Meet Norbit: Disgrace to Black Women

[jitterbug13]

All I see is a combo of Bowfinger/Nutty Professor/Big Mama's House/The Jerk/Coming To America. Maybe that's just me.

[pinkies up]

After really thinking about it, I guess it's the same as Little Man, Soul Plane, and White Chicks. Maybe it's not meant to offend people, but to purely entertain. I guess if people are laughing, they don't find anything offensive about it. The truth of the matter is that when there's "controversy", it'll make a lot of money.

[thesweetestone]

I saw the trailer during the previews last week when I saw Dreamgirls. I thought it was funny. I was not offended.

Did black men protest and get offened when Eddie did the Nutty Professor? If they didn't why should we?

[prettynatural]

I saw the trailer and it pulled laughs from me but I was offended at the same time. I don't know how I feel about it. I mean it is funny but on a deeper level Ithink it is wrong and is not a positive portrayal of black women. Each to his or her own.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by prettynatural

I saw the trailer and it pulled laughs from me but I was offended at the same time. I don't know how I feel about it. I mean it is funny but on a deeper level Ithink it is wrong and is not a positive portrayal of black women. Each to his or her own.

Well it's really hard for it to be about "each to his or her own" when there's a petition and you said it's a negative portrayal of a group of people.

[Honeykiss1974]

I've just seen the trailer and from what I've seen I'm not offended or anything. Maybe if the Norbit's girlfriend was the ONLY type of black woman portrayed in the movie but she isn't. But anyway, I probably won't see this because it just doesn't look interesting.

This controversy is very similiar to that surrouning Tyler Perry's Madea character.

[lilbay77]

The movie looks like it's going to be hilarious.

[BlessedOne04]

I saw Eddie on Inside the Actors Studio and he discussed the Norbit character. Personally I didn't take offense maybe because I know a woman who beats her husband. I'll have to check the movie out!

[pinkies up]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

Well it's really hard for it to be about "each to his or her own" when there's a petition and you said it's a negative portrayal of a group of people.

Read my "updated" post. I had a little more time to digest my thoughts after thinking about it. Yes, I did laugh at the trailor; it was funny. However, I do have to think about the people who may feel it is offending them. I don't think Eddie purposely made this movie to direspect anyone; he did it to entertain. We have to be careful about the types of stereotypes we're saying "oh, it's okay" to as well.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by pinkies up

Read my "updated" post. I had a little more time to digest my thoughts after thinking about it. Yes, I did laugh at the trailor; it was funny. However, I do have to think about the people who may feel it is offending them. I don't think Eddie purposely made this movie to direspect anyone; he did it to entertain. We have to be careful about the types of stereotypes we're saying "oh, it's okay" to as well.

Are you also prettynatural or were you just informing me of your update?

[mccoyred]

Originally Posted by jitterbug13

All I see is a combo of Bowfinger/Nutty Professor/Big Mama's House/The Jerk/Coming To America. Maybe that's just me.

No, its not just you, soror. This is exactly what I thought. This petition for THIS movie seems out of left field.

I can think of several other movies and artistic works that deserve this type of petition. In fact, I just signed one protesting the exclusion of Black girls from the pantheon of Disney princesses.

[SummerChild]

I'd like to sign this petition. Do you know where I can locate it?
SC

Originally Posted by mccoyred

No, its not just you, soror. This is exactly what I thought. This petition for THIS movie seems out of left field.

I can think of several other movies and artistic works that deserve this type of petition. In fact, I just signed one protesting the exclusion of Black girls from the pantheon of Disney princesses.

[mccoyred]

Originally Posted by SummerChild

I'd like to sign this petition. Do you know where I can locate it?
SC

Its on the same petition website at http://www.petitiononline.com/disneybp/petition.html.

[MsFoxyLoxy77]

I don't see anything particularly new or interesting about Norbit so I doubt I will see the movie. As far a the petition, I read it and I found its argument mediocre at best. As Soror SummerChild stated the petition was more about a light skin vs. dark skin issue.

The petition goes on to say something like the villainous woman is fat and dark skinned and Norbit's savior is thin and light skinned with European features. In most stories unattractive people have always been painted as villains so showing a big bullying woman as an anti-hero doesn't surprise me...you'll see this type of portrayal in white flicks. Also, IMHO Thandie Newton's features are not that European, her skin tone is light but other than that her features are not uncommon for black women (i.e. nose, eye color, etc.).

I'm obviously not signing this petition & Eddie keep making movies...

[btb87]

Three words for everyone: Save. Your. Money.