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Wednesday, October 7, 2009 | 1:06pm
SOUND OFF: Racist Black Face ‘Jackson Jive’ Skit or Controversial Comedy
Let the Racial Determination Committee convene
We’re still working out the kinks on the unofficial Racial Determination Committee to exercise a bit more restraint and reasoning prior to crying foul with regard to racism. (That’s our Mission Statement 
) My man, Urban Thought (Highbrid Nation Since the beginning) is the Chairman of the board.As we’ve seen there are quite a bit of incidents that have set off protests online and off while after careful investigation and evaluation, their intent was rooting in some other premise.
Here’s one I’d like to present for consideration. Its a black-face routine on a Australian sketch comedy/ variety show. I spotted this at DrJays.com and I happy and very sad I did all at the same time. I think you’ll feel the same way but I wanted to share it with you.
As you’ll see its part of a segment called “Red Faces” on the wildly popular Aussie “Hey Hey It’s Saturday” TV program. A group calling themselves the “Jackson Jive” performs a silly skit in which they parody the popular boyband and the recently deceased and world revered Michael Jackson.
The skit would have probably gone unnoticed stateside but it just so happens that it was performed in front of guest judge, Harry Connick Jr., a life-long New Orleans native and public advocate of the plight of African Americans post Katrina. He was none too pleased and as a white American who didn’t have an obligation to object, did so admirably.
I have a lot of emotions and thoughts on so many levels but I’ll let the you…the committee, sound off before I share.
FILED IN Editorials, Need to Know, News
So that there be no future grey area: any white person that paints on a black face and does a “show” is a racist. End of discussion. Any institution that facilitates it, chuckles, goes along with…is a racist institution.
They know the history of the black face and what it represents. I do as well. This committee must know also.
2nd that. i told yall many time b4. ill keep coming as long as Obama is pres. Many will keep doing it bc they feel threatened by his stature. They show their natural asses and dont care what happens afterward bc they know itll all go away soon enuff. People let too much of this kinda sh*t slide. Like since we got a ‘black’ president, its ok now to do just about anything. Do that f*ck sh*t around me and i’ma let you have it. That go for anybody i work with or any one of my ‘friends’. Anyone close to me knows better.
This happened in Australia, not in the USA, so your comment isn’t really relevant.
Just to inform you all, only one of the guys in this skit was white Australian, the rest were Indian (The guy that played Michael), Lebanese, Italian, Greek etc. Its pretty funny how easily you Americans are offended!
We(American’s) aren’t all offended, but we just don’t put up with stupid sh#t. Yes, it has a lot to do with our history and legacy of racism but it’s not that simple, it has to do with the fact that our system allows us to not have to put up with ignorance if we don’t have, too. It’s not like those people would go to jail or anything but they would and they are getting punished socially. The court of public opinion in the U.S. finds them guilty of being ignorant and for some racist(which is worse). I don’t care what ethnic background they came from, one of them could’ve been Black and they would be just as ignorant and guilty as the rest.
Exactly. You said it all right there.
I hate to sound so knitpicky but Racist/Racism isn’t the word, thought or feeling that comes to mind when I see that. For me Racist/Racism is reserved for something stronger. What comes to mind is ignorance, stupidity…and curiousity. Is that really funny to White People?! I mean do they really wanna put on Afro wigs and dance around and call that comedy?! ‘Cause I don’t see us wanting to put on Blonde wigs and….oh wait a minute….White Chicks(the movie).
It’s just not funny to me, I don’t get offended when I see that anymore, I feel like I freed myself from the “N” word and Black Face and all that other stuff. I don’t feel negativity from it and I’m not obligated to feel negativity from it, BUT that still doesnt’ mean it isn’t wrong and more importantly DUMB. There is no place for it in the United States because of our history but our history is our history. The most important thing about what Harry Connick Jr. said at the end of the video was that he was speaking as an American.
Even though we’re looking at it from different angles, we’re still seeing basically the same thing… I’ve been the “victim” of racism many times. Most importantly when I was just trying to come up in the world, in my late teens and early 20′s. And the guy keeping me from what I was due did not have a painted black face. Ingrained institutional racism has done far more damage. However, the overt, in your face “F*ck you” of the black painted face validates and perpetuates, in my opinion, the mindset of the ones who can use their positions to discriminate. And they do it right to our faces, mocking us, daring us. At this point in my life, I am mature enough to not lose my temper over simple racism. I do fight like hell over what I am due, however.
I think Harry Connick Jr. was absolutely right to say what he said, and point out to our culture that this is an offensive issue to American culture. My cousins are Aboriginal (I am not but my Aunt is white, and their Dad is Aboriginal…just for clarity)… but they did not find the skit offensive because it doesn’t relate to their culture either, even though they are dark skinned.
Yes is it CLEARLY offensive to Americans, no it really wasn’t a funny skit anyway just stupid, but it is being taken WAY out of context…different cultures, different prejudices, different connotations regarding those prejudices.
In Australia, if they had gone out there pretending to be black with a person dressed up as a white nun or priest, that would totally have offended most Australians…I’m guessing most of you won’t know what I’m referring to there…why?? Because you probably don’t know much about the stolen generations of Aboriginal Australian children by the Catholic Church from the early 1900′s up to 1969.
I repeat – different culture, different context.
“What comes to mind is ignorance, stupidity…and curiosity”…I disagree,
This is Racist and offensive bottom line. I dont care if this is in Australia, They know about basic black history, just like they knew about the Jackson 5. It’s disgusting that producers allowed that to air or even let them walk into the green room.
This is a clear #fail, for the TV show, are they oblivious to the fact that Youtube is in existence and any Tom foolery spreads like wildfire?
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Interesting comments so far. Ok I’ll share my thoughts. I was very angry at first. In fact I still am. I think Skinnygirluver is right, its more ignorance than racism. Racism implies intent. Here’s the thing, these dudes took lightly way too much when putting together the skit.
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Is it me or is it a bit too soon to be doing koonish humor about Michael Jackson? The man just died like a half hour ago no? Its crazy insensitive at best.
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The thing that gets me is that regardless of if they were white, Indian, Lebanese…doesn’t really matter it offensive to mock another person’s skin color.
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I think the real crime here is that they thought they could put together some shit and about Americans, make people laugh and no one would find out. Notice the crowd was a little confused but cool with it until Mike rolled out. Mike was loved worldwide so when they saw that portrayal the boos poured in.
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Bottom line, the skit wasn’t cool and shouldn’t be tolerated her, there or anywhere about black folks, or any folks.
Anyone peep how the host said that they did the same exact act many years ago and actually won with it?! Mad props to Harry Connick Jr. He didn’t let being on someone elses turf intimidate him and proceeded to let everyone know that mess was completely out of line.
This is not racist, the guy is just surprised to see that thing called Lil Wayne!
Kudos to Harry Connick Jr. for stepping up and education those who were unaware.
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I’m still confused as to why the white man in the group had to put on white makeup.
The White man put on White makeup to tease Michael Jackson. The brothers are Black but Michael is “White”.
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I still can’t get over the stupidity that these guys displayed. Ok, they put the wigs on….they put the clothes on, but once you start rubbing Black make-up on your face can’t you just stop for a second and think…What the hell am I doing?!
This story hit CNN(mainstream news)
As an Australian, I feel I need to defend my nation here…you can’t label an entire country racist based on one performance by some Aussies who (heaven forbid) are not educated in African American culture. I didn’t find it in the least bit funny, but by definition it is not racist, simply ignorant to your culture.
For those saying that ignorance is no excuse, I ask you this…how much do you know about Australian culture? Or ANY other culture for that matter! Is it what you hear on YOUR news? Through YOUR media? How many of you actually watch Australian television and news? How much do you REALLY know about our culture? I am constantly offended by things Americans have done in my presence whilst travelling to overseas destinations…I had one American lady in China absolutely disgracefully point out how disgusting she thought Chinese food was, IN A CHINESE RESTAURANT!!! If you don’t like Chinese food, don’t go to China. In Thailand I heard “Oh this country is so unhygienic” said in front of Thai people in a VERY NICE Thai restaurant. I’ve heard Americans complain that other cultures are backwards, one stuck up Californian sat next to me in a Sushi restaurant in LA and told me how arrogant and unfriendly he thought Japanese people were, in front of the Japanese staff…I asked him had he ever been to Japan…surprise surprise, his answer was NO!
I am constantly hearing Americans complain in MY COUNTRY that “Oh, this this not how we do it back home, this is terrible”, “this isn’t how we do things in America”. EXACTLY it’s NOT AMERICA!
I could EASILY label ALL Americans as being culturally ignorant of every other country and culture in the world…HOWEVER, having actually lived in the US for almost 2 years, I know that is not true. There are many very intelligent, culturally sensitive people in the USA…just as there are many in Australia.
I in no way condone racism, but being from a younger Aussie generation, I knew nothing of the “Black-face” phenomenon. It is not relevant to OUR culture directly, so it is not common knowledge. I have now been educated about how offensive it obviously is to YOUR American culture.
Amazes me how the US EXPECTS every other culture around the world to know EVERYTHING about their culture, yet make little effort to learn about the cultures of others.
Very hypocritical. At least Australia admits that we don’t know this aspect of your culture.
First of all I re-read all the comments and I don’t think there was any sentiment that anger or criticism was directed down under but to those ignorant few that chose to go on the show.
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Secondly I agree with you this isn’t racist but very ignorant. HOWEVER its insensitive as well. I’m black…look at my picture above, my skin isn’t black though its brown. If you wanted to dress up an act like me you’d use brown make-up. UNLESS, you had been exposed to black face. I’m not saying these guys understood the significance but they knew black face was satire. That’s enough for me to hold them accountable for their insensitivity. Lets not forget a legend JUST died…show some respect and that’s something that translates across all cultures.
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