Blackface shows up so frequently these days, you'd think it's become a contemptible fad. Recently, this Jim Crow relic has been spotted in cartoons on high fashion pages, 'Mad Men' and 'Tyra.' Who can keep track?
So is it any wonder that two white Northwestern University student athletes would jump at the chance to hop on this trend by donning blackface as Halloween costumes? Click here to see photos.
One of the students involved in the incident reportedly dressed as Bob Marley, painting his entire body black and wearing a shirt with the word "Jamaica." The second student dressed as a black woman with a tennis racket.
Both are believed to be student-athletes, according to the Daily Northwestern. Student reactions have been mixed, with some suggesting the campus culture allows insensitivity because of the low-minority population. Source: Northwestern Blackface Costumes Inspire Protest - NBC Chicago
What were these crazy kids thinking? Or not thinking? Who knows. But I see a big double standard here. Celebrities seem to get away with offensive behavior, while the regular Joes get the "racial insensitivity" hammer dropped right on their head. I'm not defending ignorance, but I think your proximity to celebrity shouldn't get you a pass on proper behavior.
And while I'm on this subject, is it just here in Los Angeles or did you notice more white folks than usual sporting huge Afro wigs on Halloween night? At first I was a little peeved, then just confused. I don't understand it. I'd be cool if white women (and men) chose to adorn themselves in Afros as a preferred style in everyday life, much like many black women wear straight wigs or weaves. What does it mean, though, to adorn hair mimicking my natural texture as a "hilarious" costume?
After all, I can say without hesitation that I have never, ever, considered leaving the house looking like an escapee from the cast of the Wayans' 'White Chicks.' Can't see it.
But if I did don a blond wig, paint my skin white, call myself Becky and repeat stereotypical Valley girl phrases such as "omigawd" or "that is sooo awwwsumm" how would white people I passed on the street respond?
And if they were offended, should I feel entitled to tell them to just "lighten up" or "get a sense of humor"?
Comments: (106)
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By: paul on 11/06/2009 3:47PM
This is crazy. They were dressed up as prominent, successful black people that they admired. This isn't Amos and Andy where whites dressed in blackface to poke fun at blacks, this is 2009 and black entertainers and athletes are respected for their accomplishments. It's a Halloween costume for crying out loud. These kids are so far detached from the days of Jim Crow and blackface that they don't even know the implications of what they did. Instead of dredging up old hatred and bigotry that none of these kids were alive to see, we should be celebrating that we've come along so far that it doesn't even occur to the younger generation that dressing as a prominent black person is any different than dressing as a prominent white person.
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By: Shaquila on 11/06/2009 6:11PM
Bravo Paul, you are absolutely right. this is not racism, it's Halloween, high fashion etc. Tyra was certainly not being racist and it was a great show. White Chicks II is coming out and there is no protest about that. Get over it black people.
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By: Marie on 11/08/2009 2:19PM
I agree with you, Paul. If these kids were using blackface and going around screaming, "DAYYYUM" then I could see a problem. But Bob Marley and a tennis player? What is wrong with that?
Dixon, did you ask the people with afros what their costume was? It was probably it was a 70s costume.
Please do paint your skin white and act like a Valley girl. No one would care about a little satire. After all, those girls are made fun of all the time in the movies.
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By: wild irish rose on 11/08/2009 4:53PM
Unless some part of their "schtick" was deliberately provocative and racist, I think this is really a tempest in a teapot. Men dress like women and vice versa, people dress as different nationalities, ethnicities, cutures....as long as it's not done in a mean-spirited way, what's the problem? It's Hallowe'en!!! That's the whole idea, to be someone/something you're not. The costumes didn't look disrespectful to me.
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By: Vanshe on 11/08/2009 5:03PM
You're right. I am a black woman and I thought about dressing up as a white woman for Halloween, make up wig and all. Not to poke fun or insult white women but for a costume. I don't see the problem. As for the Tyra show, I thought it was creative and beautiful.
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By: quatrell on 11/08/2009 5:18PM
To: "shaquila" where in this news letter was it that "black people" made a complaint.I do not recall seeing that. NU as of right now, has a 6.5% african-american population. So more than likely it was a Caucasian that made a complaint.
Nevertheless, they were ignorant for what painting themselves black, given the stigma that follows black face. However, i do not think they should be penalized for it
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By: Fara on 11/08/2009 6:34PM
Thank goodness there's somebody with sense. For heaven's sake, white people are idolizing successful black men and women and they're being hasseled for it? What about all the other children of color who dress up as their white hero's. Following the same logic, it seems children should only dress in sterotypical, ethnic appropriate garments for Halloween. Who's the racist now?
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By: Willie on 11/08/2009 7:50PM
To Duck, Duck, there is no such thing as white or black,its the country that you are from, such as Germany,you are a German, if you are a Russian that means you are from Russia and only in America you stupid nazi.Foolishness sometime turns into a war.
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By: Jeanne on 11/08/2009 7:32PM
I agree, when I read this, I just couldn't believe how offended the writer of this article was over something like this. I mean I could understand it if they were doing something demeaning like the roles of the crows on Dumbo or something like that. But it sounds to me they're more immitating role models they look up to in a positive light. I mean how many kids did I see dressed as Michael Jackson this Halloween, some ten years old even. But a white person can't dress up as a black person they admire?
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By: Mike on 11/10/2009 2:56PM
I agree also. No different than Elvis, Beatles, Rolling Stones at el mimicking black music. BTW these whites saw the artistry and appreciated the artistry of those blues and early rockers (Chuck Berry) when black people were running from these musicians, evidently afraid of what 'somebody else' might think of them. Well, it was the 1950s and 1960s when 'bleaching creams' were big sellers in the black community.
Thank goodness, we overcame that one.
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