I think it's interesting how what really sets the mood for this video is its piano music accompaniment. A relatively positive statement about being an African American in the 21st century becomes markedly more austere, sombre, reflective, a total juxtaposition against Rock's characteristically funny, animated delivery. He's essentially making a statement about progress and how the greatest challenge to equality today is 'positive' discrimination; that African Americans should be criticised when they 'suck' as much as they are celebrated when they don’t. I think the music is very much responsible for setting the tone of the piece, which would otherwise be ambiguous to the viewer.
opminded — March 21, 2009
I'm a huge Chris Rock fan, but there are two disturbing parts of this video.
First, his surprise that a White dentist could afford to live in his neighborhood. Chris doesn't have a clue about where this guy gets his money. It might be his wife's or it might be an inheritance or a great dental practice, but the idea that there is something unfair about America when a White dentist could -god, forbid - live next to Black super stars is disappointing.
Second, his comments about the Holmes-Cooney fight are off the mark and simply not true. It was a very hard and close fight (which Holmes himself admits), but by the end of the eleventh round Holmes was leading and won the bout. What was his point on this again?
His point about Blacks in baseball, however, is right on!
Response to opminded — March 21, 2009
You're missing the point on the neighbor who's a dentist. A white man can be a dentist to get into that neighborhood but it takes extraordinary success - fame, money, etc. - for a Black family to live in the same neighborhood. White people can have moderate success and access more or as much as Black people how have extraordinary success. It's not about that specific dentist or where he gets his money. And, on this point, Rock is right.
Ellen — March 21, 2009
I'm with response. That's the whole point. Black people have not had the same opportunities to accumulate wealth the way white people have. Therefore, white people can be mediocre and rich. In fact, most rich white people are mediocre. Like you said, they can marry into it or inherit it. But to be black and live in that neighborhood, you have to be extraordinary.
opminded — March 22, 2009
It takes $$ to live in that neighborhood. That's all. Nothing beyond money. You claim that the only way a Black can get in the neighborhood is with "fame, money, etc." and my contention is that it is exactly the same for Whites. Money. Money. Money.
In general, do Whites have more money than Blacks, yes. But still, I ask, what is his point about rich white dentists living near rich black entertainers. (my sister in law is a dentist and doesn't have tons of money, so Chris Rock is wrong, ordinary white dentists DON't get to live in his neighborhood.. only those with....MONEY).
Danny — March 23, 2009
@opminded White privilege includes the wealth accumulation policies of the past which were pointedly directed towards white people.
Connor — March 25, 2009
Chris Rock is an anti-dentite!
hypatia — March 25, 2009
opminded
I do not know where you live of course but in my neighborhood if you describe someone and your "next-door neighbor" you actually do have a very good idea where that families income is coming from. Sure there's a chance some source of income isn't mentioned but things like "My family loads of money generations of building wealth" does comes out, although in politer terms then I have stated here.
He probably does just run a very good practice or two, possibly cosmetic dentistry.
That said I do think it is shocking that someone could be a dentist and be able to live in a neighborhood where very famous entertainers and popular sports stars live. I think celebrity, I think unattainable, very much like the CEO nesting village I live near, and there are certainly no dentists living there.
opine_tree — April 8, 2009
If you think that everybody has it better than you, you'll always be right.
What's going to happen if/when the blame game stops? What then? When can everyone stop feeling guilty about things that they never did and move on as *people*, not races? Sure, there will always be morons and rednecks and people who say things like, "most rich white people are mediocre" and not see the hypocrisy. But why let assholes hold you down? Life is full of opportunities for all, it really is.
There are so many laws and regulations protecting people from discrimination, and social mores as a whole have shifted towards the unacceptability of racist behavior. But every human on the planet has been discriminated against for one reason or another (age, gender, politics, etc.). Should we spend our lives wallowing in the misery others try to inflict on us, or do we simply do our own thing no matter who's trying to keep us down? Persecution complexes don't benefit anyone.
Answer my questions and you'll solve welfare abuse at the same time.
Sociological Images encourages people to exercise and develop their sociological imaginations with discussions of compelling visuals that span the breadth of sociological inquiry. Read more…
Comments 10
Cassie — March 21, 2009
I think it's interesting how what really sets the mood for this video is its piano music accompaniment. A relatively positive statement about being an African American in the 21st century becomes markedly more austere, sombre, reflective, a total juxtaposition against Rock's characteristically funny, animated delivery. He's essentially making a statement about progress and how the greatest challenge to equality today is 'positive' discrimination; that African Americans should be criticised when they 'suck' as much as they are celebrated when they don’t. I think the music is very much responsible for setting the tone of the piece, which would otherwise be ambiguous to the viewer.
opminded — March 21, 2009
I'm a huge Chris Rock fan, but there are two disturbing parts of this video.
First, his surprise that a White dentist could afford to live in his neighborhood. Chris doesn't have a clue about where this guy gets his money. It might be his wife's or it might be an inheritance or a great dental practice, but the idea that there is something unfair about America when a White dentist could -god, forbid - live next to Black super stars is disappointing.
Second, his comments about the Holmes-Cooney fight are off the mark and simply not true. It was a very hard and close fight (which Holmes himself admits), but by the end of the eleventh round Holmes was leading and won the bout. What was his point on this again?
His point about Blacks in baseball, however, is right on!
Response to opminded — March 21, 2009
You're missing the point on the neighbor who's a dentist. A white man can be a dentist to get into that neighborhood but it takes extraordinary success - fame, money, etc. - for a Black family to live in the same neighborhood. White people can have moderate success and access more or as much as Black people how have extraordinary success. It's not about that specific dentist or where he gets his money. And, on this point, Rock is right.
Ellen — March 21, 2009
I'm with response. That's the whole point. Black people have not had the same opportunities to accumulate wealth the way white people have. Therefore, white people can be mediocre and rich. In fact, most rich white people are mediocre. Like you said, they can marry into it or inherit it. But to be black and live in that neighborhood, you have to be extraordinary.
opminded — March 22, 2009
It takes $$ to live in that neighborhood. That's all. Nothing beyond money. You claim that the only way a Black can get in the neighborhood is with "fame, money, etc." and my contention is that it is exactly the same for Whites. Money. Money. Money.
In general, do Whites have more money than Blacks, yes. But still, I ask, what is his point about rich white dentists living near rich black entertainers. (my sister in law is a dentist and doesn't have tons of money, so Chris Rock is wrong, ordinary white dentists DON't get to live in his neighborhood.. only those with....MONEY).
Danny — March 23, 2009
@opminded White privilege includes the wealth accumulation policies of the past which were pointedly directed towards white people.
Connor — March 25, 2009
Chris Rock is an anti-dentite!
hypatia — March 25, 2009
opminded
I do not know where you live of course but in my neighborhood if you describe someone and your "next-door neighbor" you actually do have a very good idea where that families income is coming from. Sure there's a chance some source of income isn't mentioned but things like "My family loads of money generations of building wealth" does comes out, although in politer terms then I have stated here.
He probably does just run a very good practice or two, possibly cosmetic dentistry.
That said I do think it is shocking that someone could be a dentist and be able to live in a neighborhood where very famous entertainers and popular sports stars live. I think celebrity, I think unattainable, very much like the CEO nesting village I live near, and there are certainly no dentists living there.
opine_tree — April 8, 2009
If you think that everybody has it better than you, you'll always be right.
What's going to happen if/when the blame game stops? What then? When can everyone stop feeling guilty about things that they never did and move on as *people*, not races? Sure, there will always be morons and rednecks and people who say things like, "most rich white people are mediocre" and not see the hypocrisy. But why let assholes hold you down? Life is full of opportunities for all, it really is.
There are so many laws and regulations protecting people from discrimination, and social mores as a whole have shifted towards the unacceptability of racist behavior. But every human on the planet has been discriminated against for one reason or another (age, gender, politics, etc.). Should we spend our lives wallowing in the misery others try to inflict on us, or do we simply do our own thing no matter who's trying to keep us down? Persecution complexes don't benefit anyone.
Answer my questions and you'll solve welfare abuse at the same time.
Anonymous — September 16, 2009
true