Saturday 1 October 2011

Smashing Stereotypes #1

Soccer player Samuel Eto'o from Cameroon clearly does not have bright, sparkling, dazzling white teeth.

Pic from AFP/Getty Images

The "black man with dazzling white teeth" is a stereotype that has been around for a while, and still abounds today in Hong Kong. For example, there is a toothpaste brand called Darlie (see comments in Confessions of an Air Hostess). It was previously called Darkie and had an image of a black man with huge bright shiny teeth.

Interestingly, whilst the English brand name was changed apparently due to political correctness, the Chinese brand name never was. It is still known in Chinese literally as "Black man's toothpaste".

Samuel Eto'o ... Smashing Stereotypes!!

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