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.

'Blackface' isn't even a British term. In Britain you'd say 'minstrel'. And in Britain I really don't think it has the same social/racist connotations as in the US.

Many people can remember the minstrels on the telly and I don't think they thought it was belittling black people just a bit boring

It appeared alongside programmes like Love Thy Neighbour where the white neighbours were snowflakes and the black neighbours always got the better of them. Or Rising Damp where the black lodger was by far the superior character. The white people's racism was the thing that was being ridiculed. Like Alf Garnet was ridiculed for his racist views.

I understand that with so much cultural appropriation of US culture going on, a lot of people now think US black history is synonymous with UK history. I think this thread shows the USvsUK culture clash extremely clearly.

Bulbasur 'Black face has a loaded history, and it's disingenuous to pretend that doesn't exist because apparently black people are equal'

...erm black people are equal. As are we all.

Bunch - the shows you mention are nowadays considered racist and repeats are not broadcast anymore.

I understand that with so much cultural appropriation of US culture going on, a lot of people now think US black history is synonymous with UK history.

I don't think US black history is synonymous with UK history. UK history has plenty enough of its own racism and violent oppression of other ethnicities and cultures to be going on with.

I was born in the 70s but was never blacked up as my parents were socialists
They once dressed me as a box of tampons for a PRIMARY SCHOOL
Fancy dress party

I honestly still can't believe that in 2014, on mumsnet of all places, people are still defending blackface...if that makes me politically correct then that's more than fine by me. Ultimately I don't think that my 'right' to use an offensive word or act is more important than considering people's feelings. As far as I'm concerned if you're dressing up in blackface you're either ignorant of a significant chunk of modern history or you're aware but don't give a crap which makes you insensitive, lacking in empathy or ignorant at best or racist at worst. I'm fully expecting to be attacked for this post which makes me sad as I've always thought this forum was a fairly modern, tolerant place.

The big thing with cultural appropriation is respecting that some things aren't just pretty fashion accessories, they have significant, cultural value. There's a huge difference between appreciating another culture and appropriating it.

For example, Native American War Bonnets as seen (and now increasingly being banned) on hipsters at music festivals. War bonnets have both a deep spiritual meaning and reflect the deeds and achievements of the wearer. Hence why it's crass to thing to wear one to a party/festival. There are of course ways to wear aspects of and be inspired by other cultures in a non-offensive way, for example (staying with the Native American theme) companies like this. I suppose an equivalent could be wearing a replica Victoria Cross because you think it looks pretty. Sorry for posting so many links/articles on this thread but this one explains it all much more eloquently than I can - especially the quotes.

I saw a repeat of Rising Damp a few months ago Grey

You do make the point, though, that "blackface" is an American term but the underlying sentiment is the same.

I'm very British, from a shock horror white working class mining family blackface,blacked up is very understood here in the UK as being offensive and racist
I feel like I'm in the bleeding twilight zone on here :(

...erm black people are equal. As are we all.

Google white privilege. Educate yourself.

Bulbasur are you saying black people are not equal?

Minstrel shows in the UK were inspired/grew out of the ones in the US so it's not entirely right to view them as separate entities. It was also acceptable in the UK for much longer than the US.

They painted a big box to look like a box of tampax and I had to stand in it with my legs out the end and my mother put rope type stuff hanging out the bottom of the box
They had a sense of humour

I have never seen a Black person put on white or lighter makeup bto look like a celebrity etc. I just dont get why people do this other than to ridicule Black people for the colour of their skin. Im sorry i dont get it.

Bambini, there were lots of informative comments. There were lots of excellent links. There were lots of calm and helpful posts.

If people can't be arsed to read up on it, or still don't get it, then yeah, pig ignorant racist seems to fit fairly well.

I'm glad Facebook didn't exist when I was a child

Serendipity 'I just dont get why people do this other than to ridicule Black people for the colour of their skin'

do you think black skin is ridiculous then?

Surely there's a difference between 'blacking up' in the sense that it was done in the past with the intent to mock etc and what has been described in the OP.

I've been nodding to a lot of what SallyingForth has written.

Just wondering, would dressing up as an American football player and cheerleader be considered offensive? Does that fall into the category of stealing cultural identity or stereotyping or whatever?

Sorry, yes, Rising Damp is still broadcast but Love Thy Neighbour and the equally racist Mind Your Language are not.

Not sure about Till Death Us Do Part.

Happy to be politically correct. Especially the correct part.

Owl - a box of tampons? I am lost for words.

How did that make you feel?

Is it acceptable to dress up as these costumes if you don't alter skin colour?

I'm thinking the lines of Pocahontas etc?

I know little girls of all colors dress up in Princess Tiana dresses, and it's acceptable. I think as long as you're dressing up as a specific person in a respectful manner it might be alright.

But generally, when you see people dressed as Native Americans, they're dressed in stereotyped outfits, not costumes that respect the heritage.