Overusing labels

[jmc_bks]

Lisa de Moraes in the WaPo TV chat today said that NBC would hold on to Undercovers for a bit longer, despite low ratings, because its main characters are African American and NBC wants to tout its multiculturalism.

While I understand what she means, in fact, only one of the leads is AA. The other is English.

It is fascinating & disturbing to observe the indiscriminate use of "African American" as a label.

Comments

[carrielofty.livejournal.com]

She was in Doctor Who, yes? If they wanted to be PC, they should've said actors of African descent. Americans generally don't know what to do when the terms stray outside of our borders :)

[jmc-bks.livejournal.com]

Yes, Dr. Who definitely, I'm not sure where else I've seen her.

[jperceval.livejournal.com]

Black, white, or purple, the show really is awful. Which is a shame, b/c both actors are wasted in those roles.

[jmc-bks.livejournal.com]

Ouch, really? I saw a preview and meant to watch the show but haven't seen it yet. The music they used in the commercial sold me, but then I just never got around to it.

[jperceval.livejournal.com]

It's fluffy, with no depth. And they used the word "sexpionage" several times in the premiere.

[sarahf.livejournal.com]

I've heard very well-educated people call Nelson Mandela African-American. They're just too afraid to be non-PC and say "black" even when the people are so obviously NOT American.

[jmc-bks.livejournal.com]

There's PC and there's just ridiculous. My black/AA friends are fairly split between the AA label, but they roll their eyes at this kind of thing, too.

[dogzzz2002.livejournal.com]

PC bites in the butt again.

I watched the first episode and liked the dialogue but because the couple is married there is no real spark of interest for me.

CindyS

[jmc-bks.livejournal.com]

That's a shame, because the idea of the show seemed kind of cool.