Not only in US-Blogs, but also at the taz newspaper itself the issue is heavily discussed: Is using the reference to "Uncle Tom's Cabin" when discussing Obamas nomination offensive? Two controversial opinions.
I find Bernd Pickert's response extremely contrived and unconvincing. Probably the TAZ's editors feel their intentions were not racist, but they nevertheless display an embarrassing ignorance of English idioms and language usage. I have observed over the years that German humor still remains insensitive to cultural and racial slurs which could never be published in an English language paper. The TAZ Headline, "LI MACHT PENG" is also one of these. An English language editor would get fired for something like that. I think that as we become more multicultural here in Germany, this may eventually improve. At the moment, I cringe at the phrases I hear from comedians, politicians, talk-show hosts, editors, who don't blink at generically referring to a "typical Turkish youth" as "Achmed", of publicly mocking the sound of Oriental (or other) languages and cultures, or of using "Uncle Tom" (even if ironically) in reference to a rising black political leader. Tell me TAZ editors, would you have dared to use that phrase for Martin Luther King?
Time for German language usage to catch up...
27.06.2008 23:58 Uhr
von Beate Kaebel:
Die Schlagzeile "Onkel Toms Huette" ist weder entschuldbar noch durch irgendwelches Hindrehen als "Satire" oder "Ironie" akzeptabel. Dass viele weisse Deutsche die verunglimpfende Bedeutung, die der Terminus "Uncle Tom" fuer die Betroffenen, also Afroamerikaner und andere Menschen afrikanischer Herkunft, auch in Deutschland, hat, nicht kennen, ist schlimm. Viel schlimmer noch ist es aber, dass Leute, die diese Bedeutung kennen und ueberdies in den Medien taetig sind, also eine besondere Verantwortung haben, sich in bester paternalistisch-rassistischer Tradition eiskalt ueber die Sensibilitaeten der durch diesen Uebergriff Herabgewuerdigten hinwegsetzen - weil SIE es ja besser wissen, ihre eigenen, hoeheren Ziele und Beweggruende haben, kurzum ueber all dem (und denen) stehen: so richtiges Herrenmenschengehabe eben.
12.06.2008 19:38 Uhr
von John Doe:
Congratulations, your story was picked up by the Colbert Report last night:
"[...] A lot of people were offended by this, but die tageszeitung claims the headline was merely an attempt at satire. Now as a rule: Germans shouldn't do humor."
11.06.2008 14:32 Uhr
von marc:
'Uncle Tom' is a racial slur, and the Taz editors clearly sacrificed substance and principle for an unreflected laugh.
09.06.2008 20:13 Uhr
von Joe Noory:
I think it speaks to a kind of ignorance of American culture unique to Europeans, and rare among Germans. It's not supposed to be something we talk about - we are, after all talking about a continent of people so touchy that one little phrase "old Europe"/"new Europe" still evokes a defensive reaction.
06.06.2008 21:14 Uhr
von Gringo Tex:
For those Germans who believe that blacks in the US do not consider the term “Uncle Tom” to be insulting, Taz should provide a selected group of Germans with all-expenses paid trips to the US. Drop them off in black neighborhoods. Harlem or Bed-Stuy in New York, Roxbury in Boston, Anacostia in DC, South Side in Chicago. Wherever, whatever. Instruct the Germans to strike up conversations with black/Afro-American males, the bigger and more muscular the better, and have the German call the black/Afro-American male(s) “Uncle Tom(s)". Document the time it takes for the Germans to suffer grievous bodily harm after calling a black/Afro-American male an “Uncle Tom.” Prediction: well under 10 seconds, on the average.
06.06.2008 18:31 Uhr
von Hans Rudolf Velten:
Danke für den schönen Titel, der mir aus dem Herzen gesprochen hat. Die Kritik halte ich für überzogen und überheblich: es gibt eben in Deutschland ein kulturelles Imaginäres, das mit dem Namen "Onkel Tom" verbunden ist, und das ist Freiheit von der Sklaverei. Wenn sich der Diskurs zu Onkel Tom in den USA weiterentwickelt bzw. negativiert hat, ist das noch lange kein Grund, diesem kulturellen Imaginären die Daseinsberechtigung abzusprechen. Alles andere käme einer Gleichschaltung der Diskurse gleich.
Leserkommentare
05.11.2008 10:22 Uhr
von Jost Muxfeldt:
I find Bernd Pickert's response extremely contrived and unconvincing. Probably the TAZ's editors feel their intentions were not racist, but they nevertheless display an embarrassing ignorance of English idioms and language usage. I have observed over the years that German humor still remains insensitive to cultural and racial slurs which could never be published in an English language paper. The TAZ Headline, "LI MACHT PENG" is also one of these. An English language editor would get fired for something like that. I think that as we become more multicultural here in Germany, this may eventually improve. At the moment, I cringe at the phrases I hear from comedians, politicians, talk-show hosts, editors, who don't blink at generically referring to a "typical Turkish youth" as "Achmed", of publicly mocking the sound of Oriental (or other) languages and cultures, or of using "Uncle Tom" (even if ironically) in reference to a rising black political leader. Tell me TAZ editors, would you have dared to use that phrase for Martin Luther King?
Time for German language usage to catch up...
27.06.2008 23:58 Uhr
von Beate Kaebel:
Die Schlagzeile "Onkel Toms Huette" ist weder entschuldbar noch durch irgendwelches Hindrehen als "Satire" oder "Ironie" akzeptabel. Dass viele weisse Deutsche die verunglimpfende Bedeutung, die der Terminus "Uncle Tom" fuer die Betroffenen, also Afroamerikaner und andere Menschen afrikanischer Herkunft, auch in Deutschland, hat, nicht kennen, ist schlimm. Viel schlimmer noch ist es aber, dass Leute, die diese Bedeutung kennen und ueberdies in den Medien taetig sind, also eine besondere Verantwortung haben, sich in bester paternalistisch-rassistischer Tradition eiskalt ueber die Sensibilitaeten der durch diesen Uebergriff Herabgewuerdigten hinwegsetzen - weil SIE es ja besser wissen, ihre eigenen, hoeheren Ziele und Beweggruende haben, kurzum ueber all dem (und denen) stehen: so richtiges Herrenmenschengehabe eben.
12.06.2008 19:38 Uhr
von John Doe:
Congratulations, your story was picked up by the Colbert Report last night:
"[...] A lot of people were offended by this, but die tageszeitung claims the headline was merely an attempt at satire. Now as a rule: Germans shouldn't do humor."
11.06.2008 14:32 Uhr
von marc:
'Uncle Tom' is a racial slur, and the Taz editors clearly sacrificed substance and principle for an unreflected laugh.
09.06.2008 20:13 Uhr
von Joe Noory:
I think it speaks to a kind of ignorance of American culture unique to Europeans, and rare among Germans. It's not supposed to be something we talk about - we are, after all talking about a continent of people so touchy that one little phrase "old Europe"/"new Europe" still evokes a defensive reaction.
06.06.2008 21:14 Uhr
von Gringo Tex:
For those Germans who believe that blacks in the US do not consider the term “Uncle Tom” to be insulting, Taz should provide a selected group of Germans with all-expenses paid trips to the US. Drop them off in black neighborhoods. Harlem or Bed-Stuy in New York, Roxbury in Boston, Anacostia in DC, South Side in Chicago. Wherever, whatever. Instruct the Germans to strike up conversations with black/Afro-American males, the bigger and more muscular the better, and have the German call the black/Afro-American male(s) “Uncle Tom(s)". Document the time it takes for the Germans to suffer grievous bodily harm after calling a black/Afro-American male an “Uncle Tom.” Prediction: well under 10 seconds, on the average.
06.06.2008 18:31 Uhr
von Hans Rudolf Velten:
Danke für den schönen Titel, der mir aus dem Herzen gesprochen hat. Die Kritik halte ich für überzogen und überheblich: es gibt eben in Deutschland ein kulturelles Imaginäres, das mit dem Namen "Onkel Tom" verbunden ist, und das ist Freiheit von der Sklaverei. Wenn sich der Diskurs zu Onkel Tom in den USA weiterentwickelt bzw. negativiert hat, ist das noch lange kein Grund, diesem kulturellen Imaginären die Daseinsberechtigung abzusprechen. Alles andere käme einer Gleichschaltung der Diskurse gleich.