Comments on: racist porn and the recession: this week’s SF Chronicle column

By: an ex-wn

an ex-wn — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 05:26:59 +0000

One thing i will tell candidly however is this interracial porn boom of the last 10 years(?) has in fact done nothing but create gazillions of new racists,white nationalists,antisemites etc that the society is eventually going to have to deal with …ya see those guys aren’t fans of that crap and all it does is fuel their hatred towards blacks and jews.You and your reprobate porno fiends are just pouring gasoline on fire.You being an advocate for that industry ties you in with it…with ALL of it like it or not.Speaking out against it can help i suppose yet you seem to be preoccupied on how it affects minorities when you’d be better served as to worry about how it negetively affects alot of wm out there.Im speaking as a former white nationalist here…i know the mindset.All that those genres/films do is attempt to emmasculate the white guy and when those guys come across that refuse it only fuels heinz 57 varities of hate times 10.Ive even known guys who have developed a severe hatred towards white women due to it.Didn’t mean to dig up an old blog but it had to be said.My former hatred is like being an alcoholic the temptation to return is always there and present.

By: Anthony Kennerson

Anthony Kennerson — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 22:27:03 +0000

Excellent smackdown of AVN and of the porn industry’s racial blind spot, Violet.

Incidently, AVN seems to have deleted the original article from their site…gee, I wonder why??

Anthony

By: Nathan

Nathan — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 05:09:28 +0000

I am also reminded what Tavis Smiley said on his program about all the criticism he has received because of the views he espouses. He said that he takes his big boy pill every morning so he can take the criticism. I am heartened that you have taken your big girl pill and can respond in a civil way to the criticisms that are lobbed at you. Remember, some people are just miserable and want to make everyone else feel miserable as well. David Sullivan is clearly one of these people. I know it’s a cliche, but don’t let the jerks get to you.

By: Nathan

Nathan — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 20:03:21 +0000

I feel I must agree with Ken. The Adult Industry know it is losing its audience and most likely feels as though it needs to be controversial for the sake of being controversial. I’m not saying that their aren’t elements of bigotry in the adult film world, but the fact is that I have read articles where DVD sales of adult films are down dramatically and that the studios who are releasing the reprehensible, bigoted films are trying to boost sales and create publicity for their products. I think it also important that we vote with our wallets and only buy the films that we see as being inclusive rather than exclusive and sex-positive as well. Of course, this is just my humble opinion.

By: Toygirl

Toygirl — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 15:27:28 +0000

Hi,
I found the link to your article and the AVN response through Twitter, and I have to say that I’m appalled at the AVN’s response. Your article was wonderful: you said things that needed to be said. There is no excuse for ANYONE to be perpetuating tired old racist and sexist stereotypes. Your article was thoughtful, well-written, and nuanced. AVN’s overly defensive response? Not so much.

By: Dustin Lacina

Dustin Lacina — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 11:14:02 +0000

I mean really, the only mainstream porn that isn’t blatantly racist is going to be the “we’re all happy white people” porn.

African Americans get it. Asians get it. Let’s not forget latinos either.

I think the only thing I haven’t seen is Native porn. But I bet that’s just because I haven’t looked hard enough. Though if I ever do, and I see someone in a slutty buckskin saying “Ooh White Man lick with forked tongue!” Or an instance of “But I’m just a poor christian settler making my way west across the frontier, red man, please don’t take my virginity and make me your heathen bride.” Then I’ll probably just have to go live on an island somewhere with no one else on it.

Oh wait. I forgot that Ghetto Gaggers already makes me want to do that.

By: Postmodern Sexgeek

Postmodern Sexgeek — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 05:05:31 +0000

YES YES YES YES! So right on in so many ways. As a woman whoose ethnicity is often stupidly fetishized, this kind of bullshit makesme livid. As for that column…let me guess. Is David Sullivan a straight white guy who just got pissed for being called on the carpet for his straight, white male privilege? Something obviously put a bee in his comfy little porn bonnet.

By: narrationbyd

narrationbyd — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 04:18:08 +0000

I will be brief on the ‘reply’ of AVN. It shows no class and epitomizes the low class image that porn seems tainted with. Sadly in this case, it appears to be well deserved. On the racism found in porn, I wish there were less racism in porn. I am a white male, and am attracted to the Asian/Indian porn actresses. Not very original, but whatever turns your crank. It seems that no matter what, the only porn that features predominantly asian or indian actresses are the lowest form of racist video. It seems only the other niche markets, such as kink.com, shows minority actresses without the requisite racist caricatures. I am glad that I am not the only who wishes for porn that doesn’t feel that it has to be racist if it features predominantly non-white actors/actresses. The fact that AVN endorses this sad practice speaks much of the mindset of the owners of these franchises. I applaud your stand on this issue, and wish you would expand your article and interview many of the minority actresses and actors regarding these issues.

By: libby

libby — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 02:37:39 +0000

david sullivan’s article is actually on the high end of AVN’s content history. AVN has become a bizarre and pointless boss hog, sitting on a slowly burning pile of hay and calling out for reuben sturman in its sleep. it’s surreal to watch it die so slowly, and sad that someone won’t just shoot it between its skull fuckholes :).

By: SF AlternaSister

SF AlternaSister — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 22:08:52 +0000

Violet, your article was a good read. As an African-American, a feminist, a woman who has dated “outside my race”, and a lover of kink & porn, I’ve often struggled with the porn industry’s increasing offensive racial & ethnic stereotypes. The industry does enough harm to it’s image in an increasingly conservative America that the need to put another toe (or a penis) over the line with blatant racism is overkill, unnecessary, and sadly, harmful.

I’m not oblivious that for some, sexual taboos are a turn on. But the marketing of interracial porn is not, in my opinion, done in a way to rake in more money. Instead it’s marketed in a way that continues to devalue minorities. It’s no secret that minorities adult actors are already being paid less. But along with smaller salaries is the indignity of being called a “Nigga” in the tile and during the actual movie necessary? Shock value? Yes. More sales? I can only hope not.

Why do some adult actors choose to work under those conditions, one might ask. It may be as simple as it doesn’t bother them. However, it bothers me – to the point where when looking for porn (I rarely search for one specific porn genre) I’m often so turned off by the imagery and titles of this type of porn I close my computer, not having beat off, feeling disgusted. It makes me sad and that the exact opposite affect I want from porn.

Thank you for the article. In all my 30 some odd years I’ve never felt compelled to write a letter or post a comment on any website but the issue is more important than people know so I ended up here. I live in San Francisco in a neighborhood that is full of hipsters who love to pretend that racism doesn’t exist and think that my skin color is non-issue so I’m a little touchy these days. Thanks again – it opens the door for a long overdue conversation. One in which I’m willing to have regardless of how difficult.

Happy Black History Month, folks!

By: Dizz

Dizz — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 21:41:36 +0000

With all respect, Ms. Blue, your focus needs to be wider on this issue. Racism in porn is aimed not only at blacks, but Asians as well. It’s rather narrow to look only at black-related porn as the most offensive subset of the field, when the “oriental,” and “me so horny” stereotypes have been mainstays of the porn industry for decades longer than “interracial” black/white movies have even been acceptable to wide audiences. Browse the titles of Asian-related adult features for the last 20+ years, and you’ll find more than enough to disgust you there as well.

By: Dustin Lacina

Dustin Lacina — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 20:41:27 +0000

Great article, Violet.

My friend Robbie (who happens to be black) has been on a mission for years to gather a collection of the ultimate in interracial porn. I asked him about it once and he said “Nah, I don’t care about black dudes fucking white girls, or white dudes fucking black girls–it’s like black people and Minstrel art man. It’s the same thing. Some people collect Sambo paintings. I collect interracial flicks.”

I remember one movie Robbie had where the director can be heard off screen shouting “Say ‘This is for slavery!’” at the two performers. And how they looked off camera and blinked and resignedly said “This is for Slavery. Yeaaah.”

By: Ken

Ken — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:37:46 +0000

Very good article, Violet – but the whole issue kind of makes me think of this from The Onion:

Marilyn Manson Now Going Door-To-Door Trying To Shock People
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/28771

Like Manson, morning radio, reality TV, and professional wrestling, many porn producers rely on shock value to call attention to their products – and I guess I just suspect that the stuff you’re talking about is based less on racism, and more on the porn industry’s latest (and probably lamest) attempt to shock an increasingly jaded audience.

20+ years ago, an anal scene was a pretty big deal. Since then we’ve gone through all the variations of rough sex, degradation, gangbangs, ass-to-mouth, you name it. If it’s there to be arousing (Kink.com being a good example) I’m cool with it, but more often it’s obvious they’re simply tacking this stuff in there for marketing purposes. Hopefully it’s obvious that I’m not defending the racist angle in all of this – I just think we’re making too big of a deal out of what is really just an industry losing customers and running out of ideas.