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!

I still stand by what I feel, that if we say one thing for one group of people and another for another, i.e one rule for one, and another rule for another, we are heading down a very slippery slope.

I do sort of understand that point bingeeating as we as Europeans don’t really have any true understanding or appreciation of indigenous peoples in America, Australia, New Zealand etc and I think it would be hard to argue racism against them in the U.K. at the same time, if you’re told something is offensive why insist on pursuing it?

You could also argue that since it was the British who colonised these countries and treated the indigenous people like shit we should just for once shut up and do as we’re told.

It’s like the Hitler outfit- it’s illegal in many parts of Europe. Doesn’t mean we should insist on doing it here just becauSe we can

@ShreddedBanksy again just for clarity I have never said black face is fine, in fact I think I have actually stated it's unacceptable. my 2 friends do not say blackface is acceptable - the thread is not about black face and I don't quite understand the "so there". But thanks for coming 😀

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

Me neither. It actually makes me laugh now, playing racist bingo on these treads.

Of course not

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?
The UK were massive contributors to the genocide of indigenous people in North America. Participating in the near destruction of a culture, then playing 'dress up' as those people, is pretty disgusting.

@ShreddedBanksy yes so as I said the OP thread was not about black face other people have turned it into that and then started accusing others of saying it was ok, when they hadn't. Turning this into something it really wasn't meant to be.

I haven't seen anyone on here that has said black face is ok, just that the fancy dress element and putting make up on to look like a character was ok ( I apologise if you say people on here have actually said exactly that they agree with black face - as I haven't seen any)

The people talking about black face are the ones defending it, your quite right, but defending it against who.....someone like me who never even said it was ok in the 1st place lol

Anyway I'm done, I have had quite enough now of what this has turned into. I have said my opinion on the thread topic and have been crystal clear (despite other people inability to read it properly ) on my views on other issues raised.

I got as far as page 2 on a re-read to find a post in support of black face...

Ihaven't seen anyone on here that has said black face is ok, just that the fancy dress element and putting make up on to look like a character was ok
If you're talking about using makeup to darken your skin to look like a particular black person, I'd say that's blackface.

Not racist at all. Some people are just too sensitive. Code for I’m a racist and get back in your box and stop complaining.

I don't think there is actually anything inherently racist about using makeup to change your skin colour to dress up as a particular person and so can understand someone uncritically saying that it is not racist to do so.

Unfortunately, we live in a world where people have long been abused and degraded based on the colour of their skin. Blackface, as a practice, has a clearly racist past.

Given the historical (and sadly sometimes ongoing) use of blackface to denigrate black people, and the fact that black people continue to experience discrimination based on the colour of their skin, even 'well-intentioned' blackface is racially insensitive.

When people say there's nothing racist about it, I think they're showing their ignorance of, or being wilfully blind to, the ongoing effects of historical racism and the racism that continues to exist today.

On the separate point of cultural appropriation, I think there are degrees of it and some examples (dressing up as a Native American) are ignorant and offensive, whereas others (let's say, dressing up as Moana) are worth reflecting on, but aren't a total no-go.

@JustDanceAddict
Not sure what point you’re trying to make

@bourbonbiccy
Can’t you read?

@Asdf12345
They probably just left the party, I probably would have but luckily I don’t have racist dicks for friends.
Actually not luck I just don’t associate with bigots.

@Aeroflotgirl..

”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.”
This makes you sound like one of those white people desperate to use the “N” word just because some misguided young black boys do.
For what it’s worth I don’t think many black people are interested in putting on white face paint to attend a fancy dress party.

Actually Ghana I am not entirely white I am of Armenian heritage, more olive skin. You have distorted what I am saying to fit your narrative.

Yes they shoulden't it is distasteful to impersonate anybodies race actually, why should it be different for a black person.

A little off topic, but when I was about 15/16, the fashion was for girls to wear foundation about 6 shades darker than their natural skin colour. Some went orange, some went a very dark brown. I wonder where that would stand on the issue of ‘blacking up’

There was a FAcebook post about a woman who dressed her 3 year old girl up as a black footballer including the blackface, I personally found that distasteful, no it would not occur for me to use the N word, why would I, it is offensive. I just think to impersonate anybodies race is wrong. No I can't understand why black men use the N word amongst themselves.

I agree Tigger, people do spray tan, or use fake tan to get how I naturally get in the summer due to my skin. I personally don't have a problem with that, it seems desirable to have a nice glowing tan.

@Aeroflotgirl
You’re still white

@Tigger365
You’re being stupid as well as offensive not engaging with idiots.