UC Irvine fraternity’s offensive ‘blackface’ Jay-Z parody video sparks outrage

[theworldismine13]

UC Irvine fraternity’s offensive ‘blackface’ Jay-Z parody video sparks outrage | The Raw Story

Asian American fraternity apologizes for Suit and Tie skit as University of California, Irvine experiences new race row

An Asian American fraternity has revived allegations of racism at the University of California, Irvine, by making a parody music video in blackface and posting it on YouTube.

Four members of the Lambda Theta Delta fraternity recorded a homemade skit in which one wore black make-up to impersonate the rapper Jay-Z, prompting recriminations and apologies. The students said the parody of the Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake song Suit and Tie was intended as harmless fun but student organisations and university authorities condemned it as insensitive and racist.

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“We’d like to point out that this blackface video isn’t the first, nor is it the last, example of racism that’s been shown on this campus,” Ainaria Johnson, co-chairwoman of UCI’s Black Student Union, told the Daily Pilot. Johnson noted that a second video on the fraternity’s YouTube page featured a blackface.

In 2011, a chef at the university caused a spat by serving fried chicken and waffles, an African American culinary stereotype, to mark Martin Luther King day.

Thomas Parham, UCI’s vice chancellor for student affairs, told the Daily Pilot that university authorities were investigating the Jay-Z impersonation video. “We as a campus, I as an administrator, we are shocked,” he said. We are dismayed to see what I think is insensitive in a video parody that was made by these individuals.”

It was unclear if the use of blackface, a throwback to minstrel and vaudeville shows which parodied black people, stemmed from ignorance or disregard, said Parham. “In either case it’s reprehensible.”

Black students comprise about 2.6% of the university’s 27,000-strong student body.

The members of Lambda Theta Delta, the university’s oldest and biggest Asian American fraternity, posted the video earlier this month with the disclaimer: “No racism intended. All fun and laughter.” Its existence was first reported by OC Weekly.

The Asian Pacific Student Association called the video “deeply offensive”. The Black Student Union made a formal complaint.

The fraternity posted an apology on its Facebook page. “The use of black face in the video is incredibly offensive as well as insensitive. This behavior is simply unacceptable and the individuals responsible for the video have already been reprimanded within the organization prior to the public outcry to which this formal apology is responding.”

 

[IGSaint12]

Everyone taking their shots in at black people in this country smh.

 

[88m3]

disgusting

 

[The Real]

Hopefully they will be held properly accountable.

 

[ugksam]

Hopefully they will be held properly accountable.

how are you accountable for racism other than just being known as a racist?

 

[Un-AmericanDreamer]

I'm almost entirely certain the back of a particular posters head finds offense over the use of blackface much to the disagreement of his frontal craniometry I'd hate to have a race war inside my head.

 

[DamonDashsRocAFellaChain]

Is this the same thing as CACs pretending to be black people on this board?

 

[Sensitive Blake Griffin]

Seems like they weren't aware they were being racist. Since they're Asian this is certainly possible. I have a lot of asian friends and you'd be surprised how little awareness they have of american culture or taboos here.

 

[newworldafro]

In 2011, a chef at the university caused a spat by serving fried chicken and waffles, an African American culinary stereotype, to mark Martin Luther King day.

When did waffles become a culinary stereotype .....it had have been only in the past 20 years or so .............

Then again, everybody loves waffles.........

and the question has to be asked.....for real though, if you were trying to celebrate MLK day or some African American type event and most of the peopel are non-white......what would type of food would you serve.......................?????

 

[Sensitive Blake Griffin]

When did waffles become a culinary stereotype .....it had have been only in the past 20 years or so .............

Then again, everybody loves waffles.........

and the question has to be asked.....for real though, if you were trying to celebrate MLK day or some African American type event and most of the peopel are non-white......what would type of food would you serve.......................?????

I think it was more about the combination of chicken and waffles

Roscoes though the best chicken and waffles I've ever had in my life.. I was high as hell like

 

[ahomeplateslugger]

expulsion should be the next step for them and punish that frat with fines or put them on probation.

 

[Anti-Anime]

you'd be surprised how little awareness they have of american culture or taboos here.

We won't know unless we find out if the ones that participated were international students or have lived here most of their lives (which there is no excuse for).

 

[Anti-Anime]

expulsion

That's too far breh.

 

[ahomeplateslugger]

That's too far breh.

i have a low tolerance for racist ppl so i would send a message to let ppl know you dont play around when it comes to that.

what would you do?

 

[Sensitive Blake Griffin]

We won't know unless we find out if the ones that participated were international students or have lived here most of their lives (which there is no excuse for).

man, one of my friends has lived here his whole life and doesn't know shyt.. I can't make any pop culture references around him at all because he just sits there like

Some people just don't think about how others are going to view their actions.