Is blacking up for Halloween Racist?

RichieC

I'm being told on another forum it is. A mate dressed up as a hilarious Mr T and according to the sickeningly liberal American forumites my mate is basically Hitler!

what say you!

eta mr t outfit

Siuin

No way. My brother and his friend went as Venus and Serena Williams last year, and I think everyone appreciated that it was just for the craic. Of course, the tennis balls down their tank tops did help.

jaffacakesyum

No of course not. Just the same way a black person dressing up as a white person isn't racist.

No doubt there's a ton of people out there who think it is racist though :rolleyes:

Turtyturd

Black Hitler would be a good costume.

seanybiker

Well Mr t is black so there be no point turning up white.

dlofnep

No, it's not racist. Intent is key.

hondasam

No it's not racist.

pickarooney

What were the results of this the last two years in a row when the question came up?

Eathrin

Did a fancy dress before where you were assigned people, so a couple had to turn up as Barrack and Michelle Obama.
What would you expect them to do?

RichieC

dlofnep wrote: »

No, it's not racist. Intent is key.

That's what I'm saying, but try and tell that to a new york times reading yank...

Gummy Panda

RichieC wrote: »

I'm being told on another forum it is. A mate dressed up as a hilarious Mr T and according to the sickeningly liberal American forumites my mate is basically Hitler!

what say you!

If Robert Downey Jr can do it, then it's good enough for me.

Batsy

RichieC wrote: »

I'm being told on another forum it is. A mate dressed up as a hilarious Mr T and according to the sickeningly liberal American forumites my mate is basically Hitler!

what say you!

Don't let liberals get you down. They are the ones who should be pitied. I feel quite sorry for them.

staker

Siuin wrote: »

No way. My brother and his friend went as Venus and Serena Williams last year, and I think everyone appreciated that it was just for the craic. Of course, the tennis balls down their tank tops did help.

Just confirmed what I always suspected:eek:

My name is URL

Anything goes on Halloween.

Oranage2

It depends really - it's not racist to go as African American. However it is racist to go as African African!

max 73

I pity the fool......

Jesus Wept

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Mkf1dcmwkc

senorwipesalot

Its fine.Heres a pic of my halloween party last year.
http://www.google.ie/imgres?q=black+and+white+minstrels&hl=en&biw=1280&bih=813&tbm=isch&tbnid=I7SGGRloYc3cCM:&imgrefurl=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7681669.stm&docid=PwSpxjR_9I1XMM&imgurl=http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45128000/jpg/_45128091_386f29cb-bc3d-4337-b63f-9ebedccf99cb.jpg&w=226&h=170&ei=36itTp-0MsjJhAewqZ28Dw&zoom=1

ball

There's an Asian guy that dresses up as a leprechaun in Temple Bar and on Grafton St. That's not racist is it?

It's not racist.

But I do think it's distasteful in that it's the kind of thing that isn't worth the chance of upsetting someone.

Clare Bear

Saw this on someone's Facebook last week.

http://3432-philly.voxcdn.com/files/2011/10/not-a-costume-its-a-culture.jpg


But Mr T is always the best costume every year

My name is URL

Play it safe and go as a black guy dressed as a white guy dressing as Mr. T

Hande hoche!

Black face can be very tastefully done like lethal weapon five.

Spunge

Clare Bear wrote: »

Saw this on someone's Facebook last week.

http://3432-philly.voxcdn.com/files/2011/10/not-a-costume-its-a-culture.jpg


But Mr T is always the best costume every year

retarded campaign

Hande hoche!

Spunge wrote: »

retarded campaign

Well said http://cdn.fd.uproxx.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Lobster-dog-not-okay.jpg

LighterGuy

I tell you, this world is getting more mad by the minute. You cant say or do anything without some poxy wa*ker getting "offended"

RichieC

Clare Bear wrote: »

Saw this on someone's Facebook last week.

http://3432-philly.voxcdn.com/files/2011/10/not-a-costume-its-a-culture.jpg


But Mr T is always the best costume every year

they linked me to this on that site like I give a christ...

Killer Wench

I find it to be extremely racist since people rely on stereotypes in order to make their characters. It is just buffoonery and it is insulting to me as I don't have the option of washing away my brown skin at the end of the night yet you think it is funny to laugh at the darkness of my skin, the coarseness of my hair, the color of my lips?

In the States, there were was a period of time when Minstrel Shows were incredibly popular. A minstrel show featured White actors who would paint their skin black, color their lips red or white, and then shuffle onto stage with the purpose of mocking Black people. They would portray Blacks as being lazy, incredibly joyful individuals, who would rather rape, sing, or dance than to make an honest living or support their families. At the same time these minstrel shows were popular, the Klan was terrorizing Black communities, Blacks could not exercise their right to vote, and they could not even enter these theaters where these Minstrel Shows were being shown.

It is about White privilege. It is about appropriating a historically oppressed community for the purpose of mockery and entertainment. It says that my culture and our legacy is up for sale and can be easily manipulated for the needs of an audience.

I had a similiar conversation with friends. This eventually came to me wondering how Irish people feel about Americans dressing up as drunken Irish people for Halloween. I asked a few Irish people how they would feel and they said it would be a great laugh. Of course, some of you may see differently, and I'd like to know, but it appears to just be a cultural difference.

MyKeyG

It does seem things like this is getting more and more anti PC in some opinions. We had a dress up party for Fourth of July in one of our tag league socials this summer and our Captain wore an Obama mask and blacked up his hands. The black guy on our team thought it was hilarious. We asked him why he didn't dress up and he said he had come as Will Smith.

It was all in good fun and there was no harm done. IMO it's the people who have a problem with it that are themselves being narrow minded.

MyKeyG

Killer Wench wrote: »

I find it to be extremely racist since people rely on stereotypes in order to make their characters. It is just buffoonery and it is insulting to me as I don't have the option of washing away my brown skin at the end of the night yet you think it is funny to laugh at the darkness of my skin, the coarseness of my hair, the color of my lips?

In the States, there were was a period of time when Minstrel Shows were incredibly popular. A minstrel show featured White actors who would paint their skin black, color their lips red or white, and then shuffle onto stage with the purpose of mocking Black people. They would portray Blacks as being lazy, incredibly joyful individuals, who would rather rape, sing, or dance than to make an honest living or support their families. At the same time these minstrel shows were popular, the Klan was terrorizing Black communities, Blacks could not exercise their right to vote, and they could not even enter these theaters where these Minstrel Shows were being shown.

I think you're being a little bit extreme. In the examples you state there was an attempt by unenlightened people to use stereotypes to blatantly offend a particular race. People dressing as black characters for Halloween is not done out of malice or in order to resurrect a period of oppression. Nobody is dressing as a lazy/raping/singing/dancing black.

It is about White privilege. It is about appropriating a historically oppressed community for the purpose of mockery and entertainment. It says that my culture and our legacy is up for sale and can be easily manipulated for the needs of an audience.

Who are you to second guess peoples motives? If I choose to dress as Snoop Dog because he's my favourite artist who are you to say I'm doing it to mock the black race for the purposes of entertainment?

The only person here empowering stereotype from my point of view my friend is you!

hawkelady

anyone who thinks its "racist" have too much time on their hands tbh..
I'd have no issue with a black dude dipping himself in a vat of flour or dulux white gloss and go out on halloween pretending to be Micheal Jackson,oh bad analogy, also, i'd have no issue with a white dude purchasing several tubs of boot polish and pretending to be Bill Cosby for all I care.. I will belly laugh either way....
If he was to do it numerous times thoughout the year it might be a bit strange.. Its Halloween ffs

wobbles

Know a bunch of lads who went to a fancy dress party (granted it wasnt halloween) dressed as the KKK. They got some funny looks alright, and were stopped going into the club where the party was as the bouncers thought it inappropriate. Little did they know 2 of the group were black so when they showed the bouncers this, they let them in.

If its done in good fun, it shouldnt matter at all what you dress as

busyliving

I wonder would anyone think twice about a black person dressing up as a white person...which I wouldn't have any issues with, and I don't see why dressing up as a black person is wrong...as long as your not dressed up as a black cotton picker, now that would be over the line I'd reckon

hawkelady

deep voice,,,,,,Oh Lordy pick a bale........ and Born on a Sunday when the sun didnt shine.....

Both classics!!!

woodoo

No way

Be||e

People dress up as Mr T because they think he's cool as fcuk... :cool:

Not because they are trying to mock his race/skin colour.

Killer Wench

MyKeyG wrote: »

I think you're being a little bit extreme. In the examples you state there was an attempt by unenlightened people to use stereotypes to blatantly offend a particular race. People dressing as black characters for Halloween is not done out of malice or in order to resurrect a period of oppression. Nobody is dressing as a lazy/raping/singing/dancing black.

Who are you to second guess peoples motives? If I choose to dress as Snoop Dog because he's my favourite artist who are you to say I'm doing it to mock the black race for the purposes of entertainment?

The only person here empowering stereotype from my point of view my friend is you!

Yep, I think it is mockery, my new best friend forever. First, if Snoop Dogg was your favorite artist, I would highly doubt that you would misspell his name. Secondly, I can't fathom a rational adult choosing to dress like Snoop Dogg unless they wanted to emulate particular illegal activities that he happens to embrace. Snoop Dogg is an artist who has developed a following because of his own outlandish behavior. So, you are saying that you'd like to be a Black pimp? Or, perhaps a Black drug dealer? Or, a Black gangsta rapper? Hmm... they seem to be stereotypes to me, and he has openly embraced these stereotypes for his own economic end. Frankly, most people who think Snoop is the greatest thing since pre-sliced bread tend to not be Black.

There is a difference between intent and impact. It may have been that your intent was innocent but it does not mean that it did not offend or harm another person. I mention the minstrel show because this is the primary reason that Blackface is a taboo art form in the US; we have had centuries of racially oppressing Black folk.

So, this may be a cultural difference that I won't dismiss, and you should not dismiss either, but if an Englishman dressed up as a drunken Irishman for Halloween, would it be offensive or not?

pickarooney

Killer Wench wrote: »

Yep, I think it is mockery, my new best friend forever. First, if Snoop Dogg was your favorite artist, I would highly doubt that you would misspell his name. Secondly, I can't fathom a rational adult choosing to dress like Snoop Dogg unless they wanted to emulate particular illegal activities that he happens to embrace. Snoop Dogg is an artist who has developed a following because of his own outlandish behavior. So, you are saying that you'd like to be a Black pimp? Or, perhaps a Black drug dealer? Or, a Black gangsta rapper? Hmm... they seem to be stereotypes to me, and he has openly embraced these stereotypes for his own economic end. Frankly, most people who think Snoop is the greatest thing since pre-sliced bread tend to not be Black.

There is a difference between intent and impact. It may have been that your intent was innocent but it does not mean that it did not offend or harm another person. I mention the minstrel show because this is the primary reason that Blackface is a taboo art form in the US; we have had centuries of racially oppressing Black folk.

So, this may be a cultural difference that I won't dismiss, and you should not dismiss either, but if an Englishman dressed up as a drunken Irishman for Halloween, would it be offensive or not?

You're either too obtuse to grasp the fundamental difference between dressing up as a person who has black skin and dressing up as a stereotype for the purpose of mockery... or you're just ****ing with us.

mikemac

Yep, those Minstrel shows were incredibly racist

Lyons Tea turned generations of Irish people into racists

OutlawPete

Yes and so are car batteries as it is has black down as being a minus and when playing pool, does every colour really have to dominated and controlled by the 'white' ball. Angels have to wear white, witches black. White for wedding, black for a funeral. Then there's blackmail, blackballed, black market, black magic, black listed, black sheep etc etc - wake up people!

We're told that God said in John 3:17: "I say unto you, you are what you are!"

Course, I heard that the truth was that what God really said was: ""I say unto you, you is what you is!"

pacquiao

RichieC wrote: »

I'm being told on another forum it is. A mate dressed up as a hilarious Mr T and according to the sickeningly liberal American forumites my mate is basically Hitler!

what say you!

eta mr t outfit

The very fact that you have to ask such a question makes me cringe and proves people really are afraid of being individuals.

phasers

I dressed as Obama a couple of years ago and my black friends thought it was cool.

I think as long as you're not doing the golliwog thing then you're grand

Killer Wench

pickarooney wrote: »

You're either too obtuse to grasp the fundamental difference between dressing up as a person who has black skin and dressing up as a stereotype for the purpose of mockery... or you're just ****ing with us.

The OP asked whether it was racist to "blacken up" for Halloween and from this Black person's experience and perspective, hell yes it is. Now, I also have a different cultural and historical context than most members on this board. I grew up in the Black American community, have been the subject of Black jokes, and I have been in the uncomfortable situation where a White person has dressed up as someone liked me, but their only cultural context has been what they have seen on the television. If what you only know about Black folk is what you have observed through music and television, than your good hearted intentions will have a negative impact because it is based upon a) ignorance and b) arrogance.

Do not be insulting or condescending because you fail to understand where I am coming from or because you refuse to want to look at your actions and see how they may have a negative impact in spite of your best intentions. You want to have a productive dialogue, then keep this **** civil.

take everything

phasers wrote: »

I dressed as Obama a couple of years ago and my black friends thought it was cool.

Why.
There's nothing scary about Obama.
Going as OJ (the year of his trial), for example, would be more apt for Halloween.

pickarooney

Killer Wench wrote: »

The OP asked whether it was racist to "blacken up" for Halloween and from this Black person's experience and perspective, hell yes it is. Now, I also have a different cultural and historical context than most members on this board. I grew up in the Black American community, have been the subject of Black jokes, and I have been in the uncomfortable situation where a White person has dressed up as someone liked me, but their only cultural context has been what they have seen on the television. If what you only know about Black folk is what you have observed through music and television, than your good hearted intentions will have a negative impact because it is based upon a) ignorance and b) arrogance.

Do not be insulting or condescending because you fail to understand where I am coming from or because you refuse to want to look at your actions and see how they may have a negative impact in spite of your best intentions. You want to have a productive dialogue, then keep this **** civil.

The OP asked about dressing as Mr. T; you built the tar-baby straw-man and lit it. People who seek out opportunities to get offended on behalf of others do nothing to promote racial harmony.

enfant terrible

What's wrong with being racy?

Cianos

Killer Wench wrote: »

The OP asked whether it was racist to "blacken up" for Halloween and from this Black person's experience and perspective, hell yes it is. Now, I also have a different cultural and historical context than most members on this board. I grew up in the Black American community, have been the subject of Black jokes, and I have been in the uncomfortable situation where a White person has dressed up as someone liked me, but their only cultural context has been what they have seen on the television. If what you only know about Black folk is what you have observed through music and television, than your good hearted intentions will have a negative impact because it is based upon a) ignorance and b) arrogance.

Do not be insulting or condescending because you fail to understand where I am coming from or because you refuse to want to look at your actions and see how they may have a negative impact in spite of your best intentions. You want to have a productive dialogue, then keep this **** civil.

Is it racist for a black person to dress up as a white person, and why/why not?

MyKeyG

Killer Wench wrote: »

Yep, I think it is mockery, my new best friend forever. First, if Snoop Dogg was your favorite artist, I would highly doubt that you would misspell his name. Secondly, I can't fathom a rational adult choosing to dress like Snoop Dogg unless they wanted to emulate particular illegal activities that he happens to embrace. Snoop Dogg is an artist who has developed a following because of his own outlandish behavior. So, you are saying that you'd like to be a Black pimp? Or, perhaps a Black drug dealer? Or, a Black gangsta rapper?

The word obtuse has been used to describe you already and I think it's very apt! I was using him as an example to describe the difference between dressing up as a character and intentionally trying to offend a race FFS:rolleyes:

There is a difference between intent and impact. It may have been that your intent was innocent but it does not mean that it did not offend or harm another person.

Taking offence in an otherwise innocent act has more to do with you I think than the person responsible for the alleged offence.

For example I could claim your Boards id uses a very sexist expression used to degrade women but I realise I have no idea why you chose it therefore I don't judge!

So, this may be a cultural difference that I won't dismiss, and you should not dismiss either, but if an Englishman dressed up as a drunken Irishman for Halloween, would it be offensive or not?

Honest answer, and I hope it explains my point. For me there's a great difference between having fun and making fun. If an English person dressed up as a drunken Irish eejit I would like to think I had the good grace, maturity and sense to appreciate the comedy since I know that not all Irish are drunks as often portrayed no more than blacks are any of the characterisations you've said have been used to describe them.

The only person linking dressing up as any given black character to oppression and stereotype is you.

Don't you agree there's enough racism in the world without looking for it in every nook and cranny?

crazygeryy

If it is racist it's pc gone absolutely mad.

Logical Fallacy

Turtyturd wrote: »

Black Hitler would be a good costume.

Blitler.

phasers

take everything wrote: »

Why.
There's nothing scary about Obama.
Going as OJ (the year of his trial), for example, would be more apt for Halloween.

There's nothing scary about a slutty cat either but I don't hear men bitching then.