Is it racist for a white person to go to a fancy dress party as a black celebrity?

[Wimbledonwomble]

For example - Michael Jackson, Prince, Tina Turner, Scary Spice? Fab costumes for most of these are widely available on line so clearly popular. I have to admit it didn't even cross my mind when discussing possible costumes with a friend, I just thought they were good costumes, but she thinks it could be seen as racist and inappropriate. I'm really not sure tbh!

Caprisunorange - I’m not surprised, I’ve seen enough threads about race on MN to know there’s a lot of ignorance here.

I've said it before, it's when the skin colour becomes part of the 'joke' that it becomes offensive.

But it's not something you can explain properly without being called 'snowflake' and it's not something someone who was genuinely not trying to offend, would understand either.

For me absolutely yes - looks like minstrelism and is very tone deaf

trancepants, of course he can wear the costume but were you going to 'black' him up, too?

I have just googled black panther and falcon and see absolutely no reason why a child of any race couldn’t dress up as them. I don’t even see the point you’re trying to make tbh
I'm responding directly to the people who are saying it's best (for white people) to avoid any dressing up as a person/character of another colour.

It is obviously very offensive to impersonate a black celebrity if you are white, the same applies to black people whiting up to impersonate a white celebrity, very offensive to impersonate skin colour.

White people should therefore stick with impersonating white celebrities, and black people should only impersonate black celebrities, then all is fine.

@Aeroflotgirl
You are clearly not educated. Yawn!

Why Skybird, it is true, isen't it! I am not saying that white people should be blacking up, I have said that it is offensive, I have also said that it is offensive to for a black person to white up, which it is. Double standards come to play here.

I think it’s fine. “Blacking up” is not though. But wearing a costume or wig, can’t see the problem.

Yes i am educated thanks, that is why I said that it is best for a white person to impersonate someone of their own race as dress up, and same for a black person to do the same so no lines are crossed. What is wrong with that!

@Ghanagirl obsolutley. Even if the Story is true, there is always a handful of black people willing to minstrel their way to white approval .

@Aeroflotgirl It is the history of 'blacking up' that makes it offensive not the act.

I know, Nodancing, I am aware of that and the power dynamic between black and white people, that is why no impersonating skin colours should be encouraged avoid any issue.

Even impersonating a non black person from another country is offensive, altering ones eyes and putting 'a more pale skin colour' to impersonate and Asian person is offensive too.

I don't get the offence taken if someone does change some skin tone to be Michael Jackson, Tina Turner etc. They are black Americans & proud. To impersonate them is a compliment, not an insult. To dress as Hitler etc is wrong on many levels for obvious reasons.

@NotUmbongoUnchained if that post is aimed at me please don't mis quote me. I never said I understood what I was like to be black. I said having 2 black friends gave me experience on the subject matter, which is about dressing up as Michael Jackson.

Please do not try and talk for my friends because you are black and so are they. They do not just agree with "white people" they stand up for what they believe in and take the time to educate people if they have misconception of racism.

THE THREAD ISNT ABOUT BLACKING UP, everyone has agreed that is unacceptable sorry incredible frustrating when people change the meaning of a thread

“Aeroflotgirl

Yes i am educated thanks, that is why I said that it is best for a white person to impersonate someone of their own race as dress up, and same for a black person to do the same so no lines are crossed. What is wrong with that!”

Because this isn’t about what back people dress up as, and no one has put any restrictions on what POC Dresss up as. You have. Only one of those races has been oppressed by the other for centuries

trancepants theyre superhero’s. They’re not black or white. It’s a irrelevance

I have Caprisun because if white people are not allowed to use make up to impersonate a black celebrity, black people should not put on white to impersonate a white celebrity either. Yes I am aware of the oppression of black people by white. But I don;t agree that black people should be putting on white make up either and impersonating white celebrities. I think you are crossing dangerous waters if you impersonate anyone according to their race: be it Asian, Eastern European, black, Russian, Spanish. Would you say the same if some body put on brown or tanned make up to impersonate Ronaldo the footballer!

It’s an irrelevant whataboutism. The only thing that matters is that white people should never black. You’re desperate to bring others into it. Black people werent the ones whiting up 60 years ago because white people weren’t allowed into clubs to perform

Did you friend possibly misunderstand and think that you were going to black face?

@Aerofloatgirl but when I black persons puts on white face it’s ironic and a way of reclaiming it. It’s the equivalent of black people using the n word back when it wears fashionable. The blank face in isolation is absolutely not inappropriate but it is inappropriate in the context of the suppression of black rights (which is an ongoing issue, especially in show business). There’s nothing wrong with putting on make up to make yourself look like someone else. But black face isn’t impressive because of mimickry, it’s offensivebecause of what it represents.

I can understand the issue in the US regarding Native American headdresses, because of the history in the US. Would it be an issue in the UK though?

Not sure Aladdin would be an issue in the UK as the oppression angle would be less of an issue surely. Although there certainly is incidental racism against Chinese (stereotyping etc) in the UK, just maybe not as entrenched as racism against blacks.

To me, (and I identify as White- the other stuff in my family is too far back for me to conside rmyself coloured and I have fair skin and green eyes) unless blackface or whiteface is used then I cannot see an issue. But as I am white, maybe I am less aware of more subtle forms of racism?