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Turk Broadcaster Reports on Obama in Blackface

Apparently he meant it in a good way

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 8, 2009 12:46 PM CDT

(Newser) – A Turkish newscaster delivered his report on President Obama’s trip to Turkey in blackface, the Huffington Post reports, in what was apparently supposed to be a strange tribute. Roughly translated, the anchor is saying, “Welcome, Mr Obama. You took our hearts with your hospitality. ... We will do whatever America asks of us, as friends. Now, we ask the same of you.”

Some have speculated that the broadcast might be a spoof. BuzzFeed says it’s supposed to be “a metaphor for the way the Bush administration ‘darkened’ the face of the Turkish public,” with the anchor expressing hope that things will improve under Obama.

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A Turkish broadcaster reports on Obama's visit in blackface in this YouTube screenshot.

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A Turkish broadcaster reports on Obama's visit... in blackface. (anadolu)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 5 comments

mockingbird

Apr 9, 2009 12:24 PM CDT

Yeah...I'm guessing that that guy didn't know exactly what he was doing with that. I bet there's all kinds of things I could do to unknowingly offend all kinds of people outside of my cultural milieu. *makes mental note to ask Turkish dude in one of my classes what he thinks*

riffran

Apr 9, 2009 1:09 AM CDT

thats funny....a turkish news man paints his face black...and it's suddenly a Fox news job application

PosterNutbag

Apr 8, 2009 7:26 AM CDT

This is bizarre. It is very difficult to interpret cultural signals like this if you don't belong to that culture.

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Barack Obama • Turkey • race • race relations • blackface • President Obama

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Turk Broadcaster Reports on Obama in Blackface