Wednesday, January 2, 2008

MBP of the Week: Toronto Star

Just had to get this one up... a quintessential Misidentified Black Person. (Tip o’ the hat to Craig Silverman at Regret the Error.)

The Toronto Star published the following correction on December 27:

“A Dec. 23 concert listing about a Dec. 27 performance by R&B artist Omarion included an incorrect photo. The photo identified as Omarion was actually of hip-hop artist Bow Wow. The Star regrets the error.”

Yep. I’ll never get bored with this. (The pictures above I located myself. Do not know what the Toronto Star printed. Bow Wow is on the left.)

17 comments:

  1. Please don't judge all Canadians harshly!LOL

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  2. This is why newspapers need teenybopper black girls on retainer!

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  3. I guess being that they're both about 4 ft tall...they're easily mistaken.

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  4. Now, if they'd confused Bow Wow with Felicia Pearson, I'd understand. :P

    Yep. I’ll never get bored with this.

    Neither will I.

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  5. And what, exactly, is the difference? Does it matter what picture they used? All of you are interchangeable no-talent nitwits that look alike anyway. They could've posted a picture of a fire hydrant or a tree branch for all the significance the difference makes.

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  6. ^ Anonymous: It may not make a difference to yo' mama when the lights go out... but some of us would like to see black people called by their correct names.

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  7. Now, if they'd confused Bow Wow with Felicia Pearson, I'd understand.

    You funny, Bklyn6.

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  8. well they are both kinda "pretty", so I can see why they are confused.

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  9. Hi UBM,

    They probably have a bunch of 55 year-olds working in the newsroom.

    What I find really interesting is the feminine dynamic that pervades hip hop.
    It amazes me how rappers wear clothes that in the "hood" would be seen as completely feminine; the diamonds, the furs, etc.

    I mention it because Bow Wow looks like a cute girl in that photo.

    It's an interesting juxtaposition considering the "thug" image most rappers portray and the homophobia that exists within hip hop as well.

    Have you noticed this?

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  10. Hey MDC. I've definitely noticed that Bow Wow is pretty as hell. The kind of guy you think, "I hope he never goes to jail."

    As for the jewelry and furs, I always figured that was the pimp aesthetic. That irony you point out has always been an intriguing element of pimping: the pimp's whole identity is about dominating (and beating) women. But who's more vain, bejeweled and glamour-oriented than pimps? (Remember Pretty Tony in "The Mack"?)

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  11. UBM,

    I suppose it is the P*%p aesthetic they're going for. It's amazing that of all the personas rap as a genre could have co-opted they chose that.

    Anyway thanks for the insight.

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  12. It amazes me how rappers wear clothes that in the "hood" would be seen as completely feminine; the diamonds, the furs, etc.

    Reminds me of Cam'ron and his pink fetish.

    I've got a peeve about rappers and their iced out wrists. I LOVE watches! It's one of the first things I notice about a person. Serious! But, those really iced out watches that rappers wear turn me off. If they had sophisticated tastes, they'd be sporting high end luxury watches with, like, a million complications! Jay-Z gets it.

    Anyway, UBM, your pimp analogy makes lots of sense! As for Bow Wow, yeah, he wouldn't even have a chance to drop the soap in prison.

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  13. hmmm... i can almost forgive them for this one, since Bow Wow and Omarion do have a duo album out and the cover is somewhat confusing...

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  14. ^ Interesting. That must have something to do with this mistake. Thanks, Comb & Razor.

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  15. MDC,

    You have a great point. I still can't over brothers wearing earrings...not only one but two. I remember when if you were an earring in only one ear it had to be the correct one or you would be thought of as gay. But I guess when Michael Jordan started kickin' that look it became OK. I thought it was only a fad, like the cornrows but I am wrong.

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  16. Omarion and Bow Wow were hanging out together at the "I Am Legend" premiere. They couldn't look more unalike.

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  17. They were on "Ugly Betty" tonight. Bow Wow is quite charismatic.

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