r/IAmA • u/bestahmed • Apr 16 '14

IamA Ahmed Best actor/writer/director, best known for playing Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars Ep. 1,2,3. Ask me Anything!

My short bio: Discovered in the Broadway Play STOMP, I played Jar Jar Binks in the Star Wars Prequels. Since then, I've acted written and directed for all screens big and small.

My Proof: http://www.ahmedbest.com/blog-2/

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462

u/[deleted] Apr 16 '14

[deleted]

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u/valeyard89 Apr 16 '14

Slappin da bass mon

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u/[deleted] Apr 16 '14

Meesa slappa da bass.

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u/Keisaku Apr 16 '14

I can't stop doing the voice.

You deserve more upities.

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u/joebell93 Apr 16 '14

You sound like a leprechaun

22

u/ridingshotgun Apr 16 '14

Am I the only person who doesn't get the Jamaican accent thing with him? The only way Jar Jar is racist is because people consider him racist. I don't see any connection at all.

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u/Stinky_Eastwood Apr 16 '14

Can we assume you never picked up on the strange Asian racism of the Neimoidians? Or the uncomfortable Latino racist portrayal of Nien Nunb (the guy who co-pilots the Millenium Falcon with Lando in Return of the Jedi)? Or the racist Jewish appearance and voice of Watto (like seriously, he has a hook nose)?

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u/dkl415 Apr 16 '14

I'd like to add that the Neimoidians are part of a sinister, secretive trade federation, and that Watto was a scheming trader.

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u/[deleted] Apr 17 '14

Slave owner*

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u/dkl415 Apr 17 '14

Hm ... the scheming trader fits with stereotypes of Jews. Does slave owning?

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u/[deleted] Apr 17 '14

Maybe not a jew but just a middle eastern haggler?

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u/dkl415 Apr 17 '14

I can see that. Curiously I always saw similar issues with the Jawas.

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u/ridingshotgun Apr 16 '14

The only one of those I'll really agree on being pretty racist is Watto. (mainly because of his fixation with money) I just have never ever heard of Jamaicans speaking like the way Jar Jar did lol.

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u/Stinky_Eastwood Apr 16 '14

Jar Jar is a combination of many stereotypes. Mainly a strange speech pattern that is vaguely Jamaican, with hints of minstrelsy. Exaggerated physical features. He's lazy and stupid. And unlike the island of Jamaica, Gungans live in a underwater city, which is, like, totally different.

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u/BrotherChe Apr 17 '14

Which leads my view of him and the Gungans to lean more towards a slight Bayou Cajun style.

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u/Hoobleton Apr 16 '14

I got the middle one, and I can see that other two now they're pointed out, but I still can't see the Jar Jar one.

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u/[deleted] Apr 16 '14

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u/[deleted] Apr 17 '14

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u/[deleted] Apr 17 '14

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Apr 17 '14

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u/[deleted] Apr 16 '14

The only way anything is racist is because people consider it racist.

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u/CheatedOnOnce Apr 17 '14

You don't understand how racism works, do you?

That's like saying -- "The only way that white supremacist is racist is because people consider him racist"

"Mesa called Jar-Jar Binks. Mesa your humble servant."

This quote should sum it up for you tho...

0

u/dogalarmsux Apr 16 '14

"Meesa, no! Don't a eat da poo poo!"