TOYS ON TRIAL

'Django' Action Figures Stirring Controversy

Are the dolls based on the gory slavery film in poor taste?

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Jan 10, 2013 by Dain Fitzgerald

Staff Writer t +

Image: International Business Times

More like negative re-action figures.

The marketing team behind "Django Unchained" is peddling action figures based on characters from the film in a move that some say is in poor taste. The Week reports on the mostly sour response to the dolls more likely meant for a display case than a sand box.

"Selling this doll is highly offensive to our ancestors and the African-American community," said Reverend K.W. Tulloss, a representative of Al Sharpton's National Action Network. "The movie is for adults, but these are action figures that appeal to children."

Journalist Amy Alexander, writing at The Root, says the dolls are insulting: "It does make you wonder who officially 'green-lit' such a dubious and insulting marketing strategy; correctly or not, it feeds the escalating criticism of [director Quentin] Tarantino as an out of control hipster who thinks he gets 'the Black Thing' but doesn't really."

But MSNBC pundit Toure dismisses the criticism: "I will never understand how Django action figures are somehow over the line for some people."

Via The Week and The Root.

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?	Are the 'Django Unchained' dolls offensive?

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Yes, they are

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No, not a big deal

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70 Comments (view in Forum)

Jan '13

Denizen_Kate

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As usual, not enough choices in this poll. How about "If you find them offensive, don't buy them"? That would get my vote.
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Jan '13

jessejaymes

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I found the movie to be an interesting study in disturbing reality. Some things were claimed to be obsessive to the time but overall it also left out some things. The movies is my 2nd choice for the Academy award. I think it's Tarantino's best work. Having said that, i think the dolls are in very bad taste and that those who would actually buy them are IDIOTS.
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Jan '13

methinks

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No, they need a "who gives a shit" choice!
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Jan '13

kirbstomp1

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@methinks - they need that on half of them.
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Jan '13

bsking

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@methinks no they need a " do you believe it's offensive to own a slave doll"?
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Jan '13

Denizen_Kate

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@bsking - kirbstomp1, methinks, and jesse: Paddle faster, guys ... I think I hear banjo music! ;-)
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Jan '13

BelinKS

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Where else are black boys going to get black action figures? They are in short supply. At one time black girls had to play with white blonde headed dolls. As a child, I had the choice of white/blonde or black. None looked like me. I am tri-racial, but look Latino. My little girl now has an American Girl doll that looks just like her. She even has a Barbie that has the right color features. I wish I had. My aunt made me a cabbage patch doll with black hair and brown eyes. She was my favorite of course. It's time for black and Latino, even Asian boys to have action figures that look like them. American girl even has Asian and mixed race looking dolls, but they are expensive! I waited until my daughter was seven and a half at Christmas to get her that expensive doll. I bought matching outfits from the Mommy and me lines. Way less expensive. For her eighth birthday my aunt(the same one) is making her and her doll matching dresses.
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Jan '13

Keyjo

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Your daughter is lucky to have such loving attention. You story made me smile. :-)
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Jan '13

PNWest

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Nice post. Your daughter is very lucky.
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Jan '13

BelinKS

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@PNWest
Thank you both!
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Jan '13

Sharpshooter

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The Cabbage Patch doll would be a treasure.... hope she survived.
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Jan '13

BelinKS

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@Keyjo thank you
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Jan '13

Sharpshooter

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How many do I need to pick my cotton?

THAT IS A JOKE...

It is intended to be in poor taste to reflect the absurdity of the concept.

If you're offended.... don't complain until you make me a sandwich...
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Jan '13

thejimbo

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Clever, clever!
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Jan '13

Keyjo

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I don't know. I have seen neither the movie or the dolls. I never got into the action figure dolls as a kid. I did have a Teddy Bear and a stuffed dog when I was very young, (Billy and Duke.)
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Jan '13

stepped_in_it

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Lucky guy.....lol. When I was a kid, all I had to play with was rocks. Smashed them together enough so the younger generation can now play with dirt. roflmao
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Jan '13

marine1

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PROFIT knows no bounds
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Jan '13

tomincali

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just think in 30 or 40 years they will be worth a little change.
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Jan '13

Thunderchicken

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He comes with a gun?? I'm aghast!!
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Jan '13

stepped_in_it

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Yeah, but it's a registered gun that he waited 2 weeks to get. And it's only a single action gun to boot!
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Jan '13

Thunderchicken

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@stepped_in_it

Is that supposed to make me feel better!? It's a gun and have you seen the movie previews? He's a scary guy with a scary gun. I feel threatened. I have a right not to feel threatened don't I?!! Government pleeease come and save me from the scary guy with the scary gun.
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Jan '13
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Jan '13

Thunderchicken

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@stepped_in_it

Thank you. I feel safer now.
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Jan '13

PNWest

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You want an offensive action figure? I got your offensive action figure right here:
http://www.merit-intl.com/month/bbi21262.htm
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Jan '13

Sharpshooter

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WOW.... you can buy one, actually attach your sins to him and ship him out of town... a REAL Scapegoat instead of a figurative one.

I got one of these

http://ww1.prweb.com/prfiles/2012/06/25/96400...

Incredibly realistic it's even hollow.... I was disappointed when the seeds didn't grow until I considered the realism aspect.... they didn't work either.

Sorry PNWest... had to do it.... LOL
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Jan '13

SavageMazx

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Does he have a pull string on his back and does he accurately slaughter the English language.... "Nuckcleeare" lol
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Jan '13

Mogal

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Isnt this an R rated movie? Whom, exactly are the figures to be marketed to?
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Jan '13

stepped_in_it

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You do realize that the "kids" now days don't grow up into they reach their early 30's if not later. LOL
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Jan '13

Mogal

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@stepped_in_it .....Just think of what a date-killer a collection of action figures would be!:P
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Jan '13

stepped_in_it

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@Mogal LOL.....good one. Maybe that's the birth control that we need!
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Jan '13

Mogal

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@stepped_in_it Hmmmmm......-runs off to call Hasbro and cut a deal- :D
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Jan '13

Thunderchicken

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I think the blurb in the lower right corner says "For ages 17 and up"
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Jan '13

RobertJHarsh

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Why is this a big deal? We already live in a society where life is cheap, has no morals or ethics, and elections are rigged.

Pointless issue is pointless.
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Jan '13

John_Matrix

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Umm.... When did we ever supposedly have morals?
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Jan '13

RobertJHarsh

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@John_Matrix Before my time my good friend....before my time. Life has been cheap ever since I have been alive. I am far too young to remember when it wasn't.
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Jan '13

John_Matrix

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@RobertJHarsh

Heard this argument before many times, not buying it. History is ripe with examples of either side to the argument, it just depends on how you look at it and what you choose to ignore.
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Jan '13

RobertJHarsh

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@John_Matrix It's not about ignoring it. When you're in an airport and you see a dad smacking the crap about of his kid, something is wrong. People pulling guns at a drop of a hat is not normal. Family going at it when a family member dies for the money, something is wrong. School shootings...wrong. Drone gamers in trailers murdering children on the other side of the world because they can't get a woman...very wrong.

Life is cheap on this planet. And if you take a look at this overpopulation and global climate change scams to engineer population control, that tells me the government thinks very low of its own people.

We are seeing the end of our civilization. America turning to communism will bring about an age of tyranny and dictatorship for most of the 21st century.
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Jan '13

John_Matrix

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@RobertJHarsh

And there are countless examples of life going to shit throughout history. When you only focus on the negative it always seems line tie end of days is just around the corner.
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Jan '13

Cheenoguy

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Actually action figures such as these are generally made for and purchased by adults.
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Jan '13

Sharpshooter

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I don't want to even think about what adult men do with the dolls... PNWest... can you help us out?:)
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Jan '13

Cheenoguy

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@Sharpshooter
Collectibles sitting on a shelf.
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Jan '13

PNWest

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@Sharpshooter OK - but only since you asked: http://www.thefrisky.com/2008-10-09/sarah-pal...
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Jan '13

Sharpshooter

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@PNWest This is almost as much fun as fighting with you..... ALMOST ;) Tell me... does she leak?
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Jan '13

PNWest

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@Sharpshooter I'm not sure - I do know that her head is full of air - oh wait , that was the original.
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Jan '13

Dan_Tien

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It's not a tasteful black action figure, like... the "Mr. T" action figure from the "A-Team" TV show or the action figure from "Blade". These kind of dolls are NOT for children. But don't worry, there are still African-American G.I. Joe action figures, Fat Albert dolls and even a Barack Obama doll that you can buy for your kids!
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Jan '13

CommonSense

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How is this offensive? I don't get it. The hero of a movie kills slave-owners. So the movie is saying that slavery is bad. How is that a problem?
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Jan '13

Cobra

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Oh Al Sharpton and his bunch need to shut the hell up. If he actually saw the movie, he'd see that more white people get killed than anyone else.

Besides, it's a damn collectible. I'm gonna buy one...no, TWO! Get a real job, Sharpton.

Love,
A Black Man Who Gives No Excuses
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Jan '13

Sabio

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Hollywood should be ashamed of promoting such violence and racial undertones, Micheal Moore ought to be up in arms over this hatred of a certain color of people!!!!!! oh wait, that only works for one side and not the other, oops.
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Jan '13
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Jan '13

RedFloppyShoes

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People who are offended wanted to be offended in the first place.
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Jan '13

Roco

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I'm sorry. But as I Black man, I can't see why this is offensive. I'm somewhat surprised that they made an action figure after this character. I might have to buy one to put on the shelf next to my Nascar models. Just joking about the models.
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Jan '13

MarkJM

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I want one. 'Django' Unchained was perhaps one of the best movies (besides Lincoln) that I have seen in a long time. The last good movie was Inglorious Basterds (another Quentin Tarantino classic)...
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Jan '13

Clarke12

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it is funny when hollywood hypocrites condemn capitalism and gun rights, yet have no issue making movies glorifying gun violence and selling action figures from those movies.
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Are the 'Django Unchained' dolls offensive?

Are the 'Django Unchained' dolls offensive?