Frogspotting
This is highly anecdotal, but.... does anyone remember the Kellogg's mascot for Smacks cereal? You know, Dig'em, "the little frog with the big voice".
I'm not sure at what point I was made aware of this, but Dig'em is a terrible stereotype. His gruff voice, exaggerated and unattractive features, huge feet and endless hijinx... apparently, Dig'em is a modern stereotype of a black man. I'll admit, this theory is far less subsantial than many others like it, but try to hunt down a Smacks commercial and just sit down and you'll understand. I took Dig'em to be a prime example of the subtle racism that pervades our culture, flying under the radar but absorbed by everyone. I thought it was subtle.... boy was I wrong.
Dig'em has been the subject of many conversations between myself and Marina this week. Though it was I who introduced the theory to her, she latched onto a detail that we'd all missed. As she put it, "Oh no. Not another black man hooked on Smack".
Yes, folks. Dig'em the frog is a heroin addict. He's just gotta get some Smacks. He's jonesin' for them, in fact. He doesn't want Wheaties, can't stand Cap'n Crunch, and don't even mention Methadonios. Ain't none of that shit going to give him the (sugar) rush he's looking for.
Somebody let me know what they think of this. Are we just crazy, or is there something to this?
I'm not sure at what point I was made aware of this, but Dig'em is a terrible stereotype. His gruff voice, exaggerated and unattractive features, huge feet and endless hijinx... apparently, Dig'em is a modern stereotype of a black man. I'll admit, this theory is far less subsantial than many others like it, but try to hunt down a Smacks commercial and just sit down and you'll understand. I took Dig'em to be a prime example of the subtle racism that pervades our culture, flying under the radar but absorbed by everyone. I thought it was subtle.... boy was I wrong.
Dig'em has been the subject of many conversations between myself and Marina this week. Though it was I who introduced the theory to her, she latched onto a detail that we'd all missed. As she put it, "Oh no. Not another black man hooked on Smack".
Yes, folks. Dig'em the frog is a heroin addict. He's just gotta get some Smacks. He's jonesin' for them, in fact. He doesn't want Wheaties, can't stand Cap'n Crunch, and don't even mention Methadonios. Ain't none of that shit going to give him the (sugar) rush he's looking for.
Somebody let me know what they think of this. Are we just crazy, or is there something to this?
posted by Alan Orlanski at 1:25 PM
2 Comments:
lucky charms are outlawed in ireland for being ethnically offensive.
I always associated the Dig'em frog with the older 40s or 50s Looney Tunes frog who could talk and sing...but only for that one guy (I admit it...I'm old).
I don't really see it, myself. But anything is possible. I will say, though, that racism was much more evident and open in the 60s and 70s.
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