Outcast and the Grammys

R&B and Hip Hop Forum

At the end of the show outkast performed there "hit Hey ya" against a back drop of a indian teepee. Singer Andre "3000" came out in a headdress accompanied by clad dancers with feathers in there hair. These may have been costumes to outkast producers of the show, but to american indians they are the lastest in a long line of caricatures drawn from phony history. One would hope that Outkast would be sensitive to racial concerns of others.

He also bared his chest, showing not one but two nipples. HOW RUDE!

Seriously though, every culture in the world has a native dress that at one point in time has been used as a costume for a music production of some sort. Just because you wear a cultures costume in a way not attuned to the history of the culture, does not mean you are disrespecting them.

How many people have worn an asian style top, or ugg boots, or a bowler hat, or even a shirt with an American flag on it? They are all items associated with the history of a certain culture, but your wearing those is not considered disrepectful, it is just fashion.

It was just a costume. I would've though Americans would be more upset about Kid Rock at the Super Bowl cutting up the American flag to make a poncho (OMG he is dissing mexicans too!).

Let us first offer our congratulations to Andre Benjamin and OutKast for their well deserved recognition. As high-profile entertainers, Outkast has the influence and responsibility to resist racial stereotypes that contribute to the dehumanization of minorities and the neglect of their legitimate concerns. Unfortunately, this principled stance was NOT seen during the televised performance of “Hey Ya” at the recent Grammy Awards Ceremony [February 8, 2004] -- instead we were appalled by the misuse of Native American imagery and cultural symbols as outlined below: Respect for traditional culture: The native regalia (feathers, dresses, headdresses, and lodging etc.) that was so crudely imitated holds much symbolic and sacred meaning to Native Nations, comparable only to the religious icons and vestments of other cultures. Symbols of a peoples’ spiritual life should never have been used in such a profane and disrespectful manner. Respecting diversity within Indian country: One of the most damaging stereotypes is the assumption that over 500 tribes share one generic ‘Indian’ culture. The indiscriminate mixing of desert, woodlands, and plains cultures in the “Hey Ya” performance was fair to no one, and mocked the integrity of individual nations. Respecting and involving native artists: The saddest and most ironic twist was that while the faux-Indian performance was highlighted as the closing act of the evening, the granting of the award for Native American music was not even televised, and authentic native musicians received little or no on-air recognition Many individuals and tribes are working strenuously to dispel the negative effects of native stereotypes on our children and communities, yet these are the very images the “Hey Ya” staging exalted and reinforced. As concerned citizens and supporters of popular music, we ask all parties involved to publicly apologize for the affront to native peoples evidenced in this performance. We respectfully request a full and formal public apology, including the acknowledgement that ethnic stereotypes, and the conscious or unconscious racism that supports them, must not and will not be tolerated within the industry now, or at any time in the future. Dehumanization: The objectification of native men and women as painted warriors and 'go-go-girls' was thoroughly demeaning -- a stage filled with grinning minstrels in ‘black-face’ would never be similarly tolerated.

CBS BOSSES APOLOGIZE FOR OUTKAST PERFORMANCE

Network TV bosses at CBS have apologized for Outkast's Native American-themed performance at the Grammy Awards.

The San Francisco's Native American Cultural Center took offense to Andre 3000's stage routine, in which he and dancers dressed as a Native Americans, branding it racist.

The Native American Cultural Center last week called for a boycott of CBS, OutKast's label Arista Records and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS), which sponsors the Grammys.

CBS spokeswoman Nancy Carr says, "We are very sorry if anyone was offended."

Nativepride, I completely agree with you. Good on you for having your say.

Thanks Neodammerung