TROUBL

1. *SB*

   The image on the shirt reminds me of the “homies” toys that my latini-friends used to collect back in the day. I dont know if you all have ever seen them but they are these small little plastic dolls that look like latino gangsters straight out of L.A- you used to be able to get them out of the candy/ toy dispensers for like 50 cents.They have men, women, clowns and even dogs all portrayed as the mexicans that you seen in “next friday”…Im not sure if the dolls are offensive or what…but they have defintely blown up- I guess because the Mexican Mafia is real and latinos can identify with it…

   Heres an example of the toys that i was referring to but they have a whole website dedicated to the concept….http://www.homiesworld.com/site/index.htm

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2. TROUBLMan

   SB

   I’ve seen em at the grocery store in the bubble gum machine. I was never a collector but I always thought they were dope Do the dolls offend you?

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3. A-Man

   I definitely think the dolls are offensive and im in no way latino. I think its a slippery slope when you allow stereo type to market product. Imagine if instead the dolls were called sambos, and it was lil black dolls circa the early 1900’s with bright red lips, and watermelons. Or do you honestly think the reception would be positive if they were called Honky’s or Krackers, and they depicted white people with red necks and overalls? i doubt it. stuff like this and minorities refusal to protest and detest these products are what have made minorities the largest consumer group in the US. Why does every mcdonalds commercial with a black guy feature someone breakdancing for fries, or rapping for bigmacs? and y is it that they only advertise the “healthy” options, i.e. salads and fruit cups with at least one or two white patrons in the ad? I not only find these commercials racially offensive, but i view them as a direct attack on my intelligence. I dont break dance or rap, and yet, from time to time, i may hit up the dollar menu and grab a double cheeseburger. I remember when i was in high school, a teacher of mine, white guy, had us watch a news report on a school in somewhere in the NW US. The school was located on an indian reservation and had attempted unsuccesfully to encourage many of the other area schools to change they’re names and mascot to something that wouldn’t demean or offend the native american community. when the predominantly white schools reject the notion the reservation school change their name to the fighting honkies or crackers, or something to that effect. The mascot was basically the lil leprechaun that Notre Dame uses, with beer bottles in his hand, drunk as hell. Needless to say there was an uproar in the white community over how anyone could be allowed to be so racially insensitive. Its a double standard in america, that the predominant culture is somehow allowed to oppress and demean, but should a minority culture do it (and its not comedy,…its all good, long as its jokes) the predominant group finds an issue. We need to see the subtle racism in marketing dolls affectionately named homies to latinos, and other minority groups that depict latinos as gang members. even if the dolls are made by latino’s i feel that it is a gross exploitation of there people’s culture and the conditions they’re forced live in in this country. but thats just my opinion.

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4. *SB*

   well…they kinda do…I just feel that there are many beautiful aspects to the latino culture- im not sure why they had to focus on that aspect. It could be another case of corporate america perpetuating hood/gangsta imagery so that they can exploit the youth who are drawn to that…they do the same thing with blks…but this isnt barbie this is homies…there something about these toys that latino’s especially mexican-american from the south west region can identify with which has caused it to grow. I think im just tired of minorities accepting *ish like this as cool- in this i believe it sends a message of a standard for appropriate latino demeanor and behavior…its not the attire or the makeup or whateva…its just that chulos (spanish for gangsta) dress like that…i dont think minority children need more *ish perpetuating that lifestyle all in their grill!

   I cant lie i had a few when I was young..I dont know one latino child that didnt but its the message that i disagree with- Im all for toys that imitate cultures in a positive light!

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5. J.

   I think we also have to consider who these “dolls” are marketed to. Last time I checked, grown people were not cruising the toystore ailes perusing the latest collection of dolls to add to their home decor. Dolls, and other toys, are designed for children’s use. Therefore, these toys, although advertised for adult amusement, will undoubtedly peak children’s interest. Among the many other demeaning images of minorities already out there for the taking, they will now have a tangible stereotypical image to internalize and adopt as their own identity right there in their toybox next to Barbie, the blonde idealized plastic American sweetheart, or GI Joe, this country’s rubber representation of U.S. defense.

   As a Latina, what’s sickening about all of this is that we, as adults, have internalized these images from the years of stereotyping and racist imagery. Some of us act them out, not knowing better, or even knowing better and refusing to do better. Others of us publicly vehemently deny these steretypes, yet privately believe them to be true. And still yet, others exploit them — capitolizing on their marketability while ignoring the consequences.

   Consistently, we march and we shout for change, yet we are giving ourselves more of the same. How can we ask others to give us the respect we cannot even show ourselves?

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6. Terry

   I’m with “A-Man” on this one. These toys are offensive, even if they have been made by a latino creator. Even if the entire company is latino, they are being sold in convenience stores across America in bubble gum machines. In other words, it is not just one culture indulging. At the same time, while they may be offensive, I am not against their sale. To me, this is no different from black people selling “gangsta” merchandise and propaganda in the form of clothing, music, and other entertainment forms. For the record, there is a severe difference between the music that the media labelled as gangsta rap and the non-sense that record execs then put on the Top 40 based on the copy cat formula. The difference comes in the meaning of the message. The bottom line is that while this may be the way that a minority of the people in a cultural community live, it’s one of the only forms of representation that the mainstream ever receives. So people naturally make associations that people in the target community will reject at large, but will make little impact because there is a toy, music or movie explaining to an outsider how “real” it really gets in the hood. If you are gonna sell it, take responsibility for it. Don’t just sit there with a dumb look on your face when somebody asks a legitimate question about whether your product is racist. The profit made by the individual is made at the expense of the community at large.

   There is no balance, such as what we see in white America. Whenever a nutcase on a killing spree or a parent whose killed their own child pops up in the news, they are immediately separated far from the norm. Alwayswrite just put up a post on standards. As has already been touched upon in “The Standard” comments, the winners write history. For example, what is now mass murder of civilians at the hands of the US military will in 20 years be a footnote in a history book about patriotism v terrorism. And by that point, no one will give a damn. But, I’ll tell you what, bring back those “Desert Storm” trading cards for our current situation abroad. I hear those are worth some money these days. I gots to get my paper.

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7. TROUBLMan

   If everyone thinks these toys are so offensive what about movies like “American Me” (it’s the one I mentioned in the post… click the text it’s a link). How many of you have ever seen “American Me?” It’s like the “Boys in the Hood” of the latin community. Personally, I think both are dope movies. And more than any toys they perpetuate stereotypes with the images and languages of these communities. So in a real sense, they have more impact than a toy. Still, I like both movies. Am I wrong?

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8. A-Man

   Actually i think you are wrong, while i’ve never seen american me, i have seen boys in the hood. I would disagree with anyone who said boys in the hood glorified the life they led. Ultimately, i feel vindication in boys in the hood is found when tre makes the decision to get out of the car in the end. It ends the cycle and shows his maturity and growth as a man from the beginning of the film. Furthermore, the lil readings of what happened to the characters after film ends further reiterated the whole violence only begets violence mantra as doughboy ends up dead only a few weeks later. these toys are purely sterotypical tools for exploting a group of ppl to make profit. It can be argued that boys in the hood was a movie, while meant to entertain, was definitely infused with a strong political message. Think back to the scene where lawrence fishburn tries to teach the boys about the accumulation of wealth…

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9. Terry

   I want to add that the offensive nature of merchandise holds major appeal as a selling point, especially when targetting a particular audience. It makes the corporate appear subversive. Taboos can make a product cool, sexy and desireable. Ironically, people use these illusions to define themselves, not just toys but all forms of media and representation. For example, look at barbie.

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10. TROUBLMan

    A-MAN

    I agree that it had a positive message, but it still sold a lot of stereotypes. From homeboy in the wheelchair to the plastic covering Doughboy and Ricky mama’s couch, the movie was filled with stereotypes.

    Info gathered from wikipedia.org:
    The toys were created by Latin artist, David Gonzales. Gonzales created a story for each of the Homies’ characters, each of which had a positive view of the characters after the LAPD argued that the figures glorified gang life. Some of them became former jailmates who went on to educate children about how to avoid jail.

    So please explain why these toys are offensive? They celebrate a real culture.

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11. RBT

    Im tired so Im not going to read this whole conversation but Im from Cali and I went to school with hella mexican we pronounce it messecan and so do they and these dolls are not offensive they are an accurate depiction of some of the types of people within their culture shit who wouldnt want a doll like them if anything so their kids have something to relate to refer to G.I. Bro’s. Stop being so sensitive and just because they dress like that does not mean there gang banger just as much as a black person who wears baggy jeans is a thug. And for anybody who hasnt seen American Me see that shit its one of the one’s, Menace to Society for Mexican

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