9 classic films of the 80s who have been called for racism

These films were criticized for negative stereotypes and obsolete cultural representations.


In recent weeks of black life matters protests across the country haveInspired by major changes, Including, among other things, aThe more cultural esteem We consume on entertainment. Most of the movies we have grown with have been called for racism over the years, old Hollywood classics at a newer price. These critics are not new, but it seems that people pay attention to their way they do not have before. In this spirit, here are nine conventional 80s films that have been called for racist stereotypes and exceeded cultural representations. And for more films that are reconsidered, here is10 Disney Classics who were called for racism.

1
Sixteen candles

still from sixteen candles
Universal Pictures

John Hughes' Sixteen candles is considered a large number of movie hughes to be a "basic food of the 80s. But the character of Long Dong, played byWatanabe GEDDE, Has been identified as racist since the movie exit. As NPR noted in 2008, "in 1984,Sixteen candles Is out, some American asian organic groups decried long Dong as stereotyped, racist, and part of a long history of Hollywood ofOffensive representations of Asian men. »More recently, starsMolly Ringwald called the character of a "grotesque stereotype"In an articleThe New Yorker.

2
Short circuit

still from short circuit
Tristar Pictures

Fisher Stevens has an important role like Ben Jabituya inShort circuit, And he gave us a leading role in 1988 ofShort circuit 2Where has been changed for Ben Jahveri the name of the character. The two filmsUsed brownface makeup To make the Indian actor white look. He also speaks with a touched accent of Eastern Indies.

In 2015, Stevensexpressed his regrets on Brownface ThreadstoryUnited States today"I am an actor who needed a job and got a job and did my job. Looking back, oh my god. He should have been played by an Indian. And for the celebrities who have lost their work for their presumed behavior, check these6 celebrities who were fired after being accused of racism.

3
Indiana Jones and the cursed temple

still from indiana jones and the temple of doom
Paramount Pictures

The representation of Hindu cultureIndiana Jones and the cursed temple was considered imprecise enough to get the movieForbidden in India After his exit 1984. And the film has not aged well since. "The stereotypes created here are part of a depressing lineageIndian and Asian alterization of the East in pop culture, Which makes them insidious or unworthy or simply the object of mockery, "Kayleigh Donaldson written for Syfy thread in 2018.

4
The revenge of nerds

still from revenge of the nerds
20th century fox

The revenge of nerds faced a lot of criticism in recent decades, including charges ofMisogyny and homophobia. But the film has been called racist since it came out: the magazine 1984The Hollywood Reporter says that the movie is "filledextensive racial stereotypes, Which can offend some cinema lovers. " More recently,Jeremy Herbert Crooked Marquee denounced "thecasual racism that ravage the [The revenge of nerds] Series since it introduces a rotating door of Asian stereotypes ".

5
soul man

still from soul man
Entertainment image

soul man is not the only movie on this list to an actor darkening functionality artificially his skin, but it is the only one where it is the driving force behind the plot. The movie starsThomas Howell C. As a white man taking tan pills to pretend to be black and qualify for a black scholarship alone. The movie wassubject to protests By Naacp and others for its use of BlackFace when it was released in 1986.

In 2015, Howell saidThe Hollywood Reporter, "AWhite Man Pumping Blackface is taboo. OVER-You can not win the conversation. But our intentions were pure: we wanted to make a funny film that had a message on racism "and for movies made by black filmmakers you can watch now ,.These classic films by black directors are free of RIGHT NOW stream.

6
Annie

still from annie
Columbia Pictures

In the cinematographic adaptation of the 1982 musical comedyAnnie, Daddy Warbucks has a "mysterious, inexplicably mystical bodyguard" of the name of the Punjab, which is coded as Indian, but is played by the Trinidadian actorGEOFFREY HOLDER, which are notindian. AsAnna Leszkiewicz written for theNew StatesmanIn 2017, "[Punjab] does not speak, but often dance spontaneously, and may apparently do inanimate objects Leviter, the witness animals and the parts of the body of wounded fix. It's really anddeeply racist portrait. "

7
Adventures in Baby-Sitting

still from adventures in babysitting
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

The critics in 1987 did not interfere with what they saw as anti-black racism inAdventures in Baby-Sitting, In which a group of children children and their baby sitter, played byElisabeth Shue-Passe a wild night in downtown Chicago. TheLos Angeles Times Compiled reviews that spoke to the "paralyzing fear" of the black film, with a review that writes: "What does the film seem to be a simple,Vaguely racist theme: White children must stay in the warm and velvety belly of the suburbs. When they enter the city, they encounter terrors of all kinds, which come mainly from a dimensional [black characters]. "

AndAdventures in childcare Only collected decades more reviews later. In 2015,The Guardian Included on their list of "the worst of"80s film racismAnd for more things that you might have realized to have racist connotations, discover7 common sentences that you did not know how to have racist origins.

8
The toy

still from the toy
Photos of Columbia

InThe toy,Richard Pryor Play Jack Brown, a black man who is hired by a spoiled white child named Eric Bates to be his staff "toy". It is this plot that landed the film in the top 10 ofComplex"S"50 most racist movies. "" Do not have a Buff of History to draw the uncomfortable parallels between the 1982 comedy in 1982The toyAnd the practice of our nation practiced from slavery, writes the magazine.

On a similar list ofracist films,Internal business community.Keertana Sastry wrote: "This film was trying to show that a friend is won by showing respect, not being bought. But many believed that the role of Pryor was modern slavery and the degradation of all charges."

9
Karate kid

still from the karate kid
Photos of Columbia

AsSonia Saiaya written in a 2019Vanity fair Article, many American Asians have a complicated relationship withKarate kidMr. Miyagi, played by the endPat Morita. Although the character is beloved and won Morita a proposal from Oscar, some feel Mr. Miyagi strengthened and perpetuated stereotypes. Saraiya talked to the bloggerJon Avg, who condemned the Japanese accent affected by Morita. "That's why people felt at easeAdopt racist accents In order to make fun of us, "he said. And for more information up to date,Sign up for our daily newsletter.


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