White Alligator at the Zoo

[theartfulbadger]

Is this racist, tacky, stupid, a stereotype, or none of the above?

From the zoo's website:

Rare white alligator chomping down at Knoxville Zoo
Come look in dem eyes

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.- One of the rarest of reptiles is coming back to Knoxville Zoo on Friday, April 13, for a summer stay. After a 10-year absence, the zoo is bringing back the rare white alligator.

Known for their pink eyes and rare white skin, white alligators are said to bring good luck to those who dare cast a gaze upon the majestic creature. This summer through Labor Day, Knoxville Zoo visitors can "look in dem eyes" and find out if the legend is true.

[spinetingler]

Is this racist, tacky, stupid, a stereotype, or none of the above?

Apparently it depends on the race of the website designer.

[Randall]

I would categorize it as colloquial. Isn't the alligator from Louisiana? I would guess they are trying to approximate bayou-speak.

[DnB]

I also figured they thought that sounded Cajun.
Not sure they quite got that part across.

[Raincrow]

now the sirens just an epilog
the cops always get there too late
they always stop for coffee
on the way to the scene of the crime
they always try so hard to look like movie stars
they couldnt catch a cold
you only wasting your dime
and she's lucky to be alive
the doctor whispered to the nurse
she only lost a 1/2 pint of blood
$29.00 and an alligator purse
...Tom Waits

[SBL]

somewhere in our office is a photo of me touching a baby (2-3 ft) albino alligator. a guy who races in south mississippi and louisiana owns an alligator farm and we went to visit him a few years ago. as rare as they are, he's had two hatched at his farm and they've both gone on to bigger and better things in the entertainment industry.

as opposed to the rest of them... boots & meat.

the farm is in south louisiana, so maybe the zoo is referring to a region of origin.

sbl

[Raincrow]

a guy who races in south mississippi and louisiana owns an alligator farm and ...

Alligators? Racing?

Alligator racing!

[theartfulbadger]

I think that "look in dem eyes" sounds as much Uncle Tom's Cabin as it does Louisiana bayou.

I want to watch a white zoo employee say this: "Hey lil cheedren, you gonna wanna step right up tah see d'amazin' white alligatah. Look in dem eyes, cheedren, and yo wishes gonna come true."

[Raincrow]

I think that "look in dem eyes" sounds as much Uncle Tom's Cabin as it does Louisiana bayou.

You're just still feeling bad for your part in the disinformation campaign to smear Vivian Stringer for being a child-murdering Orc chieftain.

Don't. We did what we had to do.

[theartfulbadger]

You're just still feeling bad for your part in the disinformation campaign to smear Vivian Stringer for being a child-murdering Orc chieftain.

Don't. We did what we had to do.

I felt a twinge of regret for having portrayed her as a nappy-headed Orc, but I in no way implied that she was a ho. Just a baby-eater.