May 3, 2007 | 11 Comments

“Why Interracial Porn is Stupid” (And Why We Agree)

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The U.S. porn industry might be at the forefront of things like technology and free expression, but in other ways it has yet to start dragging itself into the 21st century—like where the interracial porn genre is concerned, which remains a vehicle for outmoded and offensive racial, ethnic, and gender stereotypes. Or so argues a recent provocative editorial by Scott McGowan at Eye On Adult, in which he sees titles like “Big Black Sticks in Little White Slits” a reflection of America’s toxic preoccupation with race differences: “I think that our whole view on interracial porn proves that we still choose to define ourselves in an extremely archaic way … We Americans like to think of ourselves as the most advanced culture on the face of the earth, yet, when so many of us get off, we’re mind fucking ourselves into stupid, archaic, gender and race roles, and we’re all guilty. Blame knows no color in this situation.” We’d also hasten to add that in addition to its problematic nature, porn that is expressly marketed as “interracial” is disturbing on another level: titles like “Big Black Sticks in Little White Slits” might be amusing in an alliterative way and all, but in the end they just end up being unimaginative and lazy. How many times can you read the phrase “dark meat” on a DVD box cover before it all starts to get boring anyway?

· “Why Interracial Porn is Stupid and So are You (For Watching It)” (eyeonadult.com)
· See also: “Why Interracial Porn is Stupid …” (discussion @ Adult DVD Talk)

Previously: Flesh Flicks: Taboo Overload!, Porn of the Moment: “Barely Legal Jungle Fever”, Ethnorotica, Porn Valley Dispatch: Meet Strokahontas

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Author:Jonno

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  • BigT42

    The reason why I sometimes enjoy interracial porn has nothing to do with any kind of stereotype. It’s just that I find the visual contrast between a black cock and a white pussy (and vice versa) to be very stimulating. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. However, I’d agree with the editorial with respect to how it’s marketed.

  • Anonymous

    Fuck, I’m glad someone in the “porn press” feels the way I do.

  • Dimension

    Like this column and I too am glad someone mentioned this. There is something quite sinister about the portrayal of black bucks molesting young, white women that definitely has echoes in other forms of popular culture. But, let’s not overlook other “race” porn staples like submissive asian women and black & latino women “hoes”.

    We’re all pink inside people!

  • Dimension

    You’re probably right that interracial porn won’t go away for sometime. Who buys interracial porn anyway? I mean, what is the profile of the IR porn consumer/fetishist?

    I think IR is a reflection of American society’s obsession with black males as bucks in general. From the nightly news to the NBA, America routinely portrays black males as sex crazed monsters.

  • Anonymous

    I have this feeling that interracial porn won’t cease to be a big deal of sorts until I’m compost.

  • cybereality

    I am going to have to disagree here. The author makes some points about “interracial” porn being archiac and stereotypical, however *all* porn is like this (except for maybe some high-end Andrew Blake). To single out interracial porn out of all the genres that could be “stupid” or offensive is, in-it-0f-itself, racist. In fact, I will go as far to say that the author himself is not only a racist, but has an insecurity about seeing a black man with a white girl.

    Why not focus on the blatant Asain stereotypes (“me love you long time?”) prevalent in countless porns? What about the dumb blonde stereotype? Its not like interracial porn is the only genre pushing racial or cultural stereotypes.

    In fact, this type of porn is almost a counter to the traditional American race boundaries. It is designed specifically to break all those boundaries, even if it is in a derogatory fashion. It wasn’t that long ago that ‘Jungle Fever’ was a controversial movie. The whole appeal of the genre is that its something that is traditionally ‘taboo’. A generation or two ago, a black man could be beat up or killed for dating a white girl. In some places of the US, this type of stuff still goes on. Do people really have that short memories?

    So get off your privileged white horse and leave other people’s fanstasies alone.

  • Gram Ponante

    The tacit agreement between porn producers, who are trying to get your money and not to educate you, and porn consumers, who get off on watching bodies slappin’, allows for the understanding that those Asian women are not necessarily subservient in real life, those black guys are not in gangs or busting up chiffarobes, and those white guys aren’t really retarded.

    Beyond determining consensuality, to legislate what is moral porn and what isn’t is ridiculous.

    Commenter #1 seems to like the pretty colors, and I agree; we have to give ourselves the credit to know that “Dark Poles Banging White Holes” isn’t What Is Wrong with America, just as “Brainless Twinks in Heat”, BDSM lifestyle contracts, exciting but unpractical underpants, and dirtpipe milkshakes are safe fantasies for consenting adults.

    If you want something to be righteously indignant about, pay Vivid 30 bucks for the Kim Kardashian tape.

  • H_Chinaski

    @Blackburn Lankershim:

    Almost choked to death laughing at “busting up chiffarobes.” Well played.

  • Anonymous

    @Dimension: “black bucks”? haven’t heard that one in a while. and maybe i’m naive, but i’m not aware of latinas typically stereotyped as ‘hoes’. most of us were raised catholic, and have strong taboos instilled since childhood against all things sexual, unfortunately. unless you’re talking about tijuana, mexico, and the ‘fucking the donkey’ stories so popular with young college men. i think that the ‘submissive asian’ and ‘black hoes’ is a reflection of caucasian stereotypes, as is porn in general. which doesn’t make it ok, as it just perpetuates this kind of ignorance. but then, porn also depicts women of various ethnicities appearing to ‘enjoy’ deep anal penetration….is that the norm? i doubt it. remember, the porn industry is run primarily in LA, by white men. enough said.

  • Anonymous

    @cybereality: @cybereality: well said, cyber…i couldn’t agree with you more. almost all porn reflects consumer demand…after all, it’s big money and a huge industry. as consumers we get what we ask/pay for, even if that offends some people.

  • Anonymous

    i have a black friend with only a 6″ dick, I call him “Whitey”