Michael Jackson Tribute Act: Was it Racist?

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Michael Jackson Tribute Act: Was it Racist?
OP - October 09, 2009, 06:13 AM

Was Harry Connick exagerating? Was that racist? What do you think?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tgCaNh9bh0&feature=related

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Re: Michael Jackson Tribute Act: Was it Racist?
Reply #1 - October 09, 2009, 06:32 AM

I don't think it was "racist" by Australian standards because they probably don't have all of the past painful connotations of blackface and such other shows

but Harry Connick probably got offended-to be honest though if people got offended so quickly and easily by any borderline things like this no one would leave the house.

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Re: Michael Jackson Tribute Act: Was it Racist?
Reply #2 - October 09, 2009, 07:03 AM

Speaking of tributes to MJ, here is Killarney's finest MC...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ag00jv_TCVg&feature=player_embedded

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Re: Michael Jackson Tribute Act: Was it Racist?
Reply #3 - October 09, 2009, 07:15 AM

Quote from: RIBS on October 09, 2009, 06:13 AM
Was Harry Connick exagerating? Was that racist? What do you think?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tgCaNh9bh0&feature=related

Yes, I can't believe they didn't realise it would cause problems. No wonder Aussie's get stereotyped.

And they may not have had shows like 'Black Face' whatever that is, but no doubt they had the Black and White Minstrel show, not to mention a 'past connection' to the indigenous black population being treated like shit.

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Re: Michael Jackson Tribute Act: Was it Racist?
Reply #4 - October 09, 2009, 07:42 AM

Quote from: HenriMonier on October 09, 2009, 06:32 AM
I don't think it was "racist" by Australian standards because they probably don't have all of the past painful connotations of blackface and such other shows

but Harry Connick probably got offended-to be honest though if people got offended so quickly and easily by any borderline things like this no one would leave the house.

I don't know about Australia, but when I saw the group come out, I found it shocking and a little offensive. I'm not surprised that someone from the "New South" generation, like Connick, is offended by it. One thing is for sure, if someone did that on a show in America, it would be a full-blown controversy (although I'd be surprised if someone doing black face could even get that far on these sort of "talent shows" in America in the first place).

I would find it strange that Australia has no history of mocking dark skinned people, given the sad history there of the way Aboriginals were viewed and treated.

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Re: Michael Jackson Tribute Act: Was it Racist?
Reply #5 - October 09, 2009, 08:16 AM

It was pretty off IMO. Mind you that show isn't what I'd call class anyway.

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Re: Michael Jackson Tribute Act: Was it Racist?
Reply #6 - October 09, 2009, 01:01 PM

Deeply stupid and offensive - and given that Harry Connick Jr comes from a part of the world in which this kind of thing was historically part of the racist persecution, mocking and demonisation of black people, his reaction is very understandable and I have to say, I admire him for making that stand.

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Re: Michael Jackson Tribute Act: Was it Racist?
Reply #7 - October 09, 2009, 02:53 PM

Quote from: Manat on October 09, 2009, 07:42 AM
(although I'd be surprised if someone doing black face could even get that far on these sort of "talent shows" in America in the first place).

The show is called "Hey, hey it's Saturday." it's not a "talent show" - in fact the "talent" (yes, notice the ' " ' there) didn't get "far" - they only had to be accepted to go on the show. It is only one portion of the show (called "red faces") and they did not have to "get through" any previous rounds in order to perform.

Quote from: Manat on October 09, 2009, 07:42 AM
I would find it strange that Australia has no history of mocking dark skinned people, given the sad history there of the way Aboriginals were viewed and treated.

They weren't mocking black people. They were mocking Michael Jackson's skin disease (vitiligo); hence the "MJ" had a white face and the others dark. I did not find the skit funny, but it was not an attack on black people.

In all, it's NOTHING but a visual portrayal of what MANY have been gossiping about MJ for many many years; (that he 'bleaches' his skin).

For them to claim it was a 'tribute' to MJ - what a foocking joke - it was a blatant attack - but again, nothing that the US hasn't done pre-MJ demise.

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Re: Michael Jackson Tribute Act: Was it Racist?
Reply #8 - October 09, 2009, 04:06 PM

You don't think the Uncle Tom silly wigs and the boot-polish faces can be taken as mocking? To some, that dull, unfunny skit, was as hilarious as Bernard Manning putting on a 'paki' accent during one of his 'jokes'.

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Re: Michael Jackson Tribute Act: Was it Racist?
Reply #9 - October 09, 2009, 04:09 PM

*sigh*. Again, they weren't mocking black people - they were mocking MJ; by contrasting his "whiteness" (the main guy in the front) against the "blackness" of his brothers.

It was a jab at his skin disease, not attacking blacks.

Ooh MJ bleaches his skin!
MJ wants to be white!
MJ doesn't like his roots (african american)

blah blah blah. You've heard all the jokes Americans have been making for YEARS - so please don't pretend you don't understand.

(no, I'm not defending the act - I thought it was stupid and tasteless, but I see it has been misinterpreted by those who either didn't watch it all, or don't know Aussie culture and the nature of the show it was on).

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Re: Michael Jackson Tribute Act: Was it Racist?
Reply #10 - October 09, 2009, 04:10 PM

White people blacking up for entertainment purposes is offensive to black people regardless of the other connotations of this particular sketch.

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Re: Michael Jackson Tribute Act: Was it Racist?
Reply #11 - October 09, 2009, 04:11 PM

In which country, Cheetah? I'm not aware of any major storm in Australia before this latest brouhaha - which I believe has been misrepresented.

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Re: Michael Jackson Tribute Act: Was it Racist?
Reply #12 - October 09, 2009, 04:31 PM

I thought in every country, at least in the English speaking world. Haven't shows been taken off air in the UK for that very reason? I don't really know the ins and outs of it, but someone would be losing their job if that was shown on Irish telly, even without the extra dig at MJ.

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Re: Michael Jackson Tribute Act: Was it Racist?
Reply #13 - October 09, 2009, 04:35 PM

I didn't even see the skin bleach 'joke' til mentioned it - nice for a tribute eh? And anyway, in their earlier attempt, before his death, that was shown, 'MJ' was black - so what was the 'joke' that time?

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Re: Michael Jackson Tribute Act: Was it Racist?
Reply #14 - October 09, 2009, 04:38 PM

Not in Australia that I am aware of. People seem to be imposing their own cultural standards on to this incident in order to decry it as racist. This is unfair - and again I state that what it was portraying has been misrepresented.

Let me give you an example: There was an Aussie tourism ad shot last year IIRC, where at the end, the girl says "where the bloody hell are you?" This was intended to be aired in Britain to bring in tourists. Of course, the makers of the commercia were not aware that in Britain, "bloody" (in that context) is a bit of a rude word - whereas in Australia it is not considered to be so bad, which is why it was put into a commercial.

That was a faux pas on the commercial makers part, but what the British think of the word is only relevant here, because they were the target audience. It would be wrong to say "saying 'bloody' in a sentence like that is wrong in Australia because it is offensive in Britain."

The fact of the matter is that this is a low-class TV show (I don't watch it) and it was meant for a one-night airing to Australia only. The very fact that it passed checks and got onto TV in the first place should tell you that it is not considered an offensive thing in Australia to paint one's face black - and again, that was not the focus of the act.

Quote from: jack
in their earlier attempt, before his death, that was shown, 'MJ' was black - so what was the 'joke' that time?

I don't understand this.

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Re: Michael Jackson Tribute Act: Was it Racist?
Reply #15 - October 09, 2009, 04:43 PM

"in their earlier attempt, before his death, that was shown, 'MJ' was black - so what was the 'joke' that time?

I don't understand this."

They show a clip from another time they were on the show years ago.

Why are you defending dressing up in wigs and blacking up, by the way?

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Re: Michael Jackson Tribute Act: Was it Racist?
Reply #16 - October 09, 2009, 04:45 PM

I have no idea what the joke was about the other time. I'm commenting on *this* time.

I'm not 'defending' anything - I agree it was stupid and those people suck; but I think we should all get clear on what was actually intended and then we can say it was stupid and they're idiots. Otherwise all we're doing is attacking strawman.

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Re: Michael Jackson Tribute Act: Was it Racist?
Reply #17 - October 09, 2009, 11:11 PM

I don't see the problem. If you want to portray a black person and are not black yourself you hardly have any other chance than to paint your face black. It is similar to a comedian wearing make up to appear older when impersonating an older person, e.g.

This is quite common in comedy shows Germany since while there are more and more dark coloured people on German television, not all groups of comedians have black members.

e.g. here the original:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjGzpBKSWqc

here the parody:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kahxbWftfNI

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Re: Michael Jackson Tribute Act: Was it Racist?
Reply #18 - October 09, 2009, 11:57 PM

Quote from: Sanitarium on October 09, 2009, 04:45 PM
I have no idea what the joke was about the other time. I'm commenting on *this* time, but i guess what you mean is that they didn't have the skin pigmentation angle then to wriggle out with, which further endorses your view that they might just be a bunch of bozo's with an leaning towards to racist stereo types who fuck knows how they got on telly in the first place.

I'm not 'defending' anything - I agree it was stupid and those people suck; but I think we should all get clear on what was actually intended and then we can say it was stupid and they're idiots. Otherwise all we're doing is attacking strawman.

We can only say what it looks like to us, unless you happen to know them and can ask. It's possible they are just stupid fucks having a laugh blacking up, but no way should they be given any airspace, things seem.......different in Oz in that respect. And again, where's the 'tribute; in taking the piss out of a recently dead singer's skin/mental problems?

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Re: Michael Jackson Tribute Act: Was it Racist?
Reply #19 - October 10, 2009, 03:26 AM

Jack we're on the same page there: I agree with you 100% - I was just explaining why it was on Aussie TV; not why these stupid people decided on it in the first place.

Thanks for your thoughts though! Cheers

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Re: Michael Jackson Tribute Act: Was it Racist?
Reply #20 - October 10, 2009, 07:02 AM

Must admit, thought 'Michael' was pretty good, and it was funny that the guy playing him was a plastic surgeon....and that they were all doctors - fucking mental country!!

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