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.

ilovesooty why not. You gain more respect.

I have not read anything on here I would regard as racist (drama I worked with Jonathan Pryce once in 2000, funny you should mention him lol) And didn't even think about responding to actors who 'black up' (so to speak) for dramatic roles??

Are they being racist also???

Cjel - I see your point. And I apologise for being harsh with you. I wasn't very clear!

I haven't heard that Stephen Lawrence song - not sure I want to if it will make me cry.

heartbroken no one on this thread including myself have said the black and white minstrels are OK and acceptable. You are so blinkered its unbelievable.

Absolutely cjel

Mylovelyboy doesn't seem to think that companies should have to be bothered by "rubbish" such as equality and diversity and doesn't take on board that they can be investigated for breaches of the law. She also claims that anyone who disagrees with her is "oversensitive" and this minimalisation is often used by bullies and aplogists for bullying. There is a relevance in the light of Mylovelyboy's other comments.

I'm blinkered?

The Black and White Minstrels is an (extreme) version of blacking up. It is now seen as racist and unacceptable, yet at the time it was seen as funny. A bit like your blacking up as The Supremes - only, without the funny part.

Can I ask if any of the posters here saying yanbu, have ever been to watch a comedian, or been to a fancy dress party? Because all a comedian ever does, is take the piss out of a 'type', all types. And all the audience laugh. And, if one type if fancy dress is offensive, surely they all are?

Jonathan Pryce was originally denied a work visa to perform on broadway as his attempts to look a different race for the role were deemed offensive to the asian community and preventing someone actually of that race from doing the part. It took a long battle to resolve the situation. If over 20 years ago it was recognised this could be seen as offensive it is pretty sad that posters are still trying to defend it today.

That's not true about comedians.

I love stand up comedy. They don't all take the mickey out of a type at all. Jim Davidson, Bernard Manning, et al do/did, but they're so out of date and cringe-worthy it's embarrassing.

And fancy dress is not offensive. Blacking up is.

ilovesooty you sound a bundle of laughs I least i have stuck with this thread and stood up for what I believe in.

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

Ever been bullied in the workplace? Ever been discriminated against?

The structures and procedures need to be in place by law to deal with discrimination.

And who do you "gain more respect" from?

areth exactly. What are we meant to do. Never bloody laugh.

Garlicbutter I have been racking my brains to think of a situation where I have seen a party goer 'whited up ' and I can't either.

The point I was trying to make re my own views is that generalised racial stereotypes as 'fancy dress' are wrong, no question - particular depiction (not done in bad taste) ok. However, if someone perceives your costume as racist then you must accept that, regardless of however benign your intent.

With regard to actors, there really is no need to play out of racial type now as there are many great actors of all races to take on the roles.

Thanks to everyone who said I was not unreasonable. I am off to bed but, frankly, astonished at some of the views on this thread from a tiny, but vocal minority. Thankfully, they are a minority.

I am a teacher I would expect to be pulled up about this.

Send it to the Head Teacher, and they will be able to have a chat about privacy settings, appropriateness etc.

As a role model for the children in my school I even feel obliged to walk the long way around the school to use the zebra crossing rather than cross at a risker road that a lot of kids do.

Heart- glad we cleared that up its a bit late for clarity for me!!!!
Its says that a couple came out of church and she prayed for him and couldn't think what to say so she bent down and whispered in his ear 'you are loved Stephen Lawrence' I don't know what made me get the cd out again, Its from about 1994 I think!!! Gets me every time!! Also says'They're the people of the lie-let their evil now be named.' Not sure about it musically but the lyrics really get to me.

Glad we can go to bed friends

ilovesooty of course they need to be in place when a situation gets very out of hand. In standing up for yourself in the first instance you gain some self respect and respect from your colleagues. Bosses like it if you are bullsy. You don't get on in business if you are a wilting wallflower. More likely to get promotion if you show you are no walk over and you have some balls

"Bundle of laughs"? I wasn't aware that the thread was supposed to be funny.

As for "Stood up for what I believe in" : oh yes, you have.

So have I. I don't believe in casual discrimination. I dont 'believe that equality and diversity policies are "rubbish". And I believe people should be taken to task for ignorant opinions.

OP dont send it to the headteacher. You will make yourself look so silly. Just let it go

Cjel - indeed! I was surprised we came to blows - I usually like your posts. Can't agree on everything I suppose - how boring would the world (the worldwide world, that is ) be if we did?

"Wilting wallflower"

So you're prepared to continue to be offensive?

Heart- Now you've just made me laugh! How can I rage at you if you make me laugh

ilove Im not being offensive. Just speaking to about workplace situations. how is that offensive. what has offended you now???

Thankfully, they are a minority

Thankfully, Tinlegs they are.

FWIW - just to add to this discussion (again I'm deliberately trying to 'sit in the fence' and not present my personal views too much.)

I've found talk on some pages of Japanesse costumes etc. I've been in 2 Productions of 'The Mikado', both times on traditional Japanese costume and makeup with 'slanted' eyes. Was this racist? The play was actually banned for a while when a Japaneese prince came to this country. He actually complained because he hoped to see it! Same for productions of Madame Butterfly and other such.

Again, I'll stress, I'm not advocating what is mentioned in the OP as I am relatively uncomfortable abput it or 'blacking up' or similar for a laugh, just trying to challenge the view that it is ALWAYS unnacceptable to do so.