The song's message is being white is being nerdy... ie: whites are intellectuals vs the blacks in the video that are anti-intellectuals...

Isn't this just racism? How is this funny?

On one level maybe it is making fun of whites... on another level it is putting down blacks...

Definitely not funny. Whether or not it's racist is another matter.

NDRU said:

The problem with the stereotype of white = nerdy, black = cool... it is indirectly saying that whites are smarter than blacks...

All the imagery in the video depicts that... the white nerdy guy studies java programming, understands Schrodinger's equation... so is the video's message that blacks don't do the same things or aren't as capable of doing those same things?

I'm surprised there wasn't an outcry about this video from black communities.

coolcat said:

Considering how everything else in the media is MORE degrading and humiliating to black people,,,,somehow Weird Al ain't that big or important to add on the long list.

coolcat said:

Actually I think nerds are cool because they don't follow the herd, and being cool is a form of intelligence.

It's an interesting point that you're making, though. White people have come to the point where they constantly put themselves down in relation to black people--we can't dance, we can't play basketball, we're nerdy etc.

But you're right, it indirectly stereotypes blacks as well. And why should white people constantly put themselves down, for that matter?

NDRU said:

It's a lose-lose situation, isn't it?

We can't win
Either we are up oppressing the black
or we put ourselves down...erm...opressing the black
[Edited 2/12/07 15:29pm]

PANDURITO said:

I'm not sure I understand.

oh nevermind, I see you explained.

I think when we (humanity) will win when we stop putting people down based on race altogether--whether it's other races, or our own
[Edited 2/12/07 15:32pm]

PANDURITO said:

You make a good point. I'm sorry Pandurito. I just had some thoughts about the video after seeing it.
[Edited 2/12/07 15:32pm]

No problemo

Haven't seen the video. Had to google for the lyrics and didn't see what you did

NDRU said:

I think the shit is funny. great parody, plus isn't Al making fun of himself, the fact he is White and Nerdy?

lilgish said:

maybe. I just don't get why the song is about being white and nerdy. What does being white have to do with being nerdy?

Anyway, no big deal I guess. I think I'm the only person that was offended by the video.

coolcat said:

Because it's definitely comedy. It's not like he said "I'm white and nerdy and blacks can't be". Comedians tend to do that, you know. Tell jokes. If this is an insult to black America, Chapelle,Mencia, and Chris Rock have done, far, far more directly insulting things.

oh christ
i thought the shit was funny - i mean come on...
that's the last thing that would ever come to my mind...

geez...

i mean shit.
[Edited 2/12/07 19:56pm]

how is it even a putdown? i mean, the opposite is he wants to hang with the "black and not nerdy"

considering the polarizing socio-political dialog spewed forth in past diatribes such as "yoda", "i'm fat", "another one rides the bus" and "ricky", it's no surprise that weird al's controversial shadow has fallen on the topic of race. this is one musician who needs to lighten up!

(by 'lighten up' i mean, you know, like mentally. not, like, skin tone. that would be racist-y. )

Is this thread serious? I liked it better when you were doing new Timbaland threads everyday.

Anx said:

HA!

I think its just crazy, it seems we are going back in time with words and freedoms. Did you know that TV shows like Sanford&Son,the Jeffersons,Good Times and All in the Family all get edited now when they are on TV land, and its not because of commercials its because of "Subject matter", so wait all of sudden the depiction of what some people are really like "we cant handle", that was the 70's and people dealt with it and learned from it, now we cant learn shit.more proof we are going back in time, Prince's performance on the Superbowl, people actually thought that was "wrong" the way he held his guitar. And yet on tv are commercials that degrade women,talk about erection pills,and other crap like that, and we are worried about Janet Jacksons breast or Princes Guitar, people where are we going....

Now granted I am white, but I would think the original "Ridin Dirty" by Chamillionaire (sp), would be more offensive and degrading to African Americans than Weird Al's. Hell the state of Rap music today as a whole is downright sterotypical. Instead of being so concerned with a parody, I would be more upset that real black artists don't get the level of support from their own community that these cliche one hit wonder rappers get..

I just think more energy needs to be put into promoting real artists like John Legend, Lupe Fiasco, Van Hunt,, heck even Gym Class Heroes to the black community.

Just my thoughts..

SammiJ said:

I agree. It's just an innocent parody. Besides a nerd is someone who seeks knowledge excessively. I don't think it was meant to make it seem like black ppl aren't smart. You can be considered very intelligent and not be a nerd. And the white part, well that's just saying the black ppl are cool and whites aren't. Can't disagree with the op on that part. That stereotype just endures.

PurpleRighteous1 said:

i think david bowie is cooler than condoleeza rice.

Anx said:

very true. I'm not saying I agree with it. There was just no way to defend it. Stereotypes are just wrong

I think A. He's using "White" in a figurative sense to mean not hip to black culture and that B. "White N Nerdy" rhymes best with "Ridin' Dirty" and no I don't find it racist. It's just a moderately funny parody, don't read too much into it. Comedy can exploit or utilize stereotypes without genuinely endorsing them, that's why it's called comedy .

PS if you pay close attention to the video, Weird Al's character buys a copy of the Star Wars christmas special from a black guy, that right there seems to indicate that black people can be nerds.

jacktheimprovident said:

i own a copy of that.

You have to be an idiot to think Weird al is racist. Sheesh. the guy is a sweet guy, chill.

coolcat said:

I have to see the video. But sometimes I wonder whether black artists are the main culprits of reinforcing the stereotypes you describe above.

coolcat said:

It's White AND Nerdy, not White IS Nerdy.





I swear, some people set out looking for things to bitch about.....