ADL Blasts 'Ghettopoly' for Racist Content, Says Game's Stereotypes of Blacks Offensive & Degrading

releases.usnewswire.com ^

[chance33_98]

ADL Blasts 'Ghettopoly' for Racist Content, Says Game's Stereotypes of Blacks Offensive and Degrading

10/10/03 1:42:00 PM

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To: National Desk

Contact: Myrna Shinbaum, 212-885-7747, or Todd Gutnick, 212-885-7755, both of the Anti-Defamation League

NEW YORK, Oct. 10 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today blasted the board game "Ghettopoly," saying that the recently released game's use of racist wordplay, caricatures and stereotypes of African-Americans is "offensive, demeaning and degrading."

"It is outrageous that someone would take a venerable American game and pervert it in an effort to make a profit from bigotry," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL national director. "'Ghettopoly' is filled with offensive, demeaning and degrading stereotypes of African-Americans. There is nothing fun or funny about making a game filled with racist content. It is beyond insensitive. It is perverse, it is shocking, and it is destructive."

A takeoff on the classic Parker Brothers "Monopoly" game, "Ghettopoly" enables "playas" to buy chop-shop properties and chicken and rib establishments while building "crack houses" and projects. Among the game's racist contents are stereotypical images of Black people, who are shown as minstrel-like pimps, prostitutes and hustlers. In "Ghettopoly," the bank is renamed "Da Loan Shark." Contestants must avoid being shot or drug addicted, though getting "yo whole neighborhood addicted to crack" earns $50 from other players. Other minorities, including Hispanics and Jews, are stereotyped and caricatured as well.

"The game flaunts, celebrates and profits from the worst stereotypes and negative images of Black America," said Foxman. "'Ghettopoly' ought to offend and dismay decent people of any background."

[Migraine]

I beg to differ. This game appears, in a humorous sort of way, much more benign racially than, say, MTV, which, hour by hour, provides an endless string of degrading stereotypes about African-A's. Trouble is, those who enjoy those stereotypes fail to see them as such. I mean, I flip to that channel and instantly, I have side-splitting laughter, much the same as when I watch Amos 'n Andy reruns. Talk about your stereotypes.

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[GeronL]

They have helped sell a lot more of these games too

[gitmo]

Ghettopoly

[gitmo]

Their website says there are more games on the way: Hoodopoly, HipHopOpoly, Thugopoly and RedNeckopoly. I'll get RedNeckopoly!

[Paul Atreides]

Actors, such as Martin Lawrence and Chris Rock, have built their careers on stereotypes. Also, if you ever check across BET, there is a show called Comic View, featuring some very funny comedians. They make jokes about ALL races and are very funny.

[hasegawasama]

Heh. Why does the ADL care about ghetto blacks when most of them hate Jews?

[rottweiller_inc]

"It is outrageous that someone would take a venerable American game and pervert it in an effort to make a profit from bigotry,"

I guess this would be as opposed to those who play the race card card and form clubs based on race profiting from bigotry