Blackface for Halloween - Acceptable?

Oranage2

So this year I've been thinking as dressing up as a black man. But for some reason I feel uneasy about it this.year which is enough for me to think that black face isn't right.

In Ireland I see no problem with it but I live outside Ireland in a place Halloween isn't really celebrated, so for convenience sake going as say Mr T would be easier than finding a costum. But the Expat community here has many Africans and African Americans. Also blacks are looked down upon by the local people so I feel if I went black face it would be ridiculing black people.

So AH, is black face Okay in your opinion and have you done black face before?

super_furry

Nope. No. Nein. Nay.

Unless you're alright with everyone thinking you're a racist.

AndyBoBandy

Oranage2 wrote: »

So this year I've been thinking as dressing up as a black man. But for some reason I feel uneasy about it this.year which is enough for me to think that black face isn't right.

In Ireland I see no problem with it but I live outside Ireland in a place Halloween isn't really celebrated, so for convenience sake going as say Mr T would be easier than finding a costum. But the Expat community here has many Africans and African Americans. Also blacks are looked down upon by the local people so I feel if I went black face it would be ridiculing black people.

So AH, is black face Okay in your opinion and have you done black face before?

It would all depend on what country/city you were in imo

Wossack

the fact you're even asking, and that you deem it thread-worthy should be a good indicator OP

Autonomous

OP...never go full retard

Banjo String

Are you going as a coal miner op?

darkpagandeath

"Grabs Popcorn"

I'm just going to see how many post's it will take for the PC crew to come in all outraged, And say even the question is Racist.:pac::pac::D

Barely There

Oranage2 wrote: »

So this year I've been thinking as dressing up as a black man. But for some reason I feel uneasy about it

I can't imagine why.

Links234

Banjo String wrote: »

Are you going as a coal miner op?

Don't jump to conclusions, maybe he's going as a chimney sweep?

gramar

There is no reason in the world why you shouldn't go dressed as you want. If people get upset because you dress up as a black personality then that's their fault but unfortunately it might become your problem.

The fact that so many people are 'offended' by people dressing up as black personalities just highlights their own rascism. If they weren't rascist they wouldn't notice.

melted_face

blackface is always racist nqat

darkpagandeath

Links234 wrote: »

Don't jump to conclusions, maybe he's going as a chimney sweep?

Or has on far to much Fake tan.

Uncle Ruckus

Lord have mercy... You obviously never heard of what happened to Kira Markeljc , who cosplayed as Michonne from the Walking Dead.
The internet found her guilty. I think what she did is fine as it was well done and liked the character but why would you want to just do old fashioned blackface and dress up as random black man? Do you think black men are scary? Well maybe if your dressing up as the ghost of Biggie Smalls but that's beside the point.

Uncle Ruckus

Lord have mercy... You obviously never heard of what happened to Kira Markeljc , who cosplayed as Michonne from the Walking Dead.
The internet found her guilty. I think what she did is fine as it was well done and liked the character but why would you want to just do old fashioned blackface and dress up as random black man? Do you think black men are scary? Well maybe if you're dressing up as the ghost of Biggie Smalls but that's beside the point.

RobbingBandit

You need to go full haul with this, a snazzy zoot suit and pimp hat with a yellow or pink feather and an uzi, watch Harlem Nights for inspiration.

As "a black man", no
As "my favourite movie star who happens to be black"... maybe. But probably still get issues over that too

Pumpkinseeds

darkpagandeath wrote: »

Or has on far to much Fake tan.

Often seen on programmes about our nomadic brethrens weddings:D It's weird to see a white bride with an almost black face and orange limbs.

Pumpkinseeds

No OP, it's never OK to black up. It seems to be one of those things that really offends people and why bother putting peoples noses out of joint. Dress up as something else. I remember when Halloween dress up ended at 12 years old.

Mr. CooL ICE

I heard of some priests who dressed up as Diana Ross & The Supremes for a talent show and nobody thought they were racist. I saw it on a documentary, can't remember the name.

Anyway, they didn't win.

whisky_galore

bluewolf wrote: »

As "a black man", no
As "my favourite movie star who happens to be black"... maybe. But probably still get issues over that too

Too much baggage to be worth bothering with, find someone else to dress up as imho.

indigo twist

If you want to dress up as a particular black celebrity, and the makeup is part of the costume - fine.

If you want to slap some black facepaint on and that's your costume - "Hey look at me, I'm black, oh the lols!" ... that's just silly and racist and not funny.

Tiddlypeeps

I think it's stupid that it's seen as something racist. Black face back in the day wasn't just putting black on your face, it was a character played by white people that portrayed black people in a very poor light. There is a world of difference between dressing up as Mr. T and deliberately setting out to portray a bunch of negative black stereotypes. People love to get offended, especially on behalf of other people.

Unfortunately tho this is how it is, putting black on your face for any costume is seen by a lot of people as racist. Even if the reasons for it being considered racist are stupid it doesn't change the fact that you will be seen by a lot of people to be racist. If you aren't ok with that then it's probably best to choose a different costume.

Where you are in the world does make a big difference over how offended people will get by this too. In the US you will probably have people coming up to you and shouting at you. I don't think it used to be a thing in Ireland at all, but it is becoming an increasingly popular thing to get offended about. Probably because of increased exposure to american culture via the internet.

Yamanoto

Of course it's ok.

If a black man wished to dress up as Shane McGowan for example, then comically bad teeth, slurred speech and a deathly pallor would be requires to carry it off successfully. To attend a party as Mr.T would require a similar change of skin tone and an adherence to behaviours and catchphrases associated with that characters persona.

Were someone to dress as a generic black man and act out an ill-judged series of traits and characteristics which they believe captures the essence of an entire race, then that would be cause for taking exception.

REXER

Rather whiten yourself up with white wash, learn to moonwalk and go as Michael Jackson!:D

GreeBo

gramar wrote: »

There is no reason in the world why you shouldn't go dressed as you want. If people get upset because you dress up as a black personality then that's their fault but unfortunately it might become your problem.

The fact that so many people are 'offended' by people dressing up as black personalities just highlights their own rascism. If they weren't rascist they wouldn't notice.

Black Personality != Black Person

"Hey everyone, look at me...I'm black!"

Tokyo

gramar wrote: »

There is no reason in the world why you shouldn't go dressed as you want. If people get upset because you dress up as a black personality then that's their fault but unfortunately it might become your problem.

The fact that so many people are 'offended' by people dressing up as black personalities just highlights their own rascism. If they weren't rascist they wouldn't notice.

Huh? By that logic you'd be fine with me heading out trick-or-treating in full Klan outfit, hood and all? Because only actual racists will be offended??

gramar

GreeBo wrote: »

Black Personality != Black Person

"Hey everyone, look at me...I'm black!"

a black personality is a black person and what the fúck has that got to do with anything....dressing as a black person doesn't have to be racially motivated so why does it have to be racially interpreted.


and could it not be 'hey everyone looks at me I'm Oprah or Mr T or Michael Jordan?

The Backwards Man

Nicolas Cage wrote: »

I heard of some priests who dressed up as Diana Ross & The Supremes for a talent show and nobody thought they were racist. I saw it on a documentary, can't remember the name.

Anyway, they didn't win.

They could have dressed up as Banarama, the 80s ripoff of the Supremes, and not an eyelid would be batted. Who need PC when all you need is common sense?

Donkey Oaty

Have found a costume for you, Orangie, which hopefully ticks all the boxes you are looking for.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2507722/Fury-Amazon-sells-racist-golliwog-outfit-including-costume-wig-mask.html

MileyReilly

Dress up however you want. If a black person dressed up as white no one you bat an eye lid

MileyReilly

Dress up however you want. If a black person dressed up as white no one you bat an eye lid

gramar

mike_ie wrote: »

Huh? By that logic you'd be fine with me heading out trick-or-treating in full Klan outfit, hood and all? Because only actual racists will be offended??

People look for racism where it doesn't exist.
Dressing up as a personality who happens to be black is not offensive.

dan1895

mike_ie wrote: »

Huh? By that logic you'd be fine with me heading out trick-or-treating in full Klan outfit, hood and all? Because only actual racists will be offended??

People will just think your a ghost.

Tokyo

MileyReilly wrote: »

Dress up however you want. If a black person dressed up as white no one you bat an eye lid

If black people had a history of dressing up as white people as a part of minstrel shows, in order to highlight 'oh hey, white people sure are stupid and inferior', they might....

gramar

mike_ie wrote: »

If black people had a history of dressing up as white people as a part of minstrel shows, in order to highlight 'oh hey, white people sure are stupid and inferior', they might....

and until you stop thinking of minstrels everytime you see a person dressed up as a black person we'll never move on.

whisky_galore

mike_ie wrote: »

If black people had a history of dressing up as white people as a part of minstrel shows, in order to highlight 'oh hey, white people sure are stupid and inferior', they might....

For many years minstrel shows were not seen as offensive, even by black people. Weird as it seems even black people 'blacked up' to perform in them and they were the origins of what was to become jazz music. Still, I wouldn't be 100% comfortable about going as someone black, a celeb or otherwise.

GG66

If you think you're at risk of offending people then don't do it. It's a "party".

Besides unless you're very muscular, willing to shave your hair it's going to be a lame costume.

And you could always go in your own skin and let people use their imagination.

http://i.imgur.com/41UmEmw.jpg

Generic Dreadhead

I have dreadlocks and I'm white.
If I "Blackface", would that be considered a better, worse or equal "Blackface" no a non-dreadlocked "Blackfacer"?

darkpagandeath

Cormac... wrote: »

I have dreadlocks and I'm white.
If I "Blackface", would that be considered a better, worse or equal "Blackface" no a non-dreadlocked "Blackfacer"?

I think you just made the PC crews heads explode. :pac:

SpaceTime

If you're asking the question, you know it's probably dodgy.

Put it another way, how would you feel if Americans went around dressing up as 'thick stereotypical paddies' on Halloween?

Going around shouting "oh begoragh and bejeepers amin't I Irish to be sure to be sure!"

That's pretty much what you'd be doing.

Also, why would dressing up as a 'black man' have anything to do with halloween?

(me smells a troll)

darkpagandeath

SpaceTime wrote: »

If you're asking the question, you know it's probably dodgy.

Put it another way, how would you feel if Americans went around dressing up as 'thick stereotypical paddies' on Halloween?

Going around shouting "oh begoragh and bejeepers amin't I Irish to be sure to be sure!"

That's pretty much what you'd be doing.

We do that ourselves on Paddy's day. And we go out of our way to promote the leprechaun stereotype. So i don't think you can compare it. Just think of the lost sales of red hair green hats and so on.

Celly Smunt

I find it funny how we're not supposed to see that black people actually have dark skin.

wendell borton

Dress up as an orange man. All you need is bowler hat and a sash.

suicide_circus

Celly Smunt wrote: »

I find it funny how we're not supposed to see that black people actually have dark skin.

Racist Bastard

The_Valeyard

A few lads I know went as the jamacian Bob slay team. Made there own slay and blackened up their faces. Had the jumpsuits n all.

No one was offended by it at the party.


One Nigerian lad used white paint on his face and a wig to pull off Albert Einstein, Was I meant to be offended at that?

People need to stop inventing racism. There is a difference in going as a character, celebrities, or famous person, than 'random black/white guy'

Tiddlypeeps

SpaceTime wrote: »

If you're asking the question, you know it's probably dodgy.

Put it another way, how would you feel if Americans went around dressing up as 'thick stereotypical paddies' on Halloween?

Going around shouting "oh begoragh and bejeepers amin't I Irish to be sure to be sure!"

That's pretty much what you'd be doing.

Also, why would dressing up as a 'black man' have anything to do with halloween?

(me smells a troll)

How is dressing up as Mr. T, a specific (as far as I'm aware) non-offensive black guy in any way comparable to dressing up as a negative stereotype? Are you saying being black itself is a negative stereotype or that Mr. T is for some reason the embodiment of black stereotypes?

Or did you fail to read passed the first sentence of the OP before your outrage meter exploded to see that his intention was to dress as Mr. T and not just a "black man".

RoboRat

Some people will always find a way to find racism and get incensed about it. I abhor racism but there are some moral warriors out there who look for any reason to get on their soapbox and prove how 'racially aware' they are.

Best example I encountered was when I dressed up as the hulk 3 years ago, the green was quite dark but it was green. Was in an club and some idiot starts yelling at me that I'm a racist prick etc. I am actually in bits laughing and he keeps at it getting more and more incensed... its almost coming to blows and I can't stop laughing. Finally he cottons on to the fact that I am actually green and he is in fact an absolute spoon of epic proportions and makes a swift exit.

If you are dressing up as a personality, say Mr. T, no problem. If you are dressing up as a generic 'black man' then thats racist.

RoboRat

Put it another way, how would you feel if Americans went around dressing up as 'thick stereotypical paddies' on Halloween?

Going around shouting "oh begoragh and bejeepers amin't I Irish to be sure to be sure!"

They keep that for St. Patricks day

Generic Dreadhead

Cormac... wrote: »

I have dreadlocks and I'm white.
If I "Blackface", would that be considered a better, worse or equal "Blackface" no a non-dreadlocked "Blackfacer"?

darkpagandeath wrote: »

I think you just made the PC crews heads explode. :pac:

Take that PC Crew :pac:

Dravokivich

Worked for Gene Wilder in Silver Streak.

Mr. CooL ICE

Cormac... wrote: »

I have dreadlocks and I'm white.
If I "Blackface", would that be considered a better, worse or equal "Blackface" no a non-dreadlocked "Blackfacer"?

There be nothing wrong with dat, mon