Horton hears a racist

(Michelle and Barack with daughters Malia and Sasha)

Barack Obama is my choice for president. I’ve already explained why in previous blogs. But if Obama isn’t elected, it would be hard to blame racism. Republicans aren’t going to vote for him, not because he’s black, but because, even worse, he’s a Democrat. And for the most part, Obama has garnered more popular support among white voters than any other candidate. If Obama is elected, I believe that through his leadership skills and intelligence he will usher in a dynamic new era of government by inclusion rather than secrecy. Like John F. Kennedy, Obama will inspire a younger generation and invigorate the older generation to take greater part in their government, society, and community.

But there are many obstacles this New Era will have to face. A sagging economy. War abroad. Faltering education.

And, worst of all, the movie Horton Hears a Who.

This isn’t a review of the movie, it’s a review of how Hollywood sometimes contributes to the divisiveness within the country. Ironically, Horton Hears a Who has done more damage to our society than the recent slate of politically motivated movies about the war in Iraq (Rendition, Stop-Loss, Lambs for Lions, Redacted, In the Valley of Elah, etc.) has done good. For one thing, more people saw Horton than saw all the other movies combined.

How can a beloved Dr. Seuss story do so much harm? Well, the original book by Dr. Seuss is just fine, a timeless tale that has been delighting children since it was first published in 1954. The story of the brave elephant that is willing to endure the harshest condemnation from his friends and community in order to protect those in need is a wonderful lesson for children.

But then along comes the movie. To make the story long enough for a full-length movie, a subplot was added about the mayor of Whoville who has 96 cheerful daughters and one brooding son. This is where things take a nasty turn. Basically, the mayor ignores his 96 daughters in order to groom his uninterested son to become mayor. Why doesn’t he groom one of his much more enthusiastic daughters? And, of course, it is the brooding son who, in the end, saves the entire world of Whoville. The daughters? They get to cheer from the sidelines. While it’s true that in the book a “very small shirker named Jo-Jo” does add his tiny voice to the din and thus saves Whoville, but that promotes the idea that we all have our part to play in our community, not that sons are smarter than daughters.

“Hey, it’s just a cartoon,” you might say. But this particular cartoon will be seen by millions of children around the world. And they will come away with a clear impression that a single son is worth more than 96 daughters. Those boys are inherently more valuable than girls, and more likely to be successful (in this case, in saving the world) than girls.

What’s especially insidious here isn’t just that the subplot was written and approved and filmed, but that since the movie has come out, there hasn’t been a popular outcry about it. That we don’t even ask why, in the years it took to make the movie, no one along the line said, “This isn’t a good message to send to our kids.” Is it because sexism is so ingrained in our society that we don’t even flinch at it when it’s shoved in our faces?

What’s all this have to do with racism?

Well, if our society is willing to tolerate any form of social injustice and discrimination toward any single group, then they have created a breeding ground for injustice throughout society. If we allow sexism, ageism, homophobia, religious intolerance, then racism can only flourish as well. We expose our impressionable children to funny cartoons about wacky animals voiced by famous actors and what do we think is going to happen. Will a little girl step out of Horton feeling empowered and motivated, or just slightly less capable than the little boy walking beside her?

I don’t think the filmmakers are evil or that they deliberately set out to send this awful message. Somehow it seems worse that they didn’t notice.

Maybe after eight years of Barak Obama’s presidency, our society will have evolved to a place where the filmmakers and the audiences won’t tolerate even the subtlest forms of discrimination. At least with Barak Obama, we have hope that such a world might be.

(Photo credit: Barack Obama)

Comments

[Traci]

Wow! I'm a 42 year old woman who is very sensitive to sexism and racism, and I completely missed that! Good catch, Kareem. This is an intelligent and thought provoking post.

[dippen]

excellent post!

[maria tanquary]

dear kareem,
i have admired you all my life. now that i am the ripe age of 49 i find myself a single mother of an amazing 6 year old boy. with no father involved i find it even more important that he has the right messages sent to him by family, school, friends and media. he is being raised to acknowledge strong people and it saddens me that our favorite book took such a sad turn. then again look at what they did to alvin and the chipmunks this past year. when i was little my parents would go see a movie before i was allowed to go see it. needless to say i have carried on that family tradition. then again my son doesn't go to the movies much. recently a friend took our sons to see alvin and the chipmunks. i was shocked when my son called a young sales lady mamasita. we had words and he understands when that is disrespectful. i hope that life can turn around for this generation. at least i am trying to turn it around for my son. it's just one child at a time.
thank you, mt

[Dana]

I am laughing so hard at this line...the rest of your article is a vague memory.

"Maybe after eight years of Barak Obama’s presidency....."

Lets get serious...take all of Obama's characteristics and apply it to a White Democrat....he would be losing this race. For once I would like one person to admit that the selling point for Obama is RACE.

I am an African American and that is exactly why I am voting for him...but had he been White...even with his same characteristics...I would had voted for Clinton.

Enough with the BS in the US. Lets call it as it is.

[Angi]

I have to agree with apennysaved - my children did not get that "sexism" from the movie. They came away with you should give your "all" to your goals (Horton stuck to his goal of protecting the speck), have Faith in things - even if you can't see them, don't give up on people who are disappointing you - (Jo-Jo) and that life is precious (from conception on).
I think often it is the parents who point out and teach racism or sexism or any of the other "ism"s. I make an effort not to teach my children those things - to teach them to be kind to everyone - God made us all - to have common courtesy, respect, and manners. If more parents taught that - rather than telling their kids about the differences in people - we would be more united - and there would be less hate.

[dm]

I'm confused how the obvious sexism in the movie didn't lead to a blog about, I don't know.... sexism rather than racism?!?!? While racism clearly runs rampant in our society, sexism is just as prevalent a problem in our culture... as is seen by this blog entry, which while acknowledging the sexism in the movie, trumps it by making a production about how if sexism is allowed, racism will be too. Why not just talk about how the movie perpetuates hateful, belittling SEXIST ideas??? Isn't that enough? Isn't that a problem deserving of its own post?

And then bringing it all back around to an endorsement for Barak Obama for president, (I'm not even going to touch on the whole racism/sexism divide in the Democratic party right now) I just don't get where you're going. If you want to endorse Obama, go ahead and say it loud and proud, Obama is the right candidate, no doubt. But if you want to talk about the sexism that permeates the media then talk about that don't try to make it about something it isn't.

I mean come on, Kareem, if you want to defend and teach your daughters, then you need to prepare them for a world where they will combat both racism and sexism and not perpetuate the problem by trying to make one issue seem more important than the other.

[Mark]

wow - i just watched the movie last night and when i saw that someone called this movie unbearably sexist, i had to read more.

sometimes, i think at least, people read into things way too much. the fact that the mayor "grooms" his uninterested son for mayor instead of his daughters cannot be called sexist. they gave a perfectly good explanation for him choosing the son instead of the daughters. whoville tradition anyone?

in that huge hallway with all the photos of past mayors, they were all males. why make this movie adaptation of a book that is no longer than 25 pages, (maybe 1 full page of text), longer by adding another subplot to show the mayors girls being as smart as his son?

now, put yourself in the mayors shoes for a second. i know its just a character, but hear me out. lets be more realistic and say you have, i dont know, 10 daughters and 1 son. your daughters are very smart, energetic and outgoing. your son, however, is shy, a loner, and doesnt speak to anyone, not even you. now as your daughters already seem to have things on the up & up, who, as a parent, would you feel you have to focus more parental attention to?

the "underlying" context of this movie is what "you" make of it. to use a defense made popular in the 80's in the war of Tipper Gore vs Dee Snider of Twisted Sister, "You were looking for sexism in this movie, and you found it"

[Aliison]

Oh my goodness Ajax you are an ignorant moron! You cannot make a way of thinking illegal! That has to be one of the most unintelligent things I have ever heard. I'm not endorsing racism but you cannot make it illegal. That just validated my thought that the majority of Americans are idiots who shouldn't be allowed to vote because they have no more knowledge or thought process than a 5 year old.

Quite frankly I feel that people can find any meaning they want in movies, tv, music etc. It's all about interpretation. Children are not as cynical as adults and they don't look as deep. And if you have a child who is getting their entire outlook on the battle of the sexes from movies there's a problem. If parents step in and would take an active role in their children then less of who they are would be formed by movies. If you have parents encouraging a son or daughter that counts for more than a movie could ever influence.

And just to put my two cents in Obama would be the ruination of the US, I almost hope he gets elected so all the sheep realize he has no experience, no vision, his wife is a racist, elist and they will actually increase the racial divide in this country. Again, stupid Americans.

[Jennifer]

I completely agree with you re: the Dr. Seuss movie and thilnk it's great that a MAN is taking issue with this. If a woman takes issue then she's likely to be viewed as a whiney, women's liber whose just looking for something to complain about.

I think if parents make a concerted effort to let their daughters know they can do anything a man can do - the negative messages in the world won't have as much of an impact. I know my 10 year old daughter feels empowered to do whatever she wants, even if it's traditionally a male role, eg she has wanted to be an engineer since she was 6.

The same is true with all the other 'isms' - if we directly address them with our kids and give them a great foundation - then the outside influences will have a lot less power, if any.

[Tonya]

I have yet to see the movie, and never really intended to. TMZ posted that you had a blog about it and I was intrigued. I am glad that I looked at what you had to say. It's so unfortunate that there are messages out there like this. I try at every turn to encourage my two daughters to do whatever they want in life.

I agree, it's just a movie, but every movie that comes out, pushes the envelope further. For decades, there has been a message that "boys will be boys" and girls should know their place. My daughters told me once that "only boys are heros," and I was sad. I have no idea where they got an idea like that and I told them that women can be heros too, by the big and small things they do in life. And I made sure to let them know that they are my heros, because without them, I would never have gotten the most challenging, rewarding, painful, joyful amazing jobs in my life...MOM. I hope parents everywhere encourage their children to do great things and that we are all heros, men and women. And we need to hold our boys and girls to a different standard, one in which they can succeed and grow, not one where they are doomed from the beginning. Thank you for your blog, because it's yet another reminder that my job as a mom is never done. Thank God!

[Jennifer Kelly]

As an avid reader of current events, world news and occasionally the rantings of insignificant editorialists, I'm stunned it's taken me this long to read something that's caused me to fall off my chair from laughing so hard. Perhaps I was just dizzy from the astonishing spinning leaps my sore brain had to take in reading your conclusions. I'm not sure.
I never had any idea that 2+2= kumquat ...or was it fairytale+delusion=racism/sexism/anyism? Your editorial has thouroughly taught me this bewildering lesson.
After lunch, I shall teach my children that somehow, somewhere, women and africans are being theoretically shackled because they've eaten a bologna sandwhich.
Shame on them.

[Chris Pangalos]

To take this movie and make the ENORMOUS leaps into segregation that Kareem has done is ridiculous at best and a diversion from real problems at worst. What people like Kareem don't understand is that racial/sexual divides are propagated in much the same way we hold up mass murderers through various media outlets. They FEED on the attention and although you may think what you're doing is a good thing, it ultimately MOTIVATES them. When we cry about these things in public (especially from publicly respected figures) we exacerbate the issues beyond their own merit. Racism is a dying breed in this country and will expire quickly if there were more of us like Barrack Obama. Obama refuses to make excuses and in fact promotes accountability. We, as a people, need to learn from our mistakes, no doubt. But when you drone on about the past you forget to look toward the future. There are many great things yet to be done and as a society it is counterproductive to rehash predjudice as it does nothing but divert from potential progress. If more people ignored the increasingly small sects of racists/sexists that do still exist, the fire in their belly would burn out because they would have no one to fight back. If you MAKE it so, then it is so. We need to learn from our past but people, PLEASE, we also need to move on from it....

[Tonya]

If my response is posted, can you please delete my url?

[count michigan]

Maybe Kareem should look at Obama's pastor Rev. Wright. I don't think Rev Wrights comments could be considered "subtle" , but seem to be tolerated and excused by Obama's supporters.

[Sarah R]

Great blog!!! As a woman and a person with a very very diverse family I couldn't agree more!!! I must add a comment to Ajax's comments. I don't believe you can outlaw thought. That's a dangerous road to start heading down. Instead we need to teach children that ALL people are the same. Skin color, sexual preference, gender, even different religions need to be accepted by all. You don't have to agree with everyone, but I do believe you should respect the difference among your fellow humans! Not forced but taught! People are just that, people. The sooner we accept that we all need help each other, the sooner the world will be a better place. I believe Obama is our key, our hope! (But I don't support legislating thoughts!) Legislate crime, not thoughts!

[Andy]

What a leap, dude. You were a great player and all, but that hardly qualifies you to make such leaps (of logic).

Only reason I went to this was, as some previous commenter noted, that maybe you were sounding off on the life affirming message: A person is a person no matter how small.

Uh, the title 'Horton hears a racist', should the word be sexist rather than racist, to go along with your sexist theme.

I also don't agree with your choice of president, but then this is America, right...we can have our differences and still be friends.

Good luck with your blog.

[Nathan Douglas]

I would like to casually ask what people expected. The sexist and racist ideas of the past haven't really changed or disappeared -- they've just become more subtle.

In terms of girls' toys, for instance, we've moved from Barbie to the even more hypersexualized Bratz. And we went from Brenda Lee to Britney Spears in, what, four decades?

Say what you want about the "good ol' days"... even that they weren't all that good, and I'd agree with that. What disturbs me, though, is that in the name of "giving the consumer what he/she/his children want," we've managed to perpetuate the failings of the old WASP patriarchy. Now we just figure "hey, what's good for business is good for the country."

The vast majority of American society as it currently exists should be avoided or combatted with extreme prejudice. We're rats pushing the pleasure switch.

[John Simensky]

It sounds like you all have a lot of adult emotional baggage that you are trying to attach to a children's film. I have not heard one child, male or female complain about Jojo or ask for more daughter screen time.

The point is Jojo is the oldest child, and thus next in line. His dad has already decided what his future is going to be without Jojo's input. It is part of the human experience that girls can relate to as well, without Jojo needing to actually be female.

[Michael Douchowski]

I would like to second Ajax's comment.

It is about time racism was outlawed. I am pretty sure Obama outlined a plan for banning racism in all 48 mainland states and then slowly phasing it out in Alaska and Hawaii. Hopefully he will be elected so that we can live in a country free of racism, like Europe.

[Korey]

nevermind the movie, did you see last night both Hitlery and O' Bomb Ya accurately pointing out how each other is crooked and a liar?

Repubs 2008!

[tmac]

Our pre-existing notions and prejudices will always guide our judgments. Kareem saw sexism against women. One could also argue sexism against boys/men. Why is it that in many stories like this the young boys are always depicted as lazy and good-for-nothing while the girls are all worthy? Have you noticed how every TV show or commercial always shows the men as dumb, out of touch slackers that only can be helped by their wives? Few examples: Raymond? King Of Queens? There are to many to list.......

There all always more sides to an issue than meets the eye.

[Bruce]

Kareem is normally on point but his comments about Horton are a woeful overeaction. The reason there was no outcry is because any possible discriminatory message was so subliminal it would require a huge stretch to see it. Because some group of non-essential characters is ignored has nothing to do with them being discriminated against. I could make the same point about the wonderful new film "Nim's Island" which stars the talented young actress Abigail Breslin. Why didn't she have a brother, or a mother? Why did her Dad get lost at sea, isn't that anti-Father? Please. If Kareem wants to really pinpoint Hollywood's misogynistic leanings he should target the rash of sexist movies like Super Bad, Wedding Crashers, and Knocked Up which objectify women openly and unabashedly.

[Steve]

You admonish sexism - that is incredibly insightful. Bravo. But instead of endorsing one of those 96 daughters, you endorse the son for president. Ummm... What?

It's great you think women should be considered, but ultimately, you've condemned yourself in your own blog! Bravo!

[Karen]

Thank you for saying something about it. The message being sent out to young girls is very sad. Not only in movies, also tv and music. I use to like sometimes playing videos on the computer while cleaning the kitchen, ( I thought not overly sexual videos), until my daughter asked why dark skinned girls don't wear any clothes. That was the end of having any music videos playing in the house. Lately, I have been so discouraged by what is on tv that I just don't turn it on anymore.

[Cuojoe]

Why in the name of gord did you title this Horten hears a Racist and have the only picture on the blog of Obama?

At first I thought you were writing an anti-Obama blog...then I read it, agreed with your message, but still was bothered by the little tick of adding Obama's picture.

Lots of people have many misconceptions about Obama, probably in every ethnic community. I still to this day hear people saying that they believe Obama is Muslim, that he was sworn in on the Quaran, that he is an elitist, that he hates white people, yadda, yadda, yadda...

These same people will only take the time to see the words racist and Obama's pic and not read the rest of your blog...

Why should they, their misconceptions again have put 2 and 4 together to come up with their own skewed interpretation of your writing.

All I'm saying is, geeez man, be careful with this stuff...

PLEASE...

C