Blacking up? Racist? Yay or Nay?

The Master · 12-10-2008 5:03pm #1

A friend of mine plans on dressing up for Halloween as either

Mr. T
Or
Robert Downy Jr from Tropic Thunder

He(my friend) is white and intends on "blacking up" for the night

Will he get the laughs he's hoping for?
Or get the ****e kicked out of him?

Biggins · 12-10-2008 5:06pm

In this day and age on Irish streets and our new immigrants - get the ****e kicked out of him.

I honestly wouldn't do it.

MagicMarker · 12-10-2008 5:07pm

The Master wrote: »

A friend of mine plans on dressing up for Halloween as either

Mr. T
Or
Robert Downy Jr from Tropic Thunder

He(my friend) is white and intends on "blacking up" for the night

Will he get the laughs he's hoping for?
Or get the ****e kicked out of him?

I don't think he'll get his ass kicked...... unless he decides to carry around a bucket of fried chicken.

Prof.Badass · 12-10-2008 5:09pm

YORE MA really wanted me to black up for her last night

!

4zn76tysfajdxp · 12-10-2008 5:10pm

vinylmesh wrote: »

YORE MA really wanted me to black up for her last night !

Double posting fail.

Op: Your friend will be murdered.

The Master · 12-10-2008 5:11pm

vinylmesh wrote: »

YORE MA really wanted me to black up for her last night!

vinylmesh wrote: »

YORE MA really wanted me to black up for her last night !

Double fail mate tbh

I told him he's asking for trouble blacking up , but at the same time I think it'll be hilarious

Wurly · 12-10-2008 5:11pm

I can't see how anyone would think this is racist.

He is trying to imitate someone who is a different colour to him so he is obviously going to darken his skin colour to pull off the image.

Like - I wouldn't leave my hair brown if I was going to dress up as cleopatra. I'd wear a black wig..

It'd be like dressing up as Mr T and not wearing any jewellery!

The Mighty Ken · 12-10-2008 5:13pm

He'll be murdered and he'll get the crap kicked out of him? Don't be so incredibly idiotic.

No, it's not racist.

HalloweenJack · 12-10-2008 5:14pm

If he wants to go the whole hog and portray one of those two, then he'll have to do something about his skin colour and his mannerisms (I'm guessing). That's not racist.

If he's doing it to take the piss out of black people, then he's racist.

orestes · 12-10-2008 5:19pm

Didn't 6th dress up as Mr. T for the Halloween beers last year? Wore the full get up (dungarees, chains, etc) and dark make-up iirc

I fail to see how it is racist for a white person to darken their skin if they are dressing up as someone who happens to be black

best boardsie · 12-10-2008 5:20pm

I was gonna dress up in a nazi uniform, is that bad?

MagicMarker · 12-10-2008 5:22pm

best boardsie wrote: »

I was gonna dress up in a nazi uniform, is that bad?

Ask Prince Harry.

orestes · 12-10-2008 5:23pm

best boardsie wrote: »

I was gonna dress up in a nazi uniform, is that bad?

Personally I think Nazi uniforms are sexy, but that's a completely different conversation for another day

Mena · 12-10-2008 5:26pm

I'm not sure I understand the question... Why the hell would this be classed as racist?

/boggle

4zn76tysfajdxp · 12-10-2008 5:27pm

The Mighty Ken wrote: »

Don't be so incredibly idiotic.

No. I'm just saying that some people might see it in the same way as blackface and will hurt him. I don't think it's the same as blackface, I'm saying other people will. Especially drunk people.

Stercus Accidit · 12-10-2008 5:29pm

Don't see it as racist, if anything, its a brilliant costume, mr.t would be proud.

The downey junior idea is shit though.

best boardsie · 12-10-2008 5:30pm

MagicMarker wrote: »

Ask Prince Harry.

he won't add me as a friend on his facebook

Aodan83 · 12-10-2008 5:30pm

There shouldnt be anything wrong with it. It's just making sure the costume is accurate. On the other hand, there will always be some eejit who will make a huge fuss, claiming its racist. I dont see anything wrong with it, how can he be racist if hes dressing up as a black guy? And not in a way that would be takin the piss from the person. Surely that would be paying homage to the charcter!

orestes wrote: »

Personally I think Nazi uniforms are sexy, but that's a completely different conversation for another day

Thats a little disturbing.

Leonid · 12-10-2008 5:36pm

I remember seeing in a local paper a man who did the whole black skin and afro costume for a fancy dress party. It was in a fairly rural area and so he was not counting on an actual black person being present at the party.
He looked quite sheepish and uncomfortable in the photos, it was funny for everyone else though. I'd say he probably toned down the jive talking and fried chicken/watermelon jokes.

12-10-2008 5:37pm

Some of you may be old enough to remember this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIga4I3Nchw

Nevyn · 12-10-2008 5:45pm

It depends on how it's done and why, if he is dressing up as a well enough known charcther who happesns to be black fair enough there is a difference between that and blacking up minstral style or in a way which is seen to be demeaning.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_and_white_minstrel

MIN2511 · 12-10-2008 5:52pm

Big deal.... Am black and i am dressing up as a member of KKK

It's halloween if people don't see the joke then they should f*** off

Tell your friend Mr T would be legend!!!!

RugbyFanatic · 12-10-2008 6:04pm

Im dressing up as barack Obama

tony1kenobi · 12-10-2008 6:13pm

It's only racist if someone who thinks it's racist sees it and says it's racist, and then only for the amount of time it takes someone else to tell that person to cop on/**** off.

Caoimhín · 12-10-2008 6:19pm

Not racist, funny but not racist.

Caoimhín · 12-10-2008 6:21pm

MIN2511 wrote: »

Big deal.... Am black and i am dressing up as a member of KKK

It's halloween if people don't see the joke then they should f*** off

Tell your friend Mr T would be legend!!!!

You Sir, are the legend.

Tha Gopher · 12-10-2008 6:42pm

The Master wrote: »

He(my friend) is white and intends on "blacking up" for the night

Will he get the laughs he's hoping for?
Or get the ****e kicked out of him?

Unless the party is on Saturday night in The Vaults or the middle floor in Spirit, no, I shouldnt think so. And even if it was I cant imagine he would.

Really, who the **** is going to take offence?

Tar.Aldarion · 12-10-2008 6:51pm

Depends on how much watermelon you use.
If none, it is racist, because that's just not realistic.

AckwelFoley · 12-10-2008 7:37pm

Well it depends..

Will he be carrying a plasma tv and yer bike?

Stereo types say they like bikes.

Then it would be racist...

.. and then your mate would deserve to get his ass kicked...

but then they could end up on the front page of the sunday world for kcking the crap out of a "black guy"

hmm.. tough one.

Caoimhín · 12-10-2008 7:43pm

snyper wrote: »

Stereo types say they like bikes.

Your thinking of travelers. Travelers like bikes, or is that gates...

Im thinking of gates.

Not racist.

Jet Black · 12-10-2008 7:44pm

vinylmesh wrote: »

YORE MA really wanted me to black up for her last night !

Francisco Damaged Streetlight wrote: »

Double posting fail.

Hey theres nothing wrong with a bit of DP. Especially with yore ma:D

stovelid · 12-10-2008 7:52pm

Mr T is a cop-out. You need an Irish theme:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I15pXyM0dl8

mumhaabu · 12-10-2008 7:52pm

I'd say do it with a bottle of Grape soda, KFC Bucket and Ghetto Blaster on the shoulder! Who would kick the Sh1t out of ya for that? Or else watch those old Abrakebabra ads for inspiration!

Karl Hungus · 12-10-2008 7:53pm

Was Al Pachino racist for playing a Cuban in Scarface or a Puerto-Rican in Carlito's Way, when he's Italian-American?

There's nothing racist about playing a character of another ethnicity, unless it's done in a way intended to insult or cause offense.

tony1kenobi · 12-10-2008 7:59pm

Karl Hungus wrote: »

unless it's done in a way intended to insult or cause offense.

Any film Al Pacino made in the last 15 years........

Archeron · 12-10-2008 7:59pm

Minstrelry. What an odd word. Even spellchecker doesn't think its real.

12-10-2008 8:04pm

Mr. T would be awesomely awesome... awesome!

And if anyone calls it racist they're retards. I imagine the conversation would be like this:

Some PC guy: Hey, thats racist!

Your friend: how?

Some PC guy: Cos you're being black. you racist!

Your friend: Shut up fool! i've had enough of your crazy talk. and if you open your mouth at me again, im gonna introduce to my friend... PAIN! ARGHH!!

Then he'd throw the guy throug the air and he'd land in a load of boxes.

FruitLover · 12-10-2008 8:07pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Your friend: Shut up fool! i've had enough of your crazy talk. and if you open your mouth at me again, im gonna introduce to my friend... PAIN! ARGHH!!

"enough of your jibber-jabber" would be better, I think.

Dancor · 12-10-2008 8:08pm

Im actually attending a Halloween feast as Mr.T, I didnt think it was a popular choice

there was me thinking im being original :rolleyes:

Karl Hungus · 12-10-2008 8:10pm

FruitLover wrote: »

"enough of your jibber-jabber" would be better, I think.

Or tell them "Pool's closed" :pac:

Bob the Builder · 12-10-2008 8:30pm

If that's racist, then I'm racist against nuns.

Last year, going to a halloween party, told everyone the week before "jaze, might come as a nun on thursday night". On thursday, I arrived early thinking my costume was better than all the rest, then a whole stream of other nuns walked into the room. Fúcking pricks stole my idea.

Piste · 12-10-2008 8:55pm

Tell him to go as a Golliwog- far more original!

MIN2511 · 12-10-2008 9:07pm

Piste wrote: »

Tell him to go as a Golliwog- far more original!

Britlliant!

Collie D · 12-10-2008 10:40pm

tony1kenobi wrote: »

Any film Al Pacino made in the last 15 years........

How old is Heat?

Karl Hungus · 12-10-2008 11:11pm

tony1kenobi wrote: »

Any film Al Pacino made in the last 15 years........

Merchant of Venice tbh. Pacino as Shylock = win.

ronnie3585 · 12-10-2008 11:20pm

I blacked up last Halloween. Did a pretty decent Phil Lynott if I do say so myself. Didn't have anyone refer to it as racist all night. Met a couple of black guys at the taxi rank at the end of the night, they though it was hilarious!

Thinking of going as a golliwog this year, that might be crossing the line though?

arybvtcw0eolkf · 13-10-2008 10:49am

best boardsie wrote: »

I was gonna dress up in a nazi uniform, is that bad?

Your a gas man :pac:

Hail 2 Da Chimp · 13-10-2008 10:53am

The Master wrote: »

Will he get the laughs he's hoping for?
Or get the ****e kicked out of him?

Myself and a mate dressed up as minstrels (The two minstrels from Little Britain) a few years ago. Sounded like a great idea when we were drunk but we got a load of racist abuse shouted at us and as soon as we walked into the pub, a huge black guy walked up beside us when we were ordering our first pint. He did not see the funny side!

All in all though it was a great night.

javaboy · 13-10-2008 10:54am

Mairt wrote: »

Your a gas man :pac:

Yeah he's a gas man alright to give him his Jews dues.

On topic, no it's not racist. Dressing up as a celebrity and deliberately leaving out one of the most defining features of their physical appearance out of some misplaced concern for offending people is just stupid. Black up and black up good.

biko · 13-10-2008 10:57am

MIN2511 wrote: »

Big deal.... Am black and i am dressing up as a member of KKK

Dress ideas attached

ScumLord · 13-10-2008 11:19am

Would it be racist to dress up as a racist and use racist remarks but always under the guise of the racist and not meaning any of it yourself personally?

Blacking up? Racist? Yay or Nay?

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