40516 - Everyone is Awesome

[TheOrcKing]

[TheOrcKing]

Every Spaceman is Awesome by Holger Matthes

[jaybinx73]

On 5/20/2021 at 4:53 PM, keymomachine said:

g a y people are white too

Edited May 24, 2021 by jaybinx73

[exciter1]

18 minutes ago, jaybinx73 said:

g a y people are white too

 

[CosmicSpeed]

My wife's first reaction is why make the pink one obviously have girl hair. I reminded her that it doesn't have to be a "girl" with just that hairstyle. However, to her point, the brown and black minifigures both have what would be thought of as traditionally African American hairstyles. I haven't looked, and it probably would be easy to just change yourself, but if they included different headwear in various colors, that would be a nice addition.

[oneknightr]

2 minutes ago, CosmicSpeed said:

My wife's first reaction is why make the pink one obviously have girl hair. I reminded her that it doesn't have to be a "girl" with just that hairstyle. However, to her point, the brown and black minifigures both have what would be thought of as traditionally African American hairstyles. I haven't looked, and it probably would be easy to just change yourself, but if they included different headwear in various colors, that would be a nice addition.

And as @$20 on joe vs dan mentioned, the yellow figure has a bowl cut. 

[$20 on joe vs dan]

9 minutes ago, CosmicSpeed said:

My wife's first reaction is why make the pink one obviously have girl hair. I reminded her that it doesn't have to be a "girl" with just that hairstyle. However, to her point, the brown and black minifigures both have what would be thought of as traditionally African American hairstyles. I haven't looked, and it probably would be easy to just change yourself, but if they included different headwear in various colors, that would be a nice addition.

so a product meant to celebrates differences reinforces stereo-types

[Alpinemaps]

If we're going by hair style re-enforcing stereotypes, then yes, the red minifigure *is* the Human Torch.  And the green one is She-Hulk.

[oneknightr]

21 minutes ago, Alpinemaps said:

If we're going by hair style re-enforcing stereotypes, then yes, the red minifigure *is* the Human Torch.  And the green one is She-Hulk.

Now I can't unsee that.

[TheOrcKing]

I like purple.

[Lordoflego]

Shame on lego but since it’s here, I’m gonna make me some money 

[dennugsmello]

2 hours ago, CosmicSpeed said:

The brown and black minifigures both have what would be thought of as traditionally African American hairstyles. I haven't looked, and it probably would be easy to just change yourself, but if they included different headwear in various colors, that would be a nice addition.

Can't do that. That would be cultural appropriation.

[Lordoflego]

On 5/20/2021 at 4:51 PM, elmaslıefendi said:

Easy & instant buy for a modernist such as myself😃! This is great😃! Kids should totally know that & constantly be reminded of this, I love it😃! Not enough companies do this, glad at least LEGO, the biggest toy manufacturer on the planet, is doing it😃! Raised my respect for them as a company greatly😃! Woohoo, goo LGBTQ😃, the Lord is with you😃!

 

 

No I’m not. 

[Bricklectic]

2 hours ago, CosmicSpeed said:

 However, to her point, the brown and black minifigures both have what would be thought of as traditionally African American hairstyles. 

In my opinion LEGO is perpetuating cultural stereotypes. Incredible harm is done to our black and brown youth when culture foists these stereotypes on them. They should be free to explore any hairdos whether society approves of them or not. It's a sick world out there peoples be careful.

Edited May 24, 2021 by Bricklectic

[Jbad87]

1 hour ago, Bricklectic said:

They should be free to explore any hairdos whether society approves of them or not.

I believe their hair peice is removable but maybe I'm wrong.

[Bricklectic]

1 hour ago, Jbad87 said:

I believe their hair peice is removable but maybe I'm wrong.

still the default assumption is troubling

[Lordoflego]

I’m pretty damn sure blacks have different hair than my white ass, no? They can explore all they want but it’s gonna be hard to duplicate my half bold, blond hair....

and that’s just the problem. The fact that now we r gonna sit here and argue based on our political believes. Yeah, thanks LEGO....

[JimboJet]

Waiting for someone to buy 11 so they can build the set in just one color.

Would be cool to do flag colors (red yellow green for Germany, red white green for Italy, etc). 

[TheOrcKing]

Why I designed "Everyone is Awesome" by Matthew Ashton

[$20 on joe vs dan]

3 hours ago, Lordoflego said:

I’m pretty damn sure blacks have different hair than my white ass, no? They can explore all they want but it’s gonna be hard to duplicate my half bold, blond hair....

and that’s just the problem. The fact that now we r gonna sit here and argue based on our political believes. Yeah, thanks LEGO....

it's one thing to acknowledge physical differences...but please keep in mind there's very few negative connotations w/ "white folks hair" but for many of color, the media has put up a lot of negatives about certain hair types for generations...so some folks may be a bit touchy on the subject...I have tried to fit in for most of my youth trying to obtain the impossible image that the media was telling me was the ideal. And now here's LEGO telling me the yellow minifigure should have a bowl cut. 

[Alpinemaps]

57 minutes ago, $20 on joe vs dan said:

it's one thing to acknowledge physical differences...but please keep in mind there's very few negative connotations w/ "white folks hair" but for many of color, the media has put up a lot of negatives about certain hair types for generations...so some folks may be a bit touchy on the subject...I have tried to fit in for most of my youth trying to obtain the impossible image that the media was telling me was the ideal. And now here's LEGO telling me the yellow minifigure should have a bowl cut. 

I have to apologize, because I forgot your racial background.  I would like to think that it's because I don't see color, and I just see a bunch of LEGO investors.  But that honestly does you a disservice.

Remembering now your background, I understand where you're coming from, and your POV on the subject.  I apologize if my comments earlier made light of your POV.  I do think your criticism is valid.

[vincevaughn]

You know, originally, the 'LEGO yellow' minifigure was designed to be race-less.  This was to show that there are no differences between people and we are all just exploring and living in a wonderful world.  LEGO has always stayed away from real world issues, the idea being that LEGO as a medium is escapist in nature and someone can immerse themselves in a fantasy world without the real world encroaching.  This is also why the 'no realistic modern military' policy is in place and why any MOC with adult or very violent themes is jarring and sticks out.

More and more society is breaking out every little group, while simultaneously tiptoeing around any notion of stereotypes or identity.  The more we breakout and the more we focus on this spectrum thing....the more we end up drawing battle lines and descending into tribalism.  And now the argument is breaking into the LEGO world and causing division, where it was created to celebrate all.  We have seen this over and over again....and all it has ever led to is in-fighting, resentment and ruined, miserable lives.  This is why LEGO should have never made this set in the first place and simply focused on making quality toys.  Now It feels that this wonderful toy universe is tainted and poisoned with the weariness, strife and division leeched from the very cold and brutal real world.  These things have their place and there are absolutely things that need to addressed......but does it have to be forced into every corner of society......

[$20 on joe vs dan]

1 hour ago, Alpinemaps said:

I have to apologize, because I forgot your racial background.  I would like to think that it's because I don't see color, and I just see a bunch of LEGO investors.  But that honestly does you a disservice.

Remembering now your background, I understand where you're coming from, and your POV on the subject.  I apologize if my comments earlier made light of your POV.  I do think your criticism is valid.

no worries...not offended at all. 

I picked Maz cuz I like to look more deeper into things...her character in SW intrigues me. This is a resellers forum...and within this den of cut throats and low lives...we have our community and our "pirate's code"

[keymomachine]

19 minutes ago, vincevaughn said:

This is why LEGO should have never made this set in the first place and simply focused on making quality toys.  Now It feels that this wonderful toy universe is tainted and poisoned with the weariness, strife and division leeched from the very cold and brutal real world.  These things have their place and there are absolutely things that need to addressed......but does it have to be forced into every corner of society......

I guess I'm confused about where you see the controversy here. It seems like you have a problem with LEGO acknowledging and embracing a community that you personally take issue with. Your statement feels like you may be telling LEGO to "stick to sports" or the like because you disagree with the political message they are sending by releasing this set. What if... the world wasn't so cold and brutal? What if... we rebuilt the world with love and acceptance? 

[raindroplet]

Considering the set is based on the newer versions of the Pride flag, I think its acceptable to give the black and brown minifigs natural-hair pieces. Those stripes are meant to represent people of color (I'm not endorsing or arguing against this version of the Pride flag, btw, just connecting things). We already have very few of these pieces in circulation and I am happy to see them made more accessible in cheaper sets (I can only think of a few Marvel sets and the Ghostbusters Ecto-2 having those pieces). 

42 minutes ago, vincevaughn said:

Now It feels that this wonderful toy universe is tainted and poisoned with the weariness, strife and division leeched from the very cold and brutal real world.  These things have their place and there are absolutely things that need to addressed......but does it have to be forced into every corner of society......

If you see the representation of a group of people as "political", then surely you have the same problem with pistols in Star Wars sets (Pro-2nd Amendment) or the lack of cash registers in hospital sets (universal healthcare)?

Saying that you "don't like politics" is not the same as being apolitical. Many times, minorities have been silenced by majorities who tell them that their mere existence is disruptively political or controversial. Those minorities just want to live their lives the way they were born. It's not their fault that other people can't tolerate them and make a scene. Ask yourself why this set is causing so much butthurt when we have had sets with wheelchair-bound minifigs, adolescent sewer tortoises and cartoon rats in committed relationships. Perhaps the issue is not LEGO, but people who are still uncomfortable beyond their narrow understanding of the world.