For those who think that this 'blackface' crap is a uniquely American phenomenon that isn't significant in Australian culture, I lived in Townsville during the 80s and 90s and encountered a homegrown racist 'blackface' comedian who apparently still performs and records as "King Billy Cokebottle". I recall hearing his recordings in the odd Townsville pub, where they received a generally positive reception.

This is what he looks like in 'blackface', along with a sample of his humour:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKzF9l1UMXQ

It seems that he's also created the odd minor controversy, although I don't recall it getting nearly as much exposure as the 'Hey Hey' crap - despite it being considerably nastier.

http://tiny.cc/3nMFR

'Blackface' is an intrinsically racist form of entertainment, depending as it does on skin colour. It may not be overtly intended as such, but that simply points to the ingrained racism of those who perform it, and indeed those who are entertained by it.

If it wasn't racist, then on what basis was the jibe at Kamahl included? What other possible connection is there between the Jacksons and Kamahl, except (vaguely) the colour of their skin?

Good point, Clownfish. Crikey covered it the other day:

http://tiny.cc/BLT6g

Apparently Kamahl wasn't all that impressed.

If a comedian portrays a disabled person it is degrading and insensitive unless the comedian happens to be disabled himself.
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If a comedian makes a joke about Arabs it is racism unless he is an Arab himself.
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If a comedian refers to a Jew he is religious racist unless he is a Jew himself.
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If a comedian is making a joke about black people he is racist but when a black man jokes about a white man then that is not racist.
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Personally I detest racism, real racism and not what happen to be mere comedy! Then again the Federal constitution s.51(xxvi) actually permits racism on a grand scale so what are we really going on about?
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Just imagine someone going down a stationary supply store and argue it is racism they do not sell black paper while they do sell white paper and other such nonsense.
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Would it just not be better if we spend less time about the race issue and more time to ignore it all?
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More then 40 years ago was dating this young woman and then one day she made known that it never could go further because I was white. Well I wasn’t blind and knew she was of a coloured skin more then just a sun burn would do but it didn’t make any difference to me. Well, to her it did. If I had in reverse commented on the colour of her skin I more then likely would have been regarded as a racist.
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Seems that society is too obsessed about racism and forget to live real life.
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Dear Foxy,

I feel we both have pretty much the same perspective on the skit itself, and it is probably quite an Australian one.

I don't think we can deny another person a different perspective based on their culture, upbringing, or their history. As you say "If Harry Connick Jr saw it differently - that's his call".

Indeed I also agree that "not all the members of his band would perceive things in exactly the same way" since possibly some of them may have 'stormed out' if put in the same situation, but we can't know. Mr Connick did not do that. I thought he put his position firmly but was not disrespectful to Mr Somers and he saw the show out.

Posting on another thread I drew parallels with the Bert Newton and Muhummad Ali incident ten years earlier than when Jackson Jive skit first aired.

http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=9562&page=0

Back then it seemed quite okay to say "Oops, our mistake", why is it so different now? Why are we so defensive? Furthermore why in that defensiveness are we lashing out at Mr Connick?

However I have since been wondering where Bert might have picked up the expression "I like the boy". Could it have been adopted from the States, especially with the accent he used? Might we think of 'blacking up' as a similar meme?

I'm not saying that changes the intent of the participants, which was in my opinion quite benign, just something we might reflect on.

<< "If Harry Connick Jr saw it differently - that's his call" >>

I have to follow on Csteele's comments:

Why the fuss?

Connick Jnr had every right to present his opinion of the skit. And more power to him, I have no idea how he could've faced his band members had he remained silent.

Yes, Foxy, there was Al Jolson and he did aid in the contribution of Afro/American music to the world. Like most human conundrums it is not black and white - no pun intended. However, to claim that the Hey Hey skit was purely a parody of the Jackson Five strikes me as deliberately myopic - it clearly is based on the B & W minstrel blackface that has its foundation in ridicule of blacks at a time when the Ku Klux Klan held sway in the southern states of America.

I get the impression that posters are now merely defending their opinions on Connick than actually looking at the appalling origins of "blackface" and acknowledging that this form of mockery is no longer acceptable.

Was there an over reaction on Hey Hey?

Yes indeed a complete overreaction to Harry Connick Jnr's right to express his feelings about a skit he was invited to judge on Hey Hey's Red Faces.

Grow up Australia.