Loca Lingo Multicultural

Interesting 6 episodes reality show called “Black.White.” - January 2006 (USA), on FX Channel (pictures ; FX credits). Take 2 different families (a “black” and a “caucasian” one) from different sides of the country (Atlanta and California), “swap their skins” and put them together in the same house, in the Greater Los Angeles area, and see how they experience it. Hollywood Studio being nearby and helping them “trading their race“.

The goal for the producers was of course a great show (trailer), and make it as popular as possible,… the scientific seriousness and riguour is therefore clearly “put aside”. It could only give out clues about this “inter-racial” relationship and existing “racism” in the US (is it just about a bunch of drunken cops beating all non-whites they meet? Or is it more subtle?).

I believe the best clues would be through the (indirect) press reaction concerning this show (the way it goes would be a quite good indicator concerning this mutual perception). Hereunder are therefore bits of articles from USAmerican critics (methodology : Google.com, ” intitle :”Black. White” reality tv show “, I picked up the first results and published bits that could show some cross-cultural traits).

” And yet, as if looking for license to feel more comfortable with whatever his prejudices are, he (the white turned in black) is also on a mission to prove that white racism does not exist. Unsurprisingly, he decides that he doesn’t discover much of it in the four episodes I screened, not even finding anything peculiar about the all-white bar where, it seemed, he needed to produce a credit card to get a cup of coffee.” Troy Pattersonwww.slate.com

” While the children are getting along pretty well, two episodes in, Renee and Carmen are locked in a sort of prolonged stare-down, mostly over Carmen’s calling Renee (get ready to wince) a bitch, mistakenly thinking that it was a term of endearment among black women.”

The most interesting and enlightening part of “Black. White.” might be its exploration of what you could call the Perception Gap. Meanwhile, Brian keeps taking Bruno (made up in black) on forays into the city to show him the subtle racism black men experience in the white world. The problem is, Bruno can’t see it — a fact that all but infuriates Brian. (…) Later, at a clothing store, a clerk approaches and asks if he can help. What Brian sees as surveillance, Bruno sees as helpfulness — just a salesman looking to make his commission.David Koon Arkansas Time

” In addition, he said, “A handful of black people got an opportunity to dispel some of the stereotypes they had of whites. Because oftentimes, we as blacks only look at the world from our perspective, [so] we’re unable to truly appreciate white people. Just as not every black person is the same, not every white person is the same. They are as complex as we are. And we at the Mecca have historically fought racism, and there is no reason why the legacy shouldn’t be more prominent.” Joy Young Black College Wire