You can describe Billy Crystal‘s hosting chops at the 84th Annual Academy Awards as a lot of things— lackluster, drab, ho-hum—but there’s one thing you can’t call it: racist.
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Crystal, in his ninth stint as a host, set Twitter and the blogosphere abuzz with his portrayal of Sammy Davis Jr. during the show’s opening montage.
In a spoof of Woody Allen‘s Midnight in Paris, he took on the role of Davis in what some are calling blackface. Shortly after Octavia Spencer‘s win, comedian Paul Scheer tweeted, “shows just how far we’ve come since Billy Crystal performed in Blackface.” Hundreds of other tweets poured in questioning Chrystal’s decision to dress up and act like a Black man.
But was it really blackface?
The term is often used in reference to 19th century theater where non-Black performers painted their skin black to perpetuate disheartening Black stereotypes. If we are to go by this definition, where is the harm in Crystal’s spoof?
Yes, he was made to look like Davis, but his intention was not to embarrass a race or rehash a painful past. He was simply taking on a specific popular figure, as many actors do.
In fact, Crystal’s impression was not the first time he’s stepped into the role; the Davis character was a regular for him on Saturday Night Live in the 80s. Chrystal even played him in an episode hosted by Rev. Jesse Jackson.
If anything, I was more offended by the academy for not choosing Chris Rock as host. His short time at the mic as a presenter was brilliant.
What do you think?
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