Offensive to dress up as black person for Halloween?

misstierney

Hello everyone,

I would just like people's opinions on this. For Halloween this year my friend and I were going to dress up as black women, (similar to the character from Big Momma's House). Is that offensive to black people to do that? We certainly don't want to offend or upset anyone, I personally can't see the offence in it but one of my other friends thinks it is highly offensive and very politically incorrect.

I guess I just want the general consensus, I would hate to go ahead with the idea then find I'd upset a whole lot of people when I'm actually out

Being black isn't a costume.

I'm sure many people wouldn't find it offensive, but there are many who will.

Noxin

See a white guy dressed up as Mr.T a few years back. Full makeup and outfit. Best thing I've ever seen.

The club had a competition for best costume and he won it. Classic stuff.

Manach

Halloween is a time for flauting convention somewhat. There has been no major invasion of Ireland with the subsequent penal laws stating thou shalt not dress as such. Anyone who is likely to be offended is likely somewhere protesting the ill-treatment of witches in today's society :rolleyes:

Emme

This is difficult. It all depends on the context of the costume. You could dress up as Obama, Bob Marley, Ophrah Winfrey or Beyonce (well known black people) and it would be no big deal.

If a group got together and decided to dress up as different nationalities there wouldn't be a problem.

If you dressed up as a black person for the sake of dressing up as a black person I would consider it strange.

I would think it's better to dress up as an identifiable black character like Beyonce or Obama for the sake of being Beyonce or Obama, not being black.

Herrick

There's nothing offensive about it, it's a bloody costume.

Anyone thats feels "offened" at such a thing should be told fcuk off, get a life and lighten up.

People getting "offended" over such small, irrelevant, silly things are a pure pain in the hole.

PickledLime

I don't see a problem, (but it takes a lot to offend me, I think people should just learn to relax more), but that's the sort of thing that probably will offend someone you run into. And you might even run into the over sensitive types who'll probably think you're racist.

So if that thought bothers you, it's probably best not to.

Peregrinus

Thing is, if somebody's offended it really doesn't make any difference whether you think they ought to be offended or not. They're still offended.

And, yes, people will be offended. The history of black stereotypes and black caricatures means that blacking up evokes unpleasant associations in a way that just doesn't arise if you dress up as a witch or a ghoul or any of the more conventional Hallowe'en figures. You might wish that people could get past this, and you might even think that they ought to be able to get past this, but that's not really the point, is it?

TommiesTank

Go for it, ignore the PC Brigade.

Starscream25

offensive.fair enough if its a popular figure, but just to go as a black person is wrong on so many levels.sure some people might think its fun and think others should lighten up if they find it offensive and chances are you won't encounter anyone who will verbalise an issue with the 'costume', but if its a teeny bopper Halloween event that should be grand as unawareness and or ignorance of historical events should be ripe.

TommiesTank

OP is presumably in Ireland, not sure why you would worry too much either way.

About as offensive as the film 'White Girls' I would suggest.

stampydmonkey

My brother dressed up as kirk lasarus in tropic thunder for Halloween a few years back..was hilarious. Screw convention..Halloween is for invention

Starscream25

Id just be of the opinion that the world is a well ****ed up place, full of nutters and backward thinking folk who would use any reason to cause a fuss. in a perfect world sure, dress up or be whoever or whatever takes your fancy. But unfortunately the world ain't a perfect place.
Sure that white girls film is set up to be and is a comedy. People who head out to socialise are not always in the comedic mood.

dripple

Herrick wrote: »

There's nothing offensive about it, it's a bloody costume.

Anyone thats feels "offened" at such a thing should be told fcuk off, get a life and lighten up.

People getting "offended" over such small, irrelevant, silly things are a pure pain in the hole.

i think asking the question is offensive lol

norrie rugger

tejo wrote: »

robp

tejo wrote: »

No its not a culture, its a variant of about 20 genes. Skin colour is not a culture. African Americanism is a culture tho and I can understand it being slightly offensive IN America to dress up as a generic African American because it may mock a culture, just like dressing up as a Roma might be a little offensive in parts of Europe. In my opinion dressing as a specific black person shouldn't be taboo in Ireland. We just don't have America's history and we don't need to import it. What would people think of English dressing up as a cliché Irish person?