Videoblogger Loren Feldman’s high-tech minstrel show

by Carmen Van Kerckhove

I’d never heard of this guy Loren Feldman until Jay Smooth told me that the videoblogging community was dealing with its own Don Imus-esque scandal.

On August 3rd, Feldman posted an entry on his videoblog 1938 Media titled “Where are all the black tech bloggers?” But instead of actually seeking them out, he decided to use the question as an excuse to put on a really weak minstrel performance. As Lynne d Johnson wrote:

…it’s bad black face at that. I’ve never met anyone (in the ‘hood) who speaks as he does in this video he released today called, Technigga. The slang he uses and outfit he wears is not only meant to be a racist parody, but it’s also a throwback — as in, black people don’t speak or dress like that any longer.

Yeah, it was wiggedy wiggedy wiggedy wack.

Since then he has released a few more videos, announcing that he was entering rehab, that he was released from rehab, begging forgiveness, and so on.

I’m sure in his mind it’s some kind of social commentary on the Michael Richards media circus, since he seems to think he’s an awesome thespian:

Because I’m an artist and a professional actor and comedian. I am a member of the Screen Actors Guild and have performed stand-up and improv for years. It’s the context of the language that matters. It was meant as satire and to bring up a point, what that point is I leave to my viewers. Art is a subjective thing.

Yeah, it’s so topical when videobloggers comment on events that took place nine months ago. I wonder what he’ll tackle next? Perhaps that cool new game show in which a stern British lady has that awesome catchphrase? Or that forbidden dance from Brazil that’s all the rage now?

Since it’s obvious that he orchestrated this whole thing to be a linkbait campaign, I’m deliberately not linking to him. (Lynne’s post links to the video – you can find it there.)