Sometimes we miss the mark. Sometimes we miss a chance for greatness or at least to do a good thing. We choose to take the easy road, or worse yet, we choose to do something we know shows our lowest self. We miss the mark.
Earlier I posted about the use of blackface over history in the USA, and noted how it is being used by a Danish company to advertise a new drink. Some were upset that I called it racist and said Denmark should be ashamed and should not allow such advertising in Denmark.
Now it maybe quite understandable as to why the racist behavior of using blackface to depict human being with black skin and African heritage is acceptable in Denmark. The state appears to wholeheartedly support it, revel in it, and look upon it as a form of free speech. What has been acknowledged in the USA (and UK and other places) as totally unacceptable racist, inhumane behavior appears to be a financially state supported activity and belief.
This new DR TV documentary series “Sort Arbejde” (meaning, literally “black work” or illegal untaxed work) is supposed to be humorous. As the screenshot above shows, to advertise it, it depicts the Nigerian entrepreneurs as large hairy monkeys with big lips and wide open white eyes and big white teeth, their mouths fixed in the typical happy blackface minstrel grin.
It could have been a great documentary about entrepreneurship in Denmark, something it has been trying to take a lesson room American on and is slowly starting to do quite well with in the last few years. Entrepreneurship is a universally awesome topic! But, alas, the blackface and Black people as hairy monkeys situation in a DR documentary is sitting in the middle of the room and we must deal with that issue.
I have a thought: Perhaps the executive producers and executives in general in DR are ignorant of the programming it produces and do not know that this kind of program is being produced by its staff. Perhaps they are ignorant of the racist message being sent out.
Maybe in these challenging economic times it was thought to be more beneficial for Denmark, national and community values within Denmark, and the financial education of residents of Denmark to produce a documentary series depicting one ethnic group as dancing animals with big lips and “hysterical” eyes and grins rather than focus on dry and boring entrepreneurship that could make Danes and other residents in Denmark financially self-sufficient.
Surely it cannot be that DR thinks the blackface and monkey depictions is actually funny and simply is so because Danes think it is funny.
Denmark has missed the mark.
And how many Danes think calling this Nigerian couple (and symbolically all Black people) monkeys and depicting them in blackface, is funny?
HOw many danes don’t care that DR produces racist documentaries about Black people because “it isn’t my problem”?
What does it say about Danes that they think it is acceptable and funny to depict Black people as hairy primates with blackface — something done away with in the USA; the UK and other places because of its unequivocally recognized racist nature?
The “sort arbejde” title: Since is has nothing to do here with illegal work, is cleaning supposed to be a Black person’s job? Is this an implication that White people are too “something” to do the profession of cleaning?
(One wonders where anyone would get the idea that Black people do not work and I mean work HARD, considering the history of how Black people have had to take care of not only themselves, but also White people who used them (and people of color in general) as slaves – formal and informal – to raise their children as wet nrse/nanny/au pair, clean up after them, harvest their fields and cook their food….and today still do it)
The Prime Minister of Denmark. Helle Thorning-Schmidt, is touring the continent of Africa this week and is currently in Tanzania.
I hope she is not showing DR TV to the folks there. It could be quite an embarrassing , uncomfortable and ugly moment.
In the end it winds down to one ugly fact: the country of Denmark, inproducing this documentary “Sort Arbejde” (also with government funds) is , is stating that it believes Black people are not human beings (homo sapiens sapiens) like Danes and White people in general. Rather, Denmark through DR in showing this documentary, its show opening and advertisement, exihibits a belief that the state of Denmark believes Black people are really non-human primates (hairy monkeys/apes) dressed in human clothing. Denmark through this DR documentary is exhibiting a belief that Black people ministrel dance around with “hysterically” happy big-lipped, huge white-teethed grins.
We cannot build bridges of commonality between people when one group is being demeaning and derogatory towards the other in the form of racism. I am so deeply disturbed at this small-minded, peasant behavior – this blatant racism.
Denmark has missed the mark.
This documentary is hate speech, not free speech. It promotes the degradation, mocking and dehumanization of Black people.
So, what are YOUR thoughts on blackface in Denmark? On DR’s editorial sense? On use of taxpayer funds to create and produce such a program?
21 Comments
21 Comments
I’m afraid it’s just the tip of the iceberg, Barrett. The Danes hasn’t just missed the mark – they are way beyond the limit of civilized behavior. The problem with racism in Denmark is that it’s so internalized into the culture, that we don’t even notice it anymore. If you ask me, the only thing left to do is to make sure it doesn’t metastasise to other countries.
I’ve written about it here: http://blogs.denmark.dk/peterandreas/2011/05/02/its-too-late-for-the-danes/
Well done. Thank you.
The most offensive part- it’s a DR production. Tax prayer funded, public television. If it were a cable network, I could choose to take another network.
With DR, we are required to pay a few thousand kroner! If one doesn’t pay, they get sent into a debt collection agency. Eventually the fees are drafted directly from your paycheck. Where is my voice? How can I protest? I refuse to fund this kind of racism in 2013.
This isn’t an issue of America/UK vs. Denmark… This is an issue of Denmark protecting hate speech under the guise of free speech.
I saw this show and I have to agree that the title is very misleading, other than the color of the Nigerian couple’s skin, what does the show have to do with Sort Arbejde, or did I miss the point? For a Danish public television station to promote a connection between a cleaning company owned and operated by African immigrants and illegal work and make it clearly about race (what a horrible cartoon) is, in my opinion, a subversive attempt to undermine the already shaky status of immigrants in Denmark, – shame on you DR.
Very well written Barrett, I am totally shocked that DR2 used the pictures, and name, and that not more people are commenting on the very very racist act it really is, have we not learnt from the past that this is unacceptable, and if no one speaks up against it, it will be done again, why is Dr2 sending us backwards?
Yes, this is most certainly uncivilized. It is outright shocking and perverse. It IS a cancer, a life-destroying cancer for Danish society and Denamrk in the world. If the Danish government and population does not awaken and stop saying “it’s not my problem” when it does awaken it will face a horrible series of consequences in society for this kind of thing. Creating and broadcasting this kind of blatantly racist programming in 2013 as though it is Denmark in 1943? But even in 1943, they showed more respect and acknowledgement of the humanity of Black people. Racism IS everyone’s problem in Denmark.
I am saddened, C. that I had to write about such a sickly racist state-sanctioned program.
You are aboslutely rigth, CrtKbh, that themost offensive part is that it is a DR production funded by taxes. All you can do is write a little email on a form to DR once you find he link ater navigating their byzantine website. They clearly feel themselves a law unto themselves. They sare saying to all of Denmark and to the world that Black people are not human (as well as lazy except for..oh here…here amazingly enough, are some Blacks working) and depicitng Blacks with clearly racist minstrel blackface images that is clearly unacceptable. Except in Denmark, apparently.
I would think that people would find a way to opt-out of DR like they have opted out of paying for state church membership they do not want. Being forced to fund racism and hate speech as Danish culture and education is horrific.
This blog is about perspectives and issues across and betwen the USA, and the USA has a particular history with blackface so that is how the issue came to beon this blog (prompted by the Cult Shaker racist advertising). THat said, it is that I am pointing out that nations Denmark aspires to befriend and maintain good relations with have long ago recognized that blackface and presenting Blacks as primates/les than human is wrong.
But, I totally get your meaning! Thank you for posting.
Sadly, Sandra, you did not miss the point. The subversive nature of this “documentary” is clear to this who have brains and use them. Now I wonder what foul-hearted racist will actually defend this DR and this piece of trash thinly disguised as education and culture? It need to beimmediately removed from DR’s programming and never, ever shown again.
Denmark has apparently not learned that racism is unacceptable. That it reached back decades and pulled up minstrel blackface and images of Black people are hairy monkeys in human clothing and dressed like plantation slaves, shows what the country of Denmark thinks of Black people. It has given free reign to the taxpayer funded, state owned and operated TV/radio system to create and broadcast such programming. Think about it – many weeks and hours went into the research, filming, editing and production of this program. This racism is intentional. Very intentional. And very sad. Denmark could do so much better. Where are the Danes with intelligence and decency who would not preside over the creation and production of such subversive racist gabage?
So disturbing. I can’t believe my tax dollars are funding this crap.
I can’t wrap my head around any of this, other to shake my head in disgust.
And on a slightly related note, Peter, come back to blogging!!! I miss your columns!
Unbelievable – but that’s how it is in this country. This is state sponsored racism.
I’m a Dane who is really, really urked by the use of blackface and ‘old timey stereotypical imagery’ of black people.
But I think an important issue here is, that the stereotypical presentation of black people or african culture is not meant to be hurtful or hateful. It’s simply because Danes are ignorant as hell on this topic.
The imagery started at a time where noone in Denmark had even seen black people in real life and where it was considered exotic to the point of being magic – ie. we were just painfully and embarrasingly ignorant about it.
And because noone has ever (up untill the last few years) really stood up and spoken up about how hurtful and racist (even if by ignorance rather than ill will), this imagery has just been allowed to get sort of a romantic “Oh, it’s redundant and maybe a bit ignorant, but it’s all in good fun” kinda vibe.
Another thing is white people dressing up as africans and putting black or brown paint on their skin and dress up as black people at costume parties – this again is apparently not meant in any way to be hurtful. The connection that doing this is hurtful or ridiculing does not exist.
I have friends who are very anti racism, who do volunteer work aid and developmental projects in africa, who have painted their skin black and put on afro wigs at parties. When confronting them with it, they don’t see it as negative at all. They don’t intend to offend or ridicule. I was baffled.
So moreso than ill will, racism or wishes to belittle black people, it’s simply that many danes are so ignorant to this topic that they don’t see their actions as hurtful and certainly don’t intend them to be. (And they’re f**** thick when it comes to accepting that whatever their intent was, many people consider it hateful, hurtful and ridiculing)
Well put, Jesper. Keep on trying with your less enlightened friends.
Barrett and readers, I wanted to share this amazing letter. It has real relevance, I think. http://pastebin.com/GqRm3zyu
As someone who spent some time in Denmark two years ago,I would say it’s not always easy understanding the culture but it worth trying.Denmark didn’t have to experience the consequences of slavery and colonisation trauma,therefore the people there have no ideas how armful and stupid such caricatures can be.I would say that most Danes think it’s ok to laugh about everything and they can laugh about themselves as well.I wouldn’t say there is no racism in Denmark,when it’ soccurs there,it’s probably worse that anywher else because the contact between Denmark and the rest fo the world had been limited for a very long time,therefore fantasm Danes have about their neighboors are quite strong,the european have to go through it as well,not only black communities.Stereotypes ar every strong in Denmark,if you look a certain way,you should act a certain way,you’re italian,you east pasta,you’re german,you drive a BMW,and that’s it,it doesn’t go any further for them,despite all of this,I wouldn’t say that most danes are racist,I would say that most of them feel secured into a certain way of thinking and that happens everywhere in the world,you add to this that the country is quite small,well you come to many ocnclusions.Denmark hasn’t labelled itself as the best place in the world,suveys did,most Danes are curious about other people and foreigners also have a role to play,most foreginers I met in Denmark never adressed the issue and pretended they haven’tn noticed anything,which I think is even worse that the initial racism.
Nice post by the way,I follow these blogs since a while,and you’re the first one really satying it like it is.
Although I live here in Denmark I rarely watch Danish TV and so I missed this program. However before I retired to Denmark I used to be a Detective Sergeant in London’s Metropolitan Police. Yes – That Police Force that was once deemed institutionally racist. I happened to work in a Community Safety Unit which investigated hate crimes, including racist crime. I must say that had this program been broadcast in the UK the producers almost certainly would be facing a criminal investigation and possibly prosecution. At the very least DR2 is guilty of being extremely insensitive to a growing section of its audience. I personally don’t think that the Danes in general are intentionally racist, although interestingly they do happen to have a very large neo fascist party. It’s more a case of – ‘we’re Danes and that’s just how we Danes are’. To my mind it is typical Danish ambivalence, they are used to being stereotyped as marauding Vikings and most of them rather wallow in it, so they think why shouldn’t we have our stereotypes of others – black people and Islamists, for example. Don’t know one changes this mindset as it comes from the very top downwards and it appears that nobody in authority in Denmark can see how hurtful this really is.
I am not sure if you are aware, but at the same time they released this program “Sort Arbejde”, American Network HBO released a series called “The Vikings”. Phew you should see it. There is a clear imbalance in the way we present each other’s cultures. I think it is inexcusable and inhumane of Danemark to produce things such as “Sort Arbejde” but sometimes people must show just how rotten they can be, to others, before they see themselves and awaken. Denmark has a lot going for it (design, fashion, nature, work-life balance, the theory behind the social welfare system) , but it delights at times in the lowlife stuff as tasteless, offensive “humor”. Because it is smaller it is MUCH more noticable and because it proclaims itself as humane, a chamnpion of equal rights for all people, non-racist, non-sexist, and efficient, when its “bag facaden” is revealed on these issues , it appears 10 times as ugly and shocking.
Thanks for comming back to me and yes I have seen the HBO Vikings, or rather the first 10 minutes of episode 1, it was far too bloodthirsty for me! I’ve seen too much of the real thing in my 30 years of Police working life.
PS I’m enjoying reading ‘Blogging Denmark’ there are some very interesting opinions here.
My husband and I lived in Denmark for 4 years soon after our wedding in 1997. I am a dar skinned South American woman. Back then, the Danish People’s Party was still new and had no influence, and the racist things they said were frowned upon by the media.
Things began changing soon after. The Danish People’s Party became stronger and stronger, and started putting MANY racist laws in place.
11 years later, we are back in Denmark. We cannot recognize this country. Solidarity seems to be out of fashion. The idea that the weakest should be helped is no longer popular. And finally, it has become normal, accepted and even encourage to pass racist and xenophobic laws, and for everyone, even the media to make racist and xenophoic comments.
My husband and I are so sad about it. We don’t feel welcomed or treated like everyone else. In fact, a law designed to make it unappealing for foreigners with children immigrating to Denmark, is bankrupting our family (only after 2 years, can children of foreigners moving into the country get full child tax credit, aka boernepenge)
You cannot imagine how furious I was when I saw this advertised for the first time. Denmark is even more racist than I remember! (I moved back here a few months ago, the last time I was here I was three). As a half-Brazilian half-Dane, I am DEEPLY ashamed of the horrific and shameless racism we have here. It’s on such a barbaric level, it’s crazy. Few countries in the world are this self absorbed in their race. I feel deeply for any black Danes having to go through this bullshit. They’re much more accepting here in mid-Jutland, but there is still racism. But when we lived in Copenhagen years ago, my brown mother was sometimes spat on in public. It is incredible how this program is even allowed to exist without tons of law suits.