Japanese man impersonates Louis Armstrong

My gosh, the out right ignorance and racism here is just astounding. This guy needs to have his teeth kicked in big time and so do the show producers.

I think whether an impersonation is insensitive would come *from* giving him a stereotypical look or mannerisms that the person they are trying to imitate did not actually have personally.

The impersonator is exaggerating some of Armstrong’s actual mannerisms but that is typically done in impersonations.

As a Black man I do not find this at all offensive. Japanese people do not have a history of oppressing/enslaving Black People. It was innocent make-up with no racist sentiments.

It would only be offensive if this was performed by White Europeans/Americans.

Anyone who finds this offensive is truly an American. America is so “PC” these days that no one can do anything without sounding or being “offensive” America, “the land of freedom”

I think not.

This is just a guy who is imitating. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and I thought this guy did an amazing job.

Oh yeah, and if you think he is lip syncing, check out how he pronounces “world” VERY Japanese!

“As a Black man I do not find this at all offensive. Japanese people do not have a history of oppressing/enslaving Black People. It was innocent make-up with no racist sentiments.

It would only be offensive if this was performed by White Europeans/Americans.”

I personally have no history of oppressing or enslaving anyone. Neither does my family for many many generations. Beyond that, I’m not sure. Being white and living in America, would I be considered racist for apply black make-up to do a very thorough impression of a famous black singer?

I know blackface has become very tainted. In the 20′s and 30′s it’s use in entertainment was obviously insulting to the black community. It was meant to portray black people as stupid, ugly, awkward, etc. The painted faces were only part of the act, though. The actors would change the way they walk into an over-done strut of discomposure, they would speak in a way that made them sound stupid and act in a way that made them look like idiots.

In this case we have someone who is singing a very famous song by a very famous black musician. He has obviously practiced a lot to mimmick Louis Armstrong’s voice and singing quirks. His facial expressions are done to impersonate the same facial expressions that Louis Armstrong did characteristically. He even comes out dressed very nicely in a tuxedo.

How can any of you find insult in this?

if black folks can say nigga, and tell people its a positive thing, that they are taking the word back and changing the meaning, then i say as a white american (whos roots are from ireland, which btw america heartily discriminated against during the irish famine immigrations) why cant i do blackface, as long as its not racist? i’m not trying to tie it to blackface of of the early 1900′s, i’m just changing it and making it appropriate for todays time.

and the irish lived in the ghettos of new york, made nothing, and worked hard labor for many years before being recognized. I cant say it’s anything at all like the african slavery which occured, but isnt it time to grow up and move on? the more we look at the past, the longer it will take to fix our present.

lets just all be people.