If you haven't heard about this yet, I am sure that you will soon. Harry Connick Jr. was in Australia recently, on a program that some of my older readers will recognize as a copy of The Gong Show. Basically it was the poor man's version of American Idol back in the 70's when the concept of "reality" television meant a live event.
Connick was a guest on the show, which seemed to be a return trip for those on it. The "entertainers" had been on the show years prior and were back to give it one more go. All this is fine.
But then came a group called "Jackson Jive". And it was with this group that were were again shown the racist attitudes that most of Australia has.
I have known many Australians. They were good people. I'm sure there are many in Australia right now. But there is no question that the racial attitudes of the nation is more akin with 1950's America that the 21st century.
I just don't know where to start with what I think is wrong with this. The group in blackface is probably the big thing. When I first saw this I was stunned. It was the last thing I expected.
Connick is either a master of control, or the other celebrity judge beat him to getting the gong for this group. Which is a nice sign that some in Australia have good taste. But did you hear the crowd? they were loving that group. They were loving the blackface. It just makes me think how much lynch mobs must have loved hanging a Black person back in the days of America no one wants to talk about (the last known lynching was in the 80's by the way).
Connick, much to his credit gave the group a 0. I suppose negative numbers are shunned in the show. And I do like the way that Connick was clearly displeased and uncomfortable. But the judge in the middle gave that group a 7! I wonder how she would rate a lynching? I hope that all the Aborigine people near her stay clear after dark.
The other part of the video that I think was great was that Connick made it clear that this was unacceptable. That had he known this was to be on the program he would not have appeared. It's the least that could have been said to a crowd that really just didn't care. Notice that there was no apology, except to the American sensibilities of Connick. The host, like the judge and crowd thaought that depicting people of color as buffoons was perfectly normal and humorous.
Perhaps the most chilling part of this is that the clueless morons that comprised the Jackson Jive are all professionals. Doctors and 1 psychiatrist. This is an example of what the professionals in Australia do in their downtime. It's sickening.
In one fells swoop, this show and these doctors along with Australia, insulted every person of color in the world. They disrespected the memory of one of the most famous and influential entertainers in the world. And they reinforced the abysmal treatment of the original natives of their country - that are still systemically treated to bias and hate.
Some will likely say that Harry Connick Jr. knew what was going to happen. That he was just covering his butt with his fanbase and America in general.
I disagree with that thought. You can see his displeasure, his anger, with this performance. I genuinely believe that Connick had no idea, and would hope he was fighting walking off the set.
In all this is just yet another reminder that the problems of race relations are not just an American thing. It's not just something that happened in the past. Across the world people have ignored the lessons of history and will reap the bitter pain that these kinds of actions create.
Pass this video around, especially to anyone that might be considering a trip to Australia.
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