As an intelligent, articulate voice that represents Indians on the global stage, when Priyanka Chopra speaks, many listen. She spoke on a TV show about several topics ahead of Season 3 of her hit TV show, Quantico. She also spoke about the racism inherent in the depiction of characters such as Apu in the animation series The Simpsons. Listen to what she says and see if you agree with the various reactions to what she said:
She points out that the accent is really inaccurate and it was the bane of her growing years. She speaks of how, since the time the show aired, the number of Indians in the US has increased and how the character of Apu has now come in for criticism because of increased awareness and so on.
A great many people – Indians as well as Indians living the US – thought that Chopra put forward her view precisely and succinctly.
It was OK to call people negroes earlier, it isn’t now. Apartheid was a state policy at one point; now the very idea horrifies every decent human being. That we are becoming more sensitive to offensive stereotypes and rejecting them is about evolution. As we become saner, more accepting and inclusive, there will be things that we no longer deem to be OK merely because it is presented to us in the guise of humour.
Those who are disgruntled about a comment and have no cogent reply to it will usually resort to whataboutery. They will demand that if one bad thing is condemned, every other bad thing must also be condemned for that condemnation to have legitimacy. If not, in the universe of whataboutery, that condemnation is suspect, without merit and is a sign of selective outrage.
This commentator feels that Apu is not a derogatory stereotype; in fact it portrays immigrants as hardworking entrepreneurs who invest in their communities. Fair enough.
Stereotypes are not all bad, and many of us can most certainly benefit from a crash course in learning to take a joke. However, stereotyping becomes problematic when it results in slurs, jeering and bullying in school and other social situations. What made Apu problematic wasn’t just his accent (sorry Hank Azaria, no real Indian ever had that accent) and his color and his predictable occupation. He was also shown to be weak and not very bright.
By articulating his ignorance, he pretty much illustrated how the creation of a character like Apu can be problematic for an entire Diaspora.
Chopra is sometimes criticised for not speaking out on controversial subjects. However, as a celebrity it is up to her to choose what she feels strongly enough about or when she wishes to speak up. The point is that she uses her celebrity responsibly to take a stand on issues and in the event she can and does make a difference.
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