Websites That Satirize Racial Relations In The U.S.

If you have a pulse and exist in or near the liberal blogsophere, you have likely been told that the website Stuff White People Like is hilarious. I don't share the love for the site, but it might be useful to bring it up in class in order to have a discussion about WHY people like it so much. What, exactly, is it tapping into?

The website, Black People Love Us, is, in my opinion, a smarter satire.

And my personal favorite, which I have successfully used in my Race and Ethnicity course numerous times, is Damali Ayo's Rent-A-Negro. It packs a real punch. (Oh, and yes, people do sometimes think the site is real and fill out the order information, including their credit card numbers.)

Posted by Lisa Monday, March 3, 2008 at 5:27 PM Labels: , , ,  

3 comments:

  Anonymous

March 4, 2008 at 7:56 AM

I do find Stuff White People Like funny (at times), but primarily because I'm surrounded by the people it talks about every day. I'm not sure I would consider it a satire like the definitely funnier Black People Love Us. It is meant to be funny, I think, but more in a funny-because-it's-true observational humor kind of way. Stereotypical? Definitely. But out here in Seattle it's pretty much dead on.

  Gwen

March 4, 2008 at 4:46 PM

I like Black People Love Us, but there's an element of just making fun of OTHER people when I read it. I'm an educated sociologist; I don't do any of those things. So it's easy for me to laugh.

The thing about Stuff White People Like is that some of those things are ME. Not all, but some--or they're people I like and respect and hang out with. I don't know why that makes a difference to me, but I like that SWPL makes it impossible for me to just be laughing AT people/attitudes I can totally disengage from, because I'm implicated.

  Anonymous

March 4, 2008 at 7:25 PM

hey, i'm glad you’re into damali’s work! she has done a lot of different projects and you should definitely check out her website, http://damaliayo.com/ to see more of her work. videos, audio tracks, and event dates are also posted on her myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/damaliayocds

also, damali loves to visit schools and organizations; if you or someone you know might be interested in booking her for a presentation, exhibit, talk etc, just email info@damaliayo.com.

enjoy!

grant buckles,
assistant to damali ayo.

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