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You have to understand the legacy of the American "minstrel shows. " Joel Send a noteboard - 09/10/2009 11:13:25 PM
That makes all the difference between mockery of Michael Jackson racial confusion and the horror that many here (particularly a native of New Orleans like Harry Connick Jr. ) would feel at seeing this. Connicks own statements (courtesy Wikipedia) highlight it with one key word:

"I just want to say, on behalf of my country, I know it was done humorously, but we have spent so much time trying to not make black people look like buffoons that when we see stuff like that we take it really to heart. ...If I knew that was going to be a part of the show... I definitely wouldn't have done it. "

And bufoonery is the only way to describe the minstrel shows. It's not reasonable to expect the average Australian to appreciate the depth of ugliness this represents in much of America, but a New Orleans born musician and son of a Louisiana Supreme Court Justice understands it too well. In Australia it was just a joke with no racial overtones for audience or performer, but I can't imagine many worse American witnesses than Harry Connick Jr. short of Jesse Jackson.
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Is this racist, or are people losing their sense of humour? Colonel Logain - 09/10/2009 01:36:26 AM 718 Views
While it is possible that it was not done with racist intent.... Mat Maniac - 09/10/2009 01:51:28 AM 453 Views
I understand your point Colonel Logain - 09/10/2009 02:03:43 AM 398 Views
In my experience The Secret Lurker - 09/10/2009 02:11:34 AM 447 Views
Isn't that what the cast of MadTV did every day? *NM* Hieshyn - 09/10/2009 01:55:18 AM 149 Views
The short answer is no. Joel - 09/10/2009 11:15:13 PM 360 Views
*snort* no it's not racist. LadyLorraine - 09/10/2009 02:10:18 AM 393 Views
I don't think it was racist but I do think it was inappropriate. everynametaken - 09/10/2009 02:10:35 AM 389 Views
The whole point was the skit was performed 20 years ago with the same people Colonel Logain - 09/10/2009 02:15:53 AM 378 Views
What might have been appropriate 20 years ago may not be today. The world has changed. *NM* everynametaken - 09/10/2009 03:42:35 AM 142 Views
Pfffft screamingdefiance - 09/10/2009 02:24:33 AM 403 Views
It would be in America, or if they were Americans. But that's a different historical context. Burr - 09/10/2009 03:49:14 AM 377 Views
No, Australia doesn't Colonel Logain - 09/10/2009 03:57:47 AM 379 Views
Yeah... TaskmasterJack - 09/10/2009 05:03:18 PM 366 Views
Poor taste regardless. But it wasn't funny either. Boring waste of time. *NM* Tashmere - 09/10/2009 04:44:05 AM 138 Views
Americans have no sense of humour rAndy aL - 09/10/2009 06:23:30 AM 377 Views
Not true The Secret Lurker - 09/10/2009 02:21:47 PM 375 Views
Not sure if shows lack of humor so much as lack of judgment *NM* random thoughts - 09/10/2009 02:44:57 PM 149 Views
remember when Ted Danson did blackface? imlad - 09/10/2009 05:23:21 PM 362 Views
I think too many people don't know what "racist" actually means. *NM* Palatine - 09/10/2009 05:40:54 PM 148 Views
You have to understand the legacy of the American "minstrel shows. " Joel - 09/10/2009 11:13:25 PM 426 Views
Considering that some of the people doing the skit were of Indian (country not native american).... mick - 12/10/2009 03:00:40 AM 357 Views
Well, I didn't think it was racist to begin with Colonel Logain - 12/10/2009 10:41:42 AM 363 Views
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