Does this poster look racist to you?

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Ueli Maurer, President of the Swiss People's Party SVP, smiles in front of a campaign poster reading "create security", during a press conference in Bern, Switzerland, in this July 13, 2007 file picture. A proposal by Switzerland's biggest political party to deport delinquent foreigners has angered anti-racism campaigners who say it evokes Nazi-era practices and unfairly blames minorities for crimes. In the run up to October elections, the nationalist SVP's campaign poster showing three white sheep kicking out a black sheep "for more security" has heated the national debate over the proposal to expel whole families of children convicted of a violent crime and drug offenses. (AP Photo/Keystone, Peter Klaunzer)

[Nagishkaw 510]

Yep.

[Ladylethal 12]

Definitly.

[Jenn! 918]

Dammit, I thought it was gonna be a pic of a VJ poster.

[Toshtishtash 1]

Yep, definitely racist

[Clarky and Tarah 0]

Not really, I thought blacksheep just stood for something that was "different", not a race of people.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

What does the caption say?

From appearances at least its not politically correct. That said is Switzerland's 'immigrant problem' a problem of color?

[mawilson 2,133]

"Black sheep" is a person who is regarded as a disgrace or failure by his family or peer group.

Call it racist, but it's the first thing that comes to mind and has nothing to do with race.

[Jeraly 4]

In its context I feel yes but initially I didn't see it. Would it have evoked the same response if it were three black sheep and one white?

[mawilson 2,133]

In its context I feel yes but initially I didn't see it. Would it have evoked the same response if it were three black sheep and one white?

It wouldn't make sense otherwise - "white sheep" doesn't mean anything in English (or apparently German).

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

In its context I feel yes but initially I didn't see it. Would it have evoked the same response if it were three black sheep and one white?

That's ridiculous. The term 'black sheep' was never about race (even if you count the use of the word 'black' as a negative adjective). The message seems to be about conformity - wouldn't carry the same meaning if you showed the white sheep being kicked out by the 'non-comformers'.

Still if people are using this as yet more ammunition for the US debate about race issues - I'd say that's on them.

[Sheriff Uling 3]

"Black sheep" is a person who is regarded as a disgrace or failure by his family or peer group. Call it racist, but it's the first thing that comes to mind and has nothing to do with race.

Why does it have to be a "Black sheep"? That's racist... Hehehehe!!!

[trailmix 77]

Absolutely it's racist.

This guy is just using a play on sheep. Can you do that? Apparently you can.

Edited September 2, 2007 by trailmix

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Dammit, I thought it was gonna be a pic of a VJ poster.

...and yes, it evokes the message of exclusion based on color or ethnicity.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Dammit, I thought it was gonna be a pic of a VJ poster.

...and yes, it evokes the message of exclusion based on color or ethnicity.

Only if you reconsider the meaning of the term 'black sheep'.

The use of the word 'black' is an example of linguistic imperialism. Count the number of negative connotations between the words 'black' and 'white'.

Main Entry: 1black

Pronunciation: 'blak

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English blak, from Old English blæc; akin to Old High German blah black, and probably to Latin flagrare to burn, Greek phlegein

1 a : of the color black b (1) : very dark in color <his face was black with rage> (2) : having a very deep or low register <a bass with a black voice> (3) : HEAVY, SERIOUS <the play was a black intrigue>

2 a : having dark skin, hair, and eyes : SWARTHY <the black Irish> b (1) often capitalized : of or relating to any of various population groups having dark pigmentation of the skin <black Americans> (2) : of or relating to the African-American people or their culture <black literature> <a black college> <black pride> <black studies> (3) : typical or representative of the most readily perceived characteristics of black culture <trying to sound black> <tried to play blacker jazz>

3 : dressed in black

4 : DIRTY, SOILED <hands black with grime>

5 a : characterized by the absence of light <a black night> b : reflecting or transmitting little or no light <black water> c : served without milk or cream <black coffee>

6 a : thoroughly sinister or evil : WICKED <a black deed> b : indicative of condemnation or discredit <got a black mark for being late>

7 : connected with or invoking the supernatural and especially the devil <black magic>

8 a : very sad, gloomy, or calamitous <black despair> b : marked by the occurrence of disaster <black Friday>

9 : characterized by hostility or angry discontent : SULLEN <black resentment filled his heart>

10 chiefly British : subject to boycott by trade-union members as employing or favoring nonunion workers or as operating under conditions considered unfair by the trade union

11 a of propaganda : conducted so as to appear to originate within an enemy country and designed to weaken enemy morale b : characterized by or connected with the use of black propaganda <black radio>

12 : characterized by grim, distorted, or grotesque satire <black humor>

13 : of or relating to covert intelligence operations <black government programs>

Main Entry: 1white

Pronunciation: 'hwIt, 'wIt

Function: adjective

Inflected Form(s): whit·er; whit·est

Etymology: Middle English, from Old English hwIt; akin to Old High German hwIz white and probably to Old Church Slavic svetu light, Sanskrit sveta white, bright

1 a : free from color b : of the color of new snow or milk; specifically : of the color white c : light or pallid in color <white hair> <lips white with fear> d : lustrous pale gray : SILVERY; also : made of silver

2 a : being a member of a group or race characterized by light pigmentation of the skin b : of, relating to, characteristic of, or consisting of white people or their culture c [from the former stereotypical association of good character with northern European descent] : marked by upright fairness <that's mighty white of you>

3 : free from spot or blemish: as a (1) : free from moral impurity : INNOCENT (2) : marked by the wearing of white by the woman as a symbol of purity <a white wedding> b : unmarked by writing or printing c : not intended to cause harm <a white lie> <white magic> d : FAVORABLE, FORTUNATE <one of the white days of his life -- Sir Walter Scott>

4 a : wearing or habited in white b : marked by the presence of snow : SNOWY <a white Christmas>

5 a : heated to the point of whiteness b : notably ardent : PASSIONATE <white fury>

6 a : conservative or reactionary in political outlook and action b : instigated or carried out by reactionary forces as a counterrevolutionary measure <a white terror>

7 : of, relating to, or constituting a musical tone quality characterized by a controlled pure sound, a lack of warmth and color, and a lack of resonance

8 : consisting of a wide range of frequencies -- used of light, sound, and electromagnetic radiation

- whit·ish /'hwI-tish, 'wI-/ adjective

Really depends on who the intended target of the poster is. Is it specifically targetting people of color - or just immigrants in general? That would make it xenophobic IMO, rather than specifically racist.

Edited September 2, 2007 by Number 6