It's said that history is written by the winners. But as it pertains to this week's Australia vs. United States blackface-controversy culture-clash debacle, history is really written by hundreds of pundits, commenters and other blogger agonistes -- an international community for whom the appearance of "the Jackson Jive" on an Aussie TV special was the equivalent of setting global race relations back between 200 and 400 years (depending on whom you ask). Harry Connick Jr. started things off with his sincere complaint, but once the story hit Movieline's pages, it yielded an outpouring of angst we haven't seen since, like, ever.
It took a while to muddle through it all, but now, for posterity, here is your abridged tale of the Great Aussie/U.S. Culture War of 2009 -- the fury, the rationalizations, the name-calling and hopefully closure -- as told to Movieline by you. Table of contents after the jump.
(and heavy on the [sic])
1. THE SHOT HEARD 'ROUND THE WORLD
2. AUSSIE-ON-AUSSIE VIOLENCE
3. THE SMACKDOWN
4. THE TROPIC THUNDER ARGUMENT
5. THE MICHAEL JACKSON FACTOR
6. THE REALITY CHECKS
7. THE "GRONK" AFFAIR
8. THE WHITEFACE ARGUMENT
9. THE BATTLEGROUND
10. THE PACIFISTS
11. THE ARMISTICE
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1. THE SHOT HEARD 'ROUND THE WORLD
· From Al Jorgonson
Posted 07 Oct 2009, 9:18 AM
The American public were so outraged over Robert Downey's recent blackface routine he was given an Academy award nomination. Fair dinkum the hypocrisy is pathetic!
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2. AUSSIE ON AUSSIE VIOLENCE
· From Liz
Posted 07 Oct 2009, 9:28 AM
You are actually wrong it wasn't after the break that the apology was given it was at the end of the show. There was nothing sinister in this SKIT. To Australian's who never did the kinds of racist things American's did to the African people(the people you treated as slaves!) A lot of Aussies know nothing about this 'blackfacing' to us, they were dressing up like the Jackson 5. Not dissing them for being black. If the Jackson 5 were orange they'd have gone out wearing orange faces. Don't bring your American guilt over to Australia!
If a black person painted there face white, would we care? No. Get over yourselves. If you want to let your guilt go, then go and help out your fellow (African)Americans, don't go treating the rest of the world harshly because you were/are racists.
It was singing and dancing, until Harry brought the race card into it, no-one was even thinking it.
· From Ted
Posted 07 Oct 2009, 11:50 AM
Wow. That's just the dumbest comment I've read in a long time. Ignorance is never an excuse, in the law or in real life. You have no excuse for being a dingaling, and the show's producers have no excuse for letting that happen on stage.
user-pic
· From Liz
Posted 07 Oct 2009, 8:37 PM
What part of what I said was ignorance? The fact that we didn't do backfacing here? So we don't know that it's against something American? Do you know everything about every other culture, good and bad? If not don't call me ignorant. Go and learn everything about everything and get back to me.
· From Ben
Posted 07 Oct 2009, 9:59 AM
Can all the Australian's who have simply found this via Google maybe, oh, shut the fuck up?
As an Australian who comes to this site everyday, you are embarrassing me.
To everyone else, this show is for a specific demographic. Harry Conick was too kind (if a bit condescending) in presenting this as though it were merely a case of cultural differences at work. The implication of that position is that all Australians are backward, tone deaf morons, as opposed to just the people on screen (and the mouth breathers posting in this thread).
The majority of people in my country will be horrified when they see this tomorrow morning on the news. ...Now I know how the French must feel about this Polanski thing.
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3. THE SMACKDOWN
· From metroville
Posted 07 Oct 2009, 10:05 AM
I'm not sure what's more astounding--the actions depicted by the vile clowns in the video or the comments defending them.
I wonder if these ersatz protectors of "comedy" would be so outspoken in the case of, say, a skit that depicted an entire country as the descendants of prison rape.
· From Ben
Posted 07 Oct 2009, 10:11 AM
Oh Metroville.
That cut deep, man.
How I wish we didn't deserve it.
Cries
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4. THE TROPIC THUNDER ARGUMENT
· From elmo
Posted 07 Oct 2009, 10:38 AM
did Harry Connick boycott the recent Hollywood blockbuster movie Tropic Thunder because Robert Downey Jnr painted his face black and talked in his best Uncle Tom accent to portray an African American..
OR DID HE GO ALONG TO THE PREMIERE AND LAUGH HIS ARSE OFF WITH EVERYONE ELSE
The hypocrisy is pathetic
The American public were so outraged over Robert Downey's recent blackface routine he was given an Academy award nomination.
· From Ben
Posted 07 Oct 2009, 10:55 AM
Do you have nothing better to do? Really?
Couldn't you be impregnating a farm animal somewhere?
Are you just sitting on google looking for this stuff so you can write as many unintelligible, grammatically incorrect rants about it as possible, all over the internet?
It was racist! What don't you understand? The whole joke was that they had painted themselves black! They didn't even have the courtesy to REHEARSE from what I can tell, because they thought the mere fact of painting themselves with SHOE POLISH was THAT hilarious.
Just... argh... FUCK. OFF.
The Downey stuff was satirising people exactly like YOU. They even made the character AUSTRALIAN. Because of retarded, ignorant AUSTRALIAN RACISTS LIKE YOU.
Brain explodes
· From penceyprep
Posted 07 Oct 2009, 11:28 AM
I'm really surprised by how many people think this is ok, then use Robert Downey Jr in Tropic Thunder to defend it. Do you also use movies when talking about other real life scenarios? Because movies are, you know...made up stories.
Blackface is insulting. That's it. No spin, no white guilt perspective, no angry black perspective. It's just wrong.
And even if you look at from just the humor perspective, the whole skit wasn't funny...blackface or not.
· From I'mJustSayin
Posted 07 Oct 2009, 11:55 AM
Tropic Thunder was satire. RDJ's character was poking fun at Hollywood actors and the length one may go to for an Oscar. (Think Angelina Jolie in A Mighty Heart playing a Bi-Racial woman) This was jut plain uncouth.
· From Pete
Posted 07 Oct 2009, 2:49 PM
I'm an Australian. We were taught about world history in high school. Including that of the US. Add to this a lifetime of media, the internet and US movies & TV shows all over our screens in Aus too. So, obviously there could be something wrong with airing this. The fact that it wasn't picked up on and aired wasn't racism. It was stupidity. Innocent stupidity.
Amusing is the irony of Harry Connick Jr playing an African American man in Tropic Thunder, though it was done in better taste, it probably got some beef too I imagine.
· From SunnyDaze
Posted 07 Oct 2009, 3:35 PM
WOW! So that was Harry Connick Jr playing Robert Downey Jr. playing a black man! He SHOULD have won the Academy Award!!
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5. THE MICHAEL JACKSON FACTOR
· From BJ
Posted 07 Oct 2009, 3:43 PM
Actually the joke was that MJ is now white. You don't even get it.
· From oioioi
Posted 07 Oct 2009, 10:39 AM
I found that particular Act uncomfortable to watch because the man, Michael Jackson, has not that long ago, passed away :(. Yes I'm an Aussie, and yes I love Hey Hey, BUT how they let that one pass into the Show is beyond me - it's just not respectful, in my humble opinion. But, as in many walks of life, there are bound to be many things that make us cringe as individuals ... let's not turn this into a disrespectful low blows slanging match here, eh Guys? Peace ....
· From G
Posted 07 Oct 2009, 2:15 PM
Hey Hey It's Saturday was a crap show....thank God it finished - 28 years on Aussie TV was FAR too long....why did they bring it back!??
As for the skit....well, black face or not, it was in really poor taste to do anything to do with Michael Jackson!
· From Braithe
Posted 08 Oct 2009, 12:26 AM
It was about a bunch of guys done up as the jacksons not just random black guys there is a huge difference
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6. THE REALITY CHECKS
· From Grace
Posted 07 Oct 2009, 4:02 PM
Leaving the politics and history of Australia's Aboriginal population and how it's totally okay to wear blackface there, could we focus on the actual issue here?
The show invited Harry Connick Jr, a man raised in New Orleans and heavily invested in their jazz scene, to judge a show. And then, apparently with total disregard to the ABSOLUTELY OBVIOUS cultural background of their guest, the producers sprung a MINSTREL SHOW on him. He's not piping up about something he just saw on TV and got snitty about and decided to elbow in with his American opinion, they invited him! Not only that, but he had no idea this was coming until it was happening and he was already on TV.
Can none of you Aussies see how this is a problem? They blindsided a Southern man with a minstrel show! Of COURSE he had to say something about it afterwards -- he wasn't given a choice about participating in that situation, and he certainly wouldn't have been there had he known about the blackface nature of the routine. This is the equivalent of throwing a surprise bullfight for a Hindu, or serving veal to a vegetarian. It's that level of vomit-inducing taboo. That the producers didn't realize Connick would react this way (and believe me, he is being restrained) is astounding.
Couldn't care less about Aussie talent shows, but if you're going to invite someone from a different culture to judge, don't get your noses bent out of shape when he sees the act through the prism of his culture.
· From Alison
Posted 07 Oct 2009, 5:04 PM
Australia had segreation until the late 1960's aboriginals were required to live on the missions (which were black only locations) and had to get permission to live outside from the government, they also had to get permission to take their children with them because the government had legal custody of all aboriginal children not their parents (there are many proven instances of denail to give permission for parents to leave the mission to visit their children in the hospitial).
Indigenous Austrlains were not given citizenship and counted in the census until 1967!
Before that legally they were not people in Australia.
As for Australia not having a history of slavery, we do.
After the american civil war and slaverys abolishement in America and the offical condemnation of slavery by the British the pacific islanders were taken from their islands on what were called 'work contracts' they told they would be returned home in 5 years and paid for working on the Queensland banana and sugar cane planations. The Kanakers as they were known were never returned or paid. I tried to find a link for people to find out more but Australias ignorance and cover up of it shamful past is complete all i could find was a refernce to 'forced migration' of the islanders.
If Australia was a country where every thing was equal there would not be such a huge difference in the life expectancy, infant moratality rate and literacy rates between Indigenous and none indigenous Australians.
Yes the performers of the skit honsetly didnt mean to offend, but that is the problem that they are so naive that they done recognise the inequalities and casual racism that occur everyday in Australia.
Yes Kevin Rudd apologised, but that apology does not fix the legacy that the stolen generation gave the Indigenous Australians.
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7. THE "GRONK" AFFAIR
· From Timmy
Posted 07 Oct 2009, 10:08 AM
Lets put this into perspective ok yes there is a racial issue in the states and yes some ppl to this day still discriminate against a person because of their creed or colour this also happens in Australia to this day as well. I think what the issue here is that HCJ felt obliged to say something which he did, and I respect that yet in saying that I also feel that HJC felt obliged to say something because a major part of his core fan base are jazz loving African Americans so if at the very least he is protecting his income. Good work Harry ya gronk
Timmy <-- Australian
· From Ben
Posted 07 Oct 2009, 10:21 AM
Timmy,
I told you to shut the fuck up.
...I feel like I'm gonna be here all night.
PS. What is a gronk?
· From Timmy
Posted 07 Oct 2009, 11:25 AM
you are a gronk ben
· From Timmy
Posted 07 Oct 2009, 11:30 AM
you are a gronk ben
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8. THE WHITEFACE ARGUMENT
· From Fred
Posted 07 Oct 2009, 2:56 PM
I'd like to see how many of you would be outraged if it were black people painting their faces white. Oh wait, none of you would be, because it's ok to be racist against whites.
· From Fred
Posted 07 Oct 2009, 5:46 PM
Oh my God there was a guy with a white painted face. I'm white! I'm offended!
· From Nathan
Posted 07 Oct 2009, 6:43 PM
If this is the way it is going then I demand a public apology from the Wayans brothers for their movie 'White Chicks'.
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9. THE BATTLEGROUND
· From Pluto
Posted 07 Oct 2009, 7:28 PM
I'm utterly disgusted by all this. I am an Australian. And i'm bloody proud of it. I've always had a hatred for American's, but this just boils my blood. Quite frankly, non of you yanks can even comment on this, you don't know our culture, whether you think you understand it, coz you read a bloody wiki article about it, or not! I won't even start on how wiki is SUCH a reliable source of information. You yanks need to get your head out of your arse and stop meddling with other countries. We don't need, nor want your opinion. Australians, in general, are not racist. Our country is so multicultural, theres barely any caucasians left. And either way, this whole racism thing has gone way to far... globally. And i'm sick to death of the fact that everyone else is aloud to be racist, you just can't do it if you're white. The truth of the matter is, no matter what we do, humans will always be racist, its embedded in our brains.I think everyone should just get over it. If you enjoyed it... great! If you hated it... good for you. Just leave it alone, coz we all have more important things to deal with.
· From Ben
Posted 07 Oct 2009, 11:48 PM
Hi Pluto,
I'm Australian and I think you're a disgusting piece of shit. Your inane fantasy that this is about some Australia vs America conflict that doesn't exist merely confirms your idiotic bigotry. It's a question of basic civility, you fucking ball sack.
· From John from Oz
Posted 07 Oct 2009, 9:13 PM
Wow, Americans condemning other countries for being racist. How ironic. Almost as ironic as their anti nuclear weapons stance, seemingly ignorant of their own stockpile of WMD's. Quit with the hypocrisy America, you're truly pathetic.
· From Larry
Posted 07 Oct 2009, 7:34 PM
Americans are the stupiest people in the world; black or white. Australians rule and Australian TV rules. At least our hosts don't have affairs with crew.
· From Eric
Posted 08 Oct 2009, 12:12 AM
Americans: please believe me when I say that not all Australians are simplistic, narrow-minded embarrassments like the guy who wrote "Americans are the stupiest people in the world; black or white. Australians rule and Australian TV rules."
· From Shayne
Posted 07 Oct 2009, 3:13 PM
Great skit - Even funnier is the response from America. More face paint for all. GET A LIFE and stop living in the past!
· From andy
Posted 07 Oct 2009, 4:36 PM
a television show called 'hey hey it's saturday' that screens midweek? that's always going to be a little behind the times! AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE OI OI OI!
· From Daniel
Posted 07 Oct 2009, 1:56 PM
Well, an American finds it racist, so of course everyone else must! God forbid!
Do you realise that two of the members are actually from Indian descent, with dark skin?
· From A.
Posted 07 Oct 2009, 6:42 PM
To assume that because someone is "Indian" and therefore "dark" equates to black is, sir, you idiot, racist.
· From Customs
Posted 08 Oct 2009, 2:35 AM
Hey Ben,
Do us a favour, stay in USA and get ur citizenship cause ur crawling up the Americans arseholes brilliantly, lets hope our customs turn u around shall u ever want to come "home".
U must be from Tasmania with ur 2 heads!
Go the Aussies!
· From Ben
Posted 08 Oct 2009, 11:41 AM
I want you to know something, "Customs".
You and everything you stand for are a relic of a bygone era. Soon the whole world will have moved on from your brand of pathological poison forever. Your children will embrace the promise of progress and tolerance, and your antiquated world-view will be consigned to the dustbin of history where it belongs. Not long after that, you will be forgotten. Forever.
This is a battle you cannot and will not win. We came down from the trees. We invented the wheel. And we will soon be rid of the likes of you. You are a relic. A vestigial tail. Nothing more.
You know all this of course, and so do the others like you, which is why you are spamming the internet with your hubris and hatred. Your ignorance and your moral illiteracy are being called to account more and more each day, and you are responding in the only way you know how; by lashing out. You are on the defensive. You operate only on fear and desperation. You surround yourself with others who think like you do, convincing yourselves that you are not irrelevant.
But you are irrelevant, and the only contribution you have left to offer is as an example of how things once were, and how far we have come.
Welcome to the death of the dinosaurs.
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10. THE PACIFISTS
· From Jess
Posted 07 Oct 2009, 5:01 PM
So Australia and America aren't friends anymore? such a sickening hatefest going on here. The whole "but you did this" and "you guys did that" however many years ago is ridiculous and this is why the world can't move forward past anything.
"Australians are racist!" - Not any of the Australians I know, "Americans are racist!" - Not any of the Americans I know.
These guys were impersonating the Jackson Five because they are a famous musical group, not because they are black, just the same as if someone puts on huge sideburns and glittery suits to impersonate Elvis. I don't believe they were being racist any more than I believe Harry Connick was implying we are racist nation.
Grow up the lot of you.
· From Jay
Posted 07 Oct 2009, 6:49 PM
Just chalk it down to a cultural misunderstanding. We just love to take the piss out of each other and not take it to heart, it's just one of the ways we use humour to facilitate understanding between each of our cultures.
· From anon
Posted 08 Oct 2009, 4:31 AM
Does all this really matter? There are far more important things to worry about, tsunamis,earthquakes,floods, the war...etc Lets remain focused!
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11. THE BOTTOM LINE
· From Mikey
Posted 07 Oct 2009, 11:19 AM
Oh, this is wicked fun.
· From porkypine
Posted 07 Oct 2009, 12:00 PM
This controversy is silly. Fact is, their whole act was crap. Fuck 'em.