International Ignorance: A Recent History of Foreign Blackface

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery—except when it's an insidious form of racist fuckery. Case in point? Blackface, the American theater tradition that portrayed African-Americans as stupid, lazy, and buffoon-like. Blackface had an undisputed detrimental impact on the country's perception of black people, and, as a result, its existence today in America is limited mostly to history books and satirical works a la Spike Lee's 2000 film Bamboozled (and probably Rush Limbaugh's community theater group).

In other countries, however, blackface still has contemporary cultural relevancy. Korean recording artists "Bubble Sisters" released an album which showcased the group with their faces painted in black on the cover, and Japanese toy maker Sanrio at one point produced Bibinba, a small action figure with features easily attributable to blackface. And most recently, a group of white Australian performers performed a sketch mimicking/mocking the Jackson 5. Shake.Our.Heads. Complex looks at some of the other controversial foreign blackface moments...

Jackson Jive, Australia
• This clip from Australia's long-running variety show Hey Hey Saturday Night is both wrong (as in ridiculously foul) and wrong (as in just plain incorrect). "We Are Family" ain't a Jackson 5 song and—maybe it's just us—but it looks like there are six douchebags on stage. Whatever, guess the toilets aren't the only things that run backwards down there.

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Louis Armstrong Skit, Korea
• To be fair, great jazz artists performed in Asia and Europe back in the day because they couldn't make a living in America, but just 'cause you love something don't mean you have to imitate it exactly. Although this clip makes us suggest the performer try on a Kurt Cobain impression.

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Louis Armstrong Impersonator, Japan
• Again with the Louis Armstrong imitators. A word of advice to all would-be Satchmos the world over—why not make like your hero and die?

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Don't Give a Damn Hong Kong
• Really, where to start with this one? The blackface is one thing, but the dialogue is on a whole 'nother level. "Rob once and rape twice every 6 seconds"? Damn, dem's some tired New York Negroes!

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Darkie Day, England
• The name in itself is enough to make any American person cringe, but the people of Cornwall claim this celebration also known as Mummer's Day and does not have racist undertones. Right, well we went ahead and fucked your ugly mummer just in case.

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News Anchor, Turkey
• According to the translated version of the clip, the anchor has been told that he looks like President Obama and is referring to an old Turkish saying: "One who asks for a favor has a dark face, but the one who does not grant him that favor is a black guy." Which reminds us of the old American saying: "They who name their country after poultry may find their heads chopped off come Thanksgiving."

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