Turkish anchor wears blackface to report on Obama’s visit.
By on Apr 8th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
Turkish anchor wears blackface to report on Obama’s visit.
A YouTube video has popped up of a Turkish anchor wearing dark face paint when reporting on President Obama’s recent visit to the country. Jonathan Turley has a rough translation of what the anchor is saying:
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.
Watch it:
It is unclear whether this is a spoof or whether the anchor is trying to “show respect” to Obama, as others have suggested.
Update Cenk Uygur of The Young Turks looks at what the anchor actually said. The Lede has further analysis.
View Most Popular
Advertisement
What We're About
What We're Fighting For
What We're Fighting Against
Featured
Subscribe to the Progress Report
Topic CloudView topics sorted by popularity
Afghanistan
Bachmann
Beck
Boehner
Bush
Business
Cheney
Civil Rights
Congress
Corporate Ethics
Dobbs
Education
Election
Energy
Environment
Ethics
Fox News
Gingrich
Glenn Beck
Global Warming
Guantanamo
Health Care
Immigration
International Relations
Justice
LGBT
Lieberman
Limbaugh
Media
Military
O'Reilly
Obama
Palin
Pelosi
Politics
Race
Radical Right
Religion
Steele
Stimulus
Tea Parties
Technology
Terrorism
Veterans
Women's Rights
Visit Our Affiliated Sites
Reports
In-depth studies on select topics
Got a hot tip?
Have a hot news tip? We'd love to hear from you. Use the form below to send us the latest.
ArchivesBlog Roll
Well, now we know who Brit Hume’s replacement is…
April 8th, 2009 at 12:50 pmWhatever it is, this satement is creeeeepy.
April 8th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Are we sure this station isn’t affiliated with Faux News?
April 8th, 2009 at 12:51 pmHow very…bizarre.
April 8th, 2009 at 12:52 pmHe definitely was not “showing respect”!
Nor can he claim ignorance about insulting President Obama and the U.S.A.–he understood exactly what he was doing.
April 8th, 2009 at 12:54 pmNo doubt, Fox has ALREADY made a 7 figure job offer…
Perhaps Glenn Beck will feel obliged to follow suit, huh?
April 8th, 2009 at 12:55 pmwell.. yeah… um…..
April 8th, 2009 at 12:55 pmFreaking weirdo! Looks like sarcastic rascism to me – if that makes sense?! Yeah – probably an affiliate of Fake A$$ News Network!
April 8th, 2009 at 12:55 pmTurkish anchor wears blackface to report on Obama’s visit.
– - Facepalm.
April 8th, 2009 at 12:56 pmHes probably a relative of Hannity.
April 8th, 2009 at 12:59 pmI don’t think we should jump to conclusions about this anchor’s intentions.
April 8th, 2009 at 1:00 pmI investigated the link that TP suggests explains how this “shows respect” and it looks like a load of crap.
In fact, the website it links to includes the incredibly clever tag line, “If you want to be wrong, just be a Liberal!”
Could be a site closely affiliated with ThinkProgressWatch, judging by the quality of the wit displayed.
April 8th, 2009 at 1:00 pmActually this anchor is in disguise because he looks Armenian but is actually a Kurd .
April 8th, 2009 at 1:00 pmRacism is more widespread – and accepted – in Europe than we like to acknowledge.
April 8th, 2009 at 1:00 pmTurkish anchor wears blackface to report on Obama’s visit.
– - Whadda turkey.
April 8th, 2009 at 1:01 pmI don’t know Zooey he’s human ……. he’s probably as disreputable as the rest of the race .
April 8th, 2009 at 1:03 pmYou all beat me to the faux snooze link…good one.
April 8th, 2009 at 1:03 pmThis is exactly the kind of stuff we should have expected from a group of people who would change the name of Constantinople to Istanbul (cue They Might Be Giants). Damned Ottomans…
April 8th, 2009 at 1:07 pmWho knew FOX had a bureau in Turkey?
April 8th, 2009 at 1:12 pmMy father was first generation Armenian-American. His father escaped the Turkish slaughter in Armenia in 1905 at the age of 17, dressed as a girl.
It is difficult to imagine any culture that would consider blackface a compliment. I suspect it was either a flat-out insult at worst or satire at best.
But I can hear the Fux shows tonight – “Obama got what he deserved, trying to talk with them Muslims!”
PEACE
April 8th, 2009 at 1:13 pmGod fada ,
April 8th, 2009 at 1:18 pmThe omayd’s are still crying over the loss of Granada , as are the Jews ,Zorastrians , supposed heretics and Muslims who lived there in peace with the christians for 800 years before the reconquista .
Hey, is Bill-O getting shoved out at Fixed?
April 8th, 2009 at 1:19 pmUh….what? Too bizarre.
Maybe he is a relative of Rush’s.
April 8th, 2009 at 1:22 pmThis, pray tell, is the big TP “news” of the day?
Ever so slightly O/T: Let me get this straight: The mighty imperial USofA can criminally and illegally occupy two whole countries in the Middle East for years and years and yet a US-flagged cargo ship can’t stop a Somali speedboat with four prates from taking over their vessel on the high seas? What is wrong with this picture? Can’t US-flagged cargo ships carry a few weapons onboard and just simply blow-up approaching pirate vessels in the open seas? What, are we suddenly concerned about the “rules of the seas?” So much so, that we are just open to any local pirates and criminals anywhere anytime? Get the USofA out of Afghanistan and Iraq now. Arm cargo vessels against pirate attacks now.
April 8th, 2009 at 1:23 pmThe United States consistently stubbed its toe by not understanding other parts of the world.
This requires more information. The whole world isn’t like South Carolina.
April 8th, 2009 at 1:23 pmWho knows what is going through this guy’s mind. At the end of the day, does it really even amount to a hill of beans?
April 8th, 2009 at 1:25 pmfreeman Says:
Actually this anchor is in disguise because he looks Armenian but is actually a Kurd
__________
Hmmm… me’thinks you misspelled OOOOOOONE word in that sentence…
April 8th, 2009 at 1:25 pmI didn’t know Fox had a Turkish affiliate.
Interesting.
April 8th, 2009 at 1:25 pmIt must be a Michael Steele look alike as Obama is the same color as most of the Turkish people. Where’s the joke?
April 8th, 2009 at 1:25 pmOval, TP turned into the Trivial Progressive weeks ago. As for the Somali hijacked ship, I smell a patriotic hero story.
The Pentagon is bragging about the crew taking the ship back, while the company is mum. It should be the other way around. Psy Ops?
April 8th, 2009 at 1:26 pmThe Ctenocephalides Dogfather Says:
Damned Ottomans…
______________
OMG… now we’re in conflict w/ the furniture too…
What’s next? Common household appliances?
April 8th, 2009 at 1:27 pmstateofthedivision Says:
Oval, TP turned into the Trivial Progressive weeks ago.
_________
Up yours, you condescending snot.
April 8th, 2009 at 1:28 pmThere goes material for Bill Maher’s opening on Friday. Drat.
April 8th, 2009 at 1:30 pmIt’s to be expected and nothing new. Just sad that this is still going on in the 21st Century. I’m sure that scumbag Fox News, the NY Post and the Republicans will try to get him an H-1B visa to come to work in America.
Just Pathetic!!!!
April 8th, 2009 at 1:35 pm….or maybe Obama is his idol???
April 8th, 2009 at 1:37 pmexactly division makes a good point…
WOAH WOAH WOAH! Hold on folks. I know nothing of turkish culture or their general disposition relating to our current leaders. Until I do, I consider this a misunderstanding. Nothing more.
April 8th, 2009 at 1:37 pmWithout trying to defend the anchor, we must understand non-English speaking countries don’t have the same cultural “baggage” when it comes to blackface. This baggage happens to be stronger in the US.
We are not really sure what the anchor’s intention was, nor how it was perceived. I suspect most Turkish viewers either didn’t think much of it, or thought the anchor was being childish, and even disrespectful -but I doubt the word “racism” crossed their mind.
April 8th, 2009 at 1:44 pmTurks are not exactly lily white. The black face doesn’t make sense.
April 8th, 2009 at 2:02 pmwatchdog Says:
This can’t be racist, he’s not a white America.
April 8th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
Pond scum is more articulate than this…
April 8th, 2009 at 2:05 pmBlack Face is an American Culture way of attack not a Middle Eastern way as it’s not their culture with most of the people of color. This was made and directed by an American. The words of respect don’t fit the picture. I remember another fixeted picture showing a man of color painted darker.
April 8th, 2009 at 2:09 pmHymen, look over the topics the last week or so. Othe than the daily ThinkFast, most of it is blather.
Meanwhile, TARP soon may be expanded to insurance companies:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hJB8F_pc3QCTmW11PVyhHSGm6cRgD97EBR900
More corporafornication.
April 8th, 2009 at 2:15 pmFWIW
April 8th, 2009 at 2:17 pmGiven the above I would consider the anchors black face a mixing of cultures
April 8th, 2009 at 2:18 pmI’m inclined to be cautious when criticizing other countries and cultures when they do things that we would consider to be grossly offensive here. For instance, sitting with the sole of your shoe plainly visible to your host (or guest) is highly offensive in some Middle Eastern cultures, but most people in our culture don’t see any significance to that at all. There are times when some slack should be cut, and the nature of intent should count more than a given action.
That said — some offenses have received world-wide recognition that they ARE offensive. Take, for example, any visual depiction of the prophet Muhammed. One would have had to live under a rock to not know how offensive this is to Muslims. Or
I believe that blackface getups by white people fall into this category. If the anchor was truly ignorant as to how this could be seen as offensive, his ignorance should be corrected. And if the offense was intentional, then we’ll just assume this anchor is the Bill O’Reilly of his culture.
April 8th, 2009 at 2:19 pmNews team of Tambo, Bones, and Interlocutor? And they criticize Danes because of a cartoon?
April 8th, 2009 at 2:22 pmThis requires more information. The whole world isn’t like South Carolina.
April 8th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
‘ve been around it a bit, and i’d say ‘the whole world’ is a lot more like S.Car, than it is like Berkeley…
April 8th, 2009 at 2:23 pmFaux News must be soooo jealous!
April 8th, 2009 at 2:25 pmstewarjt Says
April 8th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
Turks are not exactly lily white. The black face doesn’t make sense.
__________________________________________________________
Actually, Turks ARE pretty white. I work with a number of Turkish people, and there’s a fairly active Turkish community in our town. While my observation of Turkish people is pretty much limited to these, they appear pretty much the same as other Mediterranean Europeans.
April 8th, 2009 at 2:26 pmApril 8th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Of course you’re free to go to a site that covers issues you’re interested in. Except most sites wouldn’t allow you to insult them continually would they?
April 8th, 2009 at 2:45 pmWhoever that guy is, he very skin concious, and it is obviously affecting his work.
April 8th, 2009 at 2:47 pmWell I’m from Turkey, and I know there is virtually no racism against blacks. I’ve never even heard of such an incidence. Against Turkish minorities – Alevis, Kurds, Sunni vs Shia, etc of course but not against blacks.
And yes, we have black people in Turkey. For over a thousand years during the Ottoman Empire, we conquered parts of North Africa and incorporated them into our empire, and many came back to Istanbul.
April 8th, 2009 at 2:54 pmI’m sorry but people saying, “oh, cultural misunderstanding”, or “perhaps he’s showing respect” are really clueless. Turkey is a modern, secular, cosmopolitan society, they are not tribes of Berbers in the desert or something. It’s tasteless humor, pure and simple. Yes, blackface isn’t as incendiary as it would be here, but the intent is still crude satire.
April 8th, 2009 at 2:55 pmBizarre. Really, really bizarre.
April 8th, 2009 at 2:55 pmI think Cutie Katie on CBS…should blacken her face and do a tribute too!
April 8th, 2009 at 2:57 pmA commenter at Turley’s site (”turkish lawyer”) makes this point:
I would like to hear a translation of the entire piece, not just one quote, to be sure, but it seems to me that the insult was intended, it was in a Turkish context, and that opens up the possibility that Taskin knew how it would also be received in an American context.
April 8th, 2009 at 3:15 pmAfter watching the clip I tend to agree with those who say hold back the racist train. The newscasters tone and body language were not antagonistic or sarcastic.
To me it says, “President Obama, your words are nice but you don’t get a free pass because you are of color.” Fits the translated quote and what I know of Turkish culture. ”
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.”
In other words, talk is cheap, raki costs money. But we will give you a chance.
April 8th, 2009 at 3:31 pmI don’t know buy the cultural thing as an excuse here, they are not living under a rock. Granted, it is different in many places. But post #59 certainly gives us something to think about.
On the other hand, name me ANY society on earth where it is better to be dark.
I do know for instance that in Latin America, “Negro” is a term of affection, but it is still a very white-is-better mentality anyway.
April 8th, 2009 at 3:46 pmFox News: eat your heart out.
April 8th, 2009 at 3:53 pmWeird.
Plain weird.
April 8th, 2009 at 4:59 pmstateofthedivision Says:
Oval, TP turned into the Trivial Progressive weeks ago.
You are welcome to leave anytime state. We all find you trivial anyway, so why bother sticking around?
April 8th, 2009 at 5:14 pmHe’s just an Al Jolson fan.
April 8th, 2009 at 6:11 pmI just told a friend that anchor was supposedly in blackface to “welcome” Obama and asked him if he could tell if the image was photoshopped. He glanced at it and asked, “Is that Fox news?”
April 8th, 2009 at 6:55 pmThank you for the clarification, everybody. So it may be an insult. It’s even slightly more deep/ironic than it first appears. I was wrong before, about the whole “researh things before picking a fight” thing. Go ahead and invade turkey.
April 8th, 2009 at 7:59 pmOne could also look forward at the spate of trivial stories.
What’s not here:
U.S. Imagines the Bailout as an Investment Tool
As part of its sweeping plan to purge banks of troublesome assets, the Obama administration is encouraging several large investment companies to create the financial-crisis equivalent of war bonds: bailout funds.
The idea is that these investments, akin to mutual funds that buy stocks and bonds, would give ordinary Americans a chance to profit from the bailouts that are being financed by their tax dollars. But there is another, deeply political motivation as well: to quiet accusations that all of these giant bailouts will benefit only Wall Street plutocrats.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/09/business/09fund.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hp
April 8th, 2009 at 11:12 pmas an african-american, I find this absolutely fcuking hilarious. I honestly don’t think that Turkish culture is aware of the underlying indignity of the American minstrel show, so I’m just gonna laugh it off and hope it’s a goofy attempt at solidarity. if not, then screw that guy.
April 8th, 2009 at 11:42 pmI’m going to give this dumb@ss the benefit of the doubt and assume he doesn’t know about America’s racial past or what minstrelsy even means.
April 9th, 2009 at 12:48 amRealityCheck Says:
I think Cutie Katie on CBS…should blacken her face and do a tribute too!
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
I think you should STFU. You are so stupid it is embarassing to read your ignorant posts
April 9th, 2009 at 1:33 amI doubt seriously this was meant to be an insult. What clearly would be an insult in our culture shouldnt automatically be assumed as understood in THEIR culture. I say the guy deserves the benefit of the doubt.
April 9th, 2009 at 1:35 amThat “anchorman” is considered one of the biggest schmucks around here in Turkey. The ratings of his channel are very low and he is regarded as nothing but an attention whore. One time he wore a head scarf and covered his hair on air. We have disputes over here whether women who wear a headscarf should be allowed in universities (right now it is illegal). He said he was “making a point” by covering his hair. To this day, his “point” remains a mystery. He is the guy that makes Heidi & Spencer Pratt look classy. He is the guy that you post on facebook for LOLs.
As American and Turkish histories concerning the slavery and racial issues are very different, what is perceived as racist in US does not seem so in Turkey vice versa. This does not change the fact that what “Mr. Anchorman” has done is not outright moronic. However racism towards Africans has very close ties with slavery in the Anglo-American world. But in the Ottoman Empire being a slave was not about race, it was about socio-economic class. One’s skin colour did not determine whether they would be free or enslaved.
Nevertheless this moron humiliated our country and was rude to President Obama who was nothing but graceful during the whole trip. “Mr. Anchorman” got exactly what he wanted –attention. We will have to see his stupid face every time we turn on the TV until the repercussions of his idiocy blows off. *sigh*
(BTW we do have Fox Turkey. It sucks here too:)
April 9th, 2009 at 6:16 amWe aren’t the center of the world, actually. I might have missed the comments which gave the reactions in TURKEY to this stunt.
April 9th, 2009 at 9:17 amI’ve read more than one place that this guy is considered a fool and will do anything to get attention. I’ve also read comments from people who “have a Turkish friend” or something.
Most of the comments are from AMERICANS giving the American reaction.
What are Turks (in Turkey) saying, if anything, about this?
LOST IN TRANSLATION
LOST IN TRANSLATION
LOST IN TRANSLATION
Please check out this video where I TRANSLATED the anchor’s whole speech and tried offering some explanation. It should have been broadcasted in English or some narration should have been attached. IT HAS NO REFERENCE TO SKIN COLOR.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TVwCUZhaf0
April 9th, 2009 at 9:23 amAs a Turk, I can say that this has nothing to do with racism, but is a humorous approach of the anchorman. His whole speech about Mr. Obama showed nothing respect for the man. And as our culture, racism against blacks is not an issue. Turks always sympathize the oppressed, including enslaved African people. So stop interpreting this as racism.
April 9th, 2009 at 10:40 amWho cares if it’s racist or not… American ambassadors and politicians get crucified in print if they make a cultural misstep against a foreign land…. “The self righteous American is to high and mighty to show us the respect of learning our culture”. I’m sure our foreign affairs office spends half of every day making public apologies for every mistake that our representatives make… This was a mistake and our president should receive a public apology. It’s time to hold others up to the same standard that they hold us to.
April 9th, 2009 at 11:12 amGrade Ape Says:
Who cares if it’s racist or not… American ambassadors and politicians get crucified in print if they make a cultural misstep against a foreign land….
—————————-
First, if you are an ambassador or a politician of one of the most powerful military forces in the world with the ability to make decisions that will affect the lives of thousands of people not only in your country but also around the world, you OUGHT TO be aware of other cultures and if not get ridiculed for it. Do not compare US politicians and ambassadors to a putz that reads a prompter ”Flash TV”.
Secondly, I have been ”exposed to” this guys show, I am from Turkey and I (and pretty much everyone I talked to) absolutely cannot believe that this idiot got international recognition. He is like the Joe the Plumber or Jerry Springer of the news world. However, I do believe that he was not being racist as we do not have the historical or cultural background that the US has. There was never a skin-colour based segregation here. We know as much about ”minstrelsy” as the Americans know about Hacivat and Karagöz… But if you still want that anchorman’s ass kicked or want him thrown in jail or something, no one will stop you. If you want, you can even take him and do as you please with him. You’ll be doing us a favour.
Cheers.
April 9th, 2009 at 12:37 pmA man puts black paint on its face and its news, racist, taboo…
Where is the huge uproar when comedian Dave Chappelle puts white paint on his face to play a white guy?
The world will never have equality when people STILL want to be separate but equal. Self segregation needs to stop.
April 9th, 2009 at 2:03 pmFor people who are born and raised with racism, this could very well be defined racist. But I am a Turk and let me tell you something. I did not know the grocery owner right around the corner of my house was black ( a different race) until our black and white TV began showing “the roots” series. I was around 10 or 11. This anchor man is definetly not racist. Turks are traditionally not racist. This video has no reference to Obama’s skin color. Actually the whole speech has nothing to do with Obama but our leaders. Plus this guy is not a fool. He is the anchor man of a low rated TV but he is definetly a humanistic person. That I can tell without hesitation. In Turkey people imitiate people so often and nobody gets offended. This is a major difference between Westerns and Turks. Plus we have many black people living among us from the Ottoman period. We don’t call them blacks. We call them Turks. Because they are Turks. Their skin color is not important at all.
April 9th, 2009 at 4:04 pmI was 19 when I realised a very popular Turkish singer Esmeray, whom I have known since ever, was of African origin. If you are born and raised here, no one claims to be better than you because you might have slightly more melanin. Just like Melisa pointed out, we might not even recognise it.
April 9th, 2009 at 4:36 pmOK Pat obviously senile dementia has set in. Time to see the nice young men that will need to take care of you soon.burun estetigi rent a car arac kiralama
April 18th, 2009 at 5:49 amsac ekimi