‘Jackson Jive’ Spokesman Wins Pulitzer Prize For Comedy
Hopefully soon Australia will work out exactly what it is about blackface that is offensive and racist, but in the meantime, team of “intelligent” doctors that made up “The Jackson Jive” continue to amuse/horrify with their naive quote-spewing. Are you ready to LAUGH?
After Dr Anand “Michael Jackson” Deva spoke up yesterday, now it’s Dr Suresh “One Of The Black Ones” De Silva’s turn, and boy, isn’t it a doozy. Writing “exclusively” for The Punch, he offers in his opening salvo:
Twenty years ago myself and five friends painted our faces black and performed the Jackson Jive skit on Hey Hey It’s Saturday to great acclaim.
Suresh, I’ll just stop you there for a moment. Winning an Oscar or a Nobel prize, or getting a 100% rating on MetaCritic = great acclaim. “Winning” Red Faces ≠ great acclaim.
Anyway, let’s continue:
We’re not so naive that we didn’t think it would be a little bit controversial to paint our faces black. We discussed it before the show.But to be honest, we thought that we didn’t get any complaints 20 years ago, and we didn’t get any complaints two months ago at the Med Revue, so we figured it was probably all in good fun.
“Well, your honour, sixty years ago I didn’t get any complaints when I said blacks and women couldn’t drink in the front bar, so I didn’t see the problem saying so now – anyway, it was all in good fun.”
Dr De Silva continues to enjoy the delicious taste of his own foot:
I think the fact that all six of us have gone onto very successful careers as doctors demonstrates the fact that Australians care more about ability than race.Not to justify what we did, but one of the best things about Australia is the ability to laugh at ourselves.
Yes! Because nothing says “Australia” like extending hundreds of years of systematic racism under a thin veil of “entertainment”!
Thank you, Dr De Silva, this has been very enlightening indeed. Now, excuse me while I go burn some witches – hey, no one complained a few centuries ago, did they? It’s all in good fun!
au
blackface
dr an
dr anand deva
hey hey
jackson jive
mammy
mammy i'm moving to australia
suresh de silva
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Comments
There is nothing racist about dressing up as people from different cultures, impersonating or even mocking them. What is racists is denying the human rights, denying them civil liberties, enforced in equity, slavery and cultural genocide and ethnic cleansing. This type of thing is humorous and good natured people who have confidence in themselves do not find this racist – those who live in fear, who have dis empowered lives and gain purpose through feckless political correctness – such as yourself – what an utterly ridiculous rant.
It borders closely to the accusation of Britain being racist – the most culturally diverse nation on earth – from Shilpa Shetty – a woman born, raised and proud advocate of the Indian Caste system – racism in its most pure and absolute form.
Australia appear to be the compost heap of Profound stupidity.
One day you will see racism – you will see what it really is – and it will truly disgust you – until then, keep picking on comedy shows like this as if it REALLY matters – moron.
i find it so very ironic, that aussies are holding up the “bastion” of human rights. yeah moving the aborigines to the brink of extinction is very welcoming. australia is the most racist country on planet earth. how about hte racially motivated attacks on indian students this year. also, ur country isnt even yours it belonged to the aborigines and they were so mercilessly massacred and you talk of india and its caste system? a bit of the kettle calling the pot black eh “mate”? look here is the deal we dont have to look very far to see aussie racism, you see it sport almost every day, in cricket against the sri lankans and indians. except when the shoe is on the other foot with the harbhajan and symonds issue it is a question of racism. u inbred convict nitwit cunts.. u just got lucky in your “lucky country”
Well why don’t you answer the question Clem – just what is it that’s offensive and racist about it? Where is the discrimination based upon race? And who is it that’s offended other than Harry Connick Jr and a couple of politically correct anti-Australian columnists with nothing more important to write about this week?
So it’s really that difficult for you to grasp, is it? How about you read about blackface here and then tell me what you think: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackface
If that doesn’t clear up the issue then there really is no hope for you.
The link you provided (to that bastion of true knowledge wiki, which I will run with for today) says that blackface is still ocassionally used for satire. (Obviously it’s a bad taste joke.) However, you haven’t really answered the question – you’ve just resorted to personal attacks. please answer the question – where is the discrimination based on race? And who is insulted by it?
“Shetty – a woman born, raised and proud advocate of the Indian Caste system”
Dubious accusation. Got any references for that?
Now you’re being ignorant of Indian history
Erm… I think Francine was asking for something to support the notion that Shilpa Shetty is “a proud advocate of the caste system”.
It’s the lame and sarcastic reporting like this, that tries so hard to push something done with no ill intent (and something any level-headed person would take as such) in to a headliner on racism.
Taking the mickey out of Dr De Silva’s quotes is the type of narky back-biting material that makes me cringe at the pop media these days, and also reflects your cheap reporting style. What ever happened to quality thought provoking writing, and taking a fresh balanced view? You’re just another two-bit journo jumping on the hype bandwagon. I can find better material in blogs.
So, ‘thank you, Clem Bastow, this has been very enlightening indeed. Now, excuse me while I go burn some news media’.
As an American I feel the need to explain the offense:
What we see here is an appropriation of American culture i.e. minstrel performances and blackfaces and aspect of our culture we have tried hard to move on from
Basically not yours to call harmless
Thanks for the American viewpoint. In reply:
-It’s English culture, not American. America just pinched it from England, like most American culture.
-You can move on. That’s fine. But stop dictating your definition of offence to others.
-What does an Indian pretending to be African in Australia have to do with America again?
“What does an Indian pretending to be African in Australia have to do with America again?”
He was pretending to be a black AMERICAN, as were the rest of these idiots who’ve basically admitted that they knew it was offensive.
Aust had blackface minstrel shows in its own history since around the goldrush times (1870’s). Most Aussies are ignorant of their own history.
The Doctors are arrogant, insensitive and devoid of taste. Being and intelligent indian pastic surgeon just doesn’t cut it (pun intended).
As for the aging clique that is Hey Hey – surely there was a voice within the channel that could have told the others that it was out of date and insensitive.
They are in my best Aussie accent “bloody idiots”.
Really, it all comes down to the Americans needing to pull their heads out of their arses and realising they truly are not the centre of the world. Get over it guys….. you made us suffer George W for how long……?
Ok, we know the skit was crass, tasteless, offensive etc and no matter what has been said about the “Australian sense of humor”, I believe that it is in no way acceptable in this country (Australia)today. I also believe that it would have been seen as questionable, at the very least, twenty years ago as well. The producers were amazingly stupid for allowing it to go on.
That said, Clem, 4 articles? Do you really think it warrants 4 articles? Is there really nothing else you can write about?
They were stupid. They and everybody else know they were stupid. I’m sure it will never happen again on Australian TV.
Lets get over it and move on.
god, why do we always have to move on from the old ‘is Australia racist’ topic? can’t we have a good go at finally answering it? geez. next thing you’ll know we’ll be lauding Hanson for pirouetting on TV as if we’ve all got collective amnesia for what she symbolised.
So how can it be blackface if most of the entertainers were black..or brown??
The day Clem comes up with something that ISN’T completely biased, hypocritical and self righteous, I’ll die of shock
Anyone still unclear as to why blackface is, and will always be, offensive should read this: http://www.authentichistory.com/diversity/commonexcuses.html
I was living in Qatar with a wage of AUD$15,000 tax free a month – until America wanted to carry on like little boys playing bang bang, you’re dead. I’m 180cm, blonde, blue eyed & white…the Yanks never had a Royal Family so they go overboard on many things, including chosing the English culture as theirs to use.
Thanks for writing about this, Clem. I wish people would answer the clue phone regarding negative stereotypes, how they help to perpetuate discrimination, and just how much of a powerful role media play in promoting them.
Dear Ms Blastow
I am a doctor originally from India working in Australia for the last four years. “I am not an Australian citizen or permanent resident”. I am emphasising this just to make it clear that I dont have any vested intrest in defending Aussies whether white or coloured as a non racist society. Inspite of all the hype of Australia being a racist society, till date I have not experienced racism in any form here. Most of my colleagues at work and outside work are white aussies all of them are very friendly and honest people,not even once have I felt any undercurrent of racism in their behaviour and actions. having worked and lived in many different countries, I feel that Ausssies are far more open and welcoming. this controversy regarding “the jackson jive” has been unnecessarily blown out of proportion , it should have been taken in the same light hearted spirit as any other comedy show. I dont understand why are people so sensitive to race specially in context to Australia. It seems aussie bashing is the flavour of the season
Wow, who knew so many troglodytes had access to the interwebs! Black face isn’t racist eh? What year is this again?
How embarrassment.
What about Robert Downey Jr in Tropic Thunder? Nothing was said about that.
Good point, Bec. I didn’t find either Hey Hey or Tropic Thunder humorous. I didn’t find them racist either. Seems funny that Americans are okay with one, but not the other.
You sound like an ignorant american. Probably best you go live there, because over 80% of Austarlian’s did not find this racist or offensive in a recent survey, and I would probably guess that the real figure is much higher. Get over it mate – just some dudes sending up someone famous… if the jackson five were white they wouldve painted their faces white – including the black guy in the group. What? A black guy? oh… I guess you forgot to mention that….
If whole movies can be made about a black man pretending to be white blackface sketches are allowed in my books.
Chances are if you are reading this you have already formed an opinion and just enjoy the drama and comedy of people arguing on forums (sometimes childishly) which can be quite entertaining. Anyway I am not a regular commentator but thought I could add something to the debate that is vaugely related.
Why is blackface racism and why is racism bad? If you cant understand that, you may understand why if you choose to walk in other people shoes more often (figuratively speaking), and you might also need a reminder not to say anything if you cant say anything nice. Guidelines for living, if you are not someone who didnt think the hey hey skit was inappropriate (but also if you did).
How would most black people feel watching ththat hey hey skit? Think how you would feel if someone caricatured you? Exaggerated all your features then mocked you? They are doing it in good fun though! So that makes it alright?? White Australians do not have a very good grasp on the gravity of racism and the pain it causes people who experience it throughout their lives.
As I see it, the trouble with Australian humor is that it is so often at someone else’s expense. Tv shows are no exception (Hey hey, Funniest home videos, kath and kim, etc). While I mostly enjoy these shows as much as anyone, it is sad when humor can sometimes involve more power and ego issues than pure fun and happiness. Its interesting that when chimps bare their teeth and shriek it is aggressive, not playful. Human humour can be an act of agression! But i digress.
Anyway Lets think about the average person who supports the skit and their personal behaviour. It is possible and indeed likely that the people who cant see why the blackface skit is inappropriate, cannot or do not take the perspective of someone other than themselves. While the person may know, in an intellectual sense, that other people have different opinions they fail to actually consider this in practice. I see people like this all the time! The people with more exaggerated traits often talk about themselves a lot (sometimes chronic complainers), twitter/fb even their most inane activities, are quick to anger/venom, unable to share, behave like naughty children! There are a few people with very exaggerated traits there are also many of us who simply do not consider others often, or just from time to time. For example, When someone cuts you off in traffic do you feel instant rage or do you realise they just may not have seen you, and remember that you have been beeped at once or twice for making the same, innocent mistake..
This self-absorbed, righteous and justifying mentality of many people (to varying degrees) is quite a problem in many areas and for many reasons. You can disagree and you may be right. But who is to say what is right and what is wrong? ‘Right’ is subjective depending on who you are and your own experiences. People can nearly always find justification for their actions, from mass murder to thankless charity. Regardless of who you are, it is worth taking the time to cultivate an awareness of people other than yourself and how your actions affect them! And if you are really interested, go and read about developmental stage theory and think about how separate (or not) you are from your own ego. There is a good chance it will be a useful 5 minutes spent on wikipedia, or better yet, get one of those ancient book things!
The Indians have been playing a dirty game of calling Australian’s racist this year (there are financial/echonomic reasons why they are doing it) and I suspect Anand Deva’s little stunt was part of it, a set up to make anglo Australians look bad, but it back fired on him.
Tell him what you think of his attitude, don’t blame the rest of Australia for this idiot from India.
Dr Anand Deva
33/20-24 Gibbs Street
Sydney
NSW
PH: +612 9542 8391
From the dictionary:
rac⋅ism [rey-siz-uhm]
–noun
1. a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one’s own race is superior and has the right to rule others.
2. a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.
3. hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.
Hence, by definition, what they did was not racist. They were impersonating individuals, not African-Americans in general. Yes, it can be argued that it was offensive, but that depends on what is inferred by the viewer. Majority of Australians weren’t offended, and if it weren’t for Harry Connick Jr, the news never would have spread.
It makes me laugh when the Americans say “We’re trying to move passed the time in history when we did blackfaces”, because if you were really trying to move passed it you wouldn’t bring up the racial impact when someone else does it in jest. It’s obvious America still stuck in the past, not Australia.
Also, I take offence when American and UK news were proclaiming Australia as racist. So, as a result of what five men did, an entire nation is labelled as racist? Good work.
This skit was not racists. It does not make Australia racists. Australias defence and “get over it”‘ness of the act, is racist at worst, ignorant at best. The act wasn’t the problem, Australias reaction to it is. We dont get it, and we pretend because we dont, that it makes it not a problem. The inherant imagry of blackface is what makes it wrong, so why was it required for the act? Would the wigs have not sufficed the evoke the imagery of the jackson 5? If you see a five year old running around in a little Nazi uniform, you dont think he’s racists, but you would stop him, because you know what he’s doing it wrong, and he’s going to offend someone. If you don’t, you’re the same as the blackface defenders, and you’re okay with a little bit of racism.
It’s this sort of outrage that just makes the issue of racism worse. When you can attribute a harmless joke to a term that by definition means harm and segregation of an entire race, you aren’t staunchly defending your anti-racist viewpoint, but just adding to the needless and ever-growing list of things that are racist by degrees of separation. Parading around telling multi-ethnic groups that they can’t paint their faces black because it might offend some black people is not only hypocritical to the issue, but also condescending toward the race you are trying to ‘protect’ by assuming they can’t take a joke. People who are truly anti-racist would see it for the joke it is, not take offense, and it would be a non-issue.
All I can say is Harry C JR has more common sense in him than this bunch of doctors put together. .After all this they still trying to justify what they did instead of understanding how you can be unkind to people in the name of a skit.
What shows us at the end of the day is how ever much degrees you can earn does’nt mean that you are an intelligent human.
I am also a Sydney plastic surgeon and have worked with Professor Deva and now also play in a band with him. I am, however, not part of the ‘Jackson Jive’. Unlike most posters of comments, I actually know Prof. Deva.
He is without doubt a man of great integrity, intelligence, and also of non-Caucasian background. He’s also a pretty good keyboardist.
There is no doubt that the Jackson Jive performance was done without any racist intent. We are Australians and sure, we have our own problems, but never have we had obligations at all to share the moral guilt Americans have about their own (still) appalling treatment of other races. Slavery in the USA was still constitutionally legal until 1865 and the Americans seem to show no hesitation in invading other countries now.
Harry Connick Junior – I saw your gig in Australia with my family when I was a teenager. Mum, Dad and myself even had a great time. It must be because it was such a long time ago that I’ve forgotten about that really big morally righteous stick that seems to be stuck up your arse now.