Black. White.
I started watching a new reality series being aired in the US called "Black. White." It's one of the best reality shows I've seen as it attempts to answer the question, what is it like to live in someone else's skin?
The show is a six-part documentary from Emmy® Award winning producer R.J. Cutler and actor/producer/writer Ice Cube. "Black. White. examines race with an extraordinary approach by putting new faces on an African-American family, the Sparks, and Caucasian family, the Wurgels. Through the transformative power of make-up by Academy Award® nominated make-up effects artist Keith VanderLaan (The Passion of the Christ), the Wurgels become black and the Sparks become white, which challenges their beliefs and core values in ways they could have never imagined. The make-up process for each family member took 3 to 5 hours for every day of transformation." - Yahoo TV.
Both families live together in a home in Tarzana, California. They go about the day doing daily things in communities they would have never spent time in. The black family, tries to act white, and the white family, tries to act black. It is a chance to give the white family, the Wurgels, a dose of what it is like to experience racism that black people have to deal with day to day in America. It also gives the black family, the Sparks, an opportunity to understand where the white family is coming from in a real and personal way instead of what they see on TV or in daily activites. The episodes are tension filled as both families try to understand each other's culture and a lot of stereotypes are being broken due to ignorance and naivete.
I was so amazed at the transformation and how difficult it is to assume roles they would have never thought of taking on. I've watched three episodes and I'm so hooked. I can't wait to watch the next three and see how these families change.
Rose, the girl from the white family, the Wurgels, has had the most change so far in terms of understanding race and how we can learn from each other's culture. It's funny seeing her trying to act black as a white girl. She took this all-black poetry class and many of the guys and girls were confused because of the way she carried herself. They've never really seen a black girl talk and act the way she does. It's hilarious.
It's striking to see how racism is more prevalent in our parent's generation. The days Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr. took a stand on racism happened not too long ago. I can see how my generation is going to look a lot different than our current situation. A lot of the kids these days don't care whether you're gay, black, white, green, or blue. That's really cool and this show emphasies that there is till a lot more work to do in breaking down stereotypes.
The series is not aired in Canada, but you can download them if you know what I mean.
Peace.
The Sparks BEFORE. 
The Sparks AFTER. 
The Wurgels BEFORE. 
The Wurgels AFTER. 
Here's the link to the website: http://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/originals/blackwhite/main.html
The show is a six-part documentary from Emmy® Award winning producer R.J. Cutler and actor/producer/writer Ice Cube. "Black. White. examines race with an extraordinary approach by putting new faces on an African-American family, the Sparks, and Caucasian family, the Wurgels. Through the transformative power of make-up by Academy Award® nominated make-up effects artist Keith VanderLaan (The Passion of the Christ), the Wurgels become black and the Sparks become white, which challenges their beliefs and core values in ways they could have never imagined. The make-up process for each family member took 3 to 5 hours for every day of transformation." - Yahoo TV.
Both families live together in a home in Tarzana, California. They go about the day doing daily things in communities they would have never spent time in. The black family, tries to act white, and the white family, tries to act black. It is a chance to give the white family, the Wurgels, a dose of what it is like to experience racism that black people have to deal with day to day in America. It also gives the black family, the Sparks, an opportunity to understand where the white family is coming from in a real and personal way instead of what they see on TV or in daily activites. The episodes are tension filled as both families try to understand each other's culture and a lot of stereotypes are being broken due to ignorance and naivete.
I was so amazed at the transformation and how difficult it is to assume roles they would have never thought of taking on. I've watched three episodes and I'm so hooked. I can't wait to watch the next three and see how these families change.
Rose, the girl from the white family, the Wurgels, has had the most change so far in terms of understanding race and how we can learn from each other's culture. It's funny seeing her trying to act black as a white girl. She took this all-black poetry class and many of the guys and girls were confused because of the way she carried herself. They've never really seen a black girl talk and act the way she does. It's hilarious.
It's striking to see how racism is more prevalent in our parent's generation. The days Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr. took a stand on racism happened not too long ago. I can see how my generation is going to look a lot different than our current situation. A lot of the kids these days don't care whether you're gay, black, white, green, or blue. That's really cool and this show emphasies that there is till a lot more work to do in breaking down stereotypes.
The series is not aired in Canada, but you can download them if you know what I mean.
Peace.
Here's the link to the website: http://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/originals/blackwhite/main.html
posted by Arnold at 4:26 PM
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