Troupe accused of racist comedy
Open Forum
- Phi Beta Sigma will host an open forum for students to discuss their definitions of racism and how they relate to campus and everyday life.
- When: 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday
- Where: Room 324 of the Joe Crowley Student Union
Student government officials and advisors are apologizing for a comedy skit performed at an Associated Students of the University of Nevada leadership conference Saturday. The skit, which was put on by the Wolf Pack Comedy Troupe, seemed to mimic blackface comedy, a form of improvisation that was popular during anti-African American movements in the 1800s, ASUN officials said.
The skit, which had some members wearing brown face paint during the skit, included stereotypes of African Americans. One member, dressed up as President Barack Obama, was portrayed as a man who loved basketball, ate chicken and was a womanizer.
“I did find it offensive,” ASUN Sen. Ann Newsome, one of The Conference organizers, said. “I was sitting in the front. Some people were laughing, but a lot of people were offended.”
Members of the troupe, however, said the skit was in no way meant to be racist and was not a form of blackface.
“If we are going to portray a girl, we are going to dress like a girl,” Ryan Nelson, a performer in the skit, said. “The Saturday Night Live cast did a skit of Obama, and they darkened the actor’s complexion; that wasn’t blackface.”
One of the key characteristics of blackface minstrelsy is making generalizations about African Americans, not observations about a specific person, Nelson said. Jokes about basketball were included because Obama has been seen playing on a number of occasions, members of the comedy troupe said.
ASUN invited the Wolf Pack Comedy Troupe to perform at the end of the conference to end things on a light-hearted and fun note, ASUN Director Sandy Rodriguez said. The leadership conference, which included speakers, workshops and networking with alumni, was meant to convey the importance of working with others and leadership.
“Both myself and staff take full responsibility for what happened,” she said. “It should have been more vetted out. We trusted the students, and it didn’t happen. We usually place more stock and value in students we work with.”
ASUN approached the troupe to perform at the event, but did not ask members to incorporate any of the themes from the conference, Nelson said.
Molly McCormack, assistant director of student activities, clubs and organizations, sent an e-mail out on Monday night apologizing to students and community members.
“Had we known of the Troupe’s choice of content and their views, despite having previously communicated the mission and purpose of The Conference, they would not have been included,” McCormack wrote.
In response to the events at the leadership conference, fraternity members of Phi Beta Sigma, a historically black Greek letter organization, will host a forum to discuss the use of derogatory slang from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in room 324 of the Joe Crowley Student Union.
“It’s OK Here, but Not Here? Usage and Effects of Derogatory Terms” will invite students to discuss racial stereotypes, what it means to be racist and how to eliminate racism on campus.
“This is a response,” Phi Beta Sigma member Anthony Dionisi said. “I feel like a lot of people don’t know that this was a racist event. The goal is to figure out why certain things are OK. Why is this OK here, but not here? Maybe people will hear what their friends are saying and rethink their own vocabulary.”
Members of ASUN and the committee said they hope they will be allowed to speak at the conference to discuss the skit and address any concerns.
Nevada Sagebrush reporter Jay Balagna contributed to this story. Tara Verderosa can be reached at tverderosa@nevadasagebrush.com.
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35 Responses to “Troupe accused of racist comedy”
So much for free speech on campus, eh?
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I like the fact that I was interviewed and nothing I said seemed to matter. I am a African American male at the University of Nevada, Reno and was in the audience when this sketch was performed. In no way was that racism. It was just a sketch highlighting Barack Obama and the things he has done over his first year in office. Because brown makeup is used, it is automatically racism. In that entire sketch or show, were they trying to single out a race or anyone. It is comedy, deal with it. Saturday Night Live does the same thing and we laugh and tune in the next week. A amateur troupe does the same thing and now they are racist. Seriously??? When a clown puts on white makeup, is he not entertaining people? When people are dressing up like women and over sized women is that not the same thing? People are creating racism and a problem now exists because something so small has to get blown up for no reason. As a black man, I did not feel threatened nor did I feel like these comedic actors were attacking my race. I am a proud person but I know the difference between racism and comedy. Now, we have three performers who happened to be white on the chop block because they did what they like to do: MAKE PEOPLE LAUGH!!!! If I did a Bill Clinton impression I will try to make my skin paler and hair grayer and whiter. I can’t sell my performance without looking it. Because it was a white performer who portrayed Obama, who wanted his performance to seem as realistic as possible, put makeup on his face not to defame him but to merely be like him. He even sounded like our president which was quite impressive. I am from a state and town that is predominately black and I know for a fact those same people I call friends would sit with me and laugh too because: IT’S FUNNY!!!! As a adolescent I had experienced racism that was real and for real, and never on that Saturday afternoon in the theater in the JCSU did I once think that those three performers were racist of any kind. During that sketch or any sketch they did, it never once crossed my mind that these actors were racist or trying to send the wrong message. They were looking for one thing and that was to: MAKE PEOPLE LAUGH!!!! And they got what they wanted. I am proud to call those of who you accused my good-good friends here at University of Nevada, Reno and never would once think that they meant any of this nonsense taking place as I speak. There is a reason why racism and its undertone still exists, and this the reason why. Thanks for free speech on campus UNR, we greatly appreciate it!
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What derogatory words were used during the performance? I like that the club that is hosting this forum tomorrow did not attend the event but seem to think that derogatory slang was used. Please enlighten me and tell me what exact words were used that harm African Americans? It is also funny that this article just steers the Wolf Pack Comedy Troupe into a negative light. It is making laugh hard that it is being considered a racist event, according to the article above. Because I am a black male where does that put me?
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When Dave Chapelle put on white makeup and a blonde wig to portray a white new anchor, everybody laughed!! HAHAHA cause it was funny. Get real dude..
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The use of blackface by a white comedy troupe is just as offensive now as it was back then.
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How else are they supposed to portray Barack Obama, Brandon?
The way I see is this – comedy cannot be funny if it isn’t offensive in some way. Why were Bill Hicks and George Carlin so popular? They offended people, but they didn’t do it just for fun. They brought about some form of social element and criticized it, but had they had to it offensively to bring light to it.
I didn’t see the troupe, so I can’t say if they had to be offensive or not, but what’s so offensive about making fun of a stereotype, as much as we would like to deny it, actually exists? If they got so wound up about that that, then I don’t see what the big deal is. You can’t change how people perceive you by silencing them and calling the act “racist”…It sounds like it was meant to be funny and harmless.
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Let’s remember the more accurate and updated definition of racist:
RACIST: 1. Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive term for a white person. 2: a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities, if promoted by white people. 3: a belief that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race, if promoted by white people.
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Eric, I completely agree. However, there was no hidden meaning behind this performance. It was a misguided attempt at being funny with no satire intended. THAT is why it is so offensive and inappropriate.
Minstrel shows (which is where the “black face” term originated) were performances where white actors would apply coal to themselves to give them the appearance of being black. They would then exploit black stereotypes of the time.
The reason this is so bad, is that it gives off the air of superiority over that race. Whites doing black face or blacks doing white face or mexicans doing yellow face, it is wrong.
Further, this troupe wasn’t making fun of Obama’s policies. They were making fun of his race. End of story.
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As Kuhl kat said, it was a misguided attempt at being funny. Dressing in blackface is not funny at all because of the how and when it was used. People dressed up and performed negative stereotypes of African-Americans, that’s the problem.
As to Wolfpack Comedy Troupe’s comedy, their comedy addressed his RACE, not his political views. Do you really think that a Obama is going to teach his security guard to hold a weapon to the side, a prolific image of African-Americans in media today. What does that have to with his politics?
And yes other actors dress in makeup and in some cases, I have and will rethink how I react to them. How many white women found the movie “White Chicks” funny? If Luke and Owen Wilson dressed as African-American women in a movie called Black Chicks, how many people do you think would find it funny.
From my understanding, this forum, presented Phi Beta Sigma was already planned prior to the conference. I also did not attend the conference but I will be at the forum tonight to voice my opinion on this issue. I hope that Mr. Thornley, Mr. Ford, J Morgan, DUDE, and a large part of the student body will be there to voice their opinion in an open and non-judgemental environment.
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A quick question – If the troupe had someone dress up as Lil’ Wayne or 50 Cent, and did the same act, would it still be considered offensive?
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If I were a popular black celebrity, I’d be far less offended to have some random white person portraying me than if Kenan Thompson was.
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Eric, yes it would. I repeat, If ANYONE used make-up to classify themselves as a different race and exploited racial stereotypes, I think that is offensive.
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[...] Source [...]
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What’s wrong with exposing the truth? I mean, I guess this is where the troupe crossed the line. In that aspect, I can see how it is offensive. However, the truth may be offensive, but it exists.
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What’s wrong with exposing the truth? I mean, I guess this is where the troupe crossed the line. In that aspect, I can see how it is offensive. However, truth may be offensive, but there is nothing wrong showing it as long as it exists.
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Just to clarify about tonight’s forum, it was planned over a month ago. The purpose of the forum is to educate about current issues of racism through stimulating dialogue and as a response or supplement to the Diversity Commission’s word campaign. Although most of the fraternity was not present for the performance and can not speak directly to the actions of the comedy group we feel that due to the reactions of those present that it should be addressed. The truth about racism is that it doesn’t have to be a member of the group stereotyped to be offended. If anyone felt racially offended then the skit was in poor taste. This incident is a main reason why tonight’s forum is necessitated. With education and active discussion the offense may have been avoided, which is the goal of the discussion.
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Oh and Thornley are you saying that the stereotypes about Blacks are true? You say it’s exposing the truth and I’m curious to understand what you mean.
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Turtle, A.K.A Lee Massey, A.K.A, I’ll take anonymous potshots at you over the Internet,
Although this may hurt, but you cannot deny that a good portion (Majority? That could be argued, but I won’t go that far) of the young black population falls under the stereotype society often has of them….people who look up to figures like Lil’ Wayne, 50 Cent and others and attempt to mimic them in some form. My point would have been tonight that when someone outside the Black population criticizes this phenomena, they are automatically labeled “racist”. Is it exclusively a black concern and problem? Sure, I guess, but if we want to argue we are all interconnected in some way, then it can be my concern as well. If someone says the truth, we all throw our arms up in the air and scream racism.
See, if someone said Black culture tries mimicking Barnum and Bailey, then we would have a problem, because that isn’t the truth. Was using the figure of Barack Obama to bring light to this problem an issue? Sure, but was the issue itself offensive? Hardly, it’s the cold reality we must face and try to fix.
I close my message with a clip from a popular, and funny, show.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dg_BankB-j8
The stereotype doesn’t apply to everyone, but the perception we have created actually exists at some form.
“The truth may set you free, but first its going to piss you off.”
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Oh, before you say I am picking on the Black culture, I am not. White culture in America fulfills a self-created perception as well. White youth have their problems as well. I mean, we often try to fulfill crazy dreams seen in movies like The Hangover or some other movie that makes fun of stereotypical white trash (using that term lightly, not talking about impoverished people here)…hell, white youth tries to mimic black rappers as well. If a Black person attacked our behavior, would I scream Racism? Hell no, I would nod my head in agreement.
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The gentlemen we’re joking about Barack Obama and not trying to portray African American stereotypes. Did they possibly cross the line and offend people by painting their faces? Yes. Did they grasp the history of the Minstrel shows? Probably not.
However, it is way out of line to claim that these men are racist. I sat on the committee and watched the performance, and did not witness any racial slurs. On the topic of racially offensive comments, does anybody remember the homecoming comedian? He projected blatant racial stereotypes to a room full of hundreds of people and nobody said a thing and/or apologized. I realize that the face paint was wrong, and I’m not trying to legitimize it, I just want to know how this is more racially offensive than clear racial stereotypes being blatantly said (homecoming comedian)?
With that said, these men were “politically incorrect,” but “racist” is a stretch. In the future, they should leave out the face paint when performing the skit, but they didn’t say any “derogatory words.” I’m an Obama supporter, and i even got the connection between Obama’s interviews and the mock interview that they were portraying. I highly doubt that these students are discriminatory against a certain race or think that their race is superior (definition of racism).
However, it is safe to say that the comedians did not fit the theme of the conference. But, tell me a comedian that fully exemplifies “leadership, compassion, and action,” without offending somebody.
In closing, I’m fully aware that my character is about to get attacked, as that’s been a common trend of anonymous posters (stereotype?) and some. This is just the opinion of one conference committee member that wasn’t heard.
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Mr. Thornley, Mr. Ford, you missed a great forum. We would have been glad to add your thoughts the discussion. We, the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., hope that you can make our next forum.
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If you go to a comedy show…prepare for anything!
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Turtle: These forums need more publicity in areas where people/professors who have a vested interest in these topics can see them. Had I known Tuesday’s forum was planned for a month, I would have taken it upon myself to publicize it for you. I’m a grad student / TA at UNR so I can help network in certain venues.
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I don’t know what’s funnier:
the fact that Eric makes almost no sense in any of these comments,
or the fact that this comedy troupe obviously doesn’t have a single black member in it so they had to resort to blackface.
Work to diversify your troupe. Black face is damned offensive in any use. Period. There’s just too much negative stigma there.
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People like the gentleman above me ruin comedy and are the source of what they call racism. Claiming blackface in all shapes and forms is racism is ridiculous and quite frankly stupid. Popular black comics impersonate white people all the time, often to the great amusement of their multiracial audiences. Sometimes they even employ what you could call whiteface. The only difference is that the audience can tell that it is being done simply for their entertainment and are in no way being attacked or defamed. Brandon Ford had it right all the way up there, these people are taking this so seriously, when they were not even witnesses to it. If it offends you, fine. You have that right, but The Wolf Pack Comedy Troupe also has the right to do whatever comedy they please. You don’t have to be a fan, but you shouldn’t lump them all into one big racist pot just because you are hard to please.
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“How many white women found the movie “White Chicks” funny?”
As a white woman, I found that movie hilarious.
It was a stereotype of rich, spoiled white girls, but I really did not feel like they were attacking me personally.
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FTA:
“One member, dressed up as President Barack Obama, was portrayed as a man who loved basketball, ate chicken and was a womanizer.”
–
This is a really light account of what happened.
Allegedly, the young man taught a secret service agent how to hold his gun like a gangsta. He also “ate chicken.”
I’m interested in what: “was a womanizer” entails.
These aren’t “political jokes.” They’re certainly not “FUNNY.” This was blackface.
According to a few of you: blackface–which originated from white entertainers pandering to lower-middle-class whites through exaggerated racial stereotypes; which fostered false racial schema that lasted for decades–is not offensive because ’some black people have painted their faces white before.”
???
“White face” holds little to nothing in common with blackface.
It doesn’t carry the over-a-century-old negative stigma.
There is no history of “White Face Minstrelsy.”
Read.
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CivilDiscourse, we need to exchange contact info. You can usually find me in the Center for Student Cultural Diversity or the Sagebrush should know how to contact me.
Thornley you’re joking right… everyone knows who I am. If I wanted to be anonymous I would use a fake name not Turtle. Now you need to get out amongst people and stop relying on television or youtube as your source. Anyway you know who I am and have me in class, why not come up and talk face to face or are you stuck in your stereotypes that I may get violent and shoot you while drinking a malt beverage? By the way, when did asking for clarification become a “potshot” or is that another stereotype reference towards Blacks and drugs?
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Hey Mayo Thompson, I was at the forum and I did speak on the issue quite frequently. Though I don’t know who you are. And as for “Oh man” There is a person of color in the Wolf Pack Comedy Troupe: Me.
It is sad that just trying to have fun and make people laugh, that all of this has to come into place.
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I like how the only black guy in the audience at the time didn’t find it racist and in fact found it funny.
Only people who got totally uptight about it weren’t black.
Good to know how bright these people at the leadership conference are.
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Lee…I’ve been out amongst people…but that isn’t the point. Media influence is society is so obvious, even a blind man knows it.
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Mr. Ford, I was the gentleman moving around with the microphone and I will assume that you were the taller gentleman with the two other gentlemen from the comedy troupe. I will agree that you had things to say. I hope that you will agree with me that the goal of the forum was not to harp on the actions of the comedy troupe but to bring the issue of understanding that derogatory phrases or actions used in the past, whoever uses them, are still derogatory today.
I’m hearing all this discussion in the comments but it was not at the forum. Maybe we need to have a similar forum as this issue needs to be discussed again and over and over.
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Mr. Thornley you should have been at the forum you may have learned a lot from those that spoke. There was a forum a couple of years ago hosted by the Center about media influence, I think based off your comments it may be time for another one. When one is planned, or any forum that discusses racial issues, I encourage you to attend. And this isn’t just directed to Mr. Thornley but everyone that has posted here but didn’t attend.
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I think this article is a good case study for why this is such a big deal: http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/10/14/sawyer.blackface/index.html
Inherently, black face is racist. This isnt an affront to the troupe members themselves, but their routine was racist. They, as whites, took a well educated, articulate black man of prominence, and performed a skit not making fun of his policies, but made fun of him being black. That is a minstrel show. A bunch of white boys dumbing down a black man ONLY because he is black (again, not for his policies) is racist.
Now, there are two theories as to the actual troupe, and I don’t know which is worse…
1) They have no idea what black face connotates. This would demonstrate that they themselves ARE racially innapropriate, and should not be invited to ANY university function.
2) They are aware of black face’s history, and decided to justify their performance by using Barack Obama as their target, thereby saying “oh its all a political joke!” But ask yourself, were it any other high profile black man, would they have gotten away with this? No, the fallout would be even worse.
In conclusion, the troupe’s act was both offensive AND racist, and the troupe should apologize for what they performed.
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Hey Duuuuuuuuuude…did you go to the show?
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