The Rev. Al Sharpton has a bone to pick with Quentin Tarantino, but it’s not about his new movie “Django Unchained” and its depiction of slavery. It’s about the movie’s accompanying action figures.
On Tuesday, Sharpton’s National Action Network called for a boycott of the eight-inch tall figures.
“Selling this doll is highly offensive to our ancestors and the African-American community,” the Rev. KW Tulloss, NAC’s president in Los Angeles, told the New York Daily News. “The movie is for adults, but these are action figures that appeal to children. We don’t want other individuals to utilise them for their entertainment, to make a mockery of slavery.”
Sharpton’s organization is not the only one to speak out against the toys.
Activist Najee Ali from Project Islamic Hope also condemned the action figures, saying that no action figures of Hitler were made for Tarantino’s film “Inglourious Basterds.” While Tulloss hasn’t seen “Django,” Ali has.
“I actually enjoyed the movie, but we cannot support this type of commercialization,” he said.
The toys are being made by National Entertainment Collectibles Association in association with Weinstein Company, the production company for Tarantino’s film. They are available at places such as Amazon.com, where the comments sections are filled with arguments about whether or not the toys should have been made.
It’s shocking that they would make a Django action figure and not include chains. How are kids supposed to recreate their favorite scenes from the movie if they don’t include this titular accessory? Shameful. –Egon Logan “Egon” I am only buying this becuase all the cry babies make me want it more. They will cry and have them taken off the market and then I will have a collectible that will quickly be worth more than when I bought it. I am pretty sure the slave won in this movie so why all the crying. Why don’t you go complain on how much “Roots” Memorabilia is out there. –brandonn Bought this toy for my Son. He has really enjoyed throwing and kicking it around the house. The only thing it is missing is a whip. –John Doe As a minority who has ancestors whom where slaves I loved the film & love the dolls. Why is Django the racist doll?!? What about the slave owner, house slave, or hired gun? Would a movie about Native Americans getting revenge be racist (battle of Little Bighorn)? Would dolls/actions figure be racist? No. This movie made people uncomfortable, & it should. History & films are white washed. So the fact that people are upset is good, now they’ll realize that the us was built on destroying other people groups. –kuhleb
Despite its gore and rough depiction of slavery, “Django Unchained” has met with box office and critical success. Yet its undoing may have finally arrived — in the form of toys.
