To report friend to FB for photo of her blacked up?

[Greyhound]

I'm really shocked - cousin of mine has pic of herself on Facebook blacked up. She is white. The picture is of her at a fancy dress party - she has covered her face in dark brown stage make up and is wearing an "Afro" wig and Rastafarian style striped hat.

Her husband is also blacked up.

Is she being racist in any way? Cause if she's not normally a racist person and it was just for a fancy dress party I don't think fb would do anything about it, sorry

I think you should really myob. It seems like you have something against her.

Would you report a male friend who wore garish drag queen make up and dress in some parody of womanhood?

Is it really that bad for a white person to dress a a black person? Say she was going as Bob Marley, she wouldn't really look like him unless she darkened her skin, would she?

Similarly, if I was a black person wanting to go to a fancy dress party as Madonna I might have to put white face paint on, or would I only be allowed to go as a black pop star?

It's definitely arm area where she should be careful to be sensitive but I don't think this is against FB t&c as far as I know so to be blunt it doesn't matter if you report her or not.

Nothing against her. Just think she was being racist. I believe "blackface" is generally considered racist.

Drag queens - I'm not keen on that, I must admit but it seems, in general, that parodying women is acceptable...

You are being ridiculous, it is fancy dress . Your friend is dressed up as a black person.

It is completely unacceptable and horrifically racist. I can't believe people think it is ok.

I think most people think blackface dress up is racist.

I don't know that I would report it, I might makes. Comment to her and/or block.

Sorry for the autocorrect weirdness but hopefully you know what I mean!

Cheese puff - I would consider whiteface to be racist too, ditto dressing up as a Chinese person, Indian person etc.

if it bothers you then say something to her rather than report it

It is racist, but not sure FB will do anything about it? More effective to tell her direct what is wrong with what she and her DH did

Why is it racist?

Can you explain clearly why you think it is racist to dress up as another person whose skin colour is different to your own?

Don't forget that racism is when you are prejudiced about a race.

People dress up all the time. YABU the worlds gone mad.

Men dress as women. Women dress as men. White people dress as black people etc etc.

It's not offensive!

ditto dressing up as a Chinese person, Indian person etc.

Are you telling me I must throw away my sarong and sari? Really?

Sympathies OP: I agree that blackface is massively offensive; I'm not keen on drag either but it's worth noting that the context around each is vastly different. Drag developed as part of the underground gay movement, when homosexuality was illegal and repressed; blackface has always been about mocking and appropriating white perceptions of Black culture. I'd ignore anyone giving it all chopsy-chopsy about how it's not offensive/it's just fancy dress etc. - there just seems to be this compulsion with some white people to smear themselves in boot polish and make out like it's harmless/funny. It isn't: if you listen to PoC talking about it, it's massively hurtful.

Would it not be possible to have words with your cousin and ask her to take the pictures down? Alternatively, I would report the pics anonymously; might give your cousin some thought as to how inappropriate blackface actually is.

Thank you bunchoffives - this is exactly what I think. I wouldn't be offended if someone dressed up as me and had to alter their skin colour in order to make it more accurate. How ridiculous to get bent out of shape about it - it seems fashionable to label things racist these days - which is a shame because it really belittles ACTUAL racism

Don't forget that racism is when you are prejudiced about a race.
Exactly. Crass perhaps; racist not necessarily.

Also, given that FB seem to think videos of women being stoned and beheaded can remain, I'm not sure what they'll make of this.

I think if someone is dressing up as 'random black person' it would generally be considered racist these days, but if someone has dressed up as Bob Marley or Denise off Eastenders, they aren't going to be that convincing if they don't change their skin tone are they? No different than if someone with black/brown/freckly skin goes as Marilyn Monroe or Ian off Eastenders and puts some white/light makeup on. World.Officially.Gone.Mad.

Ridiculous

I went to a school music club thing dressed as Jimi Hendrix. We all had to go as our favourite rock person. I had my brother's electric guitar, flares, cheesecloth top, and blackened skin and afro. Music director didn't recognise me for a good 5 minutes and I was his music captain.

Don't know the details of your friend but I don't believe I was in any way being "racist" celebrating my favourite rock person at the time.

Yep, ridiculous.
Go and find something serious to complain about - you won't have to look far.

Ask her to take the picture down and if she doesn't, then report it.

I would also check through the remarks that have been made about it by her friends, as that will give a clear picture of how she and they view it and yes, I would report any status that had a racist slant.

Yeah go on report it and let us know what FB say.