How Is This A 'minstrel' Act??

[joko]

http://dangerousminds.net/comments/greek_ladys_unfortunate_stevie_wonder_impression_is_all_kinds_of_wrong


its getting a bit much when someone trying to do an impersonation of someone of a different race is accused of racism, just for trying to make it as realistic as possible!

What was she supposed to do? just stay pale skinned and not look even remotely like him, and spoil the effect?

merely putting dark makeup on your skin is not racist - 'blacking up' in this context is not racist - and it is certainly not a 'minstrel' show... unless you also add white round the eyes and big white lips and walk around singing like al jolson

what do you make of it these comments?

[ludwig]

// it is certainly not a 'minstrel' show... unless you also add white round the eyes and big white lips and walk around singing like al jolson //

Damn it, there goes my idea for the Britain's Got Talent auditions.

It looks like everyone's too scared to comment for fear of being called a racist joko. I read on another thread that apparently you can still be a racist 'by stealth' even though you're very careful never to do or say anything racist, so it's a very tricky subject.

Basically, doing an impression of a generic black\chinese\white\etc person - never ever a good thing.

Doing an impression of a specific individual that happens to be of a different race than you..not racist. I personally wouldn't do it though. I'd feel uncomfortable.

(I didn't click on the link as I'm at work).

[joko]

why would you feel uncomfortable though?

would you feel the same if you put a bald cap on - against bald people?
or had aging make up applied - against old people?
or dressed as a woman - against women?

i don't understand the problem

i agree blacking up to take the piss is not cool, but thats not the case here at all ... the fact that the singer is black is irrelevant

[DJHawkes]

well Johnny Depp has just made his movie as Tonto and noone seems bothered, maybe he is part cherokee way way back, but it's not apparent. I love the guy but Jay Silverheels was the real deal

[lardhelmet]

I Loved Jay Silverheels - what a great name!

[DJHawkes]

me too he was the best , he was like a real hero to me

[ludwig]

Having now watched the clip I've got to say it was a terrible impression, and that's probably what the fuss is about.

If it had sounded or looked anything like Stevie Wonder I might have been had some sympathy, but it was really bad. So, the message you get is that she thinks you can do a decent impersonation of a black singer by simply blacking up and singing one of his songs.

Also, the way she was led out as if she was actually blind - that was just weird and wrong.

[jno]

we tend to think of impressionist shows as being essentially comic, but this one seems to be intended sincerely, and with the intention of being so good you could be mistaken for the real thing. On that basis, I can't see the problem, even if in the end she doesn't do it very well. Alternatively, the only people she'd be able to impersonate would be other Greek women.

[joko]

ludwig - i dont think its because she was bad - the audience seemed to love it.

it think its just been a knee jerk reaction to someone 'blacking up'

i remember there was bit of 'weirdness' when i went to a party and 2 lads had come as vincent and jules in pulp fiction and one of them had obviously 'blacked up' ... most people were cool and understood that if you want to dress up as someone who has different colour skin to you then you have to change it - same as you would if they had different colour hair etc.
just a few seemed shocked.
its all about context i guess.

i think perhaps the phrase 'blacking up' gives people the wrong idea - she hasnt ' blacked up', she has just but dark brown foundation on.

what would we call it if she put pale brown on to be an asian or a chinese person or something?

jno - yes i agree she was sincere, she was trying very hard to mimic his movements etc - its just that she didnt sound like him.

dot - i dont think people seem as bothered by people dressing up as other races, just black seems to upset people because of the minstrel shows.

[emmie]

weird, then again taking a 10 second look at Alexander Armstrong supposedly as Luciano Pavarotti had me pressing the off button, ludicrous show.