Is this a specific "character" associated with the chain? Like if the name is Pablos and has a picture of a dude on it, is this the same "character" or is it just a random guy in a sombrero?
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Is this a specific "character" associated with the chain? Like if the name is Pablos and has a picture of a dude on it, is this the same "character" or is it just a random guy in a sombrero?
Is this a specific "character" associated with the chain? Like if the name is Pablos and has a picture of a dude on it, is this the same "character" or is it just a random guy in a sombrero?
I am genuinely trying to understand this better, would the reaction be the same if it was a Scottish place with a guy in a kilt, a Peruvian restraunt with someone in traditional clothes, ect? It is because it is the stereotypical man in a poncho and sombrero?
I am genuinely trying to understand this better, would the reaction be the same if it was a Scottish place with a guy in a kilt, a Peruvian restraunt with someone in traditional clothes, ect? It is because it is the stereotypical man in a poncho and sombrero?
Basically, yes, exactly. A generic Mexican/Asian/Native American/whatever ethnicity or culture is offensive. If it's a specific historic person or recognizable character like Pancho Diaz, Mulan, or Sacagawea, then it's okay. Stereotyping a whole genre of people for laughs or economic gain is not okay.
Ok I'm not saying this was not racist, but if the owner of an ethnic restaurant wanted to have someone of that ethnicity stand outside passing out menus in traditional clothes I don't see what is wrong with that. I totally understand in this case it might not be that case, but the general description of it doesn't sound like a problem to me.
Okay, if he is wearing traditional dress from HIS OWN culture, then it's not racist. Not all Hispanics are Mexican, and the picture posted doesn't look exactly "traditional" to me (though it's not exactly what the guy was wearing), so I guess in this case it's ambiguous.
Post by hopenotlost on Dec 18, 2014 8:48:04 GMT -5
I wouldn't even blink if I saw this. I've been to Irish pubs and there are employees dressed in kilts and such, and they aren't Irish. I don't see this as any different.
Post by emilyinchile on Dec 18, 2014 9:05:36 GMT -5
Technically, yes, it's almost certainly racist.
But we can't know for sure if he's just a Mexican man who likes his poncho and wears it every day. And either way, although I am very much in favor of speaking up against the small injustices because they're what add up to make an overall mindset of racism/sexism/homophobia/etc, this is honestly too small even for me to get too excited about.
Yeah, this is entirely where I'm at. Since the OP even said the man appeared to be Hispanic, I can't get riled up over this. If he is in fact Hispanic, then by all means he's allowed to wear his cultural dress whether he's selling tacos on a street corner or serving as part of a wedding procession or hanging out in his own house.
I thought it was racist to appropriate another culture's dress / attire, but if the guy actually IS Hispanic, I don't see how wearing that clothing can be racist. You may not like him outside of the taco truck and assume he is wearing it just for a gimmick there, but if that's his traditional or native clothing and he's not appropriating anyone, I can't get concerned about this. Now, if you had some white Brooklyn hipster out there wearing that attire to try to shill tacos, or wearing it as a Halloween costume, that would be different entirely in my eyes.
You do realize that not all Hispanics dress alike or have a (ie singular) "cultural dress"?
What is offensive to me is that he is dressed up to be a caricature of how people think men of mexican descent look.
Yes, a serape and sombrero are traditional garb. But, it probably isn't going to be worn outside a fucking taco shop. Had he instead had some folkloric dancers, who had a reason to be dressed in costume, I think this would have gone better.
What is offensive to me is that he is dressed up to be a caricature of how people think men of mexican descent look.
Yes, a serape and sombrero are traditional garb. But, it probably isn't going to be worn outside a fucking taco shop. Had he instead had some folkloric dancers, who had a reason to be dressed in costume, I think this would have gone better.
Don't you mean all Hispanic descent? I'm sure Cubans dress like that, too.
We were talking about a mexican man caricature outside a taco shop so that's what I addressed in my post. But, sure.
Eta: I don't get offended when non-Asians use chopsticks to eat Asian food so therefore it is not racist to me.
The chopsticks analogy doesn't work. A more appropriate analogy would be having a woman dressed as a geisha outside of a sushi restaurant. Chopsticks are legitimate eating utensils. A person dressed as a stereotypical cultural caricature is offensive.
Eta: I don't get offended when non-Asians use chopsticks to eat Asian food so therefore it is not racist to me.
Chopsticks aren't a symbol of racism. They're a cultural eating tool.
A person dressed as a blatant stereotype is racist. Full stop.
The bolded is such a damn mess I can't even begin. That mindset is completely dismissive and dangerous. Such small thoughts from a small mind that might have big consequences to those who are different than you.
But hey, no big deal right?
I'm not sure what you're saying here. Then again I had no sleep last night so what I said might not make sense either so whatever. But I think race is only a problem because people make it a problem. And eating with chopsticks is part of a culture just like dressing up to "represent" a culture, they're not just a tool.
If you call this racist than anyone eating with chopsticks is racist.