I find it really messed up for people to dress up in black face. It is uncool, racist, and mean-spiritied.
I'm not sure a black man putting on black face-paint when going out for Halloween with his light-skinned girlfriend wearing white face-paint could really be described as "black face."
It certainly does not look like a black man it looks like a white man in black face. Even if it is a "light-skinned" black man (with what looks to be a bad wig), it is still messed up to put on black-face b/c it seems to be making fun of blacks who are darker than he is. Also, many minstrel shows that featured black actors putting on darker make-up are still considered to be extremely racist today and generally shunned by most African-Americans. And no I'm not hypersensitive or a troll, I just don't like to see people making fun of black people, even if they are black themselves (and I still don't believe that is a black dude in that picture).
I find it equally as insensitive when the black people in my neighborhood throw around the n-word like it has no history and I have to listen. I'm sure the man is dressed like a character we are unfamiliar with and that he is not a minstrel, a racist, or a race relations historian thoroughly examining his actions within the social vacuum that would be required to purposefully be uncool, racist, and mean-spirited as you stated. I think it was Halloween--I saw a lot of girls dressed like prostitutes--do they understand the suffering of sexual abuse and the widespread female slavery around the world? They really need to consider it--or we could deal with the concept of a costume. If he's a poor costume choice maker that sucks, if he's a racist I'll let you punch him in the teeth. Sorry, but you went way too far and I'm upset about it. I dressed up as rainbow brite--i wasn't "making fun" of the character--I actually was celebrating it. You can have your opinion, but you can't make a blanket statement that someone is a racist or you find costumes racist because you interpret it as "black face" when it is not.
Black-face is generally sketchy, but what is the rule if you want to portray an other race individual? Should it always be considered racist to be Mao, or Shakespeare, or Harriet Tubman if you aren't the right race?
What is wrong to dress up as a black man? Is it bad to be black? I dressed as a viking girl last Halloween and I used a long blond wig (even though am Hispanic) Was it racist to dress up as white girl? I do not think so. So I guess I can not dress as an African next year...somebody might get offended. PS As far as I am concerned, anybody could dress up as a Mayan or Aztec...I will not get offended, I will love it!)
Inked, if you want to portray an individual of another race, find a way to do it without blackface. Blackface is always sketchy. Period. I could go as Beyonce (I'm white) without using tons of tanner. You don't need black/white face to portray any of the people you're referring to.
Anon 12:17 - It's called blackFACE. Notice the word hair isn't in there. It's the artificial darkening of the face that has an extremely offensive history. And no, you can't dress up as an 'African' next year. Beside rightfully offending people, there's no such thing as an 'African' costume when it comes to Halloween. Africa = continent. I mean really, what the fuck would you WEAR as an African. I'd love to know. Maybe I'll go as a Slutty Latina next year?
I'm generally about as un-PC as it gets, but Jesus H. Christ people sometimes just kill me.
You can go as an sleazy latina if you want, I will not get offended, because I know: 1. There are "sleazy" types in all races
2.Not all latinas are sleazy
There is nothing wrong with a black face, NOTHING or is it to be hidden?
And there is lots,lots of African customs...colorful and beautiful. (And Beyonce without the tanner could be Shakira)
I think you feel that black is something bad and shameful. Next year I will dress as the Queen of Saba beautiful and very black,like most Eastern Africans.
Looking at the photo again, it's pretty clear the guy's African American. The "bad wig" comment leads me to believe you know this, and are just trying to be provocative.
If that's a wig, it's a "Hollywood special-effects quality" wig--which seems somewhat unlikely.
How is it going to far to call someone one out for doing something I think is racist? If you are ok with blackface, then so be it, but I think it's racist and if it upsets you that I think it's racist well that's too darn bad. I'm not going to be made to feel bad b/c as a black person it makes me mad to see someone put on black face to darken themselves especially someone who is most likely white. Also as for the wig, I was wrong, when I looked at it more closely and on a better monitor than what I have at work I realized what I thought was a wig was a shadow and indeed it appears to be a person with who has very straight, fine hair that is very close cropped and brushed down. That plus the blue-eyes says it is a white dude. If calling out something is out of line then I guess I'm out of line. And as for the "n" word argument someone made I don't see what that has to do with blackface being offensive. Two wrongs don't make a right. Anon 3
You clearly, painfully missed my point. I'm quite familiar with the fact that there are multitudinous cultures in Africa. I'm living in Rwanda right now and have traveled extensively throughout East Africa. What I was hoping you'd pick up on was the idea that to attempt to dress 'African' or even 'East Africa' necessitates reductionism and stereotyping. Could I dress as an "Asian" and put chopsticks in my hair and tape my eyes so they're pulled back to look 'slanty'? I mean really, seriously, these views are ignorant.
I'd also suggest you not make guesses as to how I "feel" about black skin. You know nothing about me, my boyfriend (black), my classmates in high school (black), my former students (black), or my current coworkers (black). Step off.
I'd finally also suggest you educate yourself on the history of black face in America. As if darkening your skin weren't offensive already, people painted their faces with liquefied coal to make it pitch black - an exaggeration of epic proportions for 99.3% of black folks.
eddie murphy does an awesome white guy impression, and i want a better monitor cuz all i know for sure is there is some chick insulting aryans. i can't figure the dude out. maybe he's post racial. tonyt the pug
I'm still stunned that anyone can see that photo and think it's a white guy "who has very straight, fine hair that is very close cropped and brushed down", rather than the obvious fact that it's a blue-eyed black man with very, very short "natural" hair.
Besides being overreacting, hypersensitive and bland, you are quite cocky to tell people to educate themselves. "Dime de que presumes y te dire de lo que careces"
21 comments:
Heidi Klum and Seal????
"driving" and "miss daisy!" LOL
I find it really messed up for people to dress up in black face. It is uncool, racist, and mean-spiritied.
I find it really messed up for people to dress up in black face. It is uncool, racist, and mean-spiritied.
I'm not sure a black man putting on black face-paint when going out for Halloween with his light-skinned girlfriend wearing white face-paint could really be described as "black face."
Are you trolling, or just hypersensitive?
It certainly does not look like a black man it looks like a white man in black face. Even if it is a "light-skinned" black man (with what looks to be a bad wig), it is still messed up to put on black-face b/c it seems to be making fun of blacks who are darker than he is. Also, many minstrel shows that featured black actors putting on darker make-up are still considered to be extremely racist today and generally shunned by most African-Americans. And no I'm not hypersensitive or a troll, I just don't like to see people making fun of black people, even if they are black themselves (and I still don't believe that is a black dude in that picture).
Oh and he has blue eyes too. There are a few black people who have naturally blue eyes, but not that many and it seems a bit unlikely.
I find it equally as insensitive when the black people in my neighborhood throw around the n-word like it has no history and I have to listen. I'm sure the man is dressed like a character we are unfamiliar with and that he is not a minstrel, a racist, or a race relations historian thoroughly examining his actions within the social vacuum that would be required to purposefully be uncool, racist, and mean-spirited as you stated. I think it was Halloween--I saw a lot of girls dressed like prostitutes--do they understand the suffering of sexual abuse and the widespread female slavery around the world? They really need to consider it--or we could deal with the concept of a costume. If he's a poor costume choice maker that sucks, if he's a racist I'll let you punch him in the teeth. Sorry, but you went way too far and I'm upset about it. I dressed up as rainbow brite--i wasn't "making fun" of the character--I actually was celebrating it. You can have your opinion, but you can't make a blanket statement that someone is a racist or you find costumes racist because you interpret it as "black face" when it is not.
I'm pretty sure that was Heidi klum and Seal.
Black-face is generally sketchy, but what is the rule if you want to portray an other race individual? Should it always be considered racist to be Mao, or Shakespeare, or Harriet Tubman if you aren't the right race?
What is wrong to dress up as a black man?
Is it bad to be black?
I dressed as a viking girl last Halloween and I used a long blond wig (even though am Hispanic)
Was it racist to dress up as white girl? I do not think so.
So I guess I can not dress as an African next year...somebody might get offended.
PS As far as I am concerned, anybody could dress up as a Mayan or Aztec...I will not get offended, I will love it!)
Inked, if you want to portray an individual of another race, find a way to do it without blackface. Blackface is always sketchy. Period. I could go as Beyonce (I'm white) without using tons of tanner. You don't need black/white face to portray any of the people you're referring to.
Anon 12:17 - It's called blackFACE. Notice the word hair isn't in there. It's the artificial darkening of the face that has an extremely offensive history. And no, you can't dress up as an 'African' next year. Beside rightfully offending people, there's no such thing as an 'African' costume when it comes to Halloween. Africa = continent. I mean really, what the fuck would you WEAR as an African. I'd love to know. Maybe I'll go as a Slutty Latina next year?
I'm generally about as un-PC as it gets, but Jesus H. Christ people sometimes just kill me.
We celebrated the Kakewalk at UVM. That was until the NAACP shut us down.
To Roxanne
You can go as an sleazy latina if you want, I will not get offended, because I know:
1. There are "sleazy" types in all races
2.Not all latinas are sleazy
There is nothing wrong with a black face, NOTHING or is it to be hidden?
And there is lots,lots of African customs...colorful and beautiful.
(And Beyonce without the tanner could be Shakira)
I think you feel that black is something bad and shameful.
Next year I will dress as the Queen of Saba beautiful and very black,like most Eastern Africans.
LATINA
Looking at the photo again, it's pretty clear the guy's African American. The "bad wig" comment leads me to believe you know this, and are just trying to be provocative.
If that's a wig, it's a "Hollywood special-effects quality" wig--which seems somewhat unlikely.
How is it going to far to call someone one out for doing something I think is racist? If you are ok with blackface, then so be it, but I think it's racist and if it upsets you that I think it's racist well that's too darn bad. I'm not going to be made to feel bad b/c as a black person it makes me mad to see someone put on black face to darken themselves especially someone who is most likely white. Also as for the wig, I was wrong, when I looked at it more closely and on a better monitor than what I have at work I realized what I thought was a wig was a shadow and indeed it appears to be a person with who has very straight, fine hair that is very close cropped and brushed down. That plus the blue-eyes says it is a white dude. If calling out something is out of line then I guess I'm out of line. And as for the "n" word argument someone made I don't see what that has to do with blackface being offensive. Two wrongs don't make a right.
Anon 3
Latina,
You clearly, painfully missed my point. I'm quite familiar with the fact that there are multitudinous cultures in Africa. I'm living in Rwanda right now and have traveled extensively throughout East Africa. What I was hoping you'd pick up on was the idea that to attempt to dress 'African' or even 'East Africa' necessitates reductionism and stereotyping. Could I dress as an "Asian" and put chopsticks in my hair and tape my eyes so they're pulled back to look 'slanty'? I mean really, seriously, these views are ignorant.
I'd also suggest you not make guesses as to how I "feel" about black skin. You know nothing about me, my boyfriend (black), my classmates in high school (black), my former students (black), or my current coworkers (black). Step off.
I'd finally also suggest you educate yourself on the history of black face in America. As if darkening your skin weren't offensive already, people painted their faces with liquefied coal to make it pitch black - an exaggeration of epic proportions for 99.3% of black folks.
How about Fat Bastard from Austin Powers or Nutty Professor? Is that considered offensive to big people? Just wondering ..
eddie murphy does an awesome white guy impression, and i want a better monitor cuz all i know for sure is there is some chick insulting aryans. i can't figure the dude out. maybe he's post racial.
tonyt
the pug
poo poo pe doop,
you forgot about austin power's english smile as well. was that offensive to limeys? shit, is limey an offensive term?
tonyt
the pug
I'm still stunned that anyone can see that photo and think it's a white guy "who has very straight, fine hair that is very close cropped and brushed down", rather than the obvious fact that it's a blue-eyed black man with very, very short "natural" hair.
Guess we all see what we want to see.
Roxanne:
hahhahahahahahha
Besides being overreacting, hypersensitive and bland, you are quite cocky to tell people to educate themselves.
"Dime de que presumes y te dire de lo que careces"
LATINA SIN COMPLEJOS
some of my favorite white actors are black
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