Harry Connick Jr Speaks Up About Jackson Blackface Skit in Australia

THIS is what you're supposed to do when you experience stupid racist crap. You're supposed to speak up.

This is a clip from the Associated Press: Australian TV show apologizes for blackface skit

Connick said he would not have appeared on the show if he'd known about the skit.

"I just want to say, on behalf of my country, I know it was done humorously, but we've spent so much time trying to not make black people look like buffoons, that when we see something like that we take it really to heart," he told Somers after his apology.

I'm glad Harry spoke up. That performance was 100% buffoonery. I don't think it was hateful racism. I think it was a true lack of empathy and understanding. We've got to get more of both for everyone!

It reminded me of this incident from a few years back in Korea: Okay, the Bad Side of Korea: "It's not racist; it's a joke!". As far as I know, excuses were made and an apology? Never.

It's got to come from all sides: an awareness of and sensitivity to how others feel.

I say this because I've been in situations when I was abroad where it was mostly foreigners who where going to town with racist generalizations about Koreans. Look, living anywhere that's different and where it's not your country is HARD at times. However, when I saw that stuff, I called them out as going a bit too far down Racist Lane.

Good job Harry and thanks.

More links:
Analysis: 'Blackface Jacksons' embarrassing to Australia
Harry Connick, Jr. denounces blackface skit in Australia
Harry Connick Jr weirdly unimpressed by Australia's blackface Jackson 5

(code not fixed yet, the "Read More" doesn't lead you anywhere...sorry)

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Michael Jackson's Birthday Celebration in Prospect Park (Brooklyn, NY)

Oh, fun!

I've been busy adjusting to life in NYC. It's all been pretty normal with the typical worries associated being in a new place. But today I went over to Brooklyn to attend Michael Jackson's 51st Birthday Celebration. The event was put together by Spike Lee (whom, as a side note, I met years ago when I was a hard working student at UCLA Campus Events and we'd invited him to speak.)

It was a fun event. I wasn't sure if I was going to go for a few personal reasons, but after a phone call and just realizing that I could just go home if it wasn't my cup of tea, I headed to Brooklyn. I'm glad I did. It was a lot of fun. What's exciting is Spike would like to try to make this a yearly event. That would be even more fun to make this a yearly event.

I recorded some video with my little digital camera, so check it out.

Wanna Be Starting Something:


Electric Slide Going Viral (being done simultaneously in a few spots at the same time) song playing - Get On The Floor:


Man in the Mirror (the last song of the day):
(Again, ignore the "read more" tag...it leads you to nowhere).

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My post on Michael Jackson and fashion over at the WeAreTheMarket.com blog.

I'm turning comments off here, but comments are welcome on the original post at anytime. I'll even make an effort to answer them all the way I do here ;)

Michael Jackson: Pop Culture Fashion Icon

When it comes to the world of fashion, both men's and women's, Michael Jackson is fashion icon.

He inspired us to wear loafers and white socks. He inspired us to wear jackets with military details. He inspired us to wear one glittery glove. He inspired a resurgence of aviator glasses too.

You get the picture. We know the looks. You don't need us to list them for you after the jump.

His influence on the world of trends and fashion is simply undeniable.

Additionally, he inspired designers. All you have to do is tune into some of the Twitter streams of those in fashion. Designer Brian Atwood lamented Michael's death as well as Farrah Faucet's passing on Twitter, “RIP Farrah and Micahel Jackson...We will remember you both....!! So sad.”

What's great was the symbiotic relationship that Michael had with fashion and that fashion had with Michael.

The best example is the Spring 2009 Balmine collection.

Their military inspired jacket couldn't help but remind you of Michael. Of course, because fashion definitely influences entertainers we saw other celebrities pick up the trend. Now we're seeing a strong 80s-retro feel probably worn best right now by pop diva Rihanna.

However, it's symbiotic in that Michael was a legendary shopper. This year he was photographed wearing pieces from the Balmine collection.

So who inspired whom?

Does it really matter? He drew from the fashion world and they drew from him.

We won't be able to see Michael in the planned bedazzled Swarovski designs for his scheduled “This is It” concert dates. But what we do know is it would have been attention grabbing and influential.

King of Pop, you'll be missed. You'll inspire fashion for years to come.

Rest in Peace, Michael.

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The ONLY Part Worth It

I'm sorry folks, but I chose to actually watch the BET Awards last night.

Mistake! They pitched it as a tribute to MJ. It started that way and it definitely ended that way. However, during the bulk of the show they lost focus and it ended up being a moments of my life wasted.

Just because I know a lot of folks missed it or didn't set their DVRs for longer than three hours, here is dear Janet making a brief appearance to speak on her brother's death. Then Ne-yo and Jamie Foxx sing.

RIP MJ.

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Dear Michael - RIP

Michael Jackson: August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009

I'll always remember him best as a child because he was just a few years older than me.

Weird, as I just had a Six Feet Under marathon going the other day.

Tears have been shed, big time this week because we lost Farrah today too. What a horrible day.

For those like me who are in transit or in transition and are away from your record collections, check out this mix on Brooklyn's DJ Soul's blog mixed by DJ Jaycee: Remember MJ (part 1).

Here are two more mixes that DJ Jaycee made. These were played on his radio show on Sunday, June, 28th:

• on-air MJ Tribute (part one)
• on-air MJ Tribute (part two)
  

Oh, here is another mix - more old skool than not: Best of MJ by DJ M.O.S.

Both of the originals ones were done way before MJ died. For some reason, that makes them easier to listen to. Basically, they're shows of respect for his music while he was here rather than a desperate attempt to capitalize on this sad, sad tragedy. The other two by DJ Jaycee were tributes that were done after MJ passed, but my community needs to remember the range of MJ's work. Getting new mixes from someone who was smart enough to recongize MJ while he was living is great.

Update - July 9, 2009 @ 9:12pm

I didn't want to start a new post. But here is a .pdf version of MJ's obituary for the Staples Center memorial service. Thanks to the Chicago Defender for the link: Poignant service says goodbye to M.J., the manMichael Jackson Obituary

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