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.

Scone, that article is interesting, especially the Comments Section.

Yes, a lot of people commenting just don't get it, like a lot of people on this thread.

I don't like whiteface either, but what people who are members of a class that historically oppressed another class do resonates differently from what people in the historically oppressed class do.

V true Scone.

Good article.

Absurd. YABU.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I like to dress up at Chinese New Year, because I love it, and want to celebrate it, because of my admiration and respect for their amazing cuisine and culture. How can that be racist - it's the opposite.

I sometimes think that large amounts of MNers are obsessed with racism and see it where it round every corner, where it just doesn't exist.

Get a life, OP!

oh my god have 500+ comments just totally passed you by?

Just because people don't agree with you doesn't mean that they 'don't get it' or that comments are 'passing them by'.

you need something to do!
Get a life, OP!

How anyone on Mumsnet can say that to someone else on Mumsnet is beyond bizarre.

I wonder if, from attitudes expressed on here, we can expect loads of blacked up kids (expressing their admiration and respect) at next dressing up day at school. That's going to be interesting.

differently from what people in the historically oppressed class do.

But that's in the past.

In the past my gender was also oppressed
In the past my ancestors, who were poor working class were also oppressed.
A lot of my family were forced to work down the mines. They were oppressed^.
But my generation is no longer oppressed. So why dwell on it?
You only get ONE life, so why not get on with it, instead of going through life lugging a great big bloody oven ready on your shoulder - all because of what happened in the past?

I think some people secretly enjoy imagining they are underdogs.

Just because people don't agree with you doesn't mean that they 'don't get it' or that comments are 'passing them by'.

Exactly Mr Whiskers!

Sweetnessandlite: you don't think racial inequality and white privilege exist today?

I think some people secretly enjoy imagining they are underdogs.

How crass and insensitive.

In the past my gender was also oppressed

If you're female, your gender still is oppressed.

Racism has not been eradicated, far from it. I think it's incredibly ignorant not to recognise this. Equal opportunities/anti-discrimination legislation is a good thing (obviously) - but it's not a magic wand that has just eliminated all discrimination.

Your opinion Janine.
I have shown my Husband, who is half-Jamaican (shocked I bet?) some of these comments and he agrees with me.
In fact I have often heard him say that he hates it when people point out racism at every turn.
They (people like you) think they are sticking up for them but He (and lots of his friends) finds it extremely condescending and patronizing, and if anything it does ^more harm than good.
How patronizing to think that a group of people need sticking up for in the first place - it's demeaning and is treating them as if they are victims.

His words - so no good having a go at me.

Ah, so your husband speaks for all black people, then? How nice.

People like you

Agree with Sabrinnnnnnna.

His words - so no good having a go at me.

It's a bit pointless pointing as your husband's mouthpiece on a discussion board. Do you have any opinions of your own?

I refuse to be drawn into a slanging match with you Janine (despite your best efforts)
Have a nice day! :)

Well said sweetness.
I've only given my own opinion here, which is on the first page, but when I showed the thread later to my DP he used almost exactly the same words. He was born in the UK of Jamaican parents.

Well said, Sweetness. This insistence that a black person cannot 'speak for the rest of the black population' is crass in itself. It's the standard response wheeled out by white people who have run out of steam.

Can't black people be racist? isn't it racist to think that?

Some people say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, others see imitation as mick taking. There's no consensus - on this matter at least- among any racial group as to what matters and what's offensive. Why chance it, now that you know about half* the people you come across would be upset?
*Judging by this thread

why would anyone be shocked to hear a MNer has a half Jamaican husband

As for condescending and patronising - well I could say lots of people just secretly love feeling they are being looked down on. But why would I think something so dismissive and crass. I take your point that it's unpleasant to say the least but I have to say I don't think feeling put out about being patronised is on a par with suffering actual racist oppression, which still exists. Lesser of two evils, I suppose, and hopefully moving us towards the day when none of it makes sense.

This insistence that a black person cannot 'speak for the rest of the black population' is crass in itself.

What a daft statement. Nobody can speak for anybody except themselves.

A lot of people here seem to think they can speak for a whole lot of others.

or perhaps with a whole lot of others?

Why on earth would we be shocked, sweetness? Do you assume everyone here is white?

Anyway, if this is the game we are playing, I'll uncomfortably wheel out the opinions of my Asian DH. He would be absolutely appalled if, fancy dress, you decided to sellotape your eyes or paint your face yellow to go Chinese to a fancy dress party. We wouldn't find it flattering or charming. We would both think you were racist twats.

But carry on doing this shit if it's that important to you.