Tube passenger seen wearing blackface

[Plaintree]

I mean who the AF still does this? FGS.

metro.co.uk/2018/10/28/racist-passenger-wore-blackface-halloween-costume-on-london-underground-8081967/

Perpetualis offendedis

If people really don't understand why this is offensive then I despair. I'm with you OP. As for comparing it to dressing as leprechauns...

To be honest, I don't really get it and would like to be educated. I see fancy dress as a chance to dress as anything you like and if that means changing skin colour or adding animal bits I don't see why that's offensive? If it was making fun of black people I would understand more but this video looks like the group were dressed as the pulp fiction cast complete with wigs and one person making himself look black to look like Samuel l Jackson. Why is that more offensive than any other fancy dress?

@lakehouse because blackface was historically used to make fun of black people. White people used to paint their faces black and use incredibly offensive racial stereotypes to mock them. Look up the history.

It is astonishing that people can be so totally ignorant of the issues around blackface. Whether on the tube or on MN.

But that's not what's happening here.

I imagine the people who don’t see an issue with this are white...

What a tool.

@Dippingmytoesin half and half...the black half of me is struggling to get offended as much as the white half. As I say, I'd understand if it was taking the piss but this costume isn't offensive.

Why couldn’t be have been John Travolta?

@Dippingmytoesin somebody else already was. There was a line of them as different characters

@lakehouse Blackface was a thing that was invented by white people to make fun of black people. It exists for the express purpose of creating characatures of black people.

@lakehouse you're half black and you don't know the history of blackface?

He shouldn’t have done black face, it’s reallt strange that you don’t find this offensive.

I don’t think his choice makes him a racist just uninformed.

Ignorance isn't an excuse. In fact that's part of the whole issue.

@BitchQueen90 it's the extension of the offence caused by historical scenarios to this one I find puzzling. When I choose something to dress up as I often make myself look whiter or darker. Never considered anyone would take offence

Black people were not represented in performances, so white people blacked up. Often so they could mock them and abuse them. Black people still face struggles that white people don't. There are still an awful lot of racist people out there. If skin colour meant nothing then perhaps this wouldn't be offensive.

But @AssassinatedBeauty no one on this thread has explained why this scenario is actually offensive. Looks to me like people are looking for a reason to be offended rather than actually finding fault

Blackface was a thing that was invented by white people to make fun of black people. It exists for the express purpose of creating characatures of black people.

No. In some contexts, it has been used for that purpose. But blackface is also part of the very ancient folk customs and traditions of the British Isles, and in that context has nothing to do with black people. In some regions it would be entirely appropriate to wear blackface for Hallowe'en. See 'guising'.

A lot of people do find it very offensive and it's not really socially acceptable in this day and age. Bit like if someone were to dress up as a Nazi.

I think people are aware that dressing as Samuel L Jackson's character in Pulp Fiction isn't the same thing as ancient British Folk customs.

Anyone who really doesn't see the problem, please educate yourself here en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackface

This isn't guising and it isn't a Morris dance.

And he's a really cool character and actor so to dress up as him isn't mocking, it's celebrating (which is why it's seen as offensive to dress up as a nazi because they shouldn't be celebrated) If it was mocking as you suggest then dressing as a nazi would be fine! I love Diana Ross- why shouldn't I dress up as her and celebrate her greatness if that involves darker make up and a wig?