Jazz, originally voiced by Scatman Crothers in the US release on the more than meets the eye cartoon is an AUTOBOT. A cybertronian native. Jazz is (as per his many bio's from the last 20 years) is a huge fan of popular human culture. His original voice actor (in the US) was that of a black man. More than meet the eye portrayed him as hip, and current with the energies of the youth of the era. If I were an alien, marooned on a distant planet, trying to blend in to a new society, I would get VERY familiar with the next generation of leaders of that world. Jazz, Bumblebee and Prime did just that. (who can forget the episode were Prime was playing basket ball! Was it Blue Streak that incinerated the ball to "block" the shot?) Many episodes showed the Autobots assimulating human (US)culture. Sure, Jazz loved break dancing and did 2 or 3 backspins during the original series run in the 80's, but so did alot of (real) people in the 80's, white included. Let us not forget that is take more than speech patterns to be "black". I am a 30 year old black man,...way past the yo, yo, yo BS,...yet I am (and ALWAYS) will be black. Hip hop culture (slang speech, clothing styles, modern dance) is universal. The Beastie Boys, Everlast, Vanalla Ice, Eminem, Paul Wall are examples of how trendy culture is adopted by all. These artists were (or still are) in tune with pop culture; like Jazz, yet they aren't black. Meister, as Jazz is named in the japanese transformers 80's cartoon was depicted as more of a "cool, fashionable, japanese club kid", very far from black. Guys, remember that the cartoons of the80's were released mostly as 26 min long commercials. Kids are more likely to want a certain character because they identify with it on some level. I identified with Starscream because of his rebellious nature, something that I, even as a child, knew that I had as well. I never though of the Transformers as anything else but "Cybertronians"; with two races; Autobots and Decepticons; many sub groups (constucticons, protectobots etc) fighting for a cause that neither side will truly win. In that regard they are most like humans, but I honestly think thats where the common ground ends. You wanna talk about negative stereotypes, look at the character "Roadblock" of GI joe. I swear he rhymes all the damn time. :)