Lost in Translation: Turkish Anchor Appears in Blackface on Air in Coverage of President Obama

There is a great deal of chatter on the Internet today about an anchor who appears in blackface in the coverage of President Obama’s trip to Turkey. The rough translation from the appearance is “Welcome, Mr. Obama. You took our hearts with your hospitality. We appreciate your kindness. We will do whatever America asks of us, as friends. Now, we ask the same of you.”

There may be something lost in translation here. Some have stated that this is an attempt at humor or a spoof. Others have argued that it was meant as a sign of respect.

It is possible that the Turkish media does not realize how insulting such an appearance would be, though a simple google search would reveal the cultural meaning of blackface appearances in the United States.

For the video, click here.