Harry Connick Jr.'s Mad TV Sketch: Blackface or Blackface-Adjacent?
Since we broke the news Stateside yesterday morning of Harry Connick Jr. being bamboozled on Australian TV by the Jackson Jive -- a Jackson parody act consisting of white men in Afros and black painted faces -- it's gone on to dominate headlines in Australia and abroad. It sparked another heated culture war right here on our own doorstep, too, with much sparring and name-calling lobbed about in our comments sections between the Jive apologists -- a very vocal minority who live in a colorblind utopia, where the application of black shoe polish to one's face is simply a testament to one's deep commitment to craft -- and the outraged, with some highly educational lessons about Australian history sprinkled in along the way.
Bolstering the apologists' cause was an unearthed sketch from a 1996 episode of Mad TV in which Harry impersonates a Southern preacher. Whether his skin tone was darkened for the sketch is open for debate, though the wig certainly suggests the kind of hair Chris Rock would like to corner for an interview. His pronunciation of the word "Christmas" as "Chrimmuh" certainly doesn't help matters, either.
The clip has quickly spread across continents as proof of Connick's hypocrisy, and the singer and actor defended it as such: "Those of you who have seen my shows or seen me in several comedic skits on TV know that I have absolutely no problem with comedic send-ups or making fun of myself or others."
· Harry Connick, Jr. on MadTV - Preachers Skit [YouTube]
· Previously: Harry Connick Jr. Clashes with Blackface Jackson Family on Aussie TV [Movieline]
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Comments
Oh my god oh my god don't they know that America is the number one racist country in the world how dare they try to line jump the USA. they need to be reminded of their place in the world and that is behind the USA. we americans invented racism and don't anybody forget it
I thought the skit was funny!
I think the skit shows a cultural difference between the two countries. Australia hasn't been exposed to the strained race relations seen in the US in the same way, and the the people here (yes, i'm Australian) don't make the connection between white people impersonating black people and the historically racist connotations.
For most Australians watching it was nothing more than a group of Australians (from Indian and Lebanese extractions amongst other races) impersonating a family, rather than a race.
It doesn't represent racism in my opinion, though I do agree it was insensitive and ignorant for the skit to go to air.
Oh, ZEEZUS! Here we go, again!
Might I remind folks that Harry was born and raised in New Orleans. He grew up and performed with several famous black musicians and singers. Many of which influenced his musical style. To call his racist is ridiculous and nonsense. What's racist is coming on stage in this era wearing jet black paint over your face. Australia may not feel that way but here in America we have different standards of ethical tastes.
I'm a big fan of Harry Conick Jr. I'm an even bigger fan now! Thank you for standing up for what is right. I'm so proud of him. We need to respect other cultures of people. We've come a long way as a nation. Thanks again Harry! We Love You!!!!
Teresa
Australia, thank goodness, is not the United States. Typical for US whiners to project their history, their prejudices (both "liberal" and "conservative") and self-absorbed outlook on another nation separated by thousands of kilometers (or miles).
If Australia has been politically incorrect, too bad, deal with it.
If Australia needs to grow and learn, let them learn their own lesson and create their own solution. The US doesn't have the answer for racial equality or equity.
This MadTV sketch has nothing to do with blackface nor is it similar to the Australian show. Where does anybody see HCJ in blackface? He's playing a white southern baptist preacher around black people. This is no where near the same thing. I can take a joke and all that but the Jackson 5 was totally uncool. Blackface is a reminder of very bad times that African Americans had to experience and in my opinion, its way too early to make bad jokes about Michael Jackson/Jackson 5.
I guess I'm not sure why he had to throw out the comment, "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 ..." The fact that he ever thought that people thought of black people as buffoons is absolutely ridiculous. Why in the hell can't everybody just realize that no one person is better than another and that the color of their skin or any other trait about them doesn't matter? Everybody is equal.
I am white Australian married to a black African American.We live in New York.I have had to learn about black American History to understand the pain and struggles.My husband is a Geelong supporter and loves Australian comedy.
Hey Hey Saturday looks dated and silly.
Australians need to learn the struggles of black people and the lessons learned of the humiliation that blacks have endured over the years.It is a time to celebrate Black America's achievments.
'Black and White' minstrel show was in the 50's and as a country we really are backward , ignorant and insensitive in these global times by listening to the comments Australians are making in print and radio.
It's ironic that a white plastic surgeon and doctors are doing this skit of the Jackson Five.
I have cringed many times at the stereo type comments ,that I hear out of the mouths of Australians in regards to black Americans. And from all levels of society,from the educated to the uneducated. I have also cringed when Australians think because a black person is a in Rocknroll band that it has 'gone funky'.Black people invented Rock N Roll but White people needed Elvis before it was accepted on TV.No black girl would get a way with what a white soul girl singer that behaves badly,drunk or whatever gets away with.
I have been trying to convince my motherinlaw and father in law to visit Australia.
They have always been afraid to go there.
I also can't stand when somebody realises they have been insensitive and they say 'I was only joking' instead of taking responsibilty.
I think Harry Connick Juniors Mad TV skit was in the right context. He was alongside black people in the show.He is not being hypocritical.
Lets hope we learn something from all of this and be less isolated in our own little worlds.
Its obvious to me that some people commenting dont know the difference between 'Black Face' and portraying a black person if they think Harry was in 'Black Face' in the MAD TV Skit.
Generalising is fun, huh?
We don't want morons like you visiting our beautiful country anyway.
If you think Connick's role in that skit was the same as the Jackson Jive's blackface, you know nothing about what blackface is, or was. Blackface is historically part of the Minstrel Show, and was patently demeaning, derogatory, and racist. It was MUCH more than a white person portraying a black person. There's no real problem with a white person playing a black person, and vice versa. The minstrel show, blackface and other aspects of that era's entertainment, were FULLY INTENDED to propagate and continue the system of institutionalized racism that existed at that time. It is virtually synonymous with lynchings and cross-burnings. So if you think Connick seemingly playing a black person then being offended by blackface is hypocrisy, you just have no idea what you're talking about.
As an Australian i can tell you that i didn't find the Hey Hey skit more than merely tasteless, but i do find Connick's skit not only hypocritical but very, very offensive. Unlike the aussies, he is from a country that enslaved black people, lynched black people, murdered King, spat on black children trying to get into schools and set up the Klan. Given that past, no bloody way should any sensitive white man play a black man in such a skit.
Also, to argue that he is playing a white man is absurd - his skin is darker than in the rest of the show(check youtube) and he has bigger hair than Orlando Jones does. He is clearly playing a man who is at least part black, and as we see with Halle Berry and Obama, in the US, part black is black, so in the same sense that Obama is black so is this preacher. Would this need to be pointed out if Connick was Joe Sixpack? I doubt it...
I've meet many Americans on my travels and all of them commented on the how little most Americans know outside of their little bubble and there are many good examples here.
Firstly, the skit was done in Australia so it has NOTHING do to with American History. Aussie humour is about taking the mickey out of ourselves and others, probably how we managed to create a country without civil war. If you have stepped outside your country you may soon realise Americans (in general) are disliked around the world due to you forcing your 'ways' on to other cultures.
I can't believe the some of you people can be so outraged at a less then 30 second skit, which was done by a multi-cultural group men, which included Indian, white & Lebanese backgrounds, and then nominate Robert Downey Jr for a Academy Award after playing in Blackface in Tropic Thunder.
Stop being such hypocrites.
You know why did not have problem with it, because you got it wrong. The new says: “a Jackson parody act consisting of white men in Afros and black painted faces “, that is false. All the guys who played in the show have ethnic background, none is white. Their families migrated to Australia for a better life. 20 years ago they played the same act in the same show when they were university students, 2o years later all of them are doctors. So are you accusing of been racist: Asian, Indian, middle east people, because these are the background of these guys. I am migrant myself, and I love this country, so please before blaming us of been racist you should get the facts first.
Read "White Guilt: How Blacks & Whites Together Destroyed the Promise of the Civil Rights Era" by Shelby Steele (an African American writer). Ethical relativism is not the same as equality.
Blackface is an American importation, it's racist past and symbolism also imported. In every issue always look at intent. When five Australian doctors decide to add black makeup to their face to portray the Jackson Five, were they doing it to vilify and denegrate the African American people?
Likewise if Harry Connick Junior and Robert Downey Junior can have the right 'shade' of tan as has been suggested, is that motivated by moral relativism?
To quote Steele:
"Whites must acknowledge historical racism to show themselves redeemed by it, but once they acknowledge it, they lose moral authority over everything having to do with race, equality, social justice, poverty and so on. The authority they lose transfers to the 'victims' of historical racism and becomes their great power in society. This is why White guilt is quite literally the same thing as Black power.
When you view a race as a victim, how can you ever view them as an equal? Those who say they look past skin colour see it the most.
Its very sad that the people of this world cant recognize growth. At one point in America slavery was legal.....but now its not. Are Americans hypocrites on the issue of slavery? Or has the nation as a whole realized that their past actions were wrong? The Australians who performed the sketch meant no harm and I'm sure Mr. Connick Jr. didn't mean any harm when he did his sketch. For the non-black world let me explain to you that that minstrel shows and black face are extremely offensive. They were meant to make a mockery of black people. Having not lived in America to understand that, the Australians couldn't have known their actions would be this controversial. Mr. Connick Jr. was right in how he felt and what he said. The MadTV skit performed, with black people acting in it, was nowhere near as offensive. No one is being called a racist. White jokes, black jokes, Arab jokes, Indian jokes, Spanish jokes, Asian jokes and every other racial joke in between has a line that shouldn't be crossed. In Tropic Thunder where Robert Downey Jr. played a black man. In the same film there was another black character there to remind the audience that the filmmakers do not agree with the actions of Robert Downey Jr.'s character. If there's a rape scene in a film does it mean that the actor who does the raping sees no problem with rape? Everyone needs to unwind themselves and understand that no matter how you spin it, the line between funny and offensive was crossed in Australia. They meant no harm and I hope they don't feel terrible but it was just in bad taste and the fact that the people of Australia and America can't agree on that is sad. This article in itself is in bad taste.
It seems that many people have seen this clip, but have not bothered to read the clips description. Here it is:
December 1996 - Opening skit to MadTV. Harry Connick, Jr. and Orlando Jones
A spoof featuring a black baptist minister named Rev. LaMonte Nixon Fatback and a white southern evangelical preacher named Dr. Michael Kassick. Some people seem to be confused about which actor is playing which character. For the record the actor playing Rev. LaMonte Nixon Fatback is Orlando Jones and the actor playing Dr. Michael Kassick is Harry Connick Jr.
Is he hell. And well said to Aussie Halfcast.
I myself am half caste, mixed race, or whatever the parlance of the moment / minute is. I, and many of my black friends do not subscribe to this nonsense. Every 2 minutes I am something else, when actually I am none of those things, those are just words used by others to describe me, they have no impact upon my self.
Since when does attempting to identify a race by using a set of words constitute racism? Lynching, violence and hatred towards a race constitutes racism. You calling me a black person, or negro, or even soul brother will get no reaction from me, since I am already forced to call you white, or caucasian with no racist connotations whatsoever. I have a life - plus a job and friends of all races. I can't remember who said "life is too short to take offence at things that are not intended to be offensive". The fact that these monikers change apparently daily is indicative of the fact that too many of my racial brothers and sisters are far too concerned about the whole racist witchhunt, when they should be focussed on the important matters in life like career, family and community.
As for blackface, when does dressing up as another race constitute racism? Am I offended by blackface? No, it's makeup for God's sake. Wearing blackface and reconstructing a lynching, beating and general demeaning rhetoric, that's racism. To be more concise "I hate your race, n***er" - that is racism. It is ANTI RACE. Was this skit intended to be anti race? And how many more hundreds of years are we going to hear the same sob story? If dressing up as another race is racism, then please point the same finger at Eddy Murphy for doing "whiteface" in his movie coming to America. And while we are on the subject - black comedians, how about some material that doesn't revolve around race and/or demeaning other races?
Case in point - Will Smith, Fresh Prince of Bel Air. "Here's Whitey" - if you are going to do it, expect everyone to do it. If you do it because other people DID it, then you are as bad as they are. And expect them to do it back, simple really.
I pull a 6 figure salary in finance, I do not believe in the black tax and I certainly don't scream racist every time the word black - or even race - is mentioned. Some people really need to get a life.
Whites are not the only racist, so their ethnic back ground is moot. I am not even saying that these guys are raceis I think that they are just ignorant of how offensive this is. I think it would bother me if the guys who did the skit did it again and said that they did not care who they are offending. Many people don't like to be PC but my philosophy is: if it was your intention to offend then ok fine, but if you know that you are offending someone why not fix the situation.
I agree with most of what you are saying but I just feel that it is not always ok to do and say what you want at someones elses expense.Thinking what you want is another matter entirely. I just feel (and not to step on toes or anything) that it is shear mental laziness to not be considerate of others, (that is also something taught when you are young right along with the sticks and stones). I feel the skit can be done without the black faces. And since you are not African-American as you stated, you can not say what African-Americans accepted or did not then or now. Most of those things done in your time(not to offend) were accepted because of the lack of intelligence or the feeling that nothing would be done about it. Yes, there are more pressing issues no doubt, but I feel that if you don't try to stop offensive behavior won't it get out of hand?
Thanks Fran perhaps Harry learned from his prior mistake HELLO! People are able to grow are they not?
Prime example of not giving a crap about who you hurt. Good for you. Not judging the continent I am call you out for that ignorant statement you made.
It sounds like most people defending the Australian group DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT MINSTREL SHOWS!!! "Black face" in this dialogue is not just referring to just putting black paint on ones face. Google it!
Australia doesn't have the same history as America but I don't think anyone is really trying to say all Australians are racist! lol, come on-chill! The group that performed was just in bad taste, they probably didn't know the history and impact of minstrel shows. And, "every time anyone so much as hints that there are differences between the races and nationalities" is not always being too PC, in fact the opposite is being too complacent with always allowing subtle racism. Jokes are jokes and, yes, stereotypes sometimes just are funny. But it takes an educated person to deliver it-with out coming across ignorant. But the same can be said for an uneducated person that does "flare up" anytime someone notes differences between races, and that is also ignorant-cause it's obvious to alot of educated that they just don't "get it". I think there is a large group of our country that does understand all of this though, or at least it's gaining.
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