Who cares what people in the US think? Bozak is a Canadian who did this in Canada. Should we revamp our laws on alcohol because they offend millions in Saudi Arabia?
I wasn't saying you should. I was reflecting my knowledge which doesn't include the reaction the black community in Canada would have. I would be surprised if blacks in Canada had dissimilar feelings however.
I wasn't saying you should. I was reflecting my knowledge which doesn't include the reaction the black community in Canada would have. I would be surprised if blacks in Canada had dissimilar feelings however.
I texted my black friend about this and she did not have an issue, and she is americian, now living here.
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Captain James P. DeCOSTE, CD, 18 Sep 1993
As far as I can tell, the actual act of dressing up like a black person is rarely disrespectful. Especially in today's culture. Tyler Bozak doesn't hate black people. What was originally offensive about blackface wasn't that people were dressing up, it's that Hollywood was paying white actors to put on makeup and act black as opposed to just hiring black actors.
So unless Bozak put some brother out of work with his costume, those offended (None of whom are black, I guarantee you) need to have a coke and a smile and shut up.
__________________ ”All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to you.”
I think you would have a point if it was a minority, but at least in the US a majority of blacks would find it offensive. We are talking millions of people not one or two.
No. Black people are legendary for their ability to recognize a joke. Go to a black comedy club if you ever get a chance. And they'd all be the first to tell you that they couldn't tell you what a hockey puck was if you put it into a police lineup, so I really don't think they care what a hockey player in another country does for Halloween.
__________________ ”All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to you.”
Rowan Roy W-M - February 15, 2024
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As far as I can tell, the actual act of dressing up like a black person is rarely disrespectful. Especially in today's culture. Tyler Bozak doesn't hate black people. What was originally offensive about blackface wasn't that people were dressing up, it's that Hollywood was paying white actors to put on makeup and act black as opposed to just hiring black actors.
So unless Bozak put some brother out of work with his costume, those offended (None of whom are black, I guarantee you) need to have a coke and a smile and shut up.
I can guarantee that's false.
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For anyone claiming Canada isn't racist or significantly less racist than the states is really burying their heads in the sand. Canada may not be racist against black people but Natives certianly are targeted.
We are only about 10 years out since cops in Saskatoon were dropping natives off outside the city to walk back without shoes. A few died. So Canada definately has institutionalized racism just of a different group.
As to the above i would say it was insensitive but on Halloween you are allowed to be insensitve so the Michael Jackson costume is okay by me.
I'd be interested to know what you guys think of Russell Peters' comedy act. Would you go? Is it offensive? If not, would it be if he's white? Would you then see the double standard in that?
I'd be interested to know what you guys think of Russell Peters' comedy act. Would you go? Is it offensive? If not, would it be if he's white? Would you then see the double standard in that?
I find his act offensive because it's not funny.
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I texted my black friend about this and she did not have an issue, and she is americian, now living here.
My black friend said he doesn't take offence to being called a n*gger therefore it is no longer a racist term. W00t!!
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A black friend of mine said that he has been, over the years, a victim of racism. Nothing big. Usually he'll just shrug it off. Little stuff. He and three white co-workers were waiting for a bus. All 4 had regular bus passes when an express bus came along. Bus driver let the 3 white people on, told my friend he wasn't allowed on. Tires of several cars were slashed at his all-black church. His son was at a party of high school kids; police arrived for a noise complaint and took in only the black kids (it was SOME black kids blasting the stereo and acting uppity with the police, but they took in ALL the black kids from the party). His son was let go as soon as my friend arrived at the station.... But it's little stuff like that. Blatant stuff like burning nooses or churches being set on fire or obvious racist hiring policies are extremely rare, but examples of discrimination and prejudice can easily be found.
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associate professor in the department of history at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont., teaches courses on race, immigration, African Canadian history and legal history
Let's analyze this properly...
1) The guy teaches liberal arts at QU, so he is somewhere to the left of Lenin.
2) He is teaching subjects that were invented for political correctness purposes - the proliferation of BS like this is why I didn't continue on to become a history prof, and became a despicable lawyer instead.
Thus, anything this gentleman says on the subject is utter garbage.
My black friend said he doesn't take offence to being called a n*gger therefore it is no longer a racist term. W00t!!
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Nice try bigboy.
There is a distinct difference between dressing up as a famous person (one of the most recognizable people of the last 30 years +) and using a word that is meant to demean/insult/offend someone.
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Captain James P. DeCOSTE, CD, 18 Sep 1993
Corporal Jean-Marc H. BECHARD, 6 Aug 1993
Last edited by undercoverbrother; 11-02-2012 at 09:22 AM.
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There is a distinct difference between dressing up as a famous person (one of the most recognizable people of the last 30 years +) and using a word that is meant to demean/insult/offend someone.
Actually I would argue that painting your skin black has been used to demean/insult/offend in a very similar way as that word. For a situation comparable to Bozak (although I don't think it's that comparable as he saw the reaction to Torres last year), if a foreigner came to the states and happened to have listened to rap music or watched a movie featuring black characters who call each other n***** and he walks up to a black man and uses that word. It's forgivable and he should not be looked down upon, but once educated he should no longer continue to use the word. Painting oneself black is offensive to a large portion of the black community (despite your solid polling effort of one person). If you do do it knowing that people find it offensive, don't cry when people call you ignorant or racist. Now if you don't give a crap what those people think feel free to do it.
Actually I would argue that painting your skin black has been used to demean/insult/offend in a very similar way as that word. For a situation comparable to Bozak (although I don't think it's that comparable as he saw the reaction to Torres last year), if a foreigner came to the states and happened to have listened to rap music or watched a movie featuring black characters who call each other n***** and he walks up to a black man and uses that word. It's forgivable and he should not be looked down upon, but once educated he should no longer continue to use the word. Painting oneself black is offensive to a large portion of the black community (despite your solid polling effort of one person). If you do do it knowing that people find it offensive, don't cry when people call you ignorant or racist. Now if you don't give a crap what those people think feel free to do it.
But you seem to have a disconnect. He was dressing up. He was not "in blackface" which is totally different from what he did. Again, if he dressed up in blackface then yes it is offensive, but he is dressed as a famous person. One could argue that the him wishing to dress as a famous black person is a step forward in race equality. The N word, blackface, Uncle Tom are all differrent. None of my black friends have an issue with it. So what does that say about them?
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Captain James P. DeCOSTE, CD, 18 Sep 1993
But you seem to have a disconnect. He was dressing up. He was not "in blackface" which is totally different from what he did. Again, if he dressed up in blackface then yes it is offensive, but he is dressed as a famous person. One could argue that the him wishing to dress as a famous black person is a step forward in race equality. The N word, blackface, Uncle Tom are all differrent. None of my black friends have an issue with it. So what does that say about them?
It honestly doesn't say anything about them. I am not offended very easily either, but I don't use my tolerance of things as a bar for others especially since I am a white straight male who has never faced real discrimination. At the University of Florida white kids dressed up like the UF football players and painted themselves black, the NAACP released a statement that it was offensive. They were "dressing up as someone" too. This is what I don't get. Does dressing up as black historical figures/celebrities (and painting themselves you can dress up without painting, would you not have known who Bozak was if he didn't paint his skin?) matter so much to certain white people that they are willing to spend time arguing about/with the black people who are offended about how they are dumb to be offended? If so, I would say that is a much higher degree of stupidity then being offended by something that can be related to the history of marginalizing an entire people.
Last edited by FlamingLonghorn; 11-02-2012 at 10:32 AM.
It honestly doesn't say anything about them. I am not offended very easily either, but I don't use my tolerance of things as a bar for others especially since I am a white straight male who has never faced real discrimination. At the University of Florida white kids dressed up like the UF football players and painted themselves black, the NAACP released a statement that it was offensive. They were "dressing up as someone" too. This is what I don't get. Does dressing up as black historical figures/celebrities (and painting themselves you can dress up without painting, would you not have known who Bozak was if he didn't paint his skin?) matter so much to certain white people that they are willing to spend time arguing about/with the black people who are offended about how they are dumb to be offended? If so, I would say that is a much higher degree of stupidity then being offended by something that can be related to the history of marginalizing an entire people.
It seems that organizations that are funded as a result of inequality are always offended. It this case have their been any real black people who have stated that Bozak dressing as MJ and painting his face actually offends them?
When I say "real" I mean an actual person and not a agenda driven agency or an academic who is evaluating the historical context. Just a regular person who is offended buy. If someone like that or a large number of people like that exist then yes the minority group can decide it is offensive and the majority shouldn't do it aka the N word. Regular people are highly offended by it. But ... in this case is anyone actually offended
Why it matters to white people and especially young white people is many of us view ourselves as not racist and don't want to be subject to the white guilt and racial tensions of older generations. I think that people no longer want to have to think is this racist in a historical context whenever they do or say something related to race. We want to be able to not care about it anymore. So if I want to dress up as a black historical figure for halloween I can do it with out thinking about racial undertones I know nothing about. Until the last few years when it has turned into a big deal news wise I had no idea 'blackface' was a thing and was offensive. I was a little ignorent of that aspect of history.
