I was just wondering if anyone knew why Sir Mix-A-Lots song, "Baby Got Back" was considred racist when it came out? Who was this song racist towards? White women? That is the only thing I can think of. I remember thinking when I first heard it, it seemed like the song was basically saying white women had no butt. The song never says it out right, but it seems to imply it. What do you think?
2006-12-26 14:56:53 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Entertainment & Music ➔ Music
Yeah, I guess MTV would only play the video "after hours" with the other naughty songs in the early '90s. As a previous respondent noted, I think Mix-a-Lot basically implies that all black women have big a.sses.
Note that the song's intro is two white girls discussing how "gross" a black girl's big a.ss is. "Gross. Look! She's just so ... black!" And he makes other obvious racial references: "sistahs"; "even white boys got to shout"; "red beans and rice didn't miss her."
It doesn't seem racist to me, either. It seems celebratory. And it's not possible to be "racist" against whites. They're already the privileged group.
It is the best song ever, though. I'm not black, but I've got the a.ss.
Here's a sort of "racial reading" of the song on someone's blog, as well as the whole music video to watch:
http://www.last.fm/user/Wombaticus/journal/2006/11/24/274505/
Song facts:
http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=604
On controversial MTV videos:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MTV's_Most_Controversial_Videos
2006-12-26 15:10:10 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
No, there is no racism implied in the song. If that was the case (at least in the video), it would be the white girls who are saying, "Oh my God, Becky, look at her butt..." That whole dialogue is basically 2 white women dissing a black woman for having a bulbous ***....So where is the racism really at, if you want to point out any at all??
But to round off this idea of yours, the only point Sir Mix Alot was trying to make was that he preferred larger butts as opposed to small ones. Digging too deep into a song really tends to discredit the artist's thoughts and intentions. Think about it.
2006-12-26 15:21:14 · answer #2 · answered by BigMissle 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I don't think it's "racist" in the proper term of the word. Yes, it is a rude and inaccurate portrayal of blacks. It uses black stereotypes etc... part of it is it was 1946- that type of stereotype was common. Since it wasn't done to be mean spirited or hateful, I wouldn't say racist more than it is very very racially insensitive. You cant' deny that's how things were portrayed in the 40s. We can't whitewash the past.
2016-05-23 09:30:29 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think that it was racist. Sexist maybe. He implies that he just likes big butts. The only "white" dis was that Jane Fonda does not have a big butt, which we all know. I am white and I don't think it was racist. I love the song. It doesn't bother me. I don't have any junk in my trunk either, which may prove something...
2006-12-26 15:13:56 · answer #4 · answered by looloo1122 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I don't think the song is racist. People today are so insecure they feel the world is against their race and need to turn every issue into racism. Look at the Reverend Jesse Jackson. Every issue he comments on is based around racism when it never existed in the situation in the first place. Some people who preach about racism are those keeping it alive by inserting it into issues it never even existed. This song being a prime example.
2006-12-26 15:03:42 · answer #5 · answered by Peanut Butter 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I don't think it was considered racist. All the song was about was Mix Alot liking big butts. Nothing racist about it, at all.
2006-12-26 14:59:43 · answer #6 · answered by esugrad97 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
if what you are saying is correct, then of course its racist (whether implied or overt). There is a big double standard in America... "white men cant jump" is ok, but "blacks excell in sports" can cost one his/her job.
by the way: In no way am I defending Micheal Richards, but when he started blurting out the n word those men shot back with cracker this, cracker that...if the shoe were on the other foot, and a black comedian called audience members crackers and the crackers shot back with the n word what do you think might have happened?
2006-12-26 15:03:13 · answer #7 · answered by dr schmitty 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
i don't think the song is racist at all. sure people can assume that they are specifically talking about black women...but you can't. it's a funny song......why is the world so scrutinizing about things?
2006-12-26 14:59:18 · answer #8 · answered by Em 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
IT'S A SONG ABOUT WOMANS BUTT SO IT'S SEXIST
IT'S RACIST CAUSE IT SAYS IT'S SO BLACK
IT'S MAKING FUN OF BLACK GIRLS AND BLACK GIRLS ARE SHAKING THERE THINGS WITH BLACK MEN OGLING THEM
AS BLACK WOMAN I FIND THIS EXTREMELY RACIST AND OFFENSIVE BUT I GUESS IF UR NOT BLACK YOU JUST WON'T UNDERSTAND
2015-07-29 17:26:28 · answer #9 · answered by ? 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I didn't know it was racist, especially not toward white women. I know white girls with booty, so yeah.
2006-12-26 15:07:10 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋