BYU Students Asked About Black History By Comedian In Blackface (VIDEO)

Brigham Young University isn't exactly known for its diverse student population. In fact, just 176 out of the Utah school's 30,000 students are African American, or 0.59%.

Comedian Dave Ackerman decided to quiz the unsuspecting BYU student populace about Black History Month in a video posted on YouTube. The students' answers are, predictably, disturbing.

Equally troubling, however, is the fact that Ackerman gets a make-up artist to paint his skin "black." Viewers are thus left with the doubly uncomfortable prospect of watching a comedian in black face interview white students about African-American culture.

The video begins with a series of students demonstrating that they don't know what month Black History Month is actually celebrated. It then features students claiming Malcolm X "was a part of the movement to get blacks into the schools" and citing "Will Smith" as a famous black historical figure. One white student tells Ackerman he celebrates Black History Month with "fried chicken and grape juice."

When he asks about dating, another white student tells Ackerman he knows people who have "jungle fever."

The video concludes with several white students -- encouraged by Ackerman -- doing stereotypical impressions of how they believe black people talk and gesticulate, which leads to a truly unfortunate sequence of white students essentially doing cliched impersonations of African Americans.

Ackerman preemptively defends his actions in the video itself, noting he is "fighting ignorance with ignorance."

But Matt Stopera over at Buzzfeed put it this way: "There is SO much wrong with this video. I can't even believe this exists."

Comments

[Emily Heizer]

04:31 PM on 02/17/2012

The article fails to mention the students who recognized Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcom X and others before the ONE student mentioned a well known actor. Super skewed comments in comparison to the video. And young teenagers fresh out of HS aren't exactly known for their polical correctness, especially when they aren't really in a diverse environment, and BY THE WAY, none of the African-American students knew when Black History Month was either (A Caucasian student got that answer) and couldn't name any historical figures themselves! Where was THAT in the article? How about you go to ANY area dominated by one type of population and ask them details about another? They probably don't know much either.

[Starr Tarr]

09:20 AM on 02/12/2012

African Americans have made too many contributions to this world for these students both black & white to be so ignorant

[Quis Custodiet]

06:21 AM on 02/13/2012

I assure you that most of them are just as ignorant where White, Asian, and Middle Eastern contributors to this world are concerned.

[timesrtough]

05:14 PM on 02/11/2012

You are all correct. We would be a much better nation if all students knew that Will Smith was not a famous black historical figure. It would make us all so much better and increase our understanding and prestige around the world. The sad part is they probably don't know who the current VP is or who wrote the Constitution. But I’ll bet they know who Lady Gaga is and what Beyonce is wearing.

[frankmartin]

04:30 PM on 02/11/2012

His being in BLACKFACE is not relevant, what is relevant is these kids that I have to trust my future
to are this poorly informed or just plain stupid......GOD HELP US ALL IF TIS IS THE FUTURE.

[Kristofer Anders Larson]

04:27 PM on 02/24/2012

Wait so how old are you? If you're older than them you have ruined their future by destroying the environment and accumulating huge amounts of debt that will cause their country to collapse and put them all in poverty; you have no right to complain. If you are the same age, stop complaining, get involved and make a difference. If you are 8 or younger you have a valid point.

[frankmartin]

05:02 PM on 02/24/2012

TRUTH OF THE MATTER, I AM OLD ENOUGH TO HAVE SENT A DAUGHTER TO PRINCETON, A SON TO GA. TECH, ANOTHER SON TO THE LOCAL ART INSTITUTE,SERVE MY COUNTRY, PAY FOR A HOME EDUCATE MYSELF ON MY OWN DIME.......TRULY, YOU DON'T HAVE A CLUE AS WHY THE COUNTRY IS IN THE CONDITION THAT IT IS....I SUGGEST THAT YOU GET A BETTER HISTORICAL PROSPECTIVE...THEN COME AT ME WITH SOMETHING THAT HAS SOME MEAT ON IT AFTER YOU GET A HAIRCUT AND CLEAN YOURSELF UP........BY THE WAY, I DID ALL THIS UNDER "JIM CROW".......HOW ABOUT YOU????????

[boscobear]

10:15 AM on 02/11/2012

Just get back the black face--this video has an important message for everyone that is disturbing about the world a lot of people, especially Mormons, live in!

[JStading]

10:02 AM on 02/11/2012

My assessment of BYU, and most Mormons in general, is that they aggressively maintain a Candide-like level of naivete.  They have a shocking lack of real world experience and they dupe their kids into believing that going on "missions," when they are surrounded by people who think exactly like them, is somehow eye-opening or informative.  This level of indoctrination is needed to brainwash them into believing what they actually believe (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHEqCXY2B-w&feature=related).

[cem121]

02:34 PM on 02/12/2012

That's a sad assessment...I can see why you would assume that, but it is so false. To generalize an entire faith, and then give evidence of that generalization with a video from a musical written by the creators of South Park? That's sad. I am a Mormon, I am also black, and I attend BYU, and in no way do the pathetic responses of these students sum up the thoughts of the entire university, much less the members of the church at large.

[JStading]

01:31 PM on 02/13/2012

Mmmmm, not so much. I went to ASU, which has a massive Mormon population. While this obviously has cherry picked some gems for comedic effect, I found most Mormons to be extremely prejudiced, very secretive, and to generally lack world experience.

[jmoser1973]

07:26 AM on 02/11/2012

I don't see what the purpose of this video was. The two blacks that were interviewed didn't have the answers either. You could probably poll the same students and I bet they don't know much about any other history. History is boring to a huge percentage of kids. They could care less. Having said that, I think it is important that black history is taught, but I think it should be incorporated in regular timeline taught history. Not shoved into one month.

[rbailey67]

05:16 PM on 02/10/2012

Hmmmm, this is very interesting. What are your thoughts?

[GQ 336]

05:05 PM on 02/10/2012

There is a difference between racism and ignorance. This is one of the reasons why Black history shouldn't be relegated to just one month.

[hoochie-coochie]

04:01 PM on 02/10/2012

I know a Mormon when I see one.

[James Bradshaw IV]

12:14 PM on 02/10/2012

I didn't know it was possible.

But I was laughing and shaking my head at the same time.

[toolhe]

02:51 AM on 02/10/2012

Well I thought it was just a joke. The black people impressions were funny and stupid.

[BevTX84]

12:22 AM on 02/10/2012

The problem with fighting ignorance with ignorance is that you end up with a "tool" of a White guy dressing as a stereotype of what he thinks it means to be a young Black man on a college campus. If a white guy in black face can ever be post racial, it's you dude, it's you.

[Dr Danno]

10:33 PM on 02/09/2012

It could be heaven,it could be hell.....

[freddsky]

10:18 PM on 02/09/2012

Not a single mention of "bust a cap" or "lay one up the side (your) head."
Utter disgrace to minstrelsy!