Jamaicans like the ad:

But what do Jamaicans know?  Some white Americans insist they know better:

https://twitter.com/AJGaraventa/status/298230054851334145

Maybe it is time for some people to dial down their racial-sensitivity meters a notch or two.

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Tags: adracistVWVW ad
  • Cozy Powell III

    Racist? No. Stupid? Yes.

  • Cozy Powell III

    Racist? No. Stupid? Yes.

    • waltermitty2012

      Emerson, Lake and Powell rocked!

  • http://twitter.com/Vanakatherock Vanakatherock

    I’m white and don’t think it was racist. Pointless to get upset over it. If anything, it was one of the worst commercials of the first half.

  • http://twitter.com/Vanakatherock Vanakatherock

    I’m white and don’t think it was racist. Pointless to get upset over it. If anything, it was one of the worst commercials of the first half.

  • HailtheRepublic

    I find it funny how it’s a bunch of white folks defining what is racist, and what is not. These people desperately need a life.

    • CatHerder

      Yes.

    • CatHerder

      Yes.

    • http://jaymans.wordpress.com/ JayMan

      Yup. Though I’m flattered that they got my back…

  • HailtheRepublic

    I find it funny how it’s a bunch of white folks defining what is racist, and what is not. These people desperately need a life.

  • http://twitter.com/who_me_too RadicalRebelWhoMeToo

    CHOOM.

  • http://twitter.com/who_me_too RadicalRebelWhoMeToo

    CHOOM.

  • Catchance

    Well, what can you expect from people who think the word ‘Chicago’ is racist?

  • Catchance

    Well, what can you expect from people who think the word ‘Chicago’ is racist?

  • takarickyraw

    Here’s the problem with your argument. You point to the fact that actual Jamaicans aren’t offended as proof that the ads aren’t racist. Your logic being that real Jamaicans have more authority than White Americans on the matter of what is and isn’t offensive to Jamaicans.

    However, if you use your logic and apply it to white people, I could turn around and say the following:

    White Americans believe the ads are racist. Jamaicans don’t. Since White Americans are the ones who made the ads and not Jamaicans, White American viewers probably have more insight than Jamaicans into when a fellow White American is doing something to be racist, since they have more experience with them and insight into their mindset.

    See how that works? Your train of logic easily works against your point just as well as it works for it.

    • cathouseumbrella

      How do you know white Americans made the ad?

      • takarickyraw

        Google. It wasn’t that hard. The ad was done by Deutsch LA. Besides, even if the ad wasn’t actually written and signed off on by a white American, most people would have ASSUMED it was probably the case, so that must be factored into their reactions.

        Again, I don’t think the ad is a big deal or heinously racist. I just think this article’s reasoning is suspect as it can work both ways.

        • cathouseumbrella

          So the answer is really that you DON’T know it was made by white Americans. The real answer of course is that an expensive ad like that was probably made by a fairly large team who no doubt weren’t entirely white and possibly weren’t entirely American.

          • takarickyraw

            First, the characters in question in the ad were primarily white and American. So even if the people creating the ad weren’t white and American, it is perceived as the view of white Americans. Hence why I mentioned that people would assume it to be the views of white Americans. The perception is often more important than the reality in discussing why people react the way they do. The ad presents a white, middle-class American world, so it’s natural that it is perceived as voicing a white, middle-class American viewpoint.

            Second, the ad agency was Deutsch LA, so it’s very likely that it would be primarily white Americans creating the ad if you know anything about the typical ad agency. Even if you didn’t know the specific ad agency, that would still be likely, especially for the Superbowl.

            Third, even without these assumptions, you can just use Google and find the team behind the ad for yourself. As you can see, it’s White Americans:
            http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/01/27/super-bowl-commercials-pressure-volkswagen-of-america/1836881/

            Just because you want to debate matters without doing simple research, please don’t assume I haven’t either.

          • takarickyraw
  • takarickyraw

    Here’s the problem with your argument. You point to the fact that actual Jamaicans aren’t offended as proof that the ads aren’t racist. Your logic being that real Jamaicans have more authority than White Americans on the matter of what is and isn’t offensive to Jamaicans.

    However, if you use your logic and apply it to white people, I could turn around and say the following:

    White Americans believe the ads are racist. Jamaicans don’t. Since White Americans are the ones who made the ads and not Jamaicans, White American viewers probably have more insight than Jamaicans into when a fellow White American is doing something to be racist, since they have more experience with them and insight into their mindset.

    See how that works? Your train of logic easily works against your point just as well as it works for it.

  • Jovel Johnson

    News flash…Jamaica does not only consist of black people. There are black, white, Asian, Indian Jamaicans and Jamaicans of Middle Eastern descent. Therefore, thoughts of the ad being racist show ignorance.

    • http://jaymans.wordpress.com/ JayMan

      True (like myself). It’s overwhelmingly Black though…

      • Jovel Johnson

        Yeah, it is.

  • Jovel Johnson

    News flash…Jamaica does not only consist of black people. There are black, white, Asian, Indian Jamaicans and Jamaicans of Middle Eastern descent. Therefore, thoughts of the ad being racist show ignorance.

  • Garth Haycock

    Poor little hypersensitive progressives. It must really suck being miserable all the time.

  • hillbillyprick

    I see nothing racist about it my self,, it is kinda strange to see a Minisota man talking with jamaican accent,,, but I still cant see the racism in it.

  • Joe W.

    White guilt run amok….

  • Bryant

    I think it’s much ado about nothing. I’m a white guy who’s knocked about the Caribbean over the years. I have actually met whites down there who talk that way! I think the ad is amusing. I can guarantee you this, though; if the ad had shown a black guy with a white Minnesotan’s accent, the proverbial excrement would have hit the fan.

  • Steve_J

    I rhink it’s just kind of dumb.

  • Natalie Beckford

    I am Jamaican and I don’t find it racist. Jamaicans are some of the most laid back people in the world. Point of the ad: Take a page our of our book and lighten up. Obviously libs missed it all together.

  • AdoEdem

    To be fair, a few seem to be mocking Mighty Whiteys’ freak-out. It’s almost as if they predicted pasty-faced hipsters were going to be offended for the sake of “proving” they aren’t racist.

  • http://twitter.com/thetugboatphil TugboatPhil

    When did Jamaicans become a separate “race?”

    As to the ad, it did nothing for me. I don’t want to go out and buy a VW, and I won’t feel cheated if I never see it again. Whatever happened to Fahrvergnügen?

  • NRPax

    I swear, Progressives will not be happy until everyone is equally miserable. I’ve visited Jamaica once and they seem far less worried about idiotic things like this than Americans.

  • peteee363

    i don’t think it was racist, but i am still considered a racist, just ask obama?

  • radicallyalyssa

    I am Italian, and I DEFINITELY don’t think it’s racist. #caring

  • Lola_at_Large

    I’m Midwestern white (which is really, really white) and I thought it was funny.

  • http://www.groovychristian.com/ Christopher Shaw

    I don’t think it’s racist and I’m at least 50 percent non-black.

  • arrow2010

    White liberals are the most uptight assholes in the world. They’re right next to North Koreans.

  • http://www.facebook.com/peter.boddie Peter Boddie

    The perfect response to those idiots who say that the VW ad w/ Jamaican accent is racist. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbFq3CyXqWc

  • RJ Thacker

    Whether one thinks it is “racist” or “not racist” is a premature inconclusive thought with no argument. Please discuss WHY you think it is racist or not. I would like to understand the thought process behind what stirs people about this.

    • takarickyraw

      Have you ever heard the term “magical negro?” You can google the term and find the Wikipedia page for it. I think most people’s complaint about the ad is that it’s a magical negro ad, except without the actual negro.

  • http://jaymans.wordpress.com/ JayMan

    Here’s what an actual proud Jamaican (me) thinks:

    Jamaican Super Bowl Ad « JayMan’s Blog

  • http://www.facebook.com/peter.boddie Peter Boddie

    The Pundit Pete Press Service weighs in on the controversial VW ad. It will make you laugh.

    http://www.punditpete.blogspot.com/2013/02/did-vw-air-racist-surper-bowl-ad.html

  • TeufelHünden

    This is the #CriticalPath thought: >> If #Caucasian Americans cede that the ad is SMART then#they would also cede a gr8 deal of artificial power. After all the only real hegemony in the USA is race/colour-based.

    Americans probably need their racism like Chris Rock needed crack in #NewJackCity. A great Jamaican and heir to the Bob Marley family crown once said: Don’t be In 2 deep! via > @EthnicAssets