"Racist" Provincial Lottery spots Fall 1983

Watch the first one, and then the re-vised version, which imho is worse than the first one. Here's a little more about the scandal from late 1983:

"In the late 80s, the Ontario Lottery Corporation produced an ad for Lottario which was extremely racist, as well as sexist. It was a cartoon, portraying a number of high-profile figures including a caricature of Louis Armstrong depicted in an offensive way, and Al Jolson in black face singing "Mammy." A ten year old boy named Michael saw the cartoon and was very upset by the way in which the only Black person he had seen on TV was portrayed. He said he never saw Black people who looked like the people he knows he was himself Black.

The next day, with the encouragement of his mother and teacher, he called the Ontario Lottery Corporation to complain. Needless to say, at first, they were not very sympathetic to his concerns. However, Michael was persistent. Again with a little support from adults in his life, he called Jo Jo DeChinto with City TV. Jo Jo decided this was an important story and took immediate action, beginning with a call to the President of the Ontario Lottery Corporation, followed by interviews with several organizations who shared Michael's concern with the ad. The ad was pulled and Michael, inspired by his success, went on to continue monitoring and responding to other examples of racism in the media. I don't know where Michael is today, but I do know that he proved that advocacy and resistance can make a difference."

What do you think?

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Provincial
• Lottery
• spots
• Fall
• 1983

[PatchesRips]

It's not racism. It's a reference to Al Jolson's "Mammy" routine from The Jazz Singer, the first "talkie" in the 1920s. While that performance itself might be considered racist, this is simply a reference to a well-known cultural phenomenon. Arguably, it lampoons the attitude.

[golddustwoman83]

Well, the Louis Armstrong bit I don't really find offensive. That's a pretty good interpretation of his voice, and you'd be sweaty too if you could play the trumpet brilliantly for hours on end.

The Al Jolson on the other hand, I don't think he HIMSELF in blackface is racist (that was his schtick that we all remember him by), but I think the image of blackface has enough stigma in and of itself to seem insensitive to more modern ideas of propriety.

[CutTheCarpVlog]

...In other news, this is the "Family Guy" theme song. NOW YOU CAN'T UNTHINK IT

[bobbbxxx]

Yes, a reference to Louis Armstrong is completely racist. And Mae West is sexist. And Jimmy Durante is ageism at its worst. And the Marx brothers are obviously both racist and exclusionary to immigrants.

[nljuggalo]

At least commercials back in those days had balls and aren't "politically correct" as dipshits have them now. It wasn't even really racist when you think of it.

[ech064]

They still left the lips on the other black guy at the end of the second commerical

[AffableClam]

@justingallego not only that - the story that this person quotes is bullshit. Try and find Jo Jo DeChinto anywhere. Jo Jo Chinto is the CityTV employee. The racist action taken by this not at all generic "Michael", never happened. Whole story is bullshit.

[justingallego]

How is that racist? You bleeding hearts would spin that into being a negative. They were all musical, cinematic and theatre legends. Al Jolson in black face was his trade mark, Louise Armstrong sweating was Satchmo's thing, he always had a handkerchief with him to pat away his sweat. Would you say it's discrimination to alcoholics for W.C. Fields for having a drink and red nose? White Chicks the movie was racist towards white people but we laughed it off. If you win lotto buy a sense of humour.

[vidlivs]

@Sage80 No, Michael is probably a homo in jail and getting it up the ass by a bunch of black guys as a thank you for his carear activism in promoting political correctness. Needless to say I won't be up for the same reward and thank you, which is perfectly fine by me.

[Uncutcartoons247]

Sexist? What the fuck?

[CelesteK]

The "Mammy" bit in the first commercial could be considered to be racist by today's standards. Other than that there's not very much wrong with it.

[saugagirl83]

Seriously, that was'nt so bad. In fact, I kind of like this commercial!