Elite Montreal Business School Hautes Études Commerciales Apologizes for Blackface Mockery of Usain Bolt

Students at elite Montreal business school, Hautes Études Commerciales, under fire for blackface mockery of Jamaicans, including Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt.

A group of students at elite Hautes Études Commerciales, the Université de Montréal’s business school, have engaged in racist behavior after they painted themselves in blackface and chanted in mock Jamaican accents at a back-to-school event and even mocking Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt. The university has issued a statement expressing its regret. Um, you would think that someone who is a student at an elite business school would have some COMMON SENSE.

The frosh-week stunt was organized by a student sports committee at the Hautes Études Commerciales, the Université de Montréal’s business school. Participants were encouraged to dress in Olympic-themed costumes, with one group choosing to portray Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt.

Along with donning the colours of the Jamaican flag, several students also covered their face, arms and legs in black paint. The colourful attire included at least one Rastafarian hat, one green underwear patterned with monkey faces, and a stuffed animal that students carried around.

One witness, who is of Jamaican descent, said he felt uncomfortable and was shocked to hear some students chanting, “Smoke more weed.” At one point the students also repeatedly chanted, “Ya man!” Source: The Star

This was deeply offensive and disturbing on so many levels. As someone who was born in Jamaica, I find it racist and degrading not only because Jamaica has made a significant contribution to the world of sports and music, but because it is just plain wrong and insensitive. Usain Bolt, or any black person for that matter, should not be denigrated and reduced to a mockery.

Turkish Television Mocks President Barack Obama by Putting on Blackface

Well, isn't this interesting. After the outpouring of support President Barack Obama received in Turkey, a television station had to mock him by putting on blackface.

ScoopThis.org provides a rough translation: "Welcome, Mr. Obama. You took our hearts with your hospitality. We appreciate your kindness. We will do whatever America asks of us, as friends. Now, we ask the same of you."

Dru Lechert-Kelly, 11, Banned from Wearing Barack Obama Mask in Skit, Principal Steve Powell Says Mask "Inappropriate, Potentially Offensive"

Michael Lloyd/The Oregonian

President Barack Obama has been caricatured on "Saturday Night Live" in a skit and that prompted the Llewellyn Elementary School principal, Steve Powell, to ban Dru Lechert-Kelly, a fifth grader, from performing while wearing it at his elementary school talent show. The principal decided that the rubber likeness of the 44th president was "inappropriate and potentially offensive." Ouch.

The fifth-grader decided to dress up like his role model and dance to a popular YouTube song that features an Obama look-alike dancing to a parody called "I Can Do Whatever I Like." Dru performed the skit in front of teachers and students during a rehearsal for Llewellyn's annual talent show Thursday. He wore a navy blue suit, white shirt, red tie, black shoes and an Obama mask purchased at a costume shop. The choreographed routine ended with Dru on the floor in the splits.

The principal, without seeing the skit firsthand, made the decision to ban the mask. Personally, I don't have a problem with the boy wearing the mask, but I do understand the principal's decision. There was nothing racist about the skit, in my opinion, but I think we have become so sensitive to race issues in this country because of the actions of a few racist people. The principal did overreact and should have at least watched the skit first before taking such drastic action, but in the final analysis, there will always be Barack Obama masks, much like President George W. Bush, President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton masks.

Watch the clip and judge for yourself....

Local school says no to Obama act

Dru Lechert-Kelly, 11, Banned from Wearing Barack Obama Mask in Skit, Principal Steve Powell Says Mask "Inappropriate, Potentially Offensive"

Michael Lloyd/The Oregonian

President Barack Obama has been caricatured on "Saturday Night Live" in a skit and that prompted the Llewellyn Elementary School principal, Steve Powell, to ban Dru Lechert-Kelly, a fifth grader, from performing while wearing it at his elementary school talent show. The principal decided that the rubber likeness of the 44th president was "inappropriate and potentially offensive." Ouch.

The fifth-grader decided to dress up like his role model and dance to a popular YouTube song that features an Obama look-alike dancing to a parody called "I Can Do Whatever I Like." Dru performed the skit in front of teachers and students during a rehearsal for Llewellyn's annual talent show Thursday. He wore a navy blue suit, white shirt, red tie, black shoes and an Obama mask purchased at a costume shop. The choreographed routine ended with Dru on the floor in the splits.

The principal, without seeing the skit firsthand, made the decision to ban the mask. Personally, I don't have a problem with the boy wearing the mask, but I do understand the principal's decision. There was nothing racist about the skit, in my opinion, but I think we have become so sensitive to race issues in this country because of the actions of a few racist people. The principal did overreact and should have at least watched the skit first before taking such drastic action, but in the final analysis, there will always be Barack Obama masks, much like President George W. Bush, President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton masks.

Watch the clip and judge for yourself....

Local school says no to Obama act