Supple Cow

If you watched the Grammies the other day, you might have noticed that Outkast performed their hit song "Hey Ya!" wearing Native American garb and dancing in front of a teepee. I was a little confused because Outkast has been known to make some pretty political statements with their music and performances and I didn't know what they were trying to say with their costumes. As a person who hates the way that PC-ness has become a form of language policing rather than cultural sensitivity, I found myself thinking that they were being politically incorrect (insensitive would be a better term) and getting away with it because they are people of color.

Yesterday, I heard that Jack Black introduced them and said something about being in the year 3000 (which I didn't hear because I missed their intro). When I learned this, I figured they were making a statement about our their hopes for the future of our society - perhaps that in the next millenium (the future, a symbol of progress), we will turn as we should to respecting and coexisting with our world in a sustainable way and finally give respect to cultures of the various indigenous peoples around the world that have been appropriated and destroyed in the past.

Then again, I work as a social justice discussion facilitator, so I could be reading into this too much What do you think?

(This might belong in Tilted Entertainment or Tilted Living, but I thought it was important not to leave out either aspect of it.)

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illesturban

yeah a couple of native americans on a forum I own were pretty upset by it as well. Whereas I am not Native American so can't completely say I felt offended, I know I was pretty pissed when a local college here in TX had a couple frats banned b/c they wore blackface and afros w/ gold chains and teeth mocking black people. It's kind of the same concept which is why I can see why someone would be offended. Although I must say I don't really think that Outkast was trying to offend anyone, but they did. I know a lot of Native organizations are in an uproar. *shrug*

But yeah they posted this link, where a bunch of people comment on it:

http://news.ncmonline.com/news/view_...b43b172fe48e49

And one of them even brings up how big of a scandal it was back in the day when Ted Danson thought it was ok to come out in black face even with the approval of his then-girlfriend Whoopie Goldberg.

mystmarimatt

I have a friend who went to a theme party, where everyone was supposed to dress as their inner-person, who they look like on the inside. He got the wonderful idea to dress up in black-face, and even got the one black guy in his dorm to dress him up and everything, and he got to the party, and everyone was pretty much shocked, and he was asked to leave.

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Redjake

I've not familiar with Outkast' methods of expression, but I'd say you are looking into it too much

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H12

Rule Number 1: Outkast is crazy like that.
Rule Number 2: Outkast is friggin' crazy like that!

I missed the entire performance (sadly), but that doesn't offend or shock me, and I've been raised by a mother who studies the Native American culture constantly.

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wordssmith22

i really don't think it was intended to be some kind of symbolic prophecy. then again, we're talking about outkast, specifically, andre3000. i dunno, i was just bummed that andre and bigboi didn't perform together, maybe do roses or something from their previous albums. really really really hoping they don't split

Redjake

http://tv.yahoo.com/news/va/20040213/107673175600.html

Check that out

Looks like it stirred something up......

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SAM821

I really think people are taking it way too far... It wasnt something to have taken offense to. They werent making fun of native americans...

I honestly get annoyed at how people get over the simplest things. Bigotry and Entertainment are two totally different things. I thought the outfits were cool!

besides you think that was bad, go watch Undercover Brother

Supple Cow

I agree that people can overreact about these things, but I don't think they're offended because Outkast was trying to make fun of them - especially because they weren't. They are offended because of the way the media in general treats their culture: as a commodity and sometimes a joke. That's not bigotry OR pure entertainment - that's degrading. And you don't have to be a racist/sexist/whateverist to degrade a person or a people.

__________________
"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."
(Michael Jordan)

KillerYoda

I'm pretty sure they "overreacted" because CBS is now in the news for the whole Super Bowl/titty thing, so you get press if you accuse a network already in trouble.

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asudevil83

i think the only thing wrong with that performance was the fact that they played that song AGAIN. i swear they perform that song everywhere they go....whether it be the Super Bowl (i think), MTV awards, Grammy's, and once again at the NBA All Star game.

i know the song is pretty fucking popular, and its a good song, but shit, they are performing the hell out of it....worse than the radio.

Cynthetiq

eh... if they can do it with American Indians, then why can't I do it with black face? I'm asian... i'm not white...

why shouldn't I? (notice i didn't say why CAN'T i?) because it's insensitive. period.

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