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OutKast Grammy Awards Performance Racist!

by tinkerbell Saturday, Feb. 14, 2004 at 6:06 PM

How about a cute dance number featuring a "Step 'N Fetch it" Uncle Tom character waiting on White folks? Not funny? Well neither is this!

OutKast Grammy Award...
idiots.jpg, image/jpeg, 410x336

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - As the final act of Sunday's Grammy telecast, OutKast's Andre "3000" Benjamin and several dancers swirled wildly around a green teepee as he sang "Hey Ya!" Costumes included war paint, feathers and fringe. OutKast's hip-hoppy jive won three trophies: best urban-alternative performance for "Hey Ya!" and best rap album and overall album of the year for "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below."

"I like OutKast. I like their music," said Tom Bee, an Albuquerque record producer and musician, who was nominated for the Native American music Grammy. "But I thought the show was not correct. It was degrading."

The San Francisco-based Native American Cultural Center called for a boycott of CBS; OutKast; Arista, their record company; and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, which sponsors the Grammys. The center also has filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission and said it posted documents online explaining "why this broadcast was racist and why the companies involved need to take responsibility for their commercialization of Native American culture."

The Web site also urged viewers to "Turn Off CBS," and for each boycotter to ask 10 friends to do likewise.
In New York, a woman who answered the phone Friday at Arista Records' publicity office said OutKast had no immediate comment.

George Toya of the Jemez Pueblo powwow group Black Eagle, who was in the audience at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, said he was initially happy when he heard the chant that opened OutKast's performance. He thought he was about to see an American Indian group perform. "It was a Navajo song that I recognized, and I got a little excited," said Toya, who was at the ceremony with other members of Black Eagle to pick up a Grammy for best Native American music album for "Flying Free."

But the drumming was actually the intro to "Hey Ya!" Toya said he couldn't believe it.

"I told my wife who was sitting beside me, "Somebody is going to be (angry) about this,'" he said.

American Indians across the country were angered by what they said was a performance disrespectful to their culture and a perpetuation of tomahawk-and-teepee stereotypes. The Oneida Nation criticized the performance on Tuesday. Indianz.com launched an online petition calling for an apology from Andre. By Wednesday night, there were 2,500 signatures.

Bee was particularly angered that the dancers who accompanied Andre wore feathers, a sacred symbol for American Indians.

CBS apologized Friday to American Indians angered by OutKast's Grammy Awards performance, which featured feathers and war paint.

"We are very sorry if anyone was offended," said Nancy Carr, a CBS spokeswoman in Los Angeles.
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LATEST COMMENTS ABOUT THIS ARTICLE
Listed below are the 10 latest comments of 41 posted about this article.
These comments are anonymously submitted by the website visitors.
TITLE AUTHOR DATE
There's a war on... Secret Shopper Sunday, Feb. 15, 2004 at 8:44 AM
It's called genocide, dummies... geronimo Sunday, Feb. 15, 2004 at 8:55 AM
cultural issues are the basis of struggle more rational Sunday, Feb. 15, 2004 at 11:16 AM
making a big deal out of outkast more rational Sunday, Feb. 15, 2004 at 1:45 PM
OPEN YOUR EYES JustUs Monday, Feb. 16, 2004 at 12:51 AM
Let's all just CHILL AndrewCoulson Monday, Feb. 16, 2004 at 9:34 AM
cry me a river, Barney (sigh) Helldiver Monday, Feb. 16, 2004 at 11:40 AM
No big deal!! Dillon C Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2004 at 12:21 AM
Wake up DebraCloud Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2004 at 8:27 AM
how can outkast like us when their lyrics show the truth wade crowe Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2004 at 11:38 AM
Why no NDN Chicks? Clevon Yazzie-Washington Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2004 at 2:41 PM
schoolguy joe Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2004 at 3:20 PM
powwows aren't universal more rational Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2004 at 3:39 PM
Contributors to white society wade crowe Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2004 at 4:17 PM
THE CONTRARY Dondeezy Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2004 at 10:57 AM
Traditions are not to be broken wade crowe Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2004 at 12:30 PM
Reverance that made us cry wade crowe Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2004 at 12:47 PM
STUDENT CARR, D Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2004 at 3:42 PM
Be compliant, let it go? wade Crowe Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2004 at 4:29 PM
Really!!! AshanLucas Friday, Feb. 27, 2004 at 10:05 AM
Here's the Answer to the Problem Mainstream Thought Friday, Feb. 27, 2004 at 10:19 AM
It must be over Wade Crowe Friday, Feb. 27, 2004 at 1:51 PM
It must be over Wade Crowe Friday, Feb. 27, 2004 at 2:00 PM
So what?! uh...god...so...what?! Thursday, Mar. 04, 2004 at 8:51 AM
lost you traditions wade crowe Thursday, Mar. 04, 2004 at 2:59 PM
don't dictate what is important! wade crowe Thursday, Mar. 04, 2004 at 3:11 PM
Recognition Sam Wednesday, Mar. 24, 2004 at 2:37 PM
Recognition Sam Wednesday, Mar. 24, 2004 at 2:39 PM
wow nightvamp Wednesday, Apr. 21, 2004 at 3:50 AM
Peaceful warriors? wade crowe Saturday, May. 01, 2004 at 5:53 AM
Its the music zapper Tuesday, May. 04, 2004 at 8:34 AM
always a teachable moment Peace Justice Sunday, Aug. 29, 2004 at 1:08 PM
Well.... Jordan Thursday, Apr. 28, 2005 at 11:21 PM
The performance was a statement CB Sheff Thursday, Apr. 06, 2006 at 11:10 AM
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