Avenue Q

Princeton:
Say, Kate, can I ask you a question?
Kate Monster:
Sure!
Princeton:
Well, you know Trekkie Monster upstairs?
Kate Monster:
Uh huh.
Princeton:
Well, he's Trekkie Monster, and you're Kate Monster.
Kate Monster:
Right.
Princeton:
You're both Monsters.
Kate Monster:
Yeah.
Princeton:
Are you two related?
Kate Monster:
What?! Princeton, I'm surprised at you! I find that racist!
Princeton:
Oh, well, I'm sorry! I was just asking!
Kate Monster:
Well, it's a touchy subject.
No, not all Monsters are related.
What are you trying say, huh?
That we all look the same to you?
Huh, huh, huh?
Princeton:
No, no, no, not at all. I'm sorry,
I guess that was a little racist.
Kate Monster:
I should say so. You should be much more
careful when you're talking about the
sensitive subject of race.
Princeton:
Well, look who's talking!
Kate Monster:
What do you mean?
Princeton:
What about that special Monster School you told me about?
Kate Monster:
What about it?
Princeton:
Could someone like me go there?
Kate Monster:
No, we don't want people like you-
Princeton:
You see?!
You're a little bit racist.
Kate Monster:
Well, you're a little bit too.
Princeton:
I guess we're both a little bit racist.
Kate Monster:
Admitting it is not an easy thing to do...
Princeton:
But I guess it's true.
Kate Monster:
Between me and you,
I think
Both:
Everyone's a little bit racist
Sometimes.
Doesn't mean we go
Around committing hate crimes.
Look around and you will find
No one's really color blind.
Maybe it's a fact
We all should face
Everyone makes judgments
Based on race.
Princeton:
Now not big judgments, like who to hire
or who to buy a newspaper from -
Kate Monster:
No!
Princeton:
No, just little judgments like thinking that Mexican
busboys should learn to speak goddamn English!
Kate Monster:
Right!
Both:
Everyone's a little bit racist
Today.
So, everyone's a little bit racist
Okay!
Ethinic jokes might be uncouth,
But you laugh because
They're based on truth.
Don't take them as
Personal attacks.
Everyone enjoys them -
So relax!
Princeton:
All right, stop me if you've heard this one.
Kate Monster:
Okay!
Princeton:
There's a plan going down and there's only
one paracute. And there's a rabbi, a priest...
Kate Monster:
And a black guy!
Gary Coleman:
Whatchoo talkin' 'bout Kate?
Kate Monster:
Uh...
Gary Coleman:
You were telling a black joke!
Princeton:
Well, sure, Gary, but lots of people tell black jokes.
Gary Coleman:
I don't.
Princeton:
Well, of course you don't - you're black!
But I bet you tell Polack jokes, right?
Gary Coleman:
Well, sure I do. Those stupid Polacks!
Princeton:
Now, don't you think that's a little racist?
Gary Coleman:
Well, damn, I guess you're right.
Kate Monster:
You're a little bit racist.
Gary Coleman:
Well, you're a little bit too.
Princeton:
We're all a little bit racist.
Gary Coleman:
I think that I would
Have to agree with you.
Princeton/Kate Monster:
We're glad you do.
Gary Coleman:
It's sad but true!
Everyone's a little bit racist -
All right!
Kate Monster:
All right!
Princeton:
All right!
Gary Coleman:
All right!
Bigotry has never been
Exclusively white
All:
If we all could just admit
That we are racist a little bit,
Even though we all know
That it's wrong,
Maybe it would help us
Get along.
Princeton:
Oh, Christ do I feel good.
Gary Coleman:
Now there was a fine upstanding black man!
Princeton:
Who?
Gary Coleman:
Jesus Christ.
Kate Monster:
But, Gary, Jesus was white.
Gary Coleman:
No, Jesus was black.
Kate Monster:
No, Jesus was white.
Gary Coleman:
No, I'm pretty sure that Jesus was black-
Princeton:
Guys, guys...Jesus was Jewish!
Brian:
Hey guys, what are you laughing about?
Gary Coleman:
Racism!
Brian:
Cool.
Christmas Eve:
BRIAN! Come back here!
You take out lecycuraburs!
Princeton:
What's that mean?
Brian:
Um, recyclables.
Hey, don't laugh at her!
How many languages do you speak?
Kate Monster:
Oh, come off it, Brian!
Everyone's a little bit racist.
Brian:
I'm not!
Princeton:
Oh no?
Brian:
Nope!
How many Oriental wives
Have you got?
Christmas Eve:
What? Brian!
Princeton:
Brian, buddy, where you been?
The term is Asian-American!
Christmas Eve:
I know you are no
Intending to be
But calling me Oriental -
Offensive to me!
Brian:
I'm sorry, honey, I love you.
Christmas Eve:
And I love you.
Brian:
But you're racist, too.
Christmas Eve:
Yes, I know.
The Jews have all
The money
And the whites have all
The power.
And I'm always in taxi-cab
With driver who no shower!
Princeton:
Me too!
Kate Monster:
Me too!
Gary Coleman:
I can't even get a taxi!
All:
Everyone's a little bit racist
It's true.
But everyone is just about
As racist as you!
If we all could just admit
That we are racist a little bit,
And everyone stopped being
So PC
Maybe we could live in -
Harmony!
Christmas Eve:
Evlyone's a ritter bit lacist!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9CSnlb-ymA

The musical Avenue Q has a song entitled Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist. The musical being a comedy is trying to make a joke out of all of the racial stereotypes commonly believed. First Princeton who is white asks Kate who is a monster if all monsters are related. From there a black man by the name of Gary Coleman enters and is also confronted with the idea that he too can be racist at times. Finally, the song ends with a middle-aged white man and a woman of Asian decent coming in. Of course, they are also accused to being racist. Throughout the song, common stereotypes that are often associated with a racial or ethnic group are mentioned. I have seen this musical and I was able to find the lyrics online along with a live video performance of it on youtube. When I originally saw this show, I saw shocked at the crude humor it used, but I found it funny. But the more I thought about it, all of the stereotypes mentioned I have seen people use to stereotype others in actions or in conversation. People subconsciously stereotype others and this was one of the first times I saw this issue being brought up, which is why I choose this piece.

One statement that stood out to me in the song said, “Jew have all the money”. In the article How Jews Became White Folks and What That Says about Race in America by Karent Brodkin, more information is given as to how that stereotype even started. When Jewish people were first immigrating to the United States, they were discriminated against similar to other different racial/ethnic groups. One fact that is rarely ever mentioned is the fact that Jewish families placed a strong emphasis on hard work and education. Anyone that works hard and obtains a good education will succeed and most likely make a lot of money. That idea has been skewed to the now current assumption that Jews are have a lot of money because they are stingy, and not because they worked hard to earn it.

With one saying, “The whites have all the power” and the black man saying “I can’t even get a taxi” shows the idea of white privilege that is still present in America.

Johnson in Capitalism, Class and the Matrix of Domination brings up the idea that the white population has certain privileges over other races. The privilege stems not only from skin color, but also from gender and social status. African Americans are still being looked at as inferior in some cases, which may in doubt actually make simple things harder like getting a taxi.

I after analyzing the contents of this song, I found it to be rather depressing, because I know that these are stereotypes that still affect individuals everyday. With me being white and the stereotype that they mentioned that whites have all the power made me a little more aware of the privilege that I do have. This song also made me think of what it must be like to be negatively stereotyped and what differences that would have on my daily life. I feel somewhat guilty that I still find the song funny. It makes me wonder if people of other races find it as entertaining.