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And here's the thing - a white person *can* put on costume and pretend to be black and get away with it, if they're witty. Robert Downey Jr. Did exactly this in Tropic Thunder - because he was actually poking fun at actors, and Hollywood's shaky relationship with black people. Yes, a few people complained, but his career suffered in no way at all, since he is now the extremely popular Tony Stark. For that matter, Sarah Silverman did a skit where she put on actual blackface, playing a liberal who wants to feel what it's like to be a black person. She's shocked when the first white person she passes expressed disgust, thinking that black people are treated horribly - but it's clear that the man is actually disgusted because he knows she's a white woman in blackface.
Robert Downey Junior's situation highlights the importance of INTENT, which is what I, personally look at when determining whether to be offended by something.
The INTENT of RDJ's character was not to be a minstrel, or to make fun in a mean-spirited way. Hence, why it was (to most, at least) acceptable.
MOST black people, however, refuse to consider context or intent with respect to the use of black face or "cultural appropriation," and demand nobody do it.
And that's fine. But don't expect everyone else to then turn around and excuse a black person's sorry behavior when they turn the tables (Nick Cannon).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hadoken
But sorry, history matters. Nick Cannon will have an easier time mocking white stereotypes, than Justin Timberlake (who is, for all intents and purposes, copying Michael Jackson's music anyway) would mocking black stereotypes. And that's because white people in the US have a long and continuing tradition of stereotyping black people, and using those stereotypes as justification to oppress them. There's simply no such history for white stereotypes in the US.
History does not matter on this issue. At all. At least not in terms of how or when people get offended. People living TODAY judge and evaluate their experiences with other people and races based on TODAY. Nobody, I mean nobody, is thinking about historical implications and precedent when they don black/white/Asian stereotypes.
YOU might accept the sociology class 101 excuses and justifications for why black people can act ignorant towards white folks, or mock them, or put on white face and poke fun.... and if that helps you work through the cognitive dissonance that comes from simultaneously demanding mutual respect or that your own culture or race isn't mocked.... go for it.
Just understand that the majority of people with intellectual and moral consistency do NOT BUY THOSE EXCUSES.
Treat people the way you want to be treated. Period.
This is very true. And I'll be honest and say I didn't read the OP article, will do at a later time. But on the whole white people have done and continue to have "black people parties" all the time, especially on college campuses and I wonder if Nick's movie is a satire of this phenomenon. There is actually a current satirical movie out about this topic called "Dear White People." From the film's website (dearwhitepeople.com/about):
White people "on the whole" do not have "black people parties" all the time.
Kids having ghetto themed parties on college campuses are not "white people," and they aren't any much different than "white trash" parties thrown on these campuses.... which also, I believe you may think are far more common than actually are.
BTW, if Nick Cannon was satirizing the phenomena of cultural themed parties on college campuses, one would think that would have been said by him by now, instead of, "y'all need to stop being so sensitive, it's just jokes!"
And his character was mocking white actors who donned black face in the early 20th century.
Proving that intent should be and is the key to offense.
The most offensive part of Tropic Thunder was arguably the use of retarded and mentally handicapped jokes to generate laughs. But even then, the intent was not to offend, but to again parodize actors who use such subjects to get awards.
So are you arguing that Nick Cannon isnt a comedian ?
He is.
The question is, would Nick Cannon (and indeed, the rest of the black folks on here making excuses for Nick) be as good humored about the situation if, say, Daniel Tosh put on black face and made a character with similar attributes?
#raciststereotype
Btw, where do black people think white folks love mayo and cream cheese?
I thought he was a child star from Nickelodean turned failed rapper turned TV show host.
The show he acted on from Nickelodeon was a variety comedy show.
He was also a comedic rapper as well, like Loney Island.
Not really sure how you can say he failed at it seeing as his singles charted in the top 100. Including his song "Can I Live" which was about abortion.
It would go over badly because it SOUNDS DUMB and makes no sense.
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