A space-themed, talking Hallmark graduation card is being pulled from store shelves because of the card’s reference to a black hole.
But members of the Los Angeles NAACP say the message sounds like “black whore” in the card’s audio recording. That’s how they hear it, and they say it’s racist, KABC-TV in Los Angeles reported.
“That was very demeaning to African-American women when it made reference to African-American women as whores, and at the end it says ‘watch your back,’” said Leon Jenkins of the Los Angeles NAACP.
The Hallmark card reads, “Hey world, we are officially putting you on notice,” before playfully touting the ambitious future of the new graduate.
Characters known as “Hoops” and “Yoyo” banter on: “And you black holes, you are so ominous. Watch your back.”
Hallmark calls the outrage a misunderstanding, claiming that the space theme emphasizes the power the graduate has to take over the universe, even energy-absorbing black holes.
“The intent here is to say that this graduate is not afraid of anything,” explained Hallmark spokesman Steve Doyal.
Apparently, NAACP members heard something different.
You can listen for yourself here: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/06/11/naacp-urges-hallmark-pull-racist-card-shelves/
3 Comments
The sad thing is this isn’t the first time that saying “black hole” has been called racist. How stupid have we become as a society? This level stupidity makes me want to leave landminds all over the place with giant signs saying “If you step on this you will die!”.
Anyway, here’s the other story from 2008:
Dallas County officials spar over ‘black hole’ comment
This type’a ish happens all the time here. Just a part of the evolution that is taking place within our society… part of the pendulum swing
It’s ridiculious when common sense and logic is made victim to a quest for political correctness. A black hole can’t be racist, I’m pretty sure it will swallow up anyone that gets too close, regardless of what race (human or otherwise) they belong to.