept under the rug.
This video is an attempt to use humor to spark a discussion about race issues, because we still have a long way to go.
Is that a sufficient explanation? What do YOU think? Let me know in the comments!
STILL CURIOUS? Check more out here:
Famous Gay African-Americans
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jingles425-8-2009 10:38 am
« Previous 1 ... 4 5 6That’s funny! And cute. Not racists. Racial…yes. It showing that all people can get along. I give them a “thumbs up!”
Im buying some furniture at the red house lol
The only thing offensive here is the bad acting.
Aside from that…
a good commercial all around
um I would have to say its a really stupid. Does it matter what race you are? We are all human race.
Ever wonder why so many black people see racism in everything non-blacks do? Be cause so many of us DON’T know what “racism” means. The author of this very article doesn’t even know, she said;
“Racism is “hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.”
This is from Websters:
Main Entry:
rac·ism \ˈrā-ˌsi-zəm also -ˌshi-\
Function: noun
1 : a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.
If we can’t define it, how do we fight it?
i think they are a lot more comfortable with themselves more than the rest of society is. i mean it is in north carolina, race is part of their everyday life.
I thought this was the best furniture commercial I have ever seen…. I want a couch from there that is fit for a black person…………or a white person………..and a latino
Its a commercial reaching out to the poor people in that community. Race and racism is a promary issue in poor communities around the U.S. I actually think it was genius to flip that into a marketing tool. It wasn’t executed in the best manner. But it was still a good idea to face it head on.
I wouldn’t say it racist, silly stupid uncalled for, bad, but not racist.
Some of those whites are hesitant though, check out the guy on the bed, the long pause before he says “and black people”…lol. All the whites seem a bit awkward to blacks, maybe I’m reaching and reading to much into it but that what I saw.
if anyone thinks this really allful commercial is racist i have to say your reaching for something thats not there, yes i’m blk and i just think this commercial is stupid. would i spend money at the store? sure if they have good deals so please stop looking for a problem thats not there.
This video is funny. I gonna forward this.
Nothing even remotely racist about it. Its silly but funny.
Boring commercial…
For those of you who think this video is racist, we’d like you to distinguish between “racist” and “racial”. Racism is “hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.” Racial is “of, relating to, or based on a race”. This video is very obviously racial as opposed to racist. This video doesn’t promote or feature hatred or intolerance. Rather, it’s the very opposite. This commercial promotes inclusion and reconciliation, if not in a comical way. To point out the obvious, the irony in this video is that it’s completely ridiculous for people to relate furniture to their race. People of all colors are welcome at the Red House, which is something that is taken for granted today, but there was a time in the not-so-recent past during which things as simple as a water fountain were NOT for everyone.
p.s.GOD,CAN U FOLKS EVER RECOGNIZE SATIRE AND SARCASM?
This is intentionally cheesy.It’s called “college humor”.It’s supposed to be”retarded”.lol
“hi, I’m Gary and I like to fill peoples rusty holes.”?
How could u not love that?LMAO,Hi-larious!
From the moment the fat black guy uttered the ancient plea “Can’t…we all…just..get..a-long?” off the poorly read teleprompter, I was lmao.
This has the making of a scene for a great Seth Rogen movie or the tv show “Hi, My Name is Earl”.hehe
RACIST DEPENDS WHO HOW YOU LOOK AT IT;I FIND TO BE A 1000% JUNK!!!!
This is the most dummiest commercial I have ever seen! Those black and white people should feel stupid too! LOL