Baby Einstein Octopus racist?

Question

It is the one where the head plays music but the tentacles are colors. Have you noticed how it is racist? It says all of the colors really cheerful especially "white" but when it says brown it sounds evil. Am I crazy or is this a subtly teaching our kids to be racist? I'm a sociology major so maybe I just notice c**p like that.

Answer 1

I think it is probably just a coincidence.

Answer 2

I think you are thinking about this FAR too much.

They would not purposely make a racist toy to get into the subconcious of a whole generation!

Answer 3

You're crazy. :) Just kidding but the toy is not racist. I have the same one and I've never noticed this.

Answer 4

i think your reading to much into it

Answer 5

its racism for sure. they're tryin to teach our children racism at a very early age these days.

Answer 6

I think you just notice c**p like that.....LOL

I don't think there are infant toys out there that subtly teach babies to be racist. Besides, infants and toddlers just don't notice that type of thing.

Answer 7

Wow.. never paid that much attention to things like that.  

Answer 8

Funny that you should mention this!!

I have the Baby Einstein activity gym and when I looked at the happy face in the sun, etc. all I could think about was "rolling back prices" and wondered if it was designed to bolster Walmart brand recognition!! ha ha!!

Anything is possible but we are more likely than not reading too much into it ... or are we?????

Answer 9

Are you serious?  Why must EVERYTHING be about race?  Trust me, its not the children that are picking up on the potential racial issues, its the adults.  What does that say about us?  Stop analyzing everything and teach your own children what is and is not appropriate rather than assuming some toy is trying to do it.

Answer 10

I've never actually seen the octopus, lol. But, I'm an early childhood major and I've learned that there are a lot of subliminal messages that dark is bad. The bad guy always is dark where the beautiful victim is white, like snow white. The best way to combat racism is to talk about it. Teach your kids about stereotypes when they are older so that they can recognize them for what they are, c**p. Good luck!

Answer 11

well if it makes you feel better all studies say that teaching babies via the tv is a ridiculous concept, they are too young to be able to focus on a 2 dimensional picture. so your baby isn't learning racism or anything else from baby Einstein.

Answer 12

I am a huge conspiracy theorist. I really would not be surprised if what you are saying is true; however, if you look up the words white and black in the dictionary white is defined as a positive term and black is defined negatively. For instance black is like going to the dark side and white is heavenly ie:angels are normally bright white and lit up.

Now with all that said...I am white my hubby is black, so obviously I look for things like this. I try to teach my kids that everyone is different and special in there own way. My four year old refuses to admit he is white and black he says he is red! :)

Answer 13

Baby Einstein toys are internationally used, not just in predominately white countries.  Expanding the way you're looking at it, imagine that I am black and live in Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, or even Africa.  I could say that it's teaching kids to hate white people because when it says "white" it sounds bubbly, cheery, showing how white people are clueless, stupid, thoughtless airheads.  When it says "brown" it says it with authority and power.  It all depends on how you look at it.

It's great that you're studying sociology, but you're just looking for problems where none exist.

Edit:  Amanda, what you're talking about are archetypes.  Universally, across every culture, race, religion, and location, certain colors always evoke certain emotions.  Green is always associated with new life, fertility, and nature.  White is always associated with purity, divinity, and good.  Black is always associated with darkness, evilness, sin, and temptation.  It has nothing to do with race, however.

Answer 14

Have you ever picked up a baby einstein book, dvd, etc? They have children of every race speaking every language. It is a toy. I think you are looking way too much into it.

Answer 15

I'm sorry, but this is hilarious.

I just said "yellow", "blue", "green", "red", and "brown" out loud to myself.  When I say "brown", it sounds kind of creepy too.  I think it's because it has an "owwww" sound in the middle.

Jeez, now I'm looking too much into it.

Racist octopus, though.  Huh.  I doubt it.  Maybe if he was saying "White Power", I'd believe it.  But, that isn't the case.  Perhaps he just doesn't like the color brown.

Answer 16

i think you're looking too much into it.  children learn to be racist from other people (ie parents) -- not toys.  i have a hard time believing a baby/child would become racist due to this toy.  

Answer 17

OMG...you are right! My husband and I just listened to it and white and all the other colors are said in a positive, cheery voice while the brown is said in a negative way. The best way I can descripe it is that the voice trails up when the others colors are said, but down when she says brown. Nice observation. Don't know about the intent!

Answer 18

Maybe the voices are reflecting the colors of the octopus rather than the color of human skin. Sometimes with baby toys you have to take things for what they are, rather than what they could possibly symbolize. White is a bright color so the voice sounds bright. Brown is a darker color so the voice sounds deeper...it's not racist, it's just trying to teach kids the difference between colors in a more child-friendly way.