Is Banning the Vuvuzela Racist?

Now that there's an app for that, City Councilman Charles Barron (running for Governor because all the other candidates are white) told the Daily News he thinks any attempt to ban the vuvuzela is racist. Even if he has no idea what they are.

It's clear from the video that Barron has never heard of a vuvuzela before. The reporter behind the video camera has to explain that they are "traditional horns that are played during the South African World Cup matches that has this droning, one note sound." The reporter told Barron he doesn't know if the trend originated in South Africa, but when informed that it is popular in the country, Barron says, "Absolutely that is racist, because if that's something that comes out of our culture, it's in our country, South Africa, then we have a right and you have to adopt to the culture and the traditions of the country that's hosting the games." Actually, it apparently originated in Mexico, though ties to Zulu history have been debated.

According to Esquire, a full stadium of vuvuzelas can produce a B flat drone up to 127 decibels, just under the noise produced by a handgun shot. Anything over 125 dB can cause physical pain, and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration says 15 minutes of exposure to 110 dB is "incredibly dangerous." If that's the case, watch out for Vuvuzela Guy.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jaya Saxena in News on June 19, 2010 5:24 PM

Comments [rss]

ur doing it rong

Just saying Vuvuzela sounds racist. Yo Charles, why you gotta be such a vuvu.

nieuwhaarlem

unfortunately, this guy is par for the course in black politics. too easy to play the race card or threaten a riot when they don't get their way.

JP Lynch

USA all the way!!! Fight! Fight! Fight! Kill! Kill! Kill!

Really!?!? This is news?!?! WOW...Barron is a piece of shit - stay classy Brooklyn...

SeasTooFarToReach

FIFA won't ban the vuvuzelas because it's in South Africa. I'm pretty sure they'll move on it after the world cup is over.

It's very annoying and I'm only watching on tv. Can't imagine what it must be like to actually be there. Annoying sounds do not have "race".

inoyourider

What a fucking race-baiting moron.

Keep playing that race card, scumbag.

It's obviously all you have.

db

This guy is a fool. How can someone take something, look around to see if it in anyway relates to Africa,African Americans, Blacks, The color black, the opposite of white, a white police officer and shout the word RACIST!...it's almost like a funny game to some people.

ides_of_march

This guy is a certifiable nut. Unfortunately, when it comes to racial politics, a lot of people are.

Gaelic47

Let's go to Barron's campaign rallies with vuvuzela's. When we're asked to stop, we can just say that we're embracing our culture.

serpentny

When he asks us to quiet down, can we yell "racist fool" at him? If so, count me in!

http://gothamist.com/2009/12/03/barron_wants_racist_fool_cuny_trust.php

roe

Oh, please, Mr Barron. South Africa isn't "your" culture, the vuvuzelas just came in the 1990s and they were imported from somewhere else, and draw on many traditions. They're not traditionally or exclusively attached to any one South African group. Oh, and BTW, South Africa is a very diverse country with something like 11 national languages, various tribes and huge black, white, and asian populations, so who specifically is this "racist" against?

And with the World Cup, it belongs to ALL of the countries who are participating. If the noise of the vuvuzelas is distracting and impeding the players from hearing each other on the field, it's time to ban them. If South African fans want to be a good hosts, they would try to make the World Cup pleasant and enjoyable for all their guests; they wouldn't try to annoy them to death.

jpeditor

Hey Charles, why don't you sit on your vuvuzela!

ANGRYGOD11

Dear City Councilman Charles Barron:

You know what's really racist? The idea all black Africa is the same. Most African-Americans are descended from slaves brought from west Africa. That means Ghana, Benin and areas around the Niger River. You might want to check a map. It's nowhere near modern South Africa. It's clear you know nothing of African culture, but it actually surprises me you have no sense of geography.

r1b2

If A then B. If B then C. Therefore, this man is a schmuck.

bullishnyc

It's racist if they ban black vuvuzelas. Now what would be really racist is to ban 40oz-ers and fried chicken.

serpentny

Mr. "Bateman", you are an ignorant bigot. And Mr. Charles Baron is a fool with an unjust sense of self-entitlement. You guys would make an awfully entertaining couple.

I would advice anyone else offended by Mr. "Bateman" to report his comments. Gothamist needs to do a better job weeding out these racially charged comments.

Powerhugs

Are you nuts nimylebby? This story as many others here on Gothamist invites the free expression of thoughts and ideas...albeit some are decidedly written by idiots, race-baiters etc that either can be ignored or argued against...Having Gothamist police the comments because it offends your sensibilites is like censorship correct??? If there was profanity then yes - that should not be allowed...But in this specific case this story appears to be about an idiot who clearly is a racist himself and we are just calling him out on it...

serpentny

Gothamist invites the free expression of thoughts and ideas...albeit some are decidedly written by idiots, race-baiters etc that either can be ignored or argued against
I see your point Powerhugs. Although I could tolerate idiots, race baiters and trolls are really difficult to put up with. That being said, perhaps you are right and the best choice of action would be to simply not pay them any mind.

Having Gothamist police the comments because it offends your sensibilites is like censorship correct???
Another good point. I suppose the system in place is sufficient. Allowing readers to decide what is crossing the line is a much fairer policy than assigning moderators or something similar to moderators. Point taken.

bert&ernie

1. A very loud cheering crowd can reach 130 decibels as can a bunch of guys beating drums and ringing bells which other soccer crowds do

2. They played the Confederations Cup in S Africa last year, the vuvuzela is nothing new to people who follow soccer

3. If South Africans want to blow their vuvuzela, it's their World Cup, let them blow their vuvuzela. All banning it will do is cause a big stink about (European)FIFA imposing its will on the first African World Cup (with some legitimacy)

4. Charles Barron is acting like a moron.