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Original poster

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

960 replies

Greyhound · 31/08/2014 11:48

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.

OP posts:
ArabellaTarantella · 31/08/2014 12:34

The Black and White Minstrel show started 55 years ago. It was NOT done to upset black people, it was a SHOW with SINGERS. It stopped 35 years ago.

It was NOT racist.........it is only people TODAY who are TRYING TO MAKE it racist.

bunchoffives · 31/08/2014 12:34

Dressing up as a person of another race may not be to parody them, it may be to celebrate them.

For example, I recently attended an anniversary of an institution in Wales and some people there dressed in Welsh national dress. I don't think their intention was to take the mick.

Bambambini · 31/08/2014 12:34

My niece dressed as Foxxy Cleopatra once for a party. Think she might have darkened her skin a little. My niece idolises Beyonce (probably more concerned about that than her dressing as her.)

Not sure how I feel about this if it's not done to mock. Would need to ask my black friend how the feel.

shrunkenhead · 31/08/2014 12:35

I think it's distasteful, and just not really accepted in today's society, whether it's considered racist or not. I'm not comfortable with it. Don't think I'd report her but my opinion of her would have altered...

CaptainSinker · 31/08/2014 12:36

Armydad, see my reply to bunchoffives.

Wasn't aware forestry workers had been systematically oppressed and mocked for their uniforms. Also Robin Hood is a specific character, not a random collection of attributes about a group chosen for comedy value or mockery.

curiousgeorgie · 31/08/2014 12:36

Angelina Jolie coloured her face for the film A Mighty Heart. Is that racist too?

McBear · 31/08/2014 12:36

Username, so you're saying it's ok for snoop dogg to do it because he's black?

MagnificentMaleficent · 31/08/2014 12:37

Firstly as username intimated, a black person dressing as a white person is never the same due to wealth/power differences generally in society.

Secondly, this used to be a way to ridicule and humiliate black people - all in the name of entertainment.

It's a very risky business imo to think that race issues are now so far behind us it can be construed as harmless fun.

Can you imagine if a celebrity or royal Harry did something like this and the resulting uproar?

YABU to report to FB though - you should explain your concerns to your friend.

bunchoffives · 31/08/2014 12:37

'Does the American black minority have the power to disempower and disadvantage the white majority?'

Only if the black minority are seen as a separate part of American society (they are in fact now in the majority).

I'm not sure that's a question you can really pose as self-evident anymore Username with a black president in power.

FreudiansSlipper · 31/08/2014 12:38

The Black and White Minstrel show started 55 years ago. It was NOT done to upset black people, it was a SHOW with SINGERS. It stopped 35 years ago.

It was NOT racist.........it is only people TODAY who are TRYING TO MAKE it racist.

Shockreally you are that stupid to think that the show was innocent fun and not horrible racist stereotyping

CaptainSinker · 31/08/2014 12:38

Think magnificent sums it up well. I am in danger of becoming a keyboard warrior but really depressed by some of the attitudes and ignorance here.

Sallyingforth · 31/08/2014 12:39

What is the point of parodying a random member of another race?

It was a fancy dress party. If they dressed as a pirate with an eye patch and a false leg would that be parodying disabled people?

Why this constant need to pick out racism when none is intended? It's actually counter-productive because it make you constantly 'think' racism instead of getting on with living together as genuine equals.

MagnificentMaleficent · 31/08/2014 12:40

So you think black people have the same opportunities as white people in the US bunch? Really?

You think they have the same access to wealth and education, and live in similar neighbourhoods? And since when are black people in the majority?!!

Over 70% of American are white!

bunchoffives · 31/08/2014 12:42

I so agree sallyingforth

There is such an unthinking perpetuation of the right-on, anti-racist discourse by, ahem, people of a certain age that very little actual thought underlies the discourse anymore so that it has emptied of all meaning.

In the meantime the fact there are less than a quarter of all MPs who are women, less than a quarter of peers, under 4% company directors etc is conveniently ignored in popular culture.

CaptainSinker · 31/08/2014 12:45

No sallying, that would be dressing up as a pirate.

Going about in a wheelchair, contorting your face and doing a "funny" cerebral palsy voice would be equivalent examples of parody.

ArabellaTarantella · 31/08/2014 12:45

really you are that stupid to think that the show was innocent fun and not horrible racist stereotyping

Firstly, FreudianSipper, don't call me stupid. And secondly, I said it was not racist in the day - we are MAKING it racist by today's standards.

MagnificentMaleficent · 31/08/2014 12:45

I am Shock at some of the attitudes on here, agree captain that is it depressing.

You cannot wipe out hundreds of years of oppression by saying "well she didn't mean to be racist". You have to look at the reasons why something has proliferated in the past and whether that thought process would be acceptable now.

The golliwog for example. That is not acceptable. Yes it was a "harmless" children's toy but it's origins around black people are not acceptable in a more enlightened age. Well enlightened in some parts only clearly

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 31/08/2014 12:47

It sound like a horrible racist stereotype. I would ask your cousin to take the photos down and say why. If she doesn't I would report to FB. Some awful and outdated opinions on this thread Shock

CaptainSinker · 31/08/2014 12:48

You are right bunchoffives. It is only possible to be concerned about one aspect of inequality in our society.

I might ask why you are busy defending casual racism this morning when you could be ending patriarchal oppression.

MagnificentMaleficent · 31/08/2014 12:48

Yes it was racist in the day - of course it was!!! It was making fun of people due to their colour. I doubt many black people then sat down for a good old laugh.

I am a feminist as well as not liking to see people mocked for their colour as well bunch. I can concentrate on more than one thing at once see. I also dislike people who mock those in wheelchairs. Think of me as multi faceted in my personal war against discrimination.

bunchoffives · 31/08/2014 12:49

MagnificentMaleficent I'm sorry, you are quite right. White people are still in the majority in the US, but are projected not to be by mid-century.

'You think they have the same access to wealth and education, and live in similar neighbourhoods?' ...as white people? The trouble is, which white people? With 30million US citizens in very real poverty I don't think black people are alone in being disadvantaged - as they are not in the UK.

I do agree that white, male and middle-upper classes are undoubtedly very much privileged, but I just don't think it's about black colour prejudice anymore. I think it's about a privileged elite hanging on to power and wealth to the dtriment of ALL other sectors.

FreudiansSlipper · 31/08/2014 12:49

I will call you stupid for making such a ridiculous comment

It was racist then and is still racist and there was a campaign run to take the show off for many many years

obviously you did not do your homework

MagnificentMaleficent · 31/08/2014 12:50

Also what do you mean by people of ahem a certain age?

I'm 36. Should I be younger/older? What would be fitting into your imaginary demographic?

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 31/08/2014 12:53

I'm 36 too - is that the perfect non-racist age. If so thank God I was born when I was.

CaptainSinker · 31/08/2014 12:54

Me too!