[Dutchiesmurf]

When I was a kid I noticed the cartoon had purple smurfs while the comic had black smurfs.

Now being grown up (sort of) I wondered..... has this been done on purpose? Were the cartoonmakers afraid it would be considered "racist" to have evil black smurfs?

[Smurfysmurf]

Yes, from what I have heard and read that was exactly the case.
It really is a pity that political correctness had to come into play even with the smurfs.. but I guess it is hard for me to understand as I never had to deal with any kind of type casting...

[agent smurf]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Black_Smurfs

First I wanted to say the purple smurfs were only in the US version of the cartoons, but I think there is only one version (apart from the language) or not? Don't know now.

[Dutchiesmurf]

Thanks for the info.

Yeah there is only one cartoon version

This is the only Smurfs comic book where a Smurf is seen without a hat. Papa Smurf has his blown away by an explosion, revealing a bald head (which may simply be due to his old age).

(from wikipedia)

This brings up another question haha... do you think Smurfs are bald?

I personally think they are

[swarlock]

This brings up another question haha... do you think Smurfs are bald?

I personally think they are

With the exception of facial hair on Papa Smurf and Smurfette's golden long hair. All male smurfs including Papa are bald.

I have an Indian Smurf that shows that his feater bandana is covered in the front and the rest of his head is bald.

[eggie smurf]

I just watched the "Astrosmurf" episode of the US cartoons and the Swoofs are green not orange. I did not remember that at all...anyone know why the color of the Jungle smurf (swoof) is orange instead of green or did they just get the color wrong from the comics?

[Dutchiesmurf]

Probably the same reason I think. The Swoofs are a primitive tribe. They might have been associated to much with either native americans or other tribes/peoples.

I can't remember them green though. Maybe I never saw that episode

[Azrael]

Yeah, there seems to be something distinctly racist about black smurfs invading a village and taking over! No wonder they changed it!!

[Smurfysmurf]

Well, purple makes more sense to me anyway...

I mean, people turn red when they get angry, so I'd say smurfs turn purple (mix red and blue up)..and it makes for prettier smurfs anyway..the color purple I mean

Interesting question about the swoof....I have no idea but I am pretty sure it wasn't a racist thing in this case

[eggie smurf]

Interesting question about the swoof....I have no idea but I am pretty sure it wasn't a racist thing in this case

I agree....because I can't think of a race that is green except frogs....and I'd rather not talk about frogs anymore

[Smurfysmurf]

Yes, I heard Fishys squish them

[smurfieduck]

because I can't think of a race that is green

Except for a certain 'Duck' when she is having an blood test or when she is sitting in the dentist's chair!!!

and it makes for prettier smurfs anyway..the color purple I mean

I agree with you, Moey! Purple is definitely one of my favourite colours.

[Dutchiesmurf]

Well to me the Swoofs are more stereotyping then the Black Smurfs to be honest. And the comic version is orange and very "jungle" like. They changed orange into green, not the other way around.
So Black > Purple
Orange > Green

What makes me think this way is the white lipstick the Swoofs have.... which really reminds me of the old blaxploitation days

A pic to see what I mean: