France and Australia have more in common than you think

Wait, France and Australia? They are on opposite sides of the world. Literally. They don't have a share history. The people in Australia like beer, France has wine. Australia is mostly a big desert known for Mad Max and Mel Gibson. France has the Eiffel Tower, cheese, and hasn't won a war (or really mattered) since a short guy named Napoleon.

These things are all true. But they are very similar in their desire to display buffoonery that mocks Blacks. For Australia its the Aborigine people that are the special focus of this backwards kind of thinking. In France it's usually Moroccans, but they really stepped up the insults with the latest venture into pugnacious "art".



The French Vogue magazine, in all its brilliance, decided that supermodels needed more attention. Which is fine if not a bit absurd. But when it came time to have photos of Black models they decided that blackface was a far more appropriate and fashionable thing to do. Yes, blackface. The key part of the minstrel show that the uneducated and repugnant of the 19th century loved.

I realize that there aren't a lot of models, or supermodels for that matter, that are women of color. It's a problem the entire fashion industry can't seem to figure out. Then again, in my experience, it's far easier to find White women the size and flat board curvaciousness of Olive Oil. And as I have said before

"I have to believe that the designers are the biggest group of fetishists in plain public sight. That's the only explanation. The women they use, or airbrush, are so far from the norm that Janeane Garafalow (her politics) is mainstream in comparison. Obviously they just saw one Popeye cartoon too many. Especially Ralph Lauren."

Still I find it hard to believe that none of the Black supermodels were available. I mean there is Naomi Campbell, Tyra Banks, Iman, Alek Wek, Liya Kebede, Chanel Iman. I mean the photographer, Steven Klein is an American. Couldn't he have had the balls to simple say what Harry Connick Jr. said to the nation of Australia? Did Klein think that no one in America would notice, or care?

Perhaps I'm not as artsy and cultured as our European "friends" or as burly as those down in Australia. But at least I am in the 20th century. Though the fact that both these nations consider racism and prejudice a normal and current way to deal with people of color in their own nations.

Vogue knows better than what they did. They had the ability to bring in Black models, they have the intelligence to know this is offensive. They knew that they were insulting tens of millions of people of color around the world. But maybe they are just like the Australian audience for Hey Hey, its Saturday night! in that they just don't care.

Considering that Blacks across the world have contributed to freedom (including saving the French in WWI, WWII, and Viet Nam), made innovations that have eased life and saved untold millions of people over the centuries, and the least of all - President Obama - you would think they might have a bit of a wake-up call. But it seems not.

I would suggest to every reader I have that buys Vogue to skip it for 3 months (or more if you would like). Send them a message in a color they are sure to respect and understand - money. Blackface is an insult. ANYWHERE in the world to ALL people of color. Perhaps France and Australia would like to join us in the 21st Century on that.

Australia - A great country if you are White

If you haven't heard about this yet, I am sure that you will soon. Harry Connick Jr. was in Australia recently, on a program that some of my older readers will recognize as a copy of The Gong Show. Basically it was the poor man's version of American Idol back in the 70's when the concept of "reality" television meant a live event.

Connick was a guest on the show, which seemed to be a return trip for those on it. The "entertainers" had been on the show years prior and were back to give it one more go. All this is fine.

But then came a group called "Jackson Jive". And it was with this group that were were again shown the racist attitudes that most of Australia has.



I have known many Australians. They were good people. I'm sure there are many in Australia right now. But there is no question that the racial attitudes of the nation is more akin with 1950's America that the 21st century.

I just don't know where to start with what I think is wrong with this. The group in blackface is probably the big thing. When I first saw this I was stunned. It was the last thing I expected.

Connick is either a master of control, or the other celebrity judge beat him to getting the gong for this group. Which is a nice sign that some in Australia have good taste. But did you hear the crowd? they were loving that group. They were loving the blackface. It just makes me think how much lynch mobs must have loved hanging a Black person back in the days of America no one wants to talk about (the last known lynching was in the 80's by the way).

Connick, much to his credit gave the group a 0. I suppose negative numbers are shunned in the show. And I do like the way that Connick was clearly displeased and uncomfortable. But the judge in the middle gave that group a 7! I wonder how she would rate a lynching? I hope that all the Aborigine people near her stay clear after dark.

The other part of the video that I think was great was that Connick made it clear that this was unacceptable. That had he known this was to be on the program he would not have appeared. It's the least that could have been said to a crowd that really just didn't care. Notice that there was no apology, except to the American sensibilities of Connick. The host, like the judge and crowd thaought that depicting people of color as buffoons was perfectly normal and humorous.

Perhaps the most chilling part of this is that the clueless morons that comprised the Jackson Jive are all professionals. Doctors and 1 psychiatrist. This is an example of what the professionals in Australia do in their downtime. It's sickening.

In one fells swoop, this show and these doctors along with Australia, insulted every person of color in the world. They disrespected the memory of one of the most famous and influential entertainers in the world. And they reinforced the abysmal treatment of the original natives of their country - that are still systemically treated to bias and hate.

Some will likely say that Harry Connick Jr. knew what was going to happen. That he was just covering his butt with his fanbase and America in general.

I disagree with that thought. You can see his displeasure, his anger, with this performance. I genuinely believe that Connick had no idea, and would hope he was fighting walking off the set.

In all this is just yet another reminder that the problems of race relations are not just an American thing. It's not just something that happened in the past. Across the world people have ignored the lessons of history and will reap the bitter pain that these kinds of actions create.

Pass this video around, especially to anyone that might be considering a trip to Australia.

Happy Birthday

Well September 11th is coming up once again, but this year I wanted to take a different approach to this day. Long before our nation suffered a massive wound this was just another day. And for many it was a day of celebration of life.

September 11th was the birth day of many people, famous and not. Celebrities who all share this day include:

Actor Earl Holliman is 81. Movie director Brian De Palma is 69. Singer Jack Ely of The Kingsmen is 66. Drummer Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead is 66. Guitarist Leo Kottke is 64. Actress Amy Madigan is 59. Guitarist Tommy Shaw of Styx is 56. Songwriter Diane Warren is 53. Drummer Jon Moss of Culture Club is 52. Actress Roxann Dawson ("Star Trek: Voyager") is 51. Actor Scott Patterson ("Gilmore Girls") is 51. Actress Virginia Madsen ("Sideways," "American Dreams") is 48. Actress Kristy McNichol is 47. Musician Moby is 44. Singer Harry Connick Jr. is 42. Actress Taraji P. Henson ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button") is 39. Actress Laura Wright ("Guiding Light") is 39. Guitarist Jeremy Popoff of Lit is 38. Singer Brad Fischetti of LFO is 34. Rapper Mr. Black is 32. Guitarist Jon Buckland of Coldplay is 32. Rapper Ludacris is 32. Singer Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum is 28.

But for me someone far more important has her birthday on this day. That is my mother.

It is a shame that all these people share this day with a horrible memory for the nation. But the nation survived and it still is a day of celebration, as every day is.

So I just wanted to take a moment to wish all those that have September 11th as a birthday my best wishes, before all the sadness of the day weighs upon them.

Most importantly I want to wish my mother a very happy birthday. And for those that are wondering, my mother is 21. Don’t you dare question that, I don’t.