Internet phenom and comedian Druski is known for his uncanny impressions, whether they are of women or men. Many of his bits mock real-life situations and are satirical commentary on popular Black culture. While many Druski skits have cemented him in the internet hall of fame, a more recent skit will likely solidify him as a legend, and has gotten some white people angry and has even made the nightly news.
In the newly released sketch, Druski, born Andrew Desbordes, is covered in white makeup (including a farmer’s sunburn and pink nipples), which is so excellently done; it’s Oscar-worthy. He dons a mullet, an American flag cowboy hat, American flag tattoos and overalls, without a shirt. You’ll have to ignore his Nikes. In the two-minute and sixteen-second clip, Druski is at an actual NASCAR race, and let’s say he’s doing too good a job at blending in with the locals, so good that no one seems to recognize him, or more importantly, know that he’s not white. He’s seen kiki-ing and cavorting with white tailgaters of a more NASCAR-ian nature, who also tend to be almost exclusively MAGA, and almost exclusively racist. The video’s caption, “That Guy who is just Proud to be an AMERICAN,” is not what seems to be angering people nearly as much as the subtle/not-so-subtle synonymizing of Proud White American and racist.
Nope, they’re mad at the makeup.
Comedian and podcast host Theo Von, who has a mullet on purpose and not ironically either, went so far as to tweet about finding a hair and makeup person for himself, who will also give him a jheri curl and blackface so he can get retribution dress up as a Black person. White people like Von aren’t necessarily tired of the punching; they just don’t like feeling it. Blackface isn’t anything new or innovative, so like, have at it. It started around the 1830s and was always accompanied by a racist, stereotypical trope of Black ignorance and self-degradation. While Druski’s skit may highlight the ignorance and self-degradation of a specific demographic of white people, it does not target the totality of whiteness, as blackface does, and whiteface does not continue to put white people in danger; whiteface still allows for white individualism.
Jim, with the country club membership, is not going to be offended; Jimothy, with the 1,753 Skoal chewing tobacco points, probably will be.
It is easy to argue that no one should cover themselves in makeup to portray someone of another race at all, but what Druski did, even if comedically, was necessary social commentary. Blackface, however, is not, and outside of Tropic Thunder, which was Blackface making fun of itself, nor has it ever been.
As was previously mentioned, white commenters were upset about seeing themselves and/or the use of whiteface. No one accused Druski of lying. X user, @Newstuffguru commented, “So are we allowed to do black face again?” He didn’t mention what his portrayal would consist of, nor did Theo Von, but what would that commentary look like? Racists were so mad that they were defending Black people. User @thinkarchimedes took specific umbrage with Druski’s interaction with the Black people in the video (who were more than likely in on it) to whom Druski’s character directed his racism. Stating he probably treated them worse than anyone else, ending his rant with, “[You all] Always have to invent racism.” At which point user, @ansamenow posted some of Thinkarchimedes ’ tweets in response, from as far back as last month, when he wrote, “@grok what percent of Switzerland is black? And what would happen to the crime rate if the black population jumped to, similar to the US, 13%? What factor would violent crime increase by?”
He is also the author of another gem, “Black Ghettos have a CULTURE of violence. It is the way.”
An even deeper dive into Thinkarchimedes, whose name is also Andrew, tweets leave no question that not only is he proud to be an American, but he is also the person whom the other Andrew showed in that mirror.
