What we have here is a failure to communicate.
We're not sure what it is with Australians (or anyone) and blackface, but they seem to love it. Qantas Airways recently named the winners of its Twitter contest; the two fans will be sent to an international rugby match. These guys show up in afro wigs and blackface, smiling from ear to ear, proving that ignorance is bliss. One dude even went the extra mile and painted his neck black. What’s worse is that Qantas posted this to their Twitter account.
Not sure what these geniuses were going for, but since there’s no humor here, there’s no point in trying to understand. They really don’t get it.
[via Gawker]
Australian August 31st, 2011 at 07:59 PM
It's not ignorance of blackface. That's American culture. Australia is a whole other country on the other side of the world and like it or not America and their history are not a part of our culture. So grow up. I bet there are heaps of things that people do in their own countries that America and Americans don't know about.
E September 1st, 2011 at 12:09 PM
You have a somewhat valid point, but at the same time this action is likely offensive to black people worldwide. Although there may have been no malicious intent, it is still seen as insensitive.
H September 5th, 2011 at 12:58 AM
If you watched a minute of Australian Rugby Union you would understand why they are dressed up like this. Radike Samo is an Fijian-born Rugby Union player that plays for the Queensland Reds and the Australian Wallabies. I guarantee Radike himself, or any other islander in Australia would NOT find this offensive. You want proof? Read this article (http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/rugby-union/tri-nations/samo-defends-fans-blackface-tribute-20110829-1jgwa.html) and then sit the hell back down.
s September 5th, 2011 at 01:50 AM
oath mate. piss off julian kimble. radike is a fan favourite. they dressed up as their favourite rugby player. are you saying it would have been okay if they were black to dress up as him? pathetic.