Poll: That's RACIST!!

[Skreeee]

While this Hey Hey it's Saturday skit is probably not intended to be racist, it's a pretty big low point for Australian television and this nation as a whole. It's needlessly offensive and not in any way humorous, and I find it somewhat offensive. Not offensive because it has white people with that black face paint on, offensive because it's what gets passed off as quality enjoyment in this country. I thought that most of the world got over this shit years ago. I know that it's 'Hey Hey It's Saturday', hardly the bastion of intelligent comedy, but come on Australia.

To those saying it isn't racist, well guys and gals it kind of is.

They probably didn't have the intention of being racist, in fact I strongly believe that they didn't, however most things like this don't have the intention of being racist. Cast your mind back to those WB cartoons or those minstrel shows in the 50's and earlier with racist materials. Do you think that they had the intent of insulting a large group with negative stereotypes surrounding that group? Do you really think that the writers got together and said 'let's do something that would really insult those black fella's, cos they are scum'. They probably different. What most likely occured is them sitting around thing 'Hmm what do people find funny? Oh I know, a black bugs bunny saying don't beat me massah to a confederate soldier, because that's how black people used to talk. Oh and give him a banjo and make him look lazy, cos that's what black people look like. Yeah that'll get a few laughs.'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8D93Awa434&feature=related

Maybe it didn't go down exactly like that, but the racist images, cartoons and shows were intended as jokes for a white audience and didn't try to insult black (or any other group) people. You could argue that this skit doesn't intend to insult, and I do agree with you, but just because it didn't intend to insult doesn't make it not racist. Racism is born from ignorance anyone. Saying that because you're ignorant of the offense you may cause doesn't make you not racist.

This skit doesn't really portray any negative stereotypes, it's really more a jab at the Jackson 5. If this didn't have the black make up I doubt anyone would care. But when it links to things which now would be considered incredibly racist in such a strong way today, well how can you not call it racist.

Those saying that it's 'just a joke so hence not racist'. Yeah, I got some jokes for ya.

Spoiler

Did you hear Hallmark was making an obama Christmas ornament?
They want to give Americans the gift they all want, that ****** hanging in a tree!

A man walks into a bar with a picture of a cat, he tells the bartender it's $100 for the picture and $100 for the story behind it. The bartender says he'll take the picture, but doesn't care about the story. At the end of his shift he throws it in the backseat of his car and drives home. He notices thousands of cats following his car! He gets worried and stops on a bridge and throws the picture off, the thousands of cats jump off too, following the picture.

The next day the same man comes into the bar, he asks the bartender if he's ready for the story behind the picture. The bartender says, "No, but if you have a picture of martin luther king, jr I'll take it!"

What happened to the ****** who had an abortion?
Crime Stoppers sent her a check for $500!

A little girl wrote to Sarah Palin asking, "How did the human race start?". Sarah Palin answered, "God made Adam and Eve, they had children and all mankind was made."

THe next day the little girl wrote to michelle obama and asked the same question. Michelle obama answered, "Many years ago there were monkeys in africa from which the human race evolved."

The confused girl went to her father and asked, "How come Sarah Palin told me that mankind was created by God, and michelle obama told me mankind evolved from monkeys?"

Her father answeres, "Well, it's very simple . . . Sarah Palin told you about her ancestors, and michelle obama told you about hers!"

Got these all from here: http://www.racist-jokes.com/index.php?cat=niggers&page=page1

Check out all the other ones. The jokes about fags are great.

But hey, they're not racist. I mean, those are just jokes, right? It's not like they are in any way shape or form racist. How could they be?

Way to miss the point completely, dickhead. (<----Well that's mature.)

Those 'jokes' are just racism dress up as a 'joke'.

We're talking about jokes that are unintentionally racist. These guys were making fun of the jackon 5, and chose to wear blackface. They didn't come on and stage a lynching or talk about how black people are the scum of the earth.

I think what he was saying is that, while this group's black face may not have been intended to be racist, the act of wearing it has roots in much more malevolent entertainment fair of the past, and is therefore a source of squeamish reactions in America.

At least, I think that's what the beginning's about, I really don't get what all the truly racist jokes are there for at the end.

 

[randomrob]

In terms of racism I pretty much agree with what Yahtzee said in his 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand review. People of all races need to learn to take a fucking joke.

 

[Fwee]

I have to say I don't find this overtly racist. Usually when the presented material disparages or attacks, or tries to convince others of inferiority or wrongness of some kind, is when you're having a problem with racism. I've seen some sad examples of racism, probably not the worst anyone's ever seen with their own two eyes, but it leaves a certain impression. Almost like mind-rape.
Gotta say the bit wasn't funny but I can see a small grain of funny in the concept, just needs lots of work. I myself don't know what balance of "black people in whiteface/white people in blackface" makes for absolute comedy gold, but I can say with enough experimentation someone could change television history! Call together the funniest black and jewish comedians for a brainstorm.
P.s. Isn't this basically the Gong Show? So these guys knew they were talentless and getting the Gong anyway, so at least they'd be infamous jackoffs.

 

[Grayjack]

No, it's a parody of the 'blackface" actors. I suggest this for crybabies.

Spoiler

 

[Textbook Bobcat]

It's not offensive per se, more an excuse to be offended for the Holy Warriors

 

[Textbook Bobcat]

No, it's a parody of the 'blackface" actors. I suggest this for crybabies.

Spoiler

Did you ever watch Dirty Sanchez Series 3?

I think they'd dispute the "No More Tears"

 

[jpoon]

Whatever it is it's totally fucking lame!

 

[ProfessorLayton]

People like to get offended for some reason. I guess if you were looking for things to be upset about, you'll find them.

 

[Pimppeter2]

I don't think the MJ is Racist, I think the white guys talking like stereotypical Black guys is racist

 

[Shycte]

Welcome to America Dimitri!

Cookie for refrense.

 

[GreyWolf257]

It wasn't meant to be racist. I see no need for people to be angry about it. It was accurate, though. Michael Jackson had white skin.

Plus, the people who were offended by it were the true racists because they overreact to it, I mean, a non-racist person wouldn't act like that, they would just shrug it off and say "Hey, not cool. Rearrange your act and come back some other time."

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

This is worse than when they tried to say Res 5 was racist and aswell as those 2 robots in Transformers 2.

It is just a joke with bad taste nothing more nothing less some people are too uptight.

 

[Woodsey]

Not funny. Not racist.

And why's it always white guys that get offended by racism towards non-whites? And then there is next to no outcry from the population of that race whatsoever?

EDIT: And please, America a non-racist country?

 

[Necrofudge]

Wasn't meant to be obviously... just trying to be funny. but people get offended over everything these days.

 

[Low Key]

It's not a big deal to me and Harry Connick Jr. already said what I would have said if I were there. People precieve things differently especially when you are talking about intercontinentally. What's funny there might be offensive here. Without the internet, none of us outside of Australia would have known about it anyways.

 

[Earthbound Engineer]

I'm all for being pollitically correct, but they should just issue an apology and everyone should be satisfied.
They didn't intend on being offensive, so if they make it up to those who disliked it, everything should be fine.

Its when people get offended for the fact that something can be offensive that bothers me. And that's a fine line, but one that should be noted.

That being said, I didn't find it funny....

I agree, everybody is just so afraid of being judged; the picture does a fine job at displaying that. "I can't buy white bread because all my friends will think I'm a racist." And people get so caught up in trying to avoid discriminating, they start reverse-discriminating without realizing it. (i.e.) "Oh you just bought white bread cause your white and you hate black people." That right there is an extremely racist statement, but most likely wouldn't be interpreted as such. It's pretty much saying that you hate Black people because of the fact that you're White. It's obvious we live in a socially awkward society, and as cliche as it sounds, we all just need to get along.

 

[Robert632]

see, people with no lives (mothers who can't think.) love to blow things outta porpurtion. like if there is a slightly racist joke, but in an undercurrnt of parody and the fact that there doing it for non-racist means, they will think it's racist anyway. or, and this is their favourite trick, they love to assume everytime hitler is mentioned in a light that isn't OMFG HITLER'S IS LUCIFER!!!!1 then they assume the person is a nazi.

 

[Fire Daemon]

I think what he was saying is that, while this group's black face may not have been intended to be racist, the act of wearing it has roots in much more malevolent entertainment fair of the past, and is therefore a source of squeamish reactions in America.

At least, I think that's what the beginning's about, I really don't get what all the truly racist jokes are there for at the end.

That was completely my intention. Those racist jokes at the end were directed at people who write off the 'Hey Hey It's Sarurday' skit at just a harmless joke. Just because something is a joke does not mean that it isn't racist.

Way to miss the point completely, dickhead.

Well that was unnecessary. I must have caused offense, which was not my intent. Sorry about that.

Those 'jokes' are just racism dress up as a 'joke'.

We're talking about jokes that are unintentionally racist. These guys were making fun of the jackon 5, and chose to wear blackface. They didn't come on and stage a lynching or talk about how black people are the scum of the earth.

Did you read my post? I believe that I stated that while not intentionally racist, linking back to minstrel shows and what have you is racist. In my opinion, that skit was accidentally racist which does not weaken, I suppose you could say, the racism that was presented in the performance.

You're right about the jokes though, they are racism dressed up as jokes. They were also a side to the argument against those saying that it's 'just a joke'. Sure, the performance may just be a joke as well, but does that necessarily make it not racist? I thought I made that pretty clear.

I believe that one of the performers stated that this will never pass in his home country because it would viewed as racist, according to the 7PM project. If that's true than it would seem that the performers knew there was some racist intent (they would have to have realised there is some) and that they believe that Australians are more racist than other countries. Looking back on the Cronulla (sp?) riots, the time that I spent in Moree [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moree] and all those fucking stupid 'Abo' jokes I've heard over the years only cement this fact.

Edit: Fixed the quotes.

 

[fedpayne]

GAH!

So many people COMPLETELY missing the point!

It isn't - oh look they're pretending to be black people. It isn't them saying anything racist in terms of 'black people. They suck, right? rofl.'

What it is is making fun on minstrelsy. Which is offensive. I know, Godwin's law and shit, but there were Nazi propaganda films wherein people wore massive prosthetic noses and yarmukels and pretended to be evil, conniving Jews. Which is pretty much the equivalent of minstrelsy.

The point is that it's insensitive to make light of something which was such a big signifier of the oppresion of black people.

I don't think I've explained myself very well, have I?

 

[CoziestPigeon]

Not racist so much as
a) OLD material. If I'm not mistaken, the same group did the same act on the same show about 5 years ago.
b) Offensive. It's not racist, but it certainly is taking a shot at a black family, not just mike jackson.