Hey Hey! It’s NOT FUNNY,ASSHOLES!

by John M. Ellison IV

Okay, nothing human shocks me…most of the time. But, there are moments that leave me with a blank stare saying “What the fuck?” In Australia, a special edition of the Australian variety show “Hey Hey It’s Saturday!” on Wednesday October 7th with featured guest judge Harry Connick Jr. understandably pissed off about a group of amateurs in “Blackface” imitating the Jackson 5 all with one glove and the late Michael Jackson in “whiteface ” tagging themselves the “Jackson Jive.” “Aw, c’mon! They’re Australians! They probably didn’t know that this was insulting to black people.”

Okay, what part of dressing up in “Blackface”, stereotypical “Amos and Andy” voices, a nappy wig and going onstage with one glove seemed like a good idea?! “Blackface” was meant to demean and degrade black people and make them look like buffoons. I commend Harry Connick Jr. for getting pissed off. From a global perspective, Americans are looked at as rude, racist ,obnoxious, overweight, arrogant, ignorant and so forth. Although that could be said about any country, America is one of those countries that gets pigeon held. But, on the other hand…you have a good amount of people that admire our culture and mimic it as well; It’s a mixed bag.

I was instilled with this “when you go out your door and into the world, you’re representing your family, your culture and yourself.” Although it would be ideal that we would look at all people as individuals, a lot of us don’t. So, when someone is from another community, they‘re an ambassador of there background. Harry taking a stand against this offensive act was a good look for the United States.

Another thing, I’ve also noticed some people trying to tout a clip of his appearance on Mad TV as a southern preacher could be seen as Harry “mimicking” black southern preachers and calling him to be a hypocrite. Honestly, he isn’t for a few reasons.

Harry Connick Jr. and Orlando Jordan

1. He isn’t in Blackface.

2. He’s making fun of the traditional Holiness/Southern Baptist fire and brimstone preaching style of southern preachers and that style can be done by either Black or White preachers.

But yeah, when it comes to it. Instead of doing this “tribute” on “Hey! Hey! It’s Saturday!” they should’ve done their “Jackson Jive” act at the Apollo and let’s see what happens.