Redfaces: Jackson Jive. Did you take offence

[NaFenn]

Now, i have seen all the media crap that has been going on about the jackson jive skit on last weeks Hey Hey its saturday re-union... and i wanted to gauge your oppinions.

The clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k739n2VEsbA

Did you take offence to it/think it was racist? why/why not?

Now, i didn't take offence to it, or think it was racist... the show was for an australian audience, where we dont have the same history as americans as far as theatre goes.

Thats the short version... the VERY short version

so what are your thoughts?

Did you take offence to it/think it was racist? why/why not?

[Kryptonite]

I didn't have a problem with it but I did see where he was coming from, the performers did that skit 18 yrs ago with no problem why today's change?, I guess it comes down to teasing/ picking on different races some people have told me

[rebellious_teen]

IT's bullcrap. Americans' evil racist history is somehow transferred to us good Aussies. The host shouldn't have apologised, it degrades the dignity of all Australians. Connick Jr. have the typical arrogrant "America = world" attitude, as if the world should repent for what his country did in the past.

[Scurry Inertia]

Im really over the media taking jokes and turning them into larger issues. Joke. Not meant to be taken seriously.

The Chaser in particular got railroaded by this crap.

[jaegerjaquez]

its not racist but in this day and age why would anyone perform blackface comedy in front of an american.

[pulses]

I don't consider it racist, I think it wasn't well thought out to perform this to a Judge who might take offense.

I think the media should let it die now.

[scary_sue99]

They were not performing in traditional black face make up or style. They didn't paint exagerated fat lips on themselves, or portray black people as simple-minded, like the traditional black face style. I doubt they were even aware of what they were doing, and simply painted their skin dark to more closely resemble the real jacksons.

I did find it stupid when one of the performers said to the press something along the lines of 'I am not racist. How can we be racist? I am Indian, and one of us is Sri Lankan!"

[NaFenn]

I did find it stupid when one of the performers said to the press something along the lines of 'I am not racist. How can we be racist? I am Indian, and one of us is Sri Lankan!"

they were answering claims that they were all white.

In american theatre history, african american charachers were played by white people with black face paint on... and alot of people took it as a group of white people with black facepaint on... which is seen as very racist to americans apparently

[Ashes]

I'm Australian, and I thought it was piss-funny. (No offence taken here)

[Ultros]

IT's bullcrap. Americans' evil racist history is somehow transferred to us good Aussies.

Are you serious? Australia was a prison colony of the fucking BRITISH EMPIRE.

[Kryptonite]

Are you serious? Australia was a prison colony of the fucking BRITISH EMPIRE.

We sir have grown from that reputation, Americans need to learn to have a joke. It seems that Aussie and The Brits are the only ones that can take a hard joke these days

[Ultros]

We sir have grown from that reputation, Americans need to learn to have a joke. It seems that Aussie and The Brits are the only ones that can take a hard joke these days

You're changing the subject. The post I was referring to suggested that Australia did not have an "evil racist history".

Any country that was a colony of the British Empire and a member of the Commonwealth today really shouldn't be making claims like that...

[Ashes]

You're changing the subject. The post I was referring to suggested that Australia did not have an "evil racist history".

Any country that was a colony of the British Empire and a member of the Commonwealth today really shouldn't be making claims like that...

Like he said, lighten up.

[aussie-boy]

You're changing the subject. The post I was referring to suggested that Australia did not have an "evil racist history".

Any country that was a colony of the British Empire and a member of the Commonwealth today really shouldn't be making claims like that...

We do have a racist history... but certainly not towards the black American ethnic group. So yes we can laugh at this skit without any second thoughts

I dont see what the British Empire has to do with it, it's hardly as if Australians are responsible for the various tragedies that happened across all the colonies

[Ultros]

We do have a racist history... but certainly not towards the black American ethnic group.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAH

Yeah right. Australia may have not had slaves, but I'm certain that the typical white Australian had similar racial views as the rest of the Western world. Do you think that once Great Britian abolished slavery, all racial prejudices went away?

I dont see what the British Empire has to do with it, it's hardly as if Australians are responsible for the various tragedies that happened across all the colonies

And Americans alive today are also not responsible for events perpetrated by their ancestors.

By the way, if you can trace your heritage to Great Britain, it's asinine to claim innocence from past "atrocities".