Cree Dueker

Professor Derrais Carter

Black Satire in Literature and Film
23 April 2014
Satire and the Brute

The stereotype that these commercials evoke is that of the violent black man; one that
must be apprehended by the more intelligent and forceful white man. Historically this stereotype
can be linked back to the violent buck which connotes to the man being less than human and
more animalistic as well as being driven by his violent and primal urges. This is reinforced by
the CSA Runaways commercial which is a spoof of the ever popular show Cops in which the
people are forcefully arrested for trying to become free. It features white men forcibly removing
women and children from their homes as well as smashing a mans face into the grass in the
process of arresting him. It is also reinforced in the real life Mountain Dew commercial in which
there is a police line-up consisting exclusively of black men and a goat. This not only gives us
the idea that black men and goats are on the same level but also that they are of the same
intelligence. It is also important to note that the victim and supporting officers are all white. Both
of these commercials can be linked through history to the first type of police to come about
which were white men patrolling at night for escaped slaves who were often taken down/arrested
using excessive force which would be defined today as police brutality. Racial profiling by the
police is not only historic but can also be seen today. Although on an individual level we as
people are able to refute or analyze these stereotypes and see their folly their effects as well as
the effects of slavery are not only historically present but also present in our power structures and
popular culture.

Both of these commercials were fictitious and created by black men. The rapper Tyler the
Creator has since apologized for his work in the commercial but could this be seen as his attempt
at satire which was wrongly interpreted by the public? And what can be said for the fact that this
commercial made it to air despite its racism? The only problem with deeming this commercial as
non-offensive due to it being satirical is the lack of wrap-up or moment which makes the viewer
see how ludicrous the idea of black men being inherently violent or criminals truly is. Instead of
challenging this stereotype we are just shown another parody of its ugly origin. These
commercials are troubling because they show us the present day image of what a brute might be,
a young thug or criminal who is inherently dangerous and violent and thus deserves to be
wrongly accuse and invites the policing of their lives as well as deserving retaliation against
them through punishment and sometimes death. Black men being lined up and profiled while
being under the supervision of white officers and a white woman as the victim.
Although it cannot be said absolutely that this ad was not successful in being satirical
since there doesnt seem to be a way to find the full ad online this is wholly speculation. But the
stereotypes and oppressive systems of justice both of these commercials reflect are all too real.
Using humor to examine how the patrols that beat slaves back into submission have evolved into
present day police forces and countless cases of brutality can only be successful when the satire
is evident and not something that we must speculate on a basis of the same stereotypes being
regurgitated in a more absurd setting.

Some interesting articles I found on the subject and what little I could find about the
Mountain Dew commercial.

http://rolandsheppard.com/Site/The_Historic_Role_of_Police_Brutality.html

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1999-06-21/news/9906210006_1_slave-patrols-black-menshootings
http://yourworldnews.org/blog/?p=2614
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yb19CurlgWk