Mike and Molly insults Indians

I didn't watch the 2/25/13 episode of Mike and Molly, but I read about it on Facebook:[On the] Mike and Molly sitcom on CBS, Mike's mother said, "Arizona? Why would I move to Arizona? It's nothing but a furnace full of drunk Indians."

That is the last time I will watch that show!Gray Wolf adds:She went on to say the state was full of a bunch of Comanches. This statement should be retracted by CBS, because many people find that comment offensive. Not only to Native Americans, but it implies that the state of Arizona has only one race in it. The comment also refers to the state being full of nothing but a bunch of drunks.A Native Facebook friend posted this comment to the Mike and Molly page:Thank you, CBS, for granting your viewers more time with their families by promoting a boycott of Mike & Molly due to the racist comment on your show. "Arizona is a furnace full of drunk Indians." Really? Who approved of such stereotypical, negative promotion of Native people? As we are right now fighting in the House of Representative for the Violence Against Women Act with the Native Provisions attached, CBS is promoting negative stereotypes of our people on national television? What does that say about how you view us as Indigenous people who welcomed, fed, clothed and helped your ancestors to survive on our continent where you enjoy great prosperity today due to us agreeing to give up millions of acres of land and resources. Does your network really think it's appropriate to treat us with disrespect through the promotion of negative stereotypes? Please issue an abject apology and support the VAWA with Native provisions immediately since the sexual objectification of our women is symptomatic of the violence we continue to suffer with 1 of every 3 Native women being raped or sexually assaulted in her lifetime. Shame on CBS! You can do so much better!

Deconstructing Mike and Molly

I saw and reposted the image above, which led to a discussion with some Facebook friends:Are they really that privileged, though? I don't really watch the show, but I thought the characters were supposed to be blue collar? Don't get me wrong, it was awful if this is what was said on that show, but isn't it also a stereotype that all white people are privileged. I mean, have you been to Oklahoma or West Virginia lately?

If I'm not mistaken, he's a cop and she's a waitress.I don't know how privileged the characters are. But even blue-collar whites are somewhat privileged.

"Privileged" probably wasn't the best word to use in this context.Privilege isn't a matter of being rich or upper-class. It's a matter of being the "societal default setting" and getting the benefit of the doubt in situations where others don't.

Yeah, but as Rob pointed out, that wasn't what was conveyed in this. I mean the whole discussion about "white privilege" as a general societal concept and and whether someone is "privileged" are two different things. Also, I don't think whites in Appalachia, for example, get the benefit of the doubt all that much.

Fair enough.The producers and writers have the real privilege here. White people can say whatever they want about Indians and not face repercussions.

Imagine the character saying, "Move to New York? The greedy Jews control everything there." Or using any other ethnic stereotype. The firestorm of protest would be instantaneous.

The actors could've and should've refused to film the scene with those lines. But they don't bear the primary responsibility. The producers and writers do.

Therefore, I'd say replace "fat privileged" in the image with "ignorant." Then it's fine.

For more on "drunk Indians," see Indians Testify About Negative Images and Drink's "Sexy Pilgrim & Indian Party."