One of the first things I noticed when I arrived is that much of popular culture here is driven from Europe (primarily the UK) and the U.S. The UK seems to export its people here (most just really happy not to be in a place that is constantly rainy and grey) and the U.S. seems to export its entertainment here (we'll sell to anyone willing to pay). This exporting of U.S. culture, particularly through TV, films and music has led to Aussies having a significant amount of exposure to African-American culture. Unlike white boys in the States who have credibly appropriated Black culture (Elvis, Eminem to name a couple of famous ones), Aussies here have limited to no ACTUAL interaction with Black people & culture. The result is that many of the behavioral norms that we've developed in the States over our long history of race relations just haven't developed here in the same way...or at all in some cases.
For example, I went out with some mates last week and while having a beer we found ourselves next to a fewer older gentleman (60+). I could see one of them looking at me and could see that he was just busting a gut to say something. My mates and I said hello and the 1st thing that jumped out of this guy's mouth to me was "Lionel Richie!". Now I know that all Black people look alike but come on - Lionel Richie?? This guy's probably been waiting 40 years to speak to Black American and get that off his chest. Did he mean anything by it? Nah, but if the same thing had happened in the States, I might not have the same reaction as I did here as the norms of behavior are just different.
That's what I think happened with this Jackson Jive skit. They did the same skit on the same show 20 years earlier. In the States the reaction then would've been the same as it is now but because there was no Harry Connick Jr. or someone else around to inform and teach people that that's not an appropriate way to to express humor it went unaddressed.
That's not to say that racism doesn't exist here. It's well documented that the Aborigines have copped it pretty tough. I just don't think there is much intrinsic racism against Black Americans as there just aren't enough of us here to hate! I see this Jackson Jive incident as a teachable moment for Aussies. There's nothing wrong with poking fun at pop culture icons but if your humor involves race or ethnicity then it needs to be accompanied by a fair bit of historical context.
As I've got a fair number of both Aussie and U.S. readers, please click the "comments" link below and share your thoughts.
Black2Oz out.
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I just don't understand how any civilized person, knowledge of blackface or no knowledge of blackface, would think it was OK to paint their faces jet black and speak and dance in cartoon "African" minstrel-y voices. Ever! As anyone can see from the photo in your blog and the zillions of other photos of the Jacksons in existence, their skins are beautiful variations of brown, nothing/nowhere near JET BLACK!!! What the "Jackson Jive" did was a grotestque racist caricature of famous black Americans, and it was offensive in the extreme. Say, have you seen products like these in Australian stores:
ReplyDeletehttp://rearleft.wordpress.com/2009/06/18/of-wogs-and-golliwogs/
wtf are they thinking?
Agree with Burles, people need to lighten up, seriously it was face paint!
ReplyDeleteThere were no jabs at ethnicity or race and as far as golliwogs go.........he was a cute character in Noddy Goes to Toy Town a children's book by Enid Blyton!
"I see this Jackson Jive incident as a teachable moment for Aussies."- I think this has shown how policitically correct society has come and that we need to lighten up.
The Black face incident should be a teachable moment for all of us. Race and ethnicity are sensitive subjects. For sure, racism continues to exist throughout the world. It would serve us all plenty of good to listen and learn rather than being defensive. By listening we may avoid insensitive jokes towards those who are of a different race from ours.
ReplyDeletei'm an american woman and very familiar with black people. however, i'm a bit confused which is why i am posting as anonymous as to why it is so horrible to wear blackface. if a bunch of australians (mostly white people) want to impersonate the jackson family (all black although i admit it got questionable with michael), how can they do the impersonation without putting something on to color their face? men dress up as women all the time and despite the fact that we women have been oppressed, it is ok, in fact can be funny. so hasn't enough time passed and enough progress been made that white people can impersonate black people? and black people can impersonate white people? i know there is still racism in america and elsewhere. but if this is an impersonation of real people (Jackson 5, who happen to be black) and not a generalized stereotypical or derogative dressing up as a black stereotype who has no name, isn't it ok and can't we just take it as an impersonation that is funny and not an insult? as a woman, for instance, it is fine if someone makes fun of Jessica Simpson but i get annoyed if they say something like "women are stupid". or as a jew, it is fine with me if you deride Woody Allen and make fun of him as long as you don't extrapolate to all Jews...
ReplyDeleteAmerican woman - your question is a good one. I don't want to confuse a familiarity with Black people with an understanding of our history and culture. Stereotypes embodied in the stock characters of blackface minstrelsy played a significant role in cementing and proliferating racist images, attitudes and perceptions worldwide. If they wanted to use make up to more closely resemble the Jacksons then why not brown? None of them are dark enough that black is even close to an accurate representation. In using Blackface you're not just making a specific commentary on the Jacksons (like if someone pokes fun at Jessica Simpson), the symbolism of Blackface extends beyond the Jacksons (like if someone said 'women are stupid'). Some things carry with them a history and social baggage that just makes it inappropriate or insensitive to use without a deep understanding of that history. I would put things like the Holocaust and 9/11 in that category as well. Black2Oz out.
ReplyDeleteWow. Strikes me that the black guy in this posting suggests that golliwogs and blackface are somewhat offensive to black people in general. I'd be tempted to listen to him, as opposed to us white folks. From my culturally unaware white boy perspective even I can see how that offensiveness might be true. These things come from a time when racism was rife, not just partially underground as it is now. They are symbols of a time when things were not right, when a blog on a topic like this couldn't happen. Symbols are powerful things folks. Swastika badge anyone? At that time a black man couldn't even suggest as politely as black2oz does that us whiteys might want to have a little more care in how we go about making people laugh.
ReplyDeleteI agree the hysteria over this is a media circus and we all need to learn and move on, but I do think we all need to listen to what the people who may be offended are saying. Frankly I don't give a ... if white australians (and I am a proud one) think its OK. The meaning of the communication is the response that you get. If the recipient is offended you were offensive. Period. Listen up 'Stralia. Be grateful that this black man sees this as a teachable moment not an opportunity for disgust at a whole nation. Be grateful that levels of intentional racism have lessened to the point where we can have this debate. But most of all lets listen to what the black community are saying. We can't 'lighten up.' This wasn't funny. When the object of your satire cannot see the funny side, yet did nothing wrong you failed on so many levels. I agree with B2O - lets learn and move on. This nation does not have a proud heritage when it comes to black fellas. The plight of our aboriginal people is still dire. Lets not piss off the few non aboriginal black people we have as well. For the sake of a bad joke?!??!
PS: VIA WIKIPEDIA.
Golliwogs weren't invented by Ms Blyton. The "Golliwogg" (later "Golliwog") is a character of children's literature created by Florence Kate Upton in the late 19th century, inspired by a blackface minstrel doll which Upton found as a child in her aunt's attic in Hampstead, North London. The character, depicted in the books as a type of rag doll, was reproduced, both by commercial and hobby toy-makers as a children's toy. It later formed the basis of a racial slur use against all dark skinned people. There's good evidence to suggest the word 'wog' comes from this source. Where I come from that word is as bad as the N one.
I agreed with some of what you have to say, but I have to say the tone of your posting was a little patronising. We don't need you to teach us anything. I think we can figure things out for ourselves. We aren't idiots. We can learn from our mistakes.
ReplyDeleteNo offense, but you made some rather sweeping generalisations. I mean what was with the whole Lionel story? Was this supposed to illustrate how racist Australians are? Because while I am sorry to hear about that silly old man's Lionel moment, he was just that, one silly old man.
You aren't the first American I've come across who seemed kind of patronising. Does this mean that all Americans are like this...I don't think so. I'd even be willing to bet that you aren't this patronising all of the time;-)
In my opinion the skit was racist. And yes, sadly but unsurprisingly, SOME Australians are racist. But so are SOME Americans, SOME Brits, SOME...you get the picture.
People will be people, they will have their faults and their nasty little prejudices. The best you can do is try your hardest not to be like them (and not to be patronising of them either, after all a person will never change if they feel defensive. And you want change don't you? You don't just want to be right, yeah?).
Sorry if you felt I was patronising as that wasn't my intent. In the Lionel story I was simply making the point that many Aussies don't have a great deal of exposure to Black Americans. I actually didn't see it as racist at all but I do know that many Blacks who I know quite possibly would've seen it that way. I wasn't using it to make any sweeping generalizations about Aussies. My goal with the post is to open up discussion and provide my point of view b/c it's obvious that neither the Jackson Jive group or the producers of the show were aware that what they were doing would be viewed as offensive. It's not b/c Australians NEED me to teach them anything but rather b/c some might want to know why the skit generated the response it did. Black2Oz out.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/hey-heys-jackson-jive-explain-why-we-did-it/
ReplyDeleteAs usual after reading one of Jonesy's blog entries I'm sitting in front of the keyboard trying to come up with something thats a combination of witty, smart-arsed, entertaining, possibly complimentary, and maybe a tad informative. (Yes Jones - rarely successful I hear you say)
ReplyDeleteI'm perplexed over this one.
I'm not sure the nature of the post has been interpreted / received in the same way it might have been meant.
I've baulked at commenting because I dont want to diminish the seriousness of the topic, and also because I generally try not to openly engage in discussions that will be forever controversial.
(I think for mine the topic here should be about humour, and not racism. After all....it wasn't that funny....yes, subjective I know!)
I rate the discussion of racism with other such commonly agreeable ones as religion, politics, sexuality, etc, etc.... It'll always evoke different responses from different people and agreeances may never happen.
I agree with Anon's comment though that "If the recipient was offended, you were offensive". I think a lot of people would do well to remember that. I also agree that Australian culture and humour is significantly different from American. If you've ever seen the Pommy show Ali-G in da USA and considered its success in general you'll soon find that many Australians lean towards appreciating 'stupid' pommy type humour whereas Americans... maybe not so much.
In support of what American woman said too about the use of costume for comedy, one of the funniest things you've ever seen is Eddy Murphy dressing up and acting as a white guy. Kills me! Comedy people!!!
And yes ..the plight of the Australian Aboriginals has been a disgraceful and regrettable one, but I'm not sure it can be compared with the African American story. Culturally our perspective and experiences are different.... Anyhow....
(CONTINUED ON A SECOND ENTRY)
After reading the blog and the many comments here though, I feel I've learned / realised a few things. I'll try to list some and also put a forty something year old, Aussie white guys perspective on the issue;
ReplyDelete. I'm still unsure about the significance / meaning of the term 'blackface' and the use of black paint. Obviously there's a historical perspective there.
. As a lad in OZ I definitely witnessed racism, mostly aimed at Aboriginals, Asians, and Middle Easterners, and mostly only in the city, however, today I dont see very much. I think most Aussies have evolved and have a multi-cultural perspective, and are quite accepting. (yes exceptions are out there... Cronulla etc)
. Golliwogs were a biscuit. They represented nothing but a biscuit. If there name was changed when taken to the US, it was because someone there made the advice. We didnt put 2 and 2 together!
. "Wogs" were people of Greek / Lebanese / Middle Eastern descent... never black people! They were also sometimes referred to as "dagos".
. As B2O suggested, most Aussies never saw (let alone met) many if any African American people.
. Unfortunately many Aussies (people of all nationalities really) indulge in humour without regard or thought for the offense that may ensue, and equally many Aussies have little idea about American history.
. As Aussies we DO have learning experiences with the sensitivities of African American humour.... After Bert Newton said to Mohammad Ali "I like the boy", on national television and nearly got his lights punched out, the words have never been used in vaguely the same way, and the moment has taken its place in the anals (mis-spelling intended) of Aussie blunders.
. The 'skit' section RED FACES of the show Hey Hey it's Saturday has always attracted the most stupid, outrageous, foolish, and sometimes offensive acts you could imagine. This particular incident has ben picked up by the media circus because (as B2O suggested) Harry CJ was on the show. Unfortunately I feel it was also incredibly bad timing considering the recent tradgedy surrounding the Jackson family, and YES the stupid producers shouldn't have put it on the show in the first place.
Just goes to show... you dont have to be smart to produce a TV show. Hell.... Jack-Ass showed us that!
Anyhow... the points in the debate could go on and on, but there's my say for now Jones.
GH
This is a fascinating forum, I am thrilled that, though circumstances are certainly not desireable, we have the opportunity to talk and learn about this.
ReplyDeleteThe obvious comments have been said. We can't assume to know what the producers of the show do or don't understand regarding cultural sensitivity. And further, I cringe at the thought that all of the skit members were health care professionals without the worldy understanding of what this skit symbolizes to African Americans and black folks everywhere! Really?!?
After thinking long and hard about it though, the avenues of my thoughts ran to comedy, what defines it and the level of skill and intelligence required to make fun of another culture, in a way that that culture can relate and giggle along with....RESPECTFULLY.
Case in point, have you all seen Steve Harvey doing a white preacher in Kings of Comedy?? HILARIOUS. Using comedy to mimic a religious sect is the pinnacle of inflammatory. However Steve brings with it the same love and understanding that reflects his own love for his God, he chose to compare how people praise as the point of comedy, not the person praising. Poking fun at the soft inflection of a white preachers communion with God as a comedic topic has the potential to raise almighty hell in all religious communities. The TOPIC is inflammatory and politically brazen, the delivery- skilled beyond comparison. That's the difference here. Whether Steve Harvey knew or didn't know how his comedic mimicry could offend others is irrelevant, his delivery carried power, giving an opportunity to respectfully laugh at our differences. I can't say the same for the group on Hey Hey, the skit was to make a fool of themselves... problem was, they weren't dressed as themselves, they chose a costume that carried with it a whole world of pain and history of prejudice without the skill and gift of filling that costume with the powerful understanding it needed. Big shoes, tiny feet.
Good ole Darryl Summers should have known sooo much better, come on now?!
Peace and love out. Black2Oz wifey.. wuz up?!