To find this disturbing for a number of reasons....

[Tinlegs]

Photograph, posted on Facebook (and, therefore, in my eyes, endorsed) by a teacher of a group of people dressed up for Halloween. One person, "blacked up" (face mask, brownish make up on neck etc) one person "whitened up" (face mask, White make up) and a third person, also made up but in a brown colour. "Black man" wearing track suit, trainers and lots and lots of jewellery. "White woman" in curlers, Primark hoodie, track suit bottoms, heels. "Brown person" (an adult) in a child's buggy with a bottle, dummy and carrying what looks like a lunch box.

AIBU to think that this is racist and stereotyping of the worst kind. That they are dressed as a mixed race "chav" (not a word I would use but...) low income family who bottle feeds their baby, dresses badly and pushes a very old child around, who are all overweight etc.

Now I know these people. The area we live in is NOT at all multi cultural so there is unlikely to have been anyone offended at the party. But I am offended.

FWIW at least one of these people works with children on a daily basis.

Mumsnet, over to you.

I did think, heartbroken, as I read the thread(my opinion on it aside) That you were indeed a poster who resorted to insults and were unable to listen/accept/empathise that someone may have a different opinion to yours.

So anyone who says they are being bullied in the workplace just needs to toughen up a bit then?

Nothing i have said has been racist and I stick to that. I have been called a cunt on another thread. Didnt go crying to MNHQ. Or contact the 'bullying monitor'. Took it on the chin. Pity more women are not so weak and pathetic.

(appologies of this has already been mentioned, only read first page.) Just throwing this out for discussion:

Would an actor 'blacking up' to play Othello in the Shakespeare play be ok? Bear on mind that the arguments seem to be around 'social/historical context:
Othello was a black man and, in the play, this is often used as a slur against him. It was originally played by an actor who had to be blacked up for the role so historically and 'in context' this would be the 'authentic' way to play the role.

My own views on the fancy dress? To me it's a difficult one and tbh I can kinda see all sides. I feel that unfortunatly yes in many ways it could be seen as being racist, but then again they did seem to be stereotyping all races (or at least not just one race) so I get the feeling that possibly no offence was intended, even of some may have been taken. From the description, my guess would be that they were simply sterotyping 'classes' and had not really thought too much about the racial connotations besides using makeup. (again not just one race)
Laughing at and stereotyping the 'underclass' is wrong yes, but how often do tv programmes do it (eg. Little Britain, Royale Family etc.) and also it's (to me anyway) equally as bad to poke fun at the upper classes and yet that seems to be much more acceptable.
As I said, I kind of see both sides, it does make me a bit uncomfortable but...... Hmmm.... Food for thought.

arethereanyleftatall - what insults? Where?

mylovelyboy has called someone a cunt and has had four posts deleted on this thread. So who is throwing insults around because it certainly isn't me.

And no, I'm going to empathise with anyone who honestly believes that blacking up is a bit of fun and isn't racist. Because it is racism.

Blacking up is offensive.

If you didn't already think that, surely you'd have to be quick thick, or a completely massive racist, not to question the practice once the offensiveness was pointed out to you?

Decent people don't spit their dummies out and defend their right to black up, buy a golliwog, call people n*ggers 'because it's not fair if black people can and we can't'.

I don't know where you got the impression that I'm racist from the challenge of your ill informed sweeping generalisation about what the whole world knows?

I am not racist and don't agree with the racist views on this thread but I also don't think you are helping your cause by pretending to know what the world thinks of putting coloured paint on your face?

Perhaps you would do better to re read the points I am making and not making assumptions about what I or 'the world' think.

If you knew anything about me you would know I am one of the most open people and fair to all people, but I was just irritated by the way you used 'worldwide' to justify your views when you can't possibly know what 'the world' thinks

Apologies for the many typos! Stupid phone!

Oh, it's another thread where you were called a cunt then? How convenient.

What about your deleted posts? Offensive or goady?

ilovesooty too right they do. They should try and deal with it professionally themselves. If all else fails then complain. And women wonder why they are not treated as equally as men. Some of them are too bloody weak and sensitive.

Heartbroken probably goady. Sticking up for myself being in a minority on this thread

Cjel - I do think it's a worldwide thing now. It certainly is in developed countries at least.

As I said, do you still see The Black and White Minstrels on tv? No. Because we've moved on from that shit. Because it's offensive and has been recognised as such.

And anyone who refuses to see that (as evidenced on this thread) is racist.

As theyb were dressed up as specific people I don't think they were being racist, in fact it sounds quite funny.

Ugh, mylovelyboy you're making yourself sound even worse. Ugh, ugh, ugh!

So if you are being bullied you are "weak and pathetic" then? That applies in the workplace does it?

Jonathan Pryce had to 'black up' (ok, 'tan up' might be more appropriate) for his role in Miss Saigon and many actors need to change their skin colour in some way for roles.
I'm not saying that this is the same in any respect to the 'blacking up' described in the OP but just putting out there that it's not always wrong. (Or is that wrong too? I'm open to discussion without resorting to insults. I have my opinions, others are entitled to their own, it's 'no skin off my nose' as the saying goes.)

I am only disagreeing with you sweeping worldwide statement, Not all the other things you keep bringing up. I was as it happens listening to Garth Hewitts song 'You are loved Stephen Lawrence' yesterday with tears streaming down my cheeks.

Modifying such huge statements as your 'worldwide' comment will help people who are racist here understand you better.

ilovesooty too right they do. They should try and deal with it professionally themselves. If all else fails then complain. And women wonder why they are not treated as equally as men. Some of them are too bloody weak and sensitive

Workplace bullying is unacceptable whatever your gender. Every workplace should have robust procedures in place to deal with it. No one should have to "deal with it professionally themselves".

ilove - are you on the right thread?

Drama there are plenty of black make actors around to play the part of othello so if a white actor was cast that would raise questions and why not. i thought it was never clear what his background was, maybe north african or from the east of africa

there are many actors around from many different ethnic backgrounds what is the need to hire say a white actor to play the part of an indian doctor though it has been done

DramaQueen, there are issues with actors changing their skin colour for roles - the main one being that there is hardly a shortage of actors from the appropriate ethnic background, but that the white guy is always the one to get the role.

ilovesooty missing the point again. Being bullied does not make you weak and pathetic. Complaining and crying about it does, if you dont make the effort to stand up for yourself. And as my previous posts have said 'i think the minstrels are not for our society'. Dont people read on here

I wouldn't see racism in a fancy dress (as long as the costume is not in poor taste) depicting a particular celeb.

Monica, nobody replied to my previous post about exactly this, where I asked how often they'd seen a black partygoer "whited up" to more accurately portray the celeb of their choice.

In 1997 another theatre critic, David Lister, expressed similar views to those of Patrick West in your quote. By 2012 he'd revised his opinion. I bet West will do, as well.

Wrt Othello, he's a Moor, pretty certain he's from North Africa. I should bloody know this because I studied it in college and I loved it.

On a tangent, I went to see Adrian Lester in it recently (only at the cinema, not at the actual theatre ) and he was fantastic. National Theatre production. Rory Kinnear was Iago. Wonderful (but very tragic) play.