The Cartoon Network released a new public service announcement for its young audience last week that preaches against "colorblindness," and encourages children to "see color" to become "anti-racist."
The ad begins with three characters — one white girl, one black girl, and a purple alien named Amethyst — singing in support of "colorblindness."
"Colorblindness is our game because everyone's the same. Everybody join our circle, doesn't matter if you're white or black or purple," the characters say.
That's when Amethyst stops the song and dance.
"Hold up a minute here— who wrote this?" the purple alien says. "I think it kind of does matter that I'm purple. I mean, I'm purple because I'm literally an alien."
The black character then adds, "Well, I'm not an alien, but it definitely matters to me that I'm black."
"It makes a difference that I'm white," the white character responds to the black character. "I know the two of us get treated very differently."
The white character goes on to claim that people add a "fantasy" color in discussions of race to ignore actual problems associated with racism.
"I think people like the black, white, or purple thing, because adding a fantasy race in there helps distract from the actual racism black people have to deal with," the character says.
The black character responds, "My experience with anti-black racism is really specific. Other people of color experience other forms of racism, too. But you won't see any of that if you 'don't see color.'"
The alien says at the end, "So this entire public service announcement could be a ploy to avoid talking about racism altogether. Hey, could we get a rewrite where we appreciate each other without erasing what makes each of us different?"
See Color | The Crystal Gems Say Be Anti-Racist | Cartoon Networkwww.youtube.com
The description of the PSA reads, "It's important to SEE people in all their beautiful COLORS. When you see color and the unique experiences that come from it, you can recognize the role racism plays in our culture AND appreciate everyone and their diversity."
According to Variety, the PSA is the third installment in a four-part series meant to teach "ways to disrupt common narratives about racism."
From Variety:
It is part of a four-part series developed by "Steven Universe" creator Rebecca Sugar and "OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes" creator Ian Jones-Quartey to provide kids and families with productive ways to disrupt common narratives about racism. "See Color" was developed with psychologist Dr. Deborah J. Johnson, who specializes in racial and cultural development.
Cartoon Network has prioritized advancing the progressive social agenda in recent months.
As TheBlaze reported, the network faced backlash last December after posting a tweet focusing on "normalizing gender pronouns" and "respecting them."
The kid-oriented Cartoon Network posted a tweet earlier this week focusing on "normalizing gender pronouns" and "respecting them."
"Whether you use he/she/them or something else, we acknowledge and LOVE you!" the rest of the tweet said.
Here's to not only normalizing gender pronouns, but respecting them, too 💖 Whether you use he/she/them or something… https://t.co/xS5clavJ2O— Cartoon Network (@Cartoon Network)1607967623.0
The tweet links to a 20-page "gender justice toolkit" from the National Black Justice Coalition, a self-described "civil rights organization dedicated to the empowerment of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and same gender loving (LGBTQ/SGL) people, including people living with HIV/AIDS."
The tweet also includes a four-frame cartoon — which includes the Cartoon Network and NBJC logos — and appears to feature children.
"Gender pronouns describe a person's gender identity," one frame's text reads. "Examples of pronouns are she/her, they/them, and ze/zir! A lot of people are learning about gender identity. If you're comfortable, you can share your own pronouns!"
The frame's text also reads, "We can't tell someone's gender just by looking at them, and shouldn't assume we know. There are many gender identities beyond 'girl' or 'boy.' Some people don't identify as any gender."
More from the gender justice toolkit:
Language is often a reflection of culture, and when unchecked, can be used to perpetuate violence and oppression. Words have the power to reinforce stereotypes, marginalize the most vulnerable among us, and support harmful ideas about race, gender, sexual orientation and gender identity, socioeconomic status, and other factors. Language also has the power to be a revolutionary tool in dismantling existing power structures. Language has the capacity to liberate and empower.
The toolkit indicates that it's "designed to facilitate uncomfortable and, at times, difficult conversations that can save lives."
"This specific toolkit has been designed with the goal of ensuring gender justice in mind, which means ending the violence that black women and girls — both cisgender and transgender, as well as gender non-conforming people — experience simply as a result of who they are and how they exist in the world," the description also said.
The tweet's message certainly carried some left-wing support among commenters — but not everyone agreed with its sentiments:
(H/T: FaithWire)
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