[Sahara]

I was reading a lot of the posts and I wanted to comment. When I saw the trailer I originally thought it was funny, then I was a bit offended, then I had to think about what was so offensive.

*The fat issue: Eddie Murphy is not the first to make fat jokes and will not be the last. I think because it has to do with black women (who are constantly criticized about being fat) that it seems more offensive. This also is NOT the same as the nutty professor character. That character was portrayed as being a sweet person in spite of his size. There are other fat characters that act like buffoons that nobody has a problem with (pretty much every Chris Farley or John Candy character, many Anthony Anderson characters, and Monique's character on The Parkers). Maybe it's because he put on a suit that it seems more offensive. People got up in arms about Shallow Hal, too.

*The skin color issue: Yes, I believe he has a personal preference for light-skinned women. So what? That's his business. This is also not the first time a darker woman was portrayed as stereotypical while the light-skinned woman was the heroine. ('Mo Money with Stacy Dash, Shananay vs. Tisha Cambell on Martin, etc.). Plus, since Eddie himself is dark-skinned, he would have to put in extra effort (and time in makeup) to consciously make his character lighter.

Although I pointed out why people shouldn't be offended, I still was even if it was just a little bit. I guess I wonder if my problem has to do with this movie in particular or the way black women are portrayed in the media in general. This movie just seems to shine a spotlight on problems that are already there.