Harry Connick, Jr. upset over MJ and Jackson 5 "racist" stage act

[#1MJstan]

I hate the fact that the media is trying to make this a US vs. Aussie thing and it's so not. Like a member said earlier anyone can be racist, it's not just a black/white thing. As for the ppl saying it's just Aussie humor well to each their own,but I felt that by saying that statement, it's saying it is ok to disrespect other races/cultures. I am an African American who thought that segment of the show was stupid and in poor taste. Now I want to know if on the next show a group of Aboriginal singers/dancers got on there and portrayed a White group would they even be allowed to go on the stage? My guess would be no... If ppl in the group knew it wasn't right for them to paint their faces well then they should went with their gut feeling... However I don't think the group should get all the negative press, the producers/directors and other ppl that run that show should get some of the backlash as well, because they knew they were having an American judge on the show and that the American wouldn't have liked or would have felt uncomfortable with what the group was doing.

I clearly won't judge a whole country off of what this stupid program and those silly men did for a routine, but I do feel that the media and others should take a good listen to what you Australians are angry about.

Lord knows America isn't the above other countries when it comes to good race relations, hell we got our own issues, but for the most part many comedians here have found a way to talk about each race in a way that is funny but yet thought provoking... You can play up on stereotypes but yet not go overboard...

I hated the fact that the lead singer decided to paint his face white... so unnecessary. I was more offended by the fact that they looked like they were shucking and jiving, and then being in black face just made it worse... Well they apologized for it, I'm sure they learned their lesson...

Like I said in my first post, this is another example why ppl should pay attention in history classes or read up on racism.... Also they should pay attention to what is offensive in other races/cultures... Not saying you need to be PC all the times, but um that wld've been a good time to be a lil bit more PC... Afro wigs and 70s clothes would've done the group just fine...


Still plan on seeing you Aussies soon...:cheeky:

 

[mistty4m]

For those that can't seem to understand the whole issue about blackface I suggest you read this website history on it and watch the cartoon video then come back and reply on this topic.

You need to uderstand history behind blackface.

http://black-face.com/

 

[StarSecret]

I'm sorry, but if one kid -- even ONE kid -- in this world does not know about slavery, she or he needs to be taught. it's one of the blackest marks in WORLD history. it should be on everyone's top reading list in grammar school.

not knowing history compels us to repeat it, or reduce it to skits like this.

I felt even worse after I found out the the lead in the skit is originally from India. HE should know better! horrific.

Indranee, I feel you misunderstood my post. By saying "it's not an just an American thing, it's a respect thing" I meant that the history of slavery isn't confined to America and that EVERYONE should know about it. It's human history and racial issues affect everyone. Therefore I found the skit disrespectful. That's what I meant. I'm actually worried that you misunderstood cos I've made like 10 posts in this thread stating my absolute disdain for the skit... and the ignorance of the media in my country. I hope no one else misinterprets my point

And I agree with you all the way. Education is paramount here. I would like to add that my high school did an extensive unit on the Civil Rights movement and the abolition of the Jim Crow laws, alongside my country's own history of discrimination in the White Australia policy of many decades ago... so hopefully education is moving more towards acknowledging bad happenings in the past to make way for a future of understanding.

 

[OldSchoolMJFan]

This is 2009 and there is no excuse for that foolishness. I am offended as an African American. Thanks to Harry Connick, Jr. for aleays being a classy, stand-up guy.

 

[Steve001]

I haven't got the time or patience to read through this entire thread, but I'll add my two cents to the mix...

Firstly, the segment of the show where the 'Jackson Jive' were featured is a very light hearted bit called 'Red Faces'. It is not a talent quest or Idol/X Factor type show. It's all about lunacy and stupidity!

The 'Jackson Jive' act was certainly not meant to be taken seriously. What people have to understand is, that each country has it's own culture and history. Certain things that are found offensive in one country, may not be so in another. The 'Jackson Jive' were not making a mockery of people of African-American descent by any means. The black make-up used in the act was merely for effect as part of the act. Frankly, I think HCJ just used what he saw to get his 15 minutes of fame. It's what he's been after for 20 years isn't it!?

 

[PrettyYoungThang]

Being an aussie, im SORRY for that stupid TV show. It really appeals to the lowest common denominator We dont all think like that. The problem is aussies are TOO laid back, we are apathetic. We sit back and do nothing about almost everything. It sucks.

 

[StarSecret]

Being an aussie, im SORRY for that stupid TV show. It really appeals to the lowest common denominator We dont all think like that. The problem is aussies are TOO laid back, we are apathetic. We sit back and do nothing about almost everything. It sucks.

I co-sign this!

 

[#1MJstan]

Being an aussie, im SORRY for that stupid TV show. It really appeals to the lowest common denominator We dont all think like that. The problem is aussies are TOO laid back, we are apathetic. We sit back and do nothing about almost everything. It sucks.

I co-sign this!

Oh no worries mate...lol..ok let me stop...
It's not an Aussie thing in my book, it's an individual thing and someone in that group should've had the balls to say "hey I think we should leave out the black/white face".... And the ppl at the tv show shouldn't have let it happen... I hate that this happened at MJ's expense, but maybe just maybe something good will come out of this...

hugs to starsecret & PYt:better:

 

[Crisstti]

Indranee, I feel you misunderstood my post. By saying "it's not an just an American thing, it's a respect thing" I meant that the history of slavery isn't confined to America and that EVERYONE should know about it. It's human history and racial issues affect everyone. Therefore I found the skit disrespectful. That's what I meant. I'm actually worried that you misunderstood cos I've made like 10 posts in this thread stating my absolute disdain for the skit... and the ignorance of the media in my country. I hope no one else misinterprets my point

And I agree with you all the way. Education is paramount here. I would like to add that my high school did an extensive unit on the Civil Rights movement and the abolition of the Jim Crow laws, alongside my country's own history of discrimination in the White Australia policy of many decades ago... so hopefully education is moving more towards acknowledging bad happenings in the past to make way for a future of understanding.

Though the history of slavery and of civil rights in the US is indeed extremely important, those issues are not confined to the US, neither is the issue of racism confined to black-white issues, and people cannot and shouldn't expect everyone in another country to have a thorough knowledge of the history of that in the US...

For example, in Chile they could (they don't though) teach the history of slavery in Chile in detail, and in more general terms it's history in the rest of the world. That wouldn't neccesarily include the issues of "blackface" and Jim Crow laws...

 

[JoanMJ]

Another reason to love Harry Connick, Jr. more.

1) New Orleans Native
2) HOT HOT HOT & not just FINE, he's FOINE
3) Very talented
4) Knows the real roots of jazz & blues
5) Married to fierce Jill Goodacre
6) Good dad
7) Did I mention he's HOT

and...

8) Stood up for MJ, the Jackson Family & Black people everywhere around the world.

I agree that the skit was not done with malice, but there is a very ugly history in the United States particularly with white actors/vaudeville performers doing "blackface" - which perpetuates very negative stereotypes.

But the rest of the world may not be that culturally attuned to US History - and that's the only reason why this issue didn't register to anyone, until Harry (HOTNESS) stepped in.

I fully agree. Especially on the hotness part.

 

[CarinaT]

Aussie bogan humour.. not for the faint hearted.

Unlike America where the African American community has gained such a powerful voice, we don't have strong 'non-white' voices in Australia.
Come on, after all that has happened since the 18th Century, the country only said 'Sorry' to the Aborigines last year - 2008.
We're still a very immature country, in my humble opinion.

What also pisses me off is that some people are saying that while the blackfaces weren't funny, the joke about Michael 'becoming white' was. That's like saying it's wrong to mock a Japanese person's eyes, and turning around to mock a Chinese person's eyes. I mean...I give up. People learn nothing.

 

[Maeflower86v2]

Marlon commented, on Access Hollywood and said he was shocked but he said it probably wasn't meant to offend the family. It's on AH home page.

 

[snowhite]

I don't think it was racist, more like tasteless and not funny but I understand the offense
I don't know much about Harry Connick Jr. but I wonder if he would've felt offended like this when Michael was alive...do you think?
I don't know there's so much hypocrisy around these days, now suddenly everyone LOVES him to pieces it's such a sick trend

 

[CarinaT]

I don't think it was racist, more like tasteless and not funny but I understand the offense
I don't know much about Harry Connick Jr. but I wonder if he would've felt offended like this when Michael was alive...do you think?
I don't know there's so much hypocrisy around these days, now suddenly everyone LOVES him to pieces it's such a sick trend

If Michael was still alive...a LOT of people would be saying/doing different things today...

 

[StarSecret]

I don't think it was racist, more like tasteless and not funny but I understand the offense
I don't know much about Harry Connick Jr. but I wonder if he would've felt offended like this when Michael was alive...do you think?
I don't know there's so much hypocrisy around these days, now suddenly everyone LOVES him to pieces it's such a sick trend

I believe Harry's response was his sincere and eloquent opposition to what he saw. It has nothing to do with Michael and everything to do with the representation of black people through blackface which has very negative connotations. Harry explained his point of view on the show as coming from where he lived. His father was a civil rights lawyer and Harry has played music with African Americans all his life. I believe he would have reacted the same way to ANY performance that used blackface because for him, it is a deeply offensive representation that is outdated. Some here agreed with him, some didnt see his point of view.

 

[Chaos]

there are no black people in neighbors and home an away.... nuff said

 

[000cozzie000]

there are no black people in neighbors and home an away.... nuff said

....................................

.. You're right :mello: Never noticed that before.

 

[CarinaT]

Well, you get your token Asian now and then.

 

[PrettyYoungThang]

Im in agreement with the person who wrote something like "If michael had not died, no one would have said anything about this". The thing about this show is that in the previous week's episode, there was a kid. He took a big bucket of vegemite (like marmite) and smeared it all over himself as part of a "skit". When he was half covered in black, and half white, they wrote on the screen in text "its michael jackson" and they started to play his music in the background. No one said a word. I was horrified and I didnt watch the show anymore.

So I heard about this latest thing on the morning news. Ive seen it since and YES while I agree that it is racially offensive due to blackface connotations and history, I think people have also missed a FUNDAMENTAL problem with this skit also. It was DIRECTLY taking the piss out of Michael - giving him a white face where as in the skit from 20 years ago they were all black faced. No one has mentioned that not only was it racially offensive, but DIRECTLY offensive and disrespectful to a dead man who suffered enough in life. If nothing else, they should have had the common sense NOT to perform the act as a mark of respect to Michael, Irrespective of any knowledge of the additional blackface connotations.

 

[PrettyYoungThang]

Let me explain the typical Australian mindset to the 'humour'.

Most of us (myself included) thought the skit was meant to be mocking Michael's vitiligo alone, seeing as there was only one person with a WHITE painted face. It was meant to be the contrast of Michael's skin to his brothers in the background that was 'funny.' In other words, the punchline was meant to be vitiligo and how 'weird' and different Michael is to everyone else, not African Americans as a whole.. not at all. In the original skit, all the performers INCLUDING Michael had black faces and now Michael has a white one - 'haha'. That was the joke fullstop. That's why they came back on air to share the punchline. That was exactly what the vast majority of Australians saw humour to. Nothing more, nothing less. Don't get offended or think I'm patronizing your views because your reactions are valid. I'm just being honest, that's how it was taken to the vast VAST majority of us.

In spite of that, it is STILL offensive. Had there been no black paint at all and only 'Michael' in stark white paint. It would STILL have been offensive to Mj whose message was that race is irrelevant, but yet they payed a 'tribute' to him zooming in on his skin color alone and how he has physically changed. His vitiligo has been joked about over and over and over and people have become desensitized to the fact that it's offensive to make fun of. I doubt even most Americans (other than Mj fans) would haven given a shit if like I said, there was no black face and only a stark white painted faced Michael to stand out. Think of it like that if you can't understand the Australian mindset. It was just another lame vitiligo joke to most of us...

Until I learned about the history aspect of the black face paint I honestly can't say I saw any form of racism with that bit -- just stupidity, and like I said, like most Australians I thought it was there ONLY to highlight how they were mocking MICHAEL. Had the lead 'singer' like me and the majority of Australians, claimed he had no idea of the negative implications of the paint and it's use in history, people might have felt completely different, but seeing as he and the network were completely aware of it, they should never have aired it.

I think their logic of thinking behind it was that even though they 'knew' about the racist aspect to Americans, *Australians* wouldn't generally see it as racism and seeing as it's an *Australian* show, they went ahead. I'm not saying it's right to have done so, but I think that was what the lead performer was insinuating in his response to the ordeal and although I CAN see where they are coming from, at the end of the day they shouldn't have gone there. They shouldn't have even touched the subject with humor.

In all honesty, if Harry Connick Jnr wasn't there i highly highly doubt this would have ever been a scandal. Australians would have laughed and moved on for the reasons I said... just another lame vitiligo joke to highlight how 'weird' and different Michael jackson is to everyone else. Ha.ha. At the very least, I for one have learned a lot about something I would have otherwise been completely ignorant about and I hope if anything, the message will spread.

You have completely hit the nail on the head. This is EXACTLY what I think happened. And EXACTLY what i believed it to be, though i can now see the blackface issue also. But I would not have thought of that had it not been raised by HCJ.

 

[vinniram]

I clearly won't judge a whole country off of what this stupid program and those silly men did for a routine.

The "stupid program" you're referring to is one of the most popular shows in Australian HIStory. Hey Hey It's Saturday is a feel-good, light-hearted show where a lot of characters come together and have a lot of fun, and it went for 28 years, and this was the two reunion shows. The reunion shows had incredible ratings, lots of people love the show, so please don't call a show with 28 years of wonderful history a "stupid program", because you couldn't be more damn wrong. Daryl , Jackie, Plucka, Ozzie, Red, Livinia, Russel, they're all great characters, so it is absolutely disgusting that you brand the program "stupid" when it's just filled with fun, genuine people out to entertain Australia.

As to my take on the Jackson Jive skit: here's a link I found http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,28383,26182943-10229,00.html

This shows that while quite a few in Australia were offended, a lot thought there was nothing wrong with it. A lot of Australians don't know about the taboo of "blackface", or even that it was any different from say using green face paint or blue or something. It was just a tribute, done in good fun, not meaning to be racist or anti-black or anything like that. In fact, the Jackson Jive consists of Indians and Lebanese men - who, if you've been listening to the news, are part of ethnicities which have been the victim of racism recently. So why would they try to be racist to blacks? It was done in good fun, but connick whoever he is felt he had to try to drag the show down, try to paint it as something racist, when we're dealing with two different cultures here! Done in america (as I have now learned), that act would be considered racist. But in Australia, for a majority of people (see the link above), it was just seen as a light-hearted tribute. Different social-cultural contexts!!! And that makes all the difference.

And why should we australians have some obligation to know every detail of american culture. It's not like all americans know every detail of chinese culture, or saudi arabian culture - incidents where tourists offend people of these cultures occurs all the time. The skit was not racist in its intent, and thus to interpret it as racist is unfair both to the Indian and Lebanese men who performed it, and to Hey Hey.

I'm so upset that Hey Hey has had to go through this. It is a great show, and to see it attacked so mindlessly by people who don't appreciate Australian cultural mentality (again, see the link above) really is upsetting. The Hey Hey gang was there for a fun-filled reunion, and to see them dragged through the mud is horrible. I just hope Hey Hey comes back, and this political correctness gone mad, never-ending FALSE accusations just stop. The show is for people of all colours, that's why Indians and Lebanese men were performing on it. And it is NOT racist.

BRING BACK HEY HEY FOR GOOD !!!

 

[mjsgirl4eva]

i agree it was just awful

 

[PrettyYoungThang]

The "stupid program" you're referring to is one of the most popular shows in Australian HIStory. Hey Hey It's Saturday is a feel-good, light-hearted show where a lot of characters come together and have a lot of fun, and it went for 28 years, and this was the two reunion shows. The reunion shows had incredible ratings, lots of people love the show, so please don't call a show with 28 years of wonderful history a "stupid program", because you couldn't be more damn wrong. Daryl , Jackie, Plucka, Ozzie, Red, Livinia, Russel, they're all great characters, so it is absolutely disgusting that you brand the program "stupid" when it's just filled with fun, genuine people out to entertain Australia.

As to my take on the Jackson Jive skit: here's a link I found http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,28383,26182943-10229,00.html

This shows that while quite a few in Australia were offended, a lot thought there was nothing wrong with it. A lot of Australians don't know about the taboo of "blackface", or even that it was any different from say using green face paint or blue or something. It was just a tribute, done in good fun, not meaning to be racist or anti-black or anything like that. In fact, the Jackson Jive consists of Indians and Lebanese men - who, if you've been listening to the news, are part of ethnicities which have been the victim of racism recently. So why would they try to be racist to blacks? It was done in good fun, but connick whoever he is felt he had to try to drag the show down, try to paint it as something racist, when we're dealing with two different cultures here! Done in america (as I have now learned), that act would be considered racist. But in Australia, for a majority of people (see the link above), it was just seen as a light-hearted tribute. Different social-cultural contexts!!! And that makes all the difference.

And why should we australians have some obligation to know every detail of american culture. It's not like all americans know every detail of chinese culture, or saudi arabian culture - incidents where tourists offend people of these cultures occurs all the time. The skit was not racist in its intent, and thus to interpret it as racist is unfair both to the Indian and Lebanese men who performed it, and to Hey Hey.

I'm so upset that Hey Hey has had to go through this. It is a great show, and to see it attacked so mindlessly by people who don't appreciate Australian cultural mentality (again, see the link above) really is upsetting. The Hey Hey gang was there for a fun-filled reunion, and to see them dragged through the mud is horrible. I just hope Hey Hey comes back, and this political correctness gone mad, never-ending FALSE accusations just stop. The show is for people of all colours, that's why Indians and Lebanese men were performing on it. And it is NOT racist.

BRING BACK HEY HEY FOR GOOD !!!

"just filled with fun, genuine people out to entertain Australia."

- Yeah, good fun entertainment. By making fun of minority groups and taking the piss out of Michael. YET AGAIN. Twice in two weeks. Are you sure you belong on this board?

 

[.Butterflies.]

I agree, racism of one country is not the racism of another one and I think harry Connick Jr saw the act through an american filter which does not apply to us.

 

[ddmff]

Aussie bogan humour.. not for the faint hearted.

This is off-subject, but I just had to correct you. The black-face bit was actually Whoopi Goldberg's idea, which is why Ted Danson felt it would be okay to do. They were both shocked at the backlash they received.

I don't think it had anything to do with Michael. It was about black americans in general, and Harry coming from the south, obviously took offense to it. I mean, theres a lot of history (to do with racism/slavery etc) from where he comes from (New Orleans), so I am not surprised.

however, having said that, didn't harry dress as a black american for a skit years ago??? Something which was brought to the attention of media today. For SNL or sometihng I think.

p.s. I thought the skit was lame regardless, it wasn't even funny, just stupid

I agree for the most part. That "convenient intelligence" part is a good point. And your right that most people knew something was off.

At the same time though, I think people are more apt to be sensitive to a situation if they DO know the history behind something. Just because people know something is wrong, doesn't mean they know how wrong it is. For example, they may have thought what they were doing was a bit inappropriate but I don't think they thought they would get international media attention for it

They knew what they were doing, they called themselves the Jackson Jive. Jive being a slang term used by blacks or about blacks.
I think someone would have had to actually be born yesterday not to know the history of
black people in America and how that modern day minstrel was totally unaldultered RACISM.
In an ealier post these educated fools asked the producers if it was ok so they had some idea. The point of that is "when in doubt, leave it out". It is offensive and racist when appearance, culture, situation, speech etc is of anybody caricaturized to the point of buffoonery and mean spiritedness, thus perpetuating hate and disdain.

 

[ddmff]

need to multi post

 

[vinniram]

"just filled with fun, genuine people out to entertain Australia."

- Yeah, good fun entertainment. By making fun of minority groups and taking the piss out of Michael. YET AGAIN. Twice in two weeks. Are you sure you belong on this board?

Don't you judge me. I have loved Michael for so long. I cry for him every day. Don't you dare judge me. He means the world to me so don't you judge me.

You think I don't get pissed off when people say hater comments? Well guess what? After a long enough time, I've learned to accept that some people will do that. To deal with your hatred towards the show - firstly, Jackson Jive was NOT racist, and was NOT making fun of Michael. It was a light-hearted tribute. That's even what Anand, the lead singer, said on radio. Secondly, I was PISSED OFF AS HELL at the hater comment during the first episode. But that was made by that guy who writes stuff over the screen, those little comments. The others on the show didn't do anything wrong. A show with so many characters, so there's a hater there. Honestly I don't give a f,uck as long as the other 99% of people there don't open their mouths to spit out hater stuff. I can deal with one hater comment - I simply ignore it because I know it is grounded in ignorance and stupidity. So don't blame a whole show for one hater comment.

And don't you dare say I don't belong here. I love Michael with all my heart and right now I'm haunted by his image every day and night, at times I even want to die. So don't insinuate I'm not a fan.

 

[Silouette]

Well, they effed up with this one. :ermm: I was disgusted and offened by it.
They should have thought about the negative connotation in their routine
before running on stage with this. I cant believe they are actually fans.

 

[knots]

As a black person I believe it was racist and as an academic I know about the racism in other countries as well. In australia there is racism and the treatment of the aborigines is a prime example. I think it was totally disgusting there was nothing lighthearted about that.

 

[tarah86]

If they had brown makeup(better makeup in general) on I wouldn't have been offended. If I was in the audience I would have booed them big time. If the Jackson Jive did that in the USA, especially after MJs passing, they would have gotten bashed hard! Harry Connick has a different accent than what he had on will&grace, I like it.