You Know I'm Black, Right?: Difference between revisions

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* In ''New [[X-Men]]'', Rockslide taunts Anole, who's gay, by calling him a "big sissy". Anole immediately opens up a can of whoopass on him, which is kind of impressive considering Rockslide is twice his size and made out of lava, and Anole isn't exactly the biggest badass on the team. As it happens, Rockslide didn't know and was just being his usual insensitive self, but Anole's not interested in excuses.

* ''[[Astro City]]'' has a humorously overblown example. A boisterous comic book publisher releases a comic [[Very Loosely Based on a True Story]] in which the supervillain Glowworm is ascribed a white supremacist motivation that was not substantiated by the actual events. Glowworm, a monstrous glowing green man with a tail in place of legs, attacks the publisher at a comic convention:

{{quote| '''Glowworm:''' You know what color I am? You know what color I ''used'' to be?!?~~ ~~

{{quote|'''Glowworm:''' You know what color I am? You know what color I ''used'' to be?!?

'''Publisher:''' No, but I can make a guess...~~ ~~

'''Publisher:''' No, but I can make a guess...

'''Glowworm:''' ''Do you have any idea what my '''[[Even Bad Men Love Their Mamas|mother]]''' thought when she read this?!?''

'''Publisher:''' [[Bullying a Dragon|What does she think of your robbing banks?]] }}

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* In the film, ''[[The Jerk]]'', Navin (played by [[Steve Martin]]), after striking it rich, was talking to several financial advisers and people who wanted him to invest his newfound wealth. One guy was suggesting a housing/apartment complex and detailed that they would of course keep the "niggers" away. Navin, who was raised by a black family (oblivious to his own whiteness for decades), snapped at him, saying "Sir, you are talking to a nigger!" and proceeded to kick his ass with martial arts skills not shown before or after in the movie.

* At the beginning of ''[[Stand by Me]]'', Chris, Teddy, and Gordie are sitting in their tree-house, playing cards, when Chris decides to tell a joke.

{{quote| '''Chris:''' How do you know if a Frenchman has been in your back yard?~~ ~~

{{quote|'''Chris:''' How do you know if a Frenchman has been in your back yard?

'''Teddy:''' Hey, I'm French, okay?~~ ~~

'''Teddy:''' Hey, I'm French, okay?

'''Chris:''' Your garbage cans are empty and your dog's pregnant.~~ ~~

'''Chris:''' Your garbage cans are empty and your dog's pregnant.

''*Chris and Gordie laugh*''~~ ~~

''*Chris and Gordie laugh*''

'''Teddy:''' Didn't I just say I was French? }}

* There's a literal example of this in ''If You Could See What I Hear'', a biopic about blind musician Tom Sullivan. In bed, his new girlfriend asks him if it "feels different" making love to her because she's black, and he's surprised by the question because he hadn't even realized she was.

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* On one of Judge Miliani's cases in ''Court TV'', the plaintiff informed the judge that the defendents were - ''ugh'' - lawyers! ...It turns out, so are all judges.

* ''30 Rock'': Taken [[Up to Eleven]], to the point of parody. Jack proudly announces to a room full of old, white, rich, conservative business executives that he has a liberal girlfriend. Cue the other men coming out with all sorts of other "confessions"--their children went to public school, they listen to NPR, and . . .

* Subverted in the ''[[Chappelle's Show]]'' skit ''Black White Supremacist''. A blind black man grows up under the impression he is white. He becomes a prominent white supremacist writer until {{spoiler|he finds out he is black}}.

** Note that he stays a white supremacist. He even {{spoiler|leaves his wife for marrying a black man, even though this black man is himself}}

* In a [[Very Special Episode]] of ''[[Smart Guy (TV series)|Smart Guy]]'', Yvette and her friend Nina get jobs at a small store in the mall, where Nina is given the following job:

{{quote| '''Nina:''' It is my happy task to follow black people around the store to make sure they don't steal.~~ ~~

{{quote|'''Nina:''' It is my happy task to follow black people around the store to make sure they don't steal.

'''Yvette:''' You know this is going to affect our friendship. }}

** And in the Black History Month episode of ''[[Smart Guy (TV series)|Smart Guy]]'', Marcus, Mo, and Mackey (another [[Token White]]) each write a report on Jackie Robinson and have to read it in front of their class. Mackey has to go last, and when nobody claps after he's finished he says, "It's 'cause I'm white, isn't it?" Their white teacher nods.

* ''[[Degrassi the Next Generation]]'', "Pride, part 1": When Paige asks Spinner to carry her beach bag, which happens to be floral patterned, he tells her that he can't, because it make people will mistake him for a "homo". Spinner then realizes it was a mistake to say that in front of Paige's brother, Dylan, who is gay:

{{quote| '''Spinner:''' I didn't mean 'homo' as in 'gay', I mean 'homo' as in...~~ ~~

{{quote|'''Spinner:''' I didn't mean 'homo' as in 'gay', I mean 'homo' as in...

'''Dylan:''' ...Milk? }}

** Later, Jimmy catches Spinner writing ''Marco is Gay'' on a wall in the boy's bathroom, and says [[Narm|"What are you going to write next? ...Something about me being black?"]]

*** In uncensored versions he wrote the word ''Marco is a fag''.

* In ''[[Angel]]'', Cordelia calls Willow, who has broken up with her boyfriend and acquired a girlfriend in Cordy's absence, to ask her about her old friend Harmony's irritating behavior.

{{quote| '''Cordelia:''' (''on the phone'') Oh! Harmony's a ''vampire''! ...All this time I thought she'd become a great big lesbo! ([[Beat]]) Oh. Really? ...well, that's great! Good for you!~~ ~~

{{quote|'''Cordelia:''' (''on the phone'') Oh! Harmony's a ''vampire''! ...All this time I thought she'd become a great big lesbo! ([[Beat]]) Oh. Really? ...well, that's great! Good for you!

'''Willow:''' Thanks for the validation. }}

* A funny moment in ''[[Studio 60 On the Sunset Strip|Studio 60]]'', when the black junior writer asks his co-writer whether calling senior writers 'sir' is a 'white thing?' gets the response; 'I'm not white, I'm British.'

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* Similarly, Jake in ''[[Becker]]'': "I'm a blind black man, we just '''sail''' through life."

* The episode of ''[[Yes, Dear]]'' where Jimmy became a housemate on ''[[Big Brother]]'' might qualify here. Although nothing offensive was said, when Jimmy asks the resident [[Twofer Token Minority|black, gay housemate]] his opinion on the attractiveness of a female housemate, he responds with "You know I'm gay, right?". Jimmy attempts to correct himself and restart the conversation by making a remark about one of the men's abs instead.

{{quote| '''Black, Gay Guy (in confessional):''' "That's what I like about Jimmy. He didn't even seem to care that I'm gay.....or notice.....Tomorrow I'm gonna tell him that I'm black!"}}

{{quote|'''Black, Gay Guy (in confessional):''' "That's what I like about Jimmy. He didn't even seem to care that I'm gay.....or notice.....Tomorrow I'm gonna tell him that I'm black!"}}

* On episode of ''[[The George Lopez Show]]'' featured a racist scout leader for Max. During a discussion of how one can tell how different marks on an animal show whether they're aggressive, he mentions "Just like people." George questions this, to which he responds which one is cop gonna question, a cute blonde or a Mexican. George responds with this trope.

** '''Scout:''' I mean, yah, but I mean, well, not ''you guys.'' I mean those "me no speake" Mexicans.

* In one episode of ''[[Scrubs]]'', [[Dr. Jerk|Dr. Cox]] calls Turk "bro." Turk replies that "Bros don't even use bro. You're not as hip as you think you are." When Cox asks if Turk ''is'', Turk points out that he's black.

{{quote| '''Dr. Cox''': You're black? 'Cause last I checked you had a nerdy white best friend, you enjoy Neil Diamond, and you damn sure act like a black guy... and these, my friend, are all characteristics of ''white'' guys. Please understand, I'm a huge supporter of the NAACP. If you don't know what that stands for, it's the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. And quite frankly, I always thought they should change the "colored people" to "African-Americans," but then of course it wouldn't be the NAACP, it'd be the N-quad-A or NAAAA. And I know this probably sounds like a digression but actually brings me back to my original point... Do I think you're black? Naaaaaaah!}}

{{quote|'''Dr. Cox''': You're black? 'Cause last I checked you had a nerdy white best friend, you enjoy Neil Diamond, and you damn sure act like a black guy... and these, my friend, are all characteristics of ''white'' guys. Please understand, I'm a huge supporter of the NAACP. If you don't know what that stands for, it's the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. And quite frankly, I always thought they should change the "colored people" to "African-Americans," but then of course it wouldn't be the NAACP, it'd be the N-quad-A or NAAAA. And I know this probably sounds like a digression but actually brings me back to my original point... Do I think you're black? Naaaaaaah!}}

** Of course, this may not necessarily be any better on Cox's part, since he seems to be suggesting race is determined by behaviors, as if Turk is less "black" because he listens to Neil Diamond and is best friends with a white guy.

*** Of course, some would argue being born into any particular group carries with it some obligation to participate in that group's culture, but that's a question that's waaaaay above our pay grade...

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* In an episode of [[3rd Rock from the Sun]], Dick has this happen to him multiple times in the same few minutes, so, in order to prevent it from happening to him again, he puts a sticky note on his secretary reading 'Nina is Black'.

* In the Puppy episode of ''[[Ellen]]'' Ellen discussing coming out to her therapist, who is played by [[Oprah Winfrey]]:

{{quote| '''Ellen:''' ''You don't understand. Do you think I want to be discriminated against? Do you think I want people calling me names to my face?''~~ ~~

{{quote|'''Ellen:''' ''You don't understand. Do you think I want to be discriminated against? Do you think I want people calling me names to my face?''

'''Therapist:''' ''Have people commit hate crimes against you because you're not like them.''~~ ~~

'''Therapist:''' ''Have people commit hate crimes against you because you're not like them.''

'''Ellen:''' ''Thank you.''~~ ~~

'''Ellen:''' ''Thank you.''

'''Therapist:''' ''Have to use separate bathrooms and separate water fountains and sit on the back of the bus.''~~ ~~

'''Therapist:''' ''Have to use separate bathrooms and separate water fountains and sit on the back of the bus.''

'''Ellen:''' ''[[Comically Missing the Point|Oh man, we have to use separate water fountains?]]'' }}

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* In ''[[Red vs. Blue]]'', Church asks Tucker if he's black when he learns Tucker's first name is Lavernius. Tucker is annoyed that Church didn't know Tucker's race ''or'' Tucker's first name.

** Later, the Blue team sees someone wearing pink armour in the Red base. They gush over there being a girl over there, and how unfair it is that they didn't have one. Much to Tex's chagrin: 'You do realise that I'm a chick, right? And I'm standing right here?'

{{quote| '''Tucker''': ''Yeah, but we mean a '''girl''' girl!''~~ ~~

{{quote|'''Tucker''': ''Yeah, but we mean a '''girl''' girl!''

'''Tex''': ''And what the hell does '''that''' mean?''~~ ~~

'''Tex''': ''And what the hell does '''that''' mean?''

'''Tucker/Caboose:''' ''[[Dark Action Girl|Nothing!!!]]'' }}

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** Actually, with Woozie, Carl didn't know he was blind until an aide told him. Carl had trouble believing it because they were in a car race the week before. Also, to clarify, the 'no shit' answer was Carl doing a bad job at disguising the fact he already knew.

* ''[[Mass Effect]]''

{{quote| '''Shepard:''' "You? I said a badass, not some scout whining like a Quarian with a tummyache."~~ ~~

{{quote|'''Shepard:''' "You? I said a badass, not some scout whining like a Quarian with a tummyache."

'''Tali:''' "[[I'm Standing Right Here|I'm standing right here!]] }}

* In ''[[The Adventures of Sam & Max: Freelance Police|Sam and Max Freelance Police]] Season 2 Episode 1'', Bosco makes a comment that paranoia is 'what separates us from the animals'. Sam looks offended and caustically responds that the saying 'plays better with the [[Funny Animal|non-dog-and-rabbit crowd]]'.

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* Can happen in ''[[Dragon Age II]]'' if you're playing a mage Hawke and you choose the right set of responses when talking to Cullen after a quest. He'll say that "mages aren't people like you and me," even if you're wearing obvious robes, carrying a staff, and ''he's seen you casting spells in front of him during an earlier fight''.

** What's even funnier is that Hawke (yes, even Mage-Hawke) can agree with him. In front of your mage party members.

{{quote| '''Anders''': ...Why do you do this right in front of me?}}

{{quote|'''Anders''': ...Why do you do this right in front of me?}}

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* Parodied in ''[[Rob and Elliot]]''. Elliot makes a joke about a "dumb guy," prompting Rob to blow up in his face: "My mother was dumb! I'm half dumb!"

* In ''[[Loserz]]'', when [http://bukucomics.com/loserz/go/506 Carrie comments to Alice] that her friend Jess coming out of the closet is disturbing, Alice responds with something similar to this trope.

{{quote| '''Carrie:''' Doesn't that freak you out? Isn't that totally gross?~~ ~~

{{quote|'''Carrie:''' Doesn't that freak you out? Isn't that totally gross?

'''Alice:''' [[Let Me Get This Straight...]]. You're asking one of the only black girls at this school if she should be repulsed by somebody because she's different? }}

* In [http://www.somethingpositive.net/sp01072004.shtml this] ''[[Something Positive]]'' strip, a white male Pagan ran across a Davan-created webcomic taking a potshot at Wicca and works himself into a righteous anger over the "persecution":

{{quote| '''Pagan''': You'll never know what its like to live with the pain of your ancestors being oppresses for who they were! That they lived in fear because they might get lynched! To know that the suffered so I'd have the right to --~~ ~~

{{quote|'''Pagan''': You'll never know what its like to live with the pain of your ancestors being oppresses for who they were! That they lived in fear because they might get lynched! To know that the suffered so I'd have the right to --

[Panel with Kim (Black woman) staring at him]~~ ~~

[Panel with Kim (Black woman) staring at him]

'''Kim''': Do you need some time to comprehend why saying that to me makes you stupid?~~ ~~

'''Kim''': Do you need some time to comprehend why saying that to me makes you stupid?

'''Pagan''': ...No, I think I've got that figured out. }}

** [[Inverted]] in another: Aubrey is reprimanding one of her employees, who accuses her of being prejudiced against white people. Aubrey points out that she's half-white (the other half is Asian).

* In ''[[RPG World]]'', Soldier #347 makes elf jokes to Plum. Due to his poor vision, he doesn't realize Plum is an elf.

* ''[[8-Bit Theater (Webcomic)|Eight Bit Theater]]'' likewise combines this with [[Fantastic Racism]] when Red Mage, in the process of explaining one of his needlessly complex and stupid plans, is interrupted by Black Mage, while standing right next to Thief;

{{quote| '''Black Mage:''' Let me stop you right there before I am honor-bound to cut you like an elven whore.~~ ~~

{{quote|'''Black Mage:''' Let me stop you right there before I am honor-bound to cut you like an elven whore.

'''Thief:''' Hold on. ''Elven whore?'' Do I even have to explain why that's offensive to me?~~ ~~

'''Thief:''' Hold on. ''Elven whore?'' Do I even have to explain why that's offensive to me?

'''Black Mage:''' Look, if [[Your Mom|your mother]] had made dresses, I would have called her a tailor instead. }}

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** Though the questions makes sense from Starfire since she's an alien and hangs out with the very colorful Teen Titans. It'd make sense that she'd never come across racism.

* On ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender]]'', Toph's friends (especially Sokka) have a tendency to forget that she's blind. This tends to lead to [[Deadpan Snarker|many of Toph's great one-liners.]]

{{quote| ''Sokka'': It's so dark in here, I can't see a thing!~~ ~~

{{quote|''Sokka'': It's so dark in here, I can't see a thing!

''Toph'': [[Sarcasm Mode|Oh no, what a nightmare!]] }}

** Subverted in the finale when Sokka, Toph and Suki take over a Fire Nation airship:

{{quote| ''Toph'': Oh, sure, ask the blind girl to pilot the airship.~~ ~~

{{quote|''Toph'': Oh, sure, ask the blind girl to pilot the airship.

''Sokka'': Actually, I was talking to Suki.~~ ~~

''Sokka'': Actually, I was talking to Suki.

''Toph'': Oh. That would make more sense. }}

** In Sokka's defense, Toph could "see" well enough with her [[Disability Superpower]] that it's pretty easy to see how he could forget she was impaired.

* The ''[[Archer]]'' episode "Diversity Hire" has a lot of fun with [[But Not Too Black|Lana]] getting this treatment from her coworkers because she views [[Twofer Token Minority|Conway]] as a possible mole.

{{quote| '''Malory''': What are you, deaf ''and'' racist?~~ ~~

{{quote|'''Malory''': What are you, deaf ''and'' racist?

'''Lana''': ''Racist''? I'm black--~~ ~~

'''Lana''': ''Racist''? I'm black--

'''Malory''': Oh, put it back in the deck. }}

* Used in an episode of [[Sixteen|6Teen]]. While trying to ditch a crazy stalker girl, she thinks Jude and Wyatt are identical twins. Now go over to the page. Wyatt is the black guy in the red sweater. Jude is the skater dude in the ski cap. This finally leads Wyatt to snap, delivering this little gem.

{{quote| '''Wyatt:''' We're ''not'' '''''twins'''''! ''I'm'' black, and ''he's'' '''''white'''''!}}

{{quote|'''Wyatt:''' We're ''not'' '''''twins'''''! ''I'm'' black, and ''he's'' '''''white'''''!}}

* ''[[My Life as a Teenage Robot]]'': Tuck manages several times in "The Wonderful World of Wizzly".

{{quote| '''Jenny:''' You think you're better than them!~~ ~~

{{quote|'''Jenny:''' You think you're better than them!

'''Tuck:''' DUH! They're just stupid robots! (Cue Tuck's POV of [[Bullying a Dragon|the 6-and-a-half foot, 600 pound]] [[Swiss Army Gun|walking weapons platform]] giving him the [[Death Glare]]) }}

* On ''[[King of the Hill]],'' Kahn had a chance to join a ritzy all-Asian country club, but only if he helped get Hank to join as their [[Token White]]. When Kahn expresses outrage at Hank's refusal, Hank exasperatedly comments that Kahn "wouldn't understand" his reasoning. Kahn responds that ''no,'' of course he wouldn't understand what it's like to be a [[Token Minority|token]] member of a group.

{{quote| '''Kahn:''' Oh yes, I wouldn't understand. My original last name is Smith! [[Sarcasm Mode|I just changed it to Souphanousinphone when I moved to Texas!]]}}

{{quote|'''Kahn:''' Oh yes, I wouldn't understand. My original last name is Smith! [[Sarcasm Mode|I just changed it to Souphanousinphone when I moved to Texas!]]}}