Is the Mummer's Parade 'Racist?' (Philadelphia: 2015, living, best place)

[Better Than You]

I don't see it, but others do. Why do you think it is or isn't 'racist?'

[rotodome]

What is the significance of the quotation marks?

[CarbonCountyLiving]

I'm going to say that someone who stated in the last thread that "White people don't care if they are called racist" isn't going to be convinced that anything is racist, so why even bother having this discussion?

[jazzy jeff]

No, not in the least bit!!

[Better Than You]

Originally Posted by CarbonCountyLiving

I'm going to say that someone who stated in the last thread that "White people don't care if they are called racist" isn't going to be convinced that anything is racist, so why even bother having this discussion?

You don't have to convince me of anything. But, why do you consider the parade to be 'racist?'

[Craziaskowboi]

Everything is "racist" if you actively seek out things to be offended by.

[rotodome]

Using quotations around the word implies that you don't actually mean racist, or perhaps don't believe in the concept, which does affect the meaning of the thread topic.
Hence the request for clarification.

Now to answer the question, ignoring the quotation marks.

First of all: I'm a Philadephian, I am not white, and I like the Mummers. I think that they make Philly the best place I know to be on New Years Day.

That said: Every year, almost without exception, there are brigades or individuals in the parade who put on ethnic themed routines that feature performers in brown-face, red-face, yellow-face, etc and even blackface (even though it was banned). And every year it offends some people and causes controversy. Why do they do it, year after year? The answer to the question, if asked, is almost invariably that it's part of Mummers tradition.
Sooo... what does that say about Mummers tradition?
Are there perhaps some things that could and should be changed, and possibly expunged from Mummers tradition, seeing as it is the year 2015, and the Mummers are one of Philadelphia's signature traditions, and Philly wants to be taken seriously as a city on the national/international stage? I think so.

I also think that some of the anti illegal immigrant stuff in the last couple of parades was, if not racist, in pretty poor taste at best, considering the modern day demographics of South Philly.
This should be a parade for all Philadelphians, not one that alienates groups of Philadelphians. That might even help with the dwindling turnouts.

[CarbonCountyLiving]

Originally Posted by rotodome

Using quotations around the word implies that you don't actually mean racist, or perhaps don't believe in the concept, which does affect the meaning of the thread topic.
Hence the request for clarification.

Now to answer the question, ignoring the quotation marks.

First of all: I'm a Philadephian, I am not white, and I like the Mummers. I think that they make Philly the best place I know to be on New Years Day.

That said: Every year, almost without exception, there are brigades or individuals in the parade who put on ethnic themed routines that feature performers in brown-face, red-face, yellow-face, etc and even blackface (even though it was banned). And every year it offends some people and causes controversy. Why do they do it, year after year? The answer to the question, if asked, is almost invariably that it's part of Mummers tradition.
Sooo... what does that say about Mummers tradition?
Are there perhaps some things that could and should be changed, and possibly expunged from Mummers tradition, seeing as it is the year 2015, and the Mummers are one of Philadelphia's signature traditions, and Philly wants to be taken seriously as a city on the national/international stage? I think so.

I also think that some of the anti illegal immigrant stuff in the last couple of parades was, if not racist, in pretty poor taste at best, considering the modern day demographics of South Philly.
This should be a parade for all Philadelphians, not one that alienates groups of Philadelphians. That might even help with the dwindling turnouts.

This is a good answer, other than the part about the Mummer Parade being one of the best things about Philly. It's nice to watch on TV or at the performance stand, but once they got past the crowded areas they seemed to lose all class. There's nothjng enjoyable, IMO, about watching fat middle-aged men walk down Broad Street while getting drunk and smoking.

[Better Than You]

Originally Posted by rotodome

Using quotations around the word implies that you don't actually mean racist, or perhaps don't believe in the concept, which does affect the meaning of the thread topic.
Hence the request for clarification.

Now to answer the question, ignoring the quotation marks.

First of all: I'm a Philadephian, I am not white, and I like the Mummers. I think that they make Philly the best place I know to be on New Years Day.

That said: Every year, almost without exception, there are brigades or individuals in the parade who put on ethnic themed routines that feature performers in brown-face, red-face, yellow-face, etc and even blackface (even though it was banned). And every year it offends some people and causes controversy. Why do they do it, year after year? The answer to the question, if asked, is almost invariably that it's part of Mummers tradition.
Sooo... what does that say about Mummers tradition?
Are there perhaps some things that could and should be changed, and possibly expunged from Mummers tradition, seeing as it is the year 2015, and the Mummers are one of Philadelphia's signature traditions, and Philly wants to be taken seriously as a city on the national/international stage? I think so.

I also think that some of the anti illegal immigrant stuff in the last couple of parades was, if not racist, in pretty poor taste at best, considering the modern day demographics of South Philly.
This should be a parade for all Philadelphians, not one that alienates groups of Philadelphians. That might even help with the dwindling turnouts.

I was using the quotes because a couple of posters deemed the parade 'racist' the other day.

I agree with some that a little more diversity would help the parade, but it needs to be done fairly, not through some sort of affirmative action nonsense.

[Better Than You]

Originally Posted by CarbonCountyLiving

This is a good answer, other than the part about the Mummer Parade being one of the best things about Philly. It's nice to watch on TV or at the performance stand, but once they got past the crowded areas they seemed to lose all class. There's nothjng enjoyable, IMO, about watching fat middle-aged men walk down Broad Street while getting drunk and smoking.

But, why do YOU think the parade is 'racist?'