Racist, Insensitive, or Cultural Misunderstanding?

[my future me]

Run time: 09:08 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmaF7Pys7OI   Posted on YouTube: October 07, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: October 08, 2009 By DU Member: my future me Views on DU: 1391

 
It wasn’t supposed to be like this for Harry Connick Jr. or the iconic Aussie variety series Hey Hey It’s Saturday, for whom the midweek show represented a much-anticipated reunion special. But there they were: The Jackson Jive, all Afro wigs and black face paint, led by their late superstar brother, Michael, done up with a pasty clown visage and aviator sunglasses. Not cool, said Connick: “If they turned up looking like that in the United States, it’d be like Hey Hey There’s No More Show,” the crooner spat, giving the group a score of zero in the episode’s mock-talent competition. (The Aussie judge beside him was much more forgiving, allowing for a smile and a 7.)

The host brought Connick — who’d appeared on the show before — back out after the break for an official mea culpa: “I know that to your countrymen, that’s an insult to have a blackface routine like that on the show, so I do apologize.” Connick thanked him, adding, “I know it was done humorously, but we’ve spent so much time trying to not make black people look like buffoons, that when we see something like that, we take it really to heart.” As if this weren’t the year two-thousand-and-freaking-nine. “If I knew that was going to be part of the show, I probably - I definitely - wouldn’t have done it.”

www.movieline.com/2009/10/harry-connick-jr-clashes-with-blackface-jackson-family-on-aussie-tv.php

[tekisui]

1. All three.

It was racist and insensitive, and they don't understand or respect African-American culture.

[Drunken Irishman]

2. Poor Harry Connic Jr.

I would have been mortified.

[tomm2thumbs]

3. trainwreck /nt

[Merlot]

4. I couldn't watch it. When they came out on stage and I realized what they

were doing, I just couldn't watch any more. I do feel for Harry Connick, he's a good guy and put a lot of his time into Katrina rescue.

[NOLALady]

5. I'm proud of him.

He was raised well.

[chollybocker]

6. Hip hip for Harry!

He handled that with great diplomacy and panache.

(Wasn't his father a N.O. diplomat or something like that?)

[AusDem]

7. ugh, have never liked hey hey its saturday

the "red faces" segment, which is what this was, is known for bringing on some really crude, amateurish stunts. and this one was clearly not well thought out.

in their defense though, i must admit, australians would have been offended if americans did a similar skit regarding aboriginal people, I think since we haven't had to deal with people with african heritage much, it makes it harder to understand the sensitivities. Also, I think the skit was supposed to be more of a parody of michael jackson and the jackson five (who I think are up for fair game), rather than a racially tinged segment poking fun at black people.

Harry Connnick Jr handled it well, explaining why this would be considered offensive (more so in America than here).

Finally, in a little dig at Americans, I've always found that Americans aren't always very good with laughing at themselves, whereas as Australian's are renowned for their self-deprecating humor. And its almost like if you can laugh at yourself, then you can laugh at everybody else as well.

I could be wrong, but I definitely don't think it was done with a racist intent. the latter two definitely apply however, with another major travesty being that it was actually a really poor skit, with no real thought behind it.

[thegoodfight]

12. It was racist and the perpetrators had done this skit before

I'd know, I'm Australian, but right now, I'm ashamed to say that. The majority of people know about blackface, the black and white minstrels ect. but they choose to remain ignorant, these shows were extremely popular in Australia in the 80s. It was racist and the people watching knew fully well it was, Australia is extremely insensitive when it comes to these things. I was reading my newspaper and majority thought the skit wasn't racist.......we have a long way to go. This was done with racist intent, it is all so common and all so subtle here in Australia. Their was alot of thought behind it because this kind of skit has occurred before but as usual, the majority of people drowned out the minority who abhorred the racially motivated skit and lo-and-behold the show was still allowed to air. Do not make excuses for us, we've had a horrible history of racism, the colonization and near genocide of the Aboriginal people, the stolen generation ect. but instead of learning and ridding our country of this racial poison, people encourage it. It really is sickening and I'd like to be somewhere else right now. Most Australians wouldn't be offended if Americans did a skit to aboriginal people, aboriginal people are the subject of racism every single day.

[rve300]

8. As I watched this last night with my 7 year old daughter on my lap....

I immediately started repeating "this is not good" over and over again.

What has been worse has been the Aussie reaction on the radio this morning.
I heard one lady say she would turn the radio off the next time a song of his was played.

The comments on the local internet sights.
"He needs to just get over it or get out"
"He needs to understand he is not in the USA"
"Americans have no sense of humour"
"Storm in a teacup"
Etc etc.

I maybe could understand some the backlash against him if it had been in anyway FUNNY!!

When we put my little girl to bed I promised to record the rest so she could watch it today.
So the first thing we did when she got up was watch the apology to Harry to help her understand the skit was wrong.

My Aussie wife thinks I am off base too. Doesn't understand way Harry was offended.

[TankLV]

9. OMG - i can't watch it - HAVE PEOPLE NO SHAME?!!!

Bet limpballs and oliely LOVE it...

so very very sad...

[ElsewheresDaughter]

10. that was painful

[elana i am]

11. i'd say it's all 3

it made my stomach churn to watch it, but here 'blackface' has a very serious connotation. maybe it doesn't in australia, so they can't grasp the concept the way we do, not having shared that experience.

[ecstatic]

13. Not a jazz fan, but I'm going to buy his album now

Thank you for standing up for what is right, Mr. Connick!