I don't think Asians being mellow is a real stereotype I've ever heard before. I've heard the "model minority" one before.
The feeling is mutual, brah. Oh, if what I posted was not what "I think," what do you think what I think?
"you go to any asian country they can turn a television into a watch" Reggie White When Kobe was charged with rape in CO, they were talking about the topic on the Jim Rome show. So some stupid black caller calls in and says, that Kobe probably tried to do something that he though white girls did if you took them home, as opposed to black, as opposed to whatever. Needless to say, Jim Rome ripped him a new one So after the call and after Rome ranting on the guy, someone sends an email in saying "Jim, I took this asian girl home, and she turned my television into a watch" signed Reggie Hilarious
I'm not Asian, but my family is. I'm not saying being mellow isn't a stereotype. I'm saying it isn't one that I've ever heard before.
Let's just say it could be thought as being Uncle Tom, you know, nice and mellow. I am pretty sure some Black folks don't particularly like Uncle Tom stereotype.
actually, that's what I thought you meant and I can see that as a negative stereotype of asians. not necessarily uncle tomish but I know what you mean.
I think y'all are reading way to much into Lowery's comments. I think he was just looking for a funny sounding rhyme and nothing more. I found it odd but I doubt there was much deeper meaning behind it.. As for this having anything to do with the Rodney King Riots that was 16 years ago and I don't think that has much bearing on Obama or Rev. Lowery.
Oh I agree, I just see what wnes is saying about the negative stereotype, I think lowery was just trying to rhyme as you say
The first thing I said was that he probably just wanted to rhyme mellow with yellow. I agreed with whoever asked that question to begin with. The rest of the discussion was just for debating the theoretical.
Everyone here clearly wasn't into music during the mid-'60's. I will attempt to educate you, in my humble way, and enlighten the denizens of D&D to the origins of Mellow Yellow. Mellow Yellow - I'm just mad about Saffron Saffron's mad about me I'm just mad about Saffron She's just mad about me {Refrain} They call me mellow yellow (Quite rightly) They call me mellow yellow (Quite rightly) They call me mellow yellow I'm just mad about Fourteen Fourteen's mad about me I'm just mad about Fourteen She's just mad about me {Refrain} Born high forever to fly Wind velocity nil Wanna high forever to fly If you want your cup our fill {Refrain} (So mellow, he's so yellow) Electrical banana Is gonna be a sudden craze Electrical banana Is bound to be the very next phase They call it mellow yellow (Quite rightly) They call me mellow yellow (Quite rightly) They call me mellow yellow Saffron -- yeah I'm just mad about her I'm just mad about Saffron She's just mad about me {Refrain} (Oh so yellow, oh so mellow) Written by Mister Donovan Leitch and recorded in 1966 in England, released in the States in 1967, where it was a huge hit. No, it wasn't a reference to whatever might find its way into a toilet. I know what the reference refers to, but I'm not going to tell you (ha!). Jack Bruce played the bass, by the way. I saw Donovan perform it, and a heck of a lot more, during three concerts that I can remember (it was 40 years ago, people, so excuse my memory). Rev. Lowery certainly recalls the lyric and decided it would work perfectly into his gentle call for racial equality. Any attempt, with all due respect, to find something "offensive" about it is, in my opinion, utterly stupid, and forgiven by me due to lack of knowledge on the part of those who found it so. the album cover released here - I have two copies of the LP in my collection. The gentleman is still singing, still touring, still sounds incredible live, so if you ever get the chance to see him, I highly recommend it! The man has a unique voice. Some think it is electronically "enhanced," but it is all Donovan. I hoped that cleared up some of the confusion.
Even if Lowery meant no ill will towards Asians by using some harmless, rhymed lyrics from a 60's song endearing to certain old hippie, it still doesn't make sense to me. Do you not notice every single one of other colored (including the white) races is not only rhymed, but also with specific hint related to either historical or contemporary event that means significantly important to it? Yet for the yellow race, it's just rhyme, nothing else, huh? You are not telling me that the Reverend was unaware that there were racial injustices done to Asians, and stereotypes are still abound? I don't see anybody here is able to offer a reasonable explanation to the "mellow yellow" other than the superficial rhyme thingy. It feels like the yellow is being left out, at most just a filler, an after-thought only to be inserted into the concept of race rainbow to make the whole thing look more appealing, both visually and soncially, to the general, mostly non-Asian, audience. FB's mention of Koreans standing up to protect themselves during the 1992 LA riot is relevant to the discussion because he attempted to address the perception of Asian being "mellow." But, for the reason I stated earlier -- that no race can afford not to rise up to self-protect in situation like that, the "mellow yellow" stereotype, or the lack of it if you insist, cannot be construed.
Actually I wasn't saying that Asians aren't mellow because they stood up for themselves. I'm saying that if Lowery was saying that Asians should be allowed to be mellow rather than have to do the work of the police because the police abandoned them, it would still a step forward toward righting a wrong that exists in our society. Sorry if it wasn't clear enough before
That would certainly make sense if the Reverend meant that way. And it would seem that the tension between the Koreans and the Blacks in the LA riot struck him profoundly. All speculations, though.
It doesn't make sense to me either. The whole last rhyming bit of his sermon though doesn't make much sense to me either. I mean when he says "When Black doesn't have to give back." Give back what? Is he talking about the idea of reversing affirmative action? If he is talking about the struggle for Civil Rights that wasn't about blacks giving something back it was about trying to get rights they weren't granted. I'm sure he is aware of racial injustices but I'm also sure he couldn't come up with anything else that rhymes with "yellow" and frankly I'm not above ruling out senility on his part. That last rhyming bit struck me more as an old Reverend stuck with doing things in a certain way but probably past his prime when it comes to wordsmithing. He was looking to put a nice note on diversity in a particular style and that was the best he could come up with. And my guess is that is probably all there is to it. It is just filler from a guy who the only thing he could think of that rhymes with "yellow" is "mellow." I very strongly doubt the Rodney King riots have anything to do with it as they were so long ago and have nothing to do with Obama. Just for the sake of argument if we are going to read what Lowrey said perhaps he was meaning that Asians can be mellow because we don't have to worry about racism. To me that would seem to make a lot more sense than him saying that Asians need to relax and not work so hard or that the Koreans shouldn't have been shooting back at rioters. That said I don't read much into his statement and while I think it is odd I see no reason to get worked up about it. As I said if we are going to get worked up why aren't you worked up about Obama leaving Buddhists out of his speech? [rquoter]We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, and nonbelievers. [/rquoter]
I gave you, in my opinion, a very reasonable explanation, wnes, and you simply choose to dismiss or ignore it. "Even if Lowery meant no ill will towards Asians by using some harmless, rhymed lyrics from a 60's song endearing to (a) certain old hippie, it still doesn't make sense to me." Did you see the reaction of the crowd and the reaction of the President, himself? I wasn't the only person (or "old hippie," if you prefer) who "got it." You have, in my opinion, a real problem with self-esteem. To go to such lengths in an attempt to find something you clearly view as "racist" in Rev. Lowery's prayer is, with all due respect, a reach that would stretch across Lady Bird Lake here in Austin. I'm beginning to feel sorry for you. I would hate to go through life looking for a "racist" under every pillow, or on every podium. You should try to relax a bit and enjoy life. We aren't around forever, you know.
Not give back - get back. http://blueslyrics.tripod.com/artis...broonzy_1.htm#black_brown_and_white_version 2
