This photo of GMA-7's upcoming afternoon drama Nita Negrita has caused some negative reactions from the netizens when it was uploaded by Carlos Celdran on Twitpic, but more so when Chuvaness dedicated a blog entry to the pic.
Some call it offensive, some call it racist.
But come on, that word had been in our history books ever since. Our aborigines, after all, are called Negritos. It's not as if the network chose that title to be an insult to the dark-skinned Filipinos.
Why bash this show when racism is more apparent on whitening soap/lotion tv commercials, hair straightening shampoo ads, etc?
I hope people would be open-minded about this show which stars the uber cute Barbie Forteza and Joshua Dionisio. It will premiere this coming February 14, Monday, on GMA-7's Hapontastic.
yes this is very offensive. our ancestors were indeed called negritos but comes with that too is the long history of discrimination and racism we experienced during the colonization period. the term has derogatory meaning to it... the concept is wrong... the make-up is insulting... why do we keep on making this type of shows for the international market?? Nobody wants to see this type of shows anymore. I am embarrassed that my countrymen are still fed with such backward concept of beauty and self-identification. It's 2011 folks not the 40's... I fight steretypes and racism in the US... I stand for equality of race and I come home and see this show and I'm supposed to be entertained by it? Am I supposed to say "Oh yes, because my ancestors are negritos and it is ok for them to call me negrita!" Isn't it when we used this word it usually connotes negative reference?(otherwise it won't be used to tease others) Also, we have to understand that along with this term is the constant reminder of the oppression. Remember folks that we are discriminating our own here. Other countries could care less about it because to them we are still who we are.. no matter how much skin bleach we put on our skin, we will never be "white" in their eyes.. we still have to check the box that indicates Filipino. I am being proud of being a Filipino- kayumannging kaligatan. My descendants are negritos and I practice my culture wherever I go. My features are those acquired from my Filipino ancestors. I am deeply offended to be refered to as Negrita because that is not all who I am. I love God, I am educated, has a stable professional job, very active in culture-awareness programs, and has a nice loving family. While it is right not to forget where we came from and be proud of it, it is also important to think that being a person goes beyond the skin color...
ReplyDeleteof course this is offensive! very much indeed. why is it when a filipino is discriminated by other people, we instantly think of SUING? if a Black decided to sue this show, why stop them? it's hipocrasy! and this really showed our 'true colors' as a filipino, we insult those who have a darker skin than ours. like that scene in the baptism of Nita. and yes it is very rascist too, and very unbelievable; dark skin and then straight hair? most people who are half black still has kinky or curly hair, whether their other nationality is asian, white, or indian etc... i'm only commenting in defense of my friend who is from afghanistan. and i'm a filipino too, to prove it "ang show na ito ay offensive para sa akin kaya ako nagsusulat ng comment tungkol dito matapos makanood ng isaang episode ng Nita Negrita." i'm glad actors are taking risks for roles like this, but there is such a thing as being too much. just another protagonist who acts like a saint who confronts problems at every episode, against at such a demonic antagonist and then it all ends well in the end. Barbie doesn't deserved to be remembered as another one of 'that girl' kind of shows.
ReplyDeleteWell these people are talking as if they're Americans. Yes, for the US the term "negro" is offensive because for them it means "nigger" which is the very derogatory and insulting term they use for African Americans but for us Filipinos, in the Filipino language, it "negro" has always simply meant "black" as it with the Spanish language where in fact we borrowed the very word. And please, we have an indigenous tribe here in the Philippine we call Negritos--the Aetas--right? And besides I hardly think this show was made to offend dark-skinned people. I admit really don't watch GMA 7 but most probably what this program does is expose the discrimination against dark-skinned people. Also, the blogger's quite right, those commercials on whitening products can be said as being more racist.
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