signalmankenneth
Verified User
We teach children two contradictory lessons about the truth. The first is not to lie. The second is that you sometimes need to lie to avoid hurt feelings. The newest anti-racism PSA put out by Cartoon Network cleverly exploits both lessons. In the ad, Pearl from ‘Steven Universe’ informs students that there are problems with the way schools are teaching them history:
“I worry about you humans. Because you only live, what, about a hundred years? And you rely on these stories to know your own history.”
Given that Pearl is an alien with an extended lifespan, her observation is fair. Because human lives are finite, we have no choice but to rely on stories passed down by our elders as a chronicle of our civilization and achievements. In this endeavor, truth serves a uniquely important function.
She tells the story of Lewis Latimer, Black inventor of the filament inside lightbulbs, who receives scant if any mention in the textbooks in favor of white science savior Thomas Alva Edison. That’s a “One To Grow On” moment that anyone but the most fervent bigot can get behind. But that’s not what this PSA is really about. Pearl moves onto the meat of her argument:
“Thanks to systemic racism, most of your storytellers prioritized white accomplishments which leaves you with an incomplete picture. These textbooks are incomplete. There were Black Roman warriors, Black medieval knights, Black classical musicians, Black cowboys, Black fighter pilots. Where are they?”
https://bookandfilmglobe.com/politics/cartoon-network-joins-the-critical-race-theory-revolution/
Yasuke Black Samurai statue in Japan
The anime movie Afro Samurai is based on him!
“I worry about you humans. Because you only live, what, about a hundred years? And you rely on these stories to know your own history.”
Given that Pearl is an alien with an extended lifespan, her observation is fair. Because human lives are finite, we have no choice but to rely on stories passed down by our elders as a chronicle of our civilization and achievements. In this endeavor, truth serves a uniquely important function.
She tells the story of Lewis Latimer, Black inventor of the filament inside lightbulbs, who receives scant if any mention in the textbooks in favor of white science savior Thomas Alva Edison. That’s a “One To Grow On” moment that anyone but the most fervent bigot can get behind. But that’s not what this PSA is really about. Pearl moves onto the meat of her argument:
“Thanks to systemic racism, most of your storytellers prioritized white accomplishments which leaves you with an incomplete picture. These textbooks are incomplete. There were Black Roman warriors, Black medieval knights, Black classical musicians, Black cowboys, Black fighter pilots. Where are they?”
https://bookandfilmglobe.com/politics/cartoon-network-joins-the-critical-race-theory-revolution/
Yasuke Black Samurai statue in Japan
The anime movie Afro Samurai is based on him!