Blackface for Halloween - Acceptable?

gramar · 28-10-2014 12:07PM

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 · 28-10-2014 12:07PM

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 · 28-10-2014 12:08PM

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 · 28-10-2014 12:14PM

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 · 28-10-2014 12:19PM

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 · 28-10-2014 12:29PM

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 · 28-10-2014 12:33PM

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 · 28-10-2014 12:35PM

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 · 28-10-2014 12:35PM

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 · 28-10-2014 12:37PM

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 · 28-10-2014 12:37PM

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

wendell borton · 28-10-2014 12:39PM

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

suicide_circus · 28-10-2014 12:43PM

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 · 28-10-2014 12:54PM

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 · 28-10-2014 01:00PM

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 · 28-10-2014 01:06PM

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 · 28-10-2014 01:08PM

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 · 28-10-2014 01:08PM

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 · 28-10-2014 01:23PM

Worked for Gene Wilder in Silver Streak.

Mr. CooL ICE · 28-10-2014 01:36PM

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

NoCrackHaving · 28-10-2014 01:39PM

How exactly do you go dressed as a 'black man'? Surely it's just the same as not dressing up and saying you're dressed up as a white man.

Yarf Yarf · 28-10-2014 01:48PM

I saw a picture of a couple of girls I went to school with on Facebook two Halloweens ago. They were in blackface, holding baguettes and wearing berets and basketball shirts. Apparently they were "niggas in Paris". Since then I've kinda just decided that most people who do blackface at Halloween are incredibly ignorant at best.

Celly Smunt · 28-10-2014 01:50PM

Yarf Yarf wrote: »

I saw a picture of a couple of girls I went to school with on Facebook two Halloweens ago. They were in blackface, holding baguettes and wearing berets and basketball shirts. Apparently they were "niggas in Paris". Since then I've kinda just decided that most people who do blackface at Halloween are incredibly ignorant at best.

But without the black face they'd just be your average Parisian honky.

Ain't nobody amused by an average Parisian honky.

hatrickpatrick · 28-10-2014 01:51PM

I honestly don't see why it shouldn't be, provided the costume isn't mocking stereotypes of black people in general. Taking the piss out of an individual is not racist. Furthermore, I personally disapprove the concept of "acceptable" in this context to begin with - people should be able to express themselves as they see fit. Criticism is ok, people getting fired / expelled / prosecuted is not.

lertsnim · 28-10-2014 01:55PM

It's a really sad state if making yourself look like a black celebrity is seen as racist. So many precious people waiting to be offended by nothing.

foggy_lad · 28-10-2014 02:27PM

Why not dress up as a racist?

biko · 28-10-2014 02:40PM

I'd love to go as Stephen Biko or Malcom X, a couple of heroes of mine.
It's just asking for trouble though.

--LOS-- · 28-10-2014 03:16PM

I think if it makes sense it might be ok (but I still wouldn't personally do it), four guys went as the ghostbusters, my friend was the black dude, it makes sense to distinguish between them. But for someone like Mr. T up there or Michonne, I don't think it's necessary, the costume/accessories are enough to make it obvious.

The "Zwarte Piet" always stirs up a bit of controversy during Sinterklaas over here. But many dutch are still adamant it's not racist, it's the soot from the chimney that causes their faces to be black apparently, the afro wig and big red lips are less easily explained!

They sell stuff like this in the shops coming up to it, many shop-fronts display zwarte piet decorations, it really makes me uneasy, to an outsider it's blatantly racist, to them it's tradition

Pumpkinseeds · 28-10-2014 03:20PM

Maybe just goes as a sexy Ebola nurse, edgy but not racist.:D

Philo Beddoe · 28-10-2014 03:21PM

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'd say worse.

Blackface for Halloween - Acceptable?

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