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I voted "yes" because I know the history of black face - it's not something we need to be doing or repeating. It's not "admiration", really, once you know the history.
Having said that, I think a lot of people don't know the history of it, and therefore don't understand why it actually is racist.
However, no black person needs to be whitening their skin to play the part of a white person, either. I'm not actually offended by it, but leave it to voice acting and wigs - although I'm sure someone is going to take offense to a fricken wig - guaranteed, because people get offended over the dumbest crap these days.
But black face, because of how it came about, should not be acceptable. Instead of railing on everyone and calling them every name in the book, now is a very good time to educate people and tell them why it's a very bad idea.
In response to mui: Hollywood is no longer allowed to portray white people as black people, and they are no longer allowed to portray white people as NDNs. If they have a role where the character is an NDN, they have to get an actual NDN to play the part. If they have a role where the character is a black person, they have to get an actual black person to play the part. They are not allowed to put non NDNs in NDN character roles, and they are not allowed to put non black people in black character roles...which is why it is so surprising that any celebrity in the past 30 or so years has actually donned blackface. Even if it's some parody, they really aren't supposed to be doing that.
Is this some sort of rule that is written down some place? And what if that actor is of a mixed race? One of my friends is half white and half Malaysian... yet to me, she looks like a fresh faced Irish woman. But would she be allowed to play an Asian and have the makeup artist darken her skin? And many people are mutts anyway, so is it okay if a very light skinned mixed race actor plays the part of a black person and has their skin darkened? Does the one drop rule apply in these cases? Is Elizabeth Warren allowed to play the part of a Native American in a play?
And what about Linda Hunt when she played Billy Kwan in the movie, The Year of Living Dangerously (1982)? In that role, she played both an Asian AND a man, a role that she won best supporting actress for the Academy Awards. And as an Asian, I have no problems with that movie and her role in it. And IMO if that movie were shot today, I would be sad that Linda Hunt would be not allowed to play Billy Kwan, because she was brilliant in that part.
IMO a truly talented actor or actress can play any part, male or female, or any race... as long as it's done tastefully and respectfully. It's about the talent that the actor or actress brings to the role, not their genetic code.
Nah. It’s racism. You don’t get to be the victim when you are the antagonist.
I despise, no... I abhor Fred Phelps, most of his family, clan and church (Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, KS) because of their stance on homosexuality. That said, I would defend with my life, his right to spew his ignorance all he wants. I would rather have everyone able to see his ignorance and hatred on display, so they can make an informed decision on whether or not they want to associate with him and his group, than have him silenced, leaving the uninformed to mistakenly associate with him. However this speaks to free speech.
Tell me who was/is harmed by someone wearing blackface? How is that harm inflicted upon them? How are they a victim? Are you suggesting that the stupid crap young adults do in college are definitive proof that they influence legislation which is somehow racist? Or let's say I keep it simple by suggesting that having fun, even if that fun harms no one, but offends some... THAT is somehow racist?
Who is the victim of this supposed racism? Are you a victim? Are you incapable of changing the channel on the TV if you see something you find offensive? If not, then HOW are you a victim of someone doing something you don't like or don't agree with IF their action or inaction did not encroach upon your rights or property? HOW are you or HOW is anyone else a VICTIM because someone dared do something you simply don't like?
Oh the precious feelings of people! This is what we get when we remove winning and losing from children's upbringing. It's all about their feelings!
I'm going to play the devils advocate here and ask why in all the discussions of Blackface no one is bringing up the fact that this was also something black artist did. Bert Williams was unapologetic about his use of blackface. I think black vaudevillians were still using this "art form" into the 1900's. Many of them did it for the same reason white performers did it. I think the reason people black and white gave it a pass was because there was a lot worse happening to black people and it wasn't on the radar.
Last edited by thriftylefty; 02-08-2019 at 04:44 PM..
However you have to judge people's past actions on the societal standards of the time. I wouldn't judge somebody for being homophobic in the 1970s an also wouldn't judge people as harshly for wearing a blackface. It has no place in today's society though.
THIS!
Today YES, simply because it has become widely accepted that it is. Even in the 70s and certainly the 80s it was far from being ok.
On the other hand, is wearing whiteface (White Girls) racist? Is it okay for non-whites to emulate being white, or is that another acceptable double standard based on the past?
Shouldn't the same standards be expected of everyone?
Seems it should be to me.
We will never be completely free of all racists but unless we get out from under our past, if it keeps getting thrown in the faces of those who had nothing to do with the past, other than the color of their skin, racism will continue to be a massive problem.
This country has made so much progress over the last 1/2 century. Now, we're going backward.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ipaper
No everything it not racist, it just seem that way to racist people who don't believe they are a racist.
The people who see racism in everything are the biggest racists out there!
I'm not a racist simply because skin color doesn't matter to me. Probably because I'm a multi-racial mutt raise in a multi-racial area, not a white bubble in a well to do suburb filled with arm-chair activists.
Yes, given the history, blackface is racist. If you want to dress up as your favorite black celebrity for Halloween, you can do it without darkening your skin. You wouldn't need to do this if you dressed up as your favorite white celebrity, would you?
Exactly. If the only way people would know who you are is by the color of your skin, yoir costume sucks. Come up with something more creative.
Kelly Ripa went as Beyonce for Halloween a few years ago. She managed just fine without resorting to blackface.
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