Entertainment

Is ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ Racist? Watch the Scene, Take the Poll

The 1961 film “Breakfast at Tiffany’s“ has been called everything from a classic to ”the most racist movie of all time.”

Is Breakfast at Tiffanys Racist? Watch the Scene, Take the Poll“Breakfast at Tiffany’s” is also scheduled to be shown on August 11th at the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy as part of SyFy’s Movies With A View. We say scheduled to be shown because an online petition is calling for the screening to be cancelled due to a character played by Mickey Rooney that Asian American groups find offensive. Rooney was hired to play an over-the-top Asian man and he did:

Ursula Liang has started an online petition to get the movie pulled.  Her petition reads:

On Thursday August 11th, the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy with the sponsorship of the SYFY Channel plans to screen “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” free for the public. This 1961 film features a blatantly-racist, minstrel-show, buck-toothed portrayal of a Japanese American, played by Mickey Rooney which has for decades offended the Asian-American community and its allies. Please boycott this film, the SyFy Movies with a View series, and let people know that despite direct communication from the NY Asian American community, the BBPC is committed to showing this horribly offensive film, which it calls a “beloved” “American classic”. The film series is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

The current online petition has only 213 signatures, but you have to believe this will go viral within a day or two, especially when you consider the Asian population in the NYC metropolitan area. According to a statistic on her petition, 1 in 8 people in the city have Asian roots. And that matters;

Why any publicly funded organization in a city where 1-in-8 residents are Asian-American or any channel with a huge Asian-American viewership would choose to show a film with a racist caricature like this is beyond me. It’s not funny; It’s not classic; It’s not beloved to us. By screening this film, the organizers are sanctioning the racism it contains, and subjecting new audiences (including children and Asian-Americans) to a minstrel show of racist ideology. It’s 2011. It’s New York. Do we still have to fight the hostile, hurtful world of 1961 Hollywood?

Hollywood in the early 1960s did seem to be supporting stereotyping of Asian Americans as did Madison Avenue. Watch this commercial for Jello from 1960:

Is that offensive and racist? One could easily say “yes!”

Or, how about this scene from an episode of “The Flinstones?”

The debate over “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” or any work made in a time when racism or stereotyping was acceptable entertainment is an interesting one. Earlier this year, scholars went back and forth over the newest editions of Mark Twain’s 1884 “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” removing the “N” word and “Injun.”

So what should be done here? New York Post writer Lou Lumenick offered some clarity on the topic:

I personally think the screening should go forward, but the film’s outdated racial attitudes need to be acknowledged and discussed in an introduction.

Mr. Lumenick’s idea is one that works to preserve the historical integrity of the film, which recognizing the offensive stereotyping.

Perhaps we all should take a moment and sing along with the Broadway show “Avenue Q” song “Everyone’s A Little Bit Racist”

We encourage you to take the poll.


H/T New York Post

Comments (149)

1 2 3 ... 5
  • TwoLazy
    Posted on July 14, 2011 at 8:32am

    unbelivable, its a movie from the 60′s … was Michael Jackson a racist for trying to impersonate a white man?

    Report Post » TwoLazy  
    • stop2think
      Posted on July 14, 2011 at 8:39am

      He was trying to impersonate a white woman.

      Report Post »  
    • Iman Barak Hussein
      Posted on July 14, 2011 at 8:40am

      the only racism i see is hepburn acting like a deadbeat *****.

      Report Post » Iman Barak Hussein  
    • fastfacts
      Posted on July 14, 2011 at 8:46am

      OH COME ON ARE WE ALL P.C. NOW…

      He was a great actor that is why he had that role, they have done this many times before.

      While we are on the topic of Hollywood, did you see that the actress broke off her date with the marine… that hag would rather be filming than honor our marine: http://url2it.com/frjf . In retrospect, Timberlake was also asked out to this ball by a female marine.

      Report Post »  
    • mikem1969
      Posted on July 14, 2011 at 9:55am

      how many more invalid race cards are going to be thrown?

      Report Post »  
    • TomFerrari
      Posted on July 14, 2011 at 10:05am

      Anything and EVERYTHING is racist if you are a socialist democrat and you think you can USE IT to bend the free will of others to YOURS.

      Racism is serious and I find it appalling when race-baiting is carried out for self-promotion.
      Chicken Little and the Boy Who Cried Wolf come to mind.
      Those who run around screaming “racist” about everything need to go back in time and spend a week in the 1950′s/1960′s. Then, come back and tell us how “racist” their complaint truly was.
      TRUE racism gets lost in the CONSTANT, UBIQUITOUS, race-bating.
      sheesh!

      Report Post » TomFerrari  
    • Rugnuts
      Posted on July 14, 2011 at 11:05am

      ted danson painted himself black

      Report Post » Rugnuts  
    • Marci
      Posted on July 14, 2011 at 2:24pm

      This is idiocy at its peak. People, wake up and get the he ll over it, please. Political correctness is designed to silence you, nothing else. Should we depict certain cultures in jest? No. But what it comes down to is the ONLY group of people you are allowed to depict in a bad light is caucasians. And I have seen the “stupid white boy/girl” depiction in a LOT of shows where minorities are the main characters. Let’s all just get a grip and stop the madness that is the government using this to silence each and every one of us.

      Report Post » Marci  
    • ICEDRAGONNITE
      Posted on July 14, 2011 at 3:23pm

      Time doesn’t matter. It is called acting. Racial bigotry has nothng to do with this movie. Its fun. People have to get over their poor little senisitivity. I am i heinz 57 what part of me is raciest. Here are some part’s. Egyptian, British, Irish, Welsh, Scottish, Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, French, Russian, Hungarian, Spanish, and many others. TIME TO GET OVER THIS PC CR**.

      Report Post » ICEDRAGONNITE  
    • S. Dakers
      Posted on July 14, 2011 at 4:34pm

      Labeling something as racist is selective. I’m a Scottish-American. Why isn‘t Mike Meyers’ characterizations of Scots as incestuous in “So I Married An Axe Murder” all over the media? How about how Scots are portrayed in the Austin Powers’ movies? At least the Asian in “Breakfast At Tiffany’s” didn’t have the name “Fat Bastard.” Why isn’t this considered racist? Is it because of skin color and gender (white/ male)?

      When standards are not equally applied, there is no standard.

      As to Michael Jackson: his situation is like comparing apples and oranges. If you look at side-by-side pics, it appears that he was going for a Jodie Foster look. Most seem to think he was a really sick man.

      Report Post »  
    • Fantastic Four
      Posted on July 14, 2011 at 5:21pm

      Hahahahah thats some of the funniest racist stuff I have seen in a long time……man i love the old days and this comming from a beaner. hahahah
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqUZ25PcoFc

      Report Post » Fantastic Four  
    • @leftfighter
      Posted on July 15, 2011 at 4:07pm

      Better question: when will the Left call out BET for allowing racist caricatures of whites on their stand-up comedy shows?

      Goose, meet gander.

      Report Post » @leftfighter  
    • Southernguy
      Posted on July 16, 2011 at 10:21am

      lmaooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

      Report Post » Southernguy  
  • dsc304
    Posted on July 14, 2011 at 8:31am

    It is a classic movie, a true picture of the time. Just like Huck Finn, the language and all, are a true picture of that time. To change either is to lie about our past. The key word being…“past”.

    Report Post »  
  • stogieguy7
    Posted on July 14, 2011 at 8:31am

    By the way, I remember that Flintstones episode from when I was a kid. Never even imagined it to be racist. I did find it funny – but not in a denigrating way. Even seeing it now, I had to think pretty hard to see “racism” in it. Yes, it did use a stereotype. Then again, how else does a cartoon portray a Japanese judo instructor? If anything, it was the Asian guy who came out on top here.

    No, this is pure BS. Family Guy uses over-the-top stereotypes all the time. And it‘s done in such a way that we’re in on the joke. Look at Mort Goldman, stereotypical Jew. Or the comments they would sneak in about Cleveland (who’s black). Is all that racist too?

    The liberal/radical kook left establishment has moved from being advocates into Nazi stormtrooper territory. It‘s been coming for a long time and we’ve done nothing to stop it – and it leads to a land where free speech is no longer free.

    Report Post » stogieguy7  
  • AR485
    Posted on July 14, 2011 at 8:24am

    Just like all extremists, when their reason for being angry is all but eliminated, they must dig up past wrongs to justify their existence.

    Report Post »  
  • motes_art
    Posted on July 14, 2011 at 8:24am

    Everybody should attempt to keep a cool head in situations like this. The film is certainly offensive. I was starting to get a little embarrassed watching the clip… and I’m white! It’s a ridiculous caricature. However, at the time the film was made, it was not attempting to offend anyone… just make people laugh. At that time, people were much less aware of cultural diversity. It just illustrates how far we have come as a society.

    Report Post »  
    • Bluefish49
      Posted on July 14, 2011 at 8:34am

      Remember the scene from “ A Christmas Story” when they where in the chinese restaurant….faw…raw…raw…raw……now that’s funny.

      Report Post »  
    • fatjack
      Posted on July 14, 2011 at 2:49pm

      motes_art
      Posted on July 14, 2011 at 8:24am
      The film is certainly offensive. I was starting to get a little embarrassed watching the clip
      ——————————————————————————–
      Now hold on there kingfish.

      Report Post » fatjack  
  • War_Eagle
    Posted on July 14, 2011 at 8:12am

    Thank God they’ve got a new boogie man. Now maybe they’ll let me watch Song of the South in peace.

    Report Post »  
  • Danola
    Posted on July 14, 2011 at 8:06am

    Divide and Conquer. They label everything racist and we have to defend ourselves. They have found the best way to Divide us! Guess what is next?

    Report Post »  
  • Katydidnt
    Posted on July 14, 2011 at 8:04am

    I have a friend who married a girl from South America, they are always laughing at his attempt to learn the language. If the man had been Italian or Serbian would it be so offensive? I live near the Amish that use a different sentence structure, I was always getting my essays marked up for bad grammer because it was a natural way of speaking for me. I think people need thicker skins.

    I think the gays should have way more to complain about, her love interest in the movie, is gay in the book.

    Report Post »  
  • frodis
    Posted on July 14, 2011 at 8:02am

    Oh come on now. There was nothing racist about that Breakfast at Tiffanys scene. Who cares? So ban the movie “White Man Can’t Jump”.

    Report Post » frodis  
    • Thatsitivehadenough
      Posted on July 14, 2011 at 8:11am

      Liberals have totally lost the ability to think. They are mindless lemmings.

      Report Post » Thatsitivehadenough  
    • ConservativeResponse
      Posted on July 14, 2011 at 8:22am

      That’s hilarious… Of course it‘s not racism if it’s against white people. I can‘t believe you didn’t know that…. ha ha

      Report Post » ConservativeResponse  
    • Lamarr01
      Posted on July 14, 2011 at 8:05pm

      I am very offended by these videos.

      (1) The Jell-O commercial implies Chinese babies eat glape ‘er grape Jell-O. Bill Cosby broke this racial stereotype when he showed multi-ethnic children of multi-cultural diversity enjoying Jell-O pudding.

      (2) Fred Flintstone is always protrayed as a stupid, hairy white guy. Many cavemen lived in what is now the Middle East. An indesputable scientific fact has shown many cavemen were of average intelligence. The stupid cavemen were all eaten by the dinosaurs during a period of rapid climatic change brought about by the discovery of fire and the burning of fossil fuel.

      (3) Wilma and Betty are protrayed as 1950′s housewives cleaning the house in expensive rock necklaces. The suppressed fact is both Wilma and Betty worked outside the home. Betty was a community organizer and Wilma had a career as a telephone marketer.

      (4) There are several anachronisms in the show. As the glaciers have melted from global warming, evidence has been unearthed showing that “bowling” was not invented until the late Jurassic period.

      (5) Tiffany’s has never served breakfast.

      (6) “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” was written by Truman Capote. History books have suppressed the profound contributions of the gay/lesbian/trans-sexuals to the Arts. Truman Capote was a famous homosexual evangelist introducing many a confused lad to the benefits of sodomy in the steamy bath houses of Manhattan. In the world of political correctness, gayness trumps racial s

      Report Post » Lamarr01  
  • thegodfather
    Posted on July 14, 2011 at 7:50am

    Just to be sure…we should ban any movies not made by Spike Lee

    Report Post » thegodfather  
  • Sicialian Eyeball
    Posted on July 14, 2011 at 7:46am

    1961 is only 16 years removed from WW2 with Japan and still vivid in the minds of millions of Americans. Maybe the shouldnt have bombed Pearl Harbor,so shut the f up.

    Report Post »  
  • Coralchristie
    Posted on July 14, 2011 at 7:45am

    How ridiculous is this? Let’s concentrate on the current “stuff” that really matters…like the government restricting freedom of speech or restricting gun ownership, or the move into socialism. Anyone who thinks that Breakfast at Tiffany’s is racist…doesn’t need to go see it!

    Report Post »  
  • danenut6
    Posted on July 14, 2011 at 7:38am

    When Jackie Chan performs it is not a stereotype?

    Report Post »  
  • SpklerMan
    Posted on July 14, 2011 at 7:38am

    Only the last clip was. I never learnd about Being racist whe I was in grade school.Why would you want to teach kids how to be racist. It’s like teaching words not. Teach respect of one another with out all the CRAP!!!!!

    Report Post »  
  • Dustin75
    Posted on July 14, 2011 at 7:33am

    Talking about this instead of some real news, like Murdoch and phone tapping. But what should I expect from FOX news flunkies.

    Report Post » Dustin75  
    • mitchbarr
      Posted on July 14, 2011 at 7:51am

      Its a statement about how people are so easily offended these days. Its a movie. Made for entertainment not to make a statement. And if someone is worried about public money going to this then they ought to be worried when someone defaces something Christian (but then its art and free speech to Liberals). I do agree with you about other important news though. Like obama (obaby) throwing a temper tantrum because he could not get his own way yesterday and walking out of the debt talks.

      Report Post »  
    • War_Eagle
      Posted on July 14, 2011 at 8:15am

      Relax. The government taps people’s phones all the time.

      Report Post »  
    • Jeremiah 23
      Posted on July 14, 2011 at 8:37am

      Dustin75 your an idiot.

      Report Post »  
  • jedi.kep
    Posted on July 14, 2011 at 7:31am

    Oh Whaaaa. You huwrt my wittle feewings! What the hell is wrong with people? Stop being so blasted touchy! I don’t care if a bunch of black people call me a honkey or *******. I don’t care if they make fun of my race. I’d probably laugh with them! This stuff is getting so out of hand.

    Report Post » jedi.kep  
  • RustyElbows
    Posted on July 14, 2011 at 7:30am

    Hey…. I’m from the SOUTH. Who is going to start a protest of the Beverly Hillbillys re-runs?? Everyone can be offended by something if they work hard enough at it….. you just have to have a small enough mind.

    Report Post » RustyElbows  
    • militarybrat1
      Posted on July 14, 2011 at 7:57am

      ditto

      Report Post »  
    • stogieguy7
      Posted on July 14, 2011 at 8:22am

      Frankly, any modern movie that features WHITE southerners should be banned as well. Hollywood stereotypes them as dumb, uneducated hillbillies with a limited ability to read or to express themselves. And, they’re inevitably cast as xenophobic and/or racist. Stereotyping in its truest form.

      And where are the protests? You know the answer to that. Black people can protest that they‘re not being treated fairly and it’s a ‘freedom march’; Mexicans can protest about how horrible it is that some of us expect them to follow our immigration laws and it‘s a ’protest for justice’. But if whites gathered for something similar, it would be derided as a “klan rally”. Heck, they already try to characterize tea party rallies as that.

      Face it folks, there was a cultural revolution in this country and the leftists won. The sooner we recognize this, the sooner we can do something about it aside from sitting on our butts and complaining.

      Report Post » stogieguy7  
    • UnreconstructedLibertarian
      Posted on July 14, 2011 at 9:35am

      Its fairly ironic that Buddy Ebson plays a backward southerner in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”.

      He‘s Holly Golightly’s first husband – whom she isn’t actually divorced from. Oh yeah, the stereotyping is thick – but so is Peppard’s “boy toy” and the Cougar who keeps him in a cage. The whole movie is about how stereotypical folks of narrow intent live and exist together.

      Its a great movie. Can you imagine the movie with any character changed?

      I haven‘t seen a movie or TV show in my lifetime that doesn’t employ some sort of stereotypical character. I agree, anyone can be offended by anything at anytime – it depends on how small their perspective is.

      Report Post » UnreconstructedLibertarian  
  • Duckhead
    Posted on July 14, 2011 at 7:29am

    I rike it!

    Report Post »  
  • OrpheumSA33
    Posted on July 14, 2011 at 7:28am

    It’s an older movie, made when people felt differently about things – we like to forget that many of these movies, commercials and such like were made by people who had survived World War II. We seem so determined to erase history because of any possible offense that might be had . . . just accept it for what it is and move on.

    Report Post »  
  • Xpat48
    Posted on July 14, 2011 at 7:18am

    I enjoyed it. Of a by gone sentimental time. Beautiful.

    Encore

    Report Post » Xpat48  
  • Islesfordian
    Posted on July 14, 2011 at 7:15am

    I found the segment from the movie uncomfortable because the asian portrayal was so lame. Could they not have gotten a real asian to play it, or used a better actor?

    Report Post » Islesfordian  
    • 70S_KIDS_FIGHTING_SOCIALISM
      Posted on July 14, 2011 at 7:19am

      That’s Micky Rooney. He is a great actor.

      Report Post » 70S_KIDS_FIGHTING_SOCIALISM  
    • Islesfordian
      Posted on July 14, 2011 at 9:34am

      Really? I didn’t recognize him. It is still an awful portrayal, but that may have been the director’s fault.

      Report Post » Islesfordian  
    • Chet Hempstead
      Posted on July 14, 2011 at 4:43pm

      The director was Blake Edwards who also gave us The Days of Wine and Roses and The Pink Panther, so that makes two people who should have known better.

      Report Post »  
  • Moocephus
    Posted on July 14, 2011 at 7:13am

    I am an asian-american and I see the scene for what it is. Comedy mixed with the general bias of the time. It is a snapshot of history and how america percieved what an asian would act like of course blown over by Andy Rooney. Jeeze folks if we keep it up, the only people were gonna be allowed to make fun of is straight white men in their 30′s. What fun is that?

    Report Post » Moocephus  
    • hgaut
      Posted on July 14, 2011 at 8:15am

      OMG this is as bad as people being offended by West Side Story’s portrayal of Puerto Ricans. I’m PR and I acted on a stage version of that that musical. Get over it people. As Jack Sparrow would say; “sticks and stones…”.

      Report Post » hgaut  
  • cassandra
    Posted on July 14, 2011 at 7:11am

    these people have nothing better to do but look for things to complain about,

    Report Post »  
  • Chet Hempstead
    Posted on July 14, 2011 at 7:11am

    Okay, that’s racist, but he doesn’t have that many scenes, and the virtues of the film as a whole so outweigh that one minor fault that it would be a shame if fewer people got a chance to see it. Watch it and cringe, then get past it and enjoy the rest of the show.

    Report Post »  
    • Bluefish49
      Posted on July 14, 2011 at 7:19am

      Awsome movie and the sound track…come on “Moon River” the best. As far as stereo type‘s it was funny but how about the wayward *** Submariner from Giligan’s Island or The sub deckhand from Speilburg’s movie “1942” Horrywood! Now they were funny:)

      Report Post »  
  • the_ancient
    Posted on July 14, 2011 at 7:08am

    Come on, you dont see white people getting all bent out of shape over “Rednecks” or other stereotypes.

    This extreme sensitivity people have gotten today, that everything must not offend anyone ever is ridiculous

    Report Post » the_ancient  
    • 50BMG
      Posted on July 14, 2011 at 7:19am

      The “sensitivity” thing is just a cover. This is really about power and control.

      Report Post » 50BMG  
    • grandmaof5
      Posted on July 14, 2011 at 8:41am

      “Power and control”, and their 15 mins of fame ‘for the cause’. I guess ‘Gone With the Wind’ is out too. It was the ART of the time so get over it. It’s a 1st Ammendment right (like the obnoxious supposed art we saw yesterday) so if you don’t like it, don’t go see it. And stay away from Broadway, the circus, the fair and any other venue that might offend you. Continue to live in your own little world in a little box.

      Report Post »  
    • Shiroi Raion
      Posted on July 14, 2011 at 8:51am

      You can’t offend anyone… except…
      1) Whites
      2) Males
      3) Christians
      4) Republicans
      5) Conservatives
      6) Libertarians
      7) Jews
      8) Fat people
      9) Smokers

      The above rules only apply to those who have not been approved by wealthy Progressive Liberals, then you may attack anyone openly.

      Report Post » Shiroi Raion  
    • agameofthrones
      Posted on July 14, 2011 at 10:31am

      Seriously, grow a soine!

      Report Post » agameofthrones  
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