To think 'blacking up' isn't necessarily racist?

[Fabuloo]

Apologies in advance for the Daily Mail link....

this article

I think it's more to do with the intention behind it rather than the 'act'. DD is mixed race and sometimes dresses up in a blonde wig and in the past has put my make up on. My DS is blonde and fair and I would have no problem if he wanted to do the same in reverse. I do feel people need to get a grip...

[PiccadillyCervix]

Are you really that upset that in the grand scheme of things.. you can't dress up as a black person? Really that you can afford to be wound up about it?

[PiccadillyCervix]

Yes sunshine. Yes. If you think you are really that hard done by that your lil angel can't black up.. Well shit. Guess your life isn't so bad after all.

[Fabuloo]

The arab slave trade took about 18 million black slaves throughout it's history, would you be so offended if an arab child was allowed to dress as a black footballer? Or would it just be offensive if it was a white child

[PiccadillyCervix]

As a white person who never once had to worry that I was racially profiled, or less likely to get a job as the same similarly qualified person I'm willing to accept that this in turn means I can not dress up like a black person for fear of possibly offending a real black person.


It's an awful shame.

[Fabuloo]

PiccadillyCervix - How should I explain to my white DS that he is not allowed to dress up as my mixed race DD (not that he would want to, but if he did) because in the past people of his race were bad. But mixed race DD can wear her blonde tangled wig and dress up as DS, that's fine.

[PiccadillyCervix]

Actually I would.

[PiccadillyCervix]

I also think it is offensive when people dress as Native Americans. HAve you got a list?

[Jins]

You can dress up as someone without blacking up though

If they had left it at the hairstyle then there wouldn't have been any fuss at all. However they wouldn't have got their fifteen minutes of fame. Dilemma...

[FreudiansSlipper]

who is you in your post fabuloo?

[Fabuloo]

Do you think my DD should be allowed to dress up as me, with a blonde wig and white make up on?

[Fabuloo]

FreudiansSlipper - what do you mean?

[PiccadillyCervix]

She can wear a blonde wig because anyone can dye their hair blond. If you painted her face white I would think you were mental. And yes the fact that your children are related no way negates the fact that they should be informed about the politics of race the way I will explain sexism to my son and daughter. I come from a totally mixed race family. My grandfathers are black my cousins mixed and I am white. That is not an "in" for me to black up. Don't be so stupid

[sunshine401]

PiccadillyCervix -- lol me and my little angel do not need to if it is anything to do with you.

Face paint is face paint Chill out!

[PiccadillyCervix]

Trying to imagine either of my grandfathers faces if I had "dressed up as them". They's think I'd fucking lost it presumably

[PiccadillyCervix]

Yes, paint is paint. With no history or context behind it. If you aren't very bright.

[FreudiansSlipper]

previous post you wrote I do not wish you to classify me as a potential racist .....

who was that in reply to

[Fabuloo]

PiccadillyCervix - would they think you were racist?

[DreamsTurnToGoldDust]

Going to throw my two pennies in,

Just because the footballer smiled and laughed in a photo with a little boy does not mean that he was OK with it. He was presented with a very young fan, what was he meant to do.

Why did the boy need to blackenup, from what I understand, the footballer has a very distinctive haircut so surely that was all that was needed? I mean if someone emulates Micheal Jackson, dont they just do the moonwalk and wear a glove? The arguement about the Mikado is a bit silly, I have never seen a production where they try to change the eyes (a most obvious feature) they just wear the costume.

I`m afraid I agree with Seeker, If you have to ask or think about it, its probably best not to do it.

[sunshine401]

Like I said in the case that is being mentioned I do not think this young child was setting out to offend anyone. It did not offend the person involved. So there is no need to get so wound up by it all.

[PiccadillyCervix]

I am sure they would think I had knowingly done a racist thing, and that I had some sort of mental break down because they know I know better.

[Fabuloo]

Would they feel offended rather than honoured that you wanted to look like them?

[Dromedary]

Seriously, watch the film "Bamboozled". I didn't get the problem with golliwogs before seeing that.

[PiccadillyCervix]

Yes they would be offended because they aren't idiots. They know the back ground of black face. They lived through racism at it's nastiest. My grandmother and him were not even legally married in some parts of the country due to him being black and her being white.


They would feel no more "honoured" than I would if dh decided to dress up as me. I'd think he had lost the plot.

If your dd painted herself white to "Look like you" off her own back, I am sure you would't feel offended because she is a child. However as an adult like the parents in the story you know that we don't do that sort of thing. They should have told the boy no.

[nethunsreject]

YABU

I seriously wonder about mn these days. Few years ago, no one would've thought blacking up was ever reasonable! It were all fields etc blah blah. But fucking hell, really? Some people think this is okay? Of course it isn't the wee kid's fault, but surely an adult in the family must have thought this through.