Followup From Netasha

[the_gneech]

I e-mailed Netasha about the situation re: "colored panther time," and she responded:

I am actually African American myself and was using it as a comedian on BET would make fun of our own people, it wasn't meant to hurt or offend anyone. ... [I]f there is more concern, go ahead and take down the comic, I do not want anyone to feel like they are being offended by the comic or having it relate to you in any way. My understanding's that it was a phrase coined by our own people to describe ourselves.

Since the comments last night's post received indicate that it did bug some people, I'll probably replace the strip with something a little less troublesome. The strip in question isn't part of the storyline, it's supposed to be a bit of lighthearted fun.

Thanks for your input, everybody. :) Sorry to have caused distress!

-The Gneech

(x-posted to suburban_jungle)

Comments

[bjbuttons.livejournal.com]

It didn't bother me at all. The wording in the last panel got my attention more than anything else. It was defiantly different than what I am use to seeing in SJ, and it also, well at least to me, with the way it was phrased, an indicator of backround or race. I did not have a problem with it and don't think it should be removed or replaced.

[maus-merryjest.livejournal.com]

I concur with BJ, I did not find it offensive in the least.

[milgrove.livejournal.com]

I didn't have a problem with it. I didn't catch what it meant until that last LJ post of yours. If anything, I'd write it off to local slang-- kind of like how it the summer you'd find me griping every so often about 'bennies', 'shoobies' or 'WEBs', all local terms for the tourists that come down the Shore.

[kheetor84.livejournal.com]

*sighs* There is always one bad apple that ruins a good thing, you know?

[jim-lane.livejournal.com]

It's a shame when "political correctness" intrudes into comics. I find it more than a little tiring.

The character, by her attitude as well as how she was drawn, appeared TO ME to be, as all morphic creations would be, of a "different race/species". Her coloration pattern IS different from the "average", and (IMHO) would allow her to comment in the way she did. Nothing derogatory was implied, and if the strip is supposed to mirror society (with all our quirks, tics and absurdities) then you WILL occasionally find someone who "takes offense" at something. TOUGH! That's life (even in the comic world), and as long as it's not a mean-spirited slam against some stereotypical racial image (and there IS a difference!), then the complainers are at fault.

Just my $.02, John...

[makovette.livejournal.com]

Agreed.

Don't let PCism wag the tail on the humor dog. Anyone with that amount of "sensitivty" should get a life and grow a giggle gland.

CYa!
Mako

[torakiyoshi.livejournal.com]

Huh. As stated in the forum, I learned the term from folks at my church, most of whom are black. They seem to agree with Netasha that it's a self-developed term. I think you should leave it up, unless several black readers complain. Somehow I doubt they will.

Have the best

-=TK

This is Netasha

[indigoangelcat.livejournal.com]

I truly appreciate everyone's honesty with their statements! I just wanted to let you guys know that, infact, it was not (as I said before) made in offense. If anything it was to be in the stylings of Dave Chappel, as he makes fun of our culture, I thought I would be no big deal. In fact in college it never occured to me to be a problem (that term) each race had "their own time" but we still live in equality and love, and we all used that term with each other. I never knew it was a derogatory term until this point, and sincerely apologize for any offense! If anything, it shows us how nieve some of us may be, even to our own culture (kind of like the *N* word is said as a term of friendship within our people, but dare any other culture say it, they would not live to see the next morning). I definately do not like spreading ignorance, and hope that my heart felt words are enough of a payment.