With all these television shows and films from the past getting censored or banned, in light of recent events, I was amazed when my brain recalled a movie from my childhood… Short Circuit. Well, two movies, considering there was also a popular sequel, imaginatively named Short Circuit 2.
The lead role in both (that wasn’t a talking robot) was an Indian guy. Nothing unusual there, I am sure you are all thinking. Wrong. While the character was Indian, he was played by a white American actor, Fisher Stevens, complete with lots of makeup and a fake accent.
Was this culturally okay in 1991, when my Dad rented the VHS tapes from the Gloucester Road branch of Ritz Video in Bristol?
Despite my young years, I would have been old enough to know what racism was and that it was very wrong. I cannot recall thinking that anything was odd about Stevens’ role. I can’t imagine that I would have noticed or cared if his character was Indian, American, or Nauruan.
Watching the movies back these days, knowing what I know now, is painful. Head in hands, cringeworthy stuff.
If you can watch the below clip without feeling deeply embarrassed, you’re clearly a massive racist… only joking, but you have little emotions!
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