Racism Heyday Is Long Gone
The revival of the variety show “Hey Hey It’s Saturday” didn’t generate any interest in me. It looked to be a silly show at best, utterly naf, bogan even. Turns out I was right, and more, since even now they couldn’t resist a minstrel show. That was embarrassing when it was Bing Crosby, let alone Al Jolson. It’s sparked considerable debate here, largely due, however, to the fact that it’s generated some degree of furore back in the States. What’s most galling to me is how many have come forward to defend it. It’s just a joke, they say, it’s supposed to be funny, nobody meant any harm. Yes, they did, even if they were too stupid to understand their own message. Blackface was always demeaning and derogatory and it’s more so now. Golliwog wigs don’t make it any better. The whole country makes me cringe sometimes, and Julia Gillard just lost her favored position as next Labor PM as far as I’m concerned.