Racist or not? Or just racially insensitive?

[FlamingLonghorn]

It's racially insensitive. It is probably not racist because he didn't mean disrespect by it. You can dress as MJ without painting your face black. Maybe it's not seen the same way in Canada, but in the US especially the south it's viewed very negatively.

[Coys1882]

Originally Posted by FlamingLonghorn

It's racially insensitive. It is probably not racist because he didn't mean disrespect by it. You can dress as MJ without painting your face black. Maybe it's not seen the same way in Canada, but in the US especially the south it's viewed very negatively.

If this is the case we've failed as a society.

[FlamingLonghorn]

Originally Posted by Coys1882

If this is the case we've failed as a society.

Yep it was that whole time where we treated blacks as subhumans and demeaned them. I would call that a massive failure.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by Titan

Michael Jackson was black?

Believe it or not!





As for racism, In north america it's starting to look like the biggest racists are the people claiming racism exists.

I personally don't even know a racist anymore, not an admitted one anyway.

[flylock shox]

Once upon a time, back in my high school drama days, I considered writing a play about a pair of brothers who were born minstrels. Everywhere they went they were discriminated against by black people and white people alike, all because of how they looked and what people assumed about them. But, despite their persecution, they used their natural musical talents to write profound songs about tolerance and peace, hoping to change the world for the better. Their music fell of deaf ears, so to speak, until one day they were rescued from a riot (lots of their public performances ended in riots) by a producer from LA, who recognized their incredible musical gifts. In order for them to become a commercial success however, the producer had to persuade them to costume themselves in whiteface, so that the public wouldn't think they were trying to parody black musicians. This went well for a few years, and the brothers became wealthy (albeit unhappy) performers. Then, one day, while playing a sold-out set at a music hall in the deep south, the air conditioning went out. The brothers soldiered on, oblivious to the fact that, as they performed, their makeup was sweating away, revealing their true selves.

At about this point I got lost in the layers of irony and couldn't figure out quite how to finish it.

But the point is...

I forget what the point is. But maybe the point is that people understand when someone tries to be something they're not, just not when what they're trying to be is something other than their own race.

Or something.

[FlamingLonghorn]

Originally Posted by T@T

Believe it or not!





As for racism, In north america it's starting to look like the biggest racists are the people claiming racism exists.

I personally don't even know a racist anymore, not an admitted one anyway.

Well most racists won't admit they are one (hell even white supremacists will call themselves seperatists). However, in my travels around this country it definitely exists. In fact here in the liberal bastion of Austin Texas guys were throwing bleach bombs at black people just a couple of weeks ago. I guess be happy you don't run into racists anymore. However, next time you go to Montana/Idaho/Dakotas/Utah/the South, don't be surprised if you happen along a racist.

[saskflames69]

Black Elvis begs to differ.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Coys1882

If this is the case we've failed as a society.

Having sensitivity to these kind of things as a result of a pretty significant part of North American history isn't failing ... it's natural.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by FlamingLonghorn

Well most racists won't admit they are one (hell even white supremacists will call themselves seperatists). However, in my travels around this country it definitely exists. In fact here in the liberal bastion of Austin Texas guys were throwing bleach bombs at black people just a couple of weeks ago. I guess be happy you don't run into racists anymore. However, next time you go to Montana/Idaho/Dakotas/Utah/the South, don't be surprised if you happen along a racist.

Maybe I should have said Canada instead of North America, It's been awhile but when I did do a long trip threw the southern states about 20 years ago and I was appalled at the racisim that still existed.

Short story:

One night in Jackson Mississippi I met beautiful black girl named Jules,nothing really special happened (if you know what I mean) but we exchanged numbers in case I was in the area again..etc. 2 days later I was on my way out of the area and stopped for breakfast and to my shock my waitress was Jules, she acted very strange to the point I thought she didn't like me at all and was thinking I was stalking her or something crazy like that. But after I paid my bill and read the back of the receipt I understood when she wrote, "Sorry for acting like a snob, my boss would fire me immediately for talking to a white guy...please call me "

Never made it back there and never phoned her...my loss

[Swayze11]

Dwayne Wade.... racist.

[Coys1882]

Originally Posted by nik-

Having sensitivity to these kind of things as a result of a pretty significant part of North American history isn't failing ... it's natural.

Not to this level it isn`t - it`s ludicrous, it`s overkill. Sins of the father and all that jazz. How many generations have to pass until we can get past this.

[FlamingLonghorn]

Originally Posted by Coys1882

Not to this level it isn`t - it`s ludicrous, it`s overkill. Sins of the father and all that jazz. How many generations have to pass until we can get past this.

How about until racism doesn't exist anymore? And maybe a couple generations after that just to be safe. Why would you want to do something that upsets people that really has no positive connotation to it?

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Coys1882

Not to this level it isn`t - it`s ludicrous, it`s overkill. Sins of the father and all that jazz. How many generations have to pass until we can get past this.

Who is we? As a person with some historical perspective, I can easily pick another costume rather than paint my face black. I can also pretty easily "get over it" because it doesn't personally offend me, I'm just intelligent enough to know that it's probably not the best choice and go in another direction.

[TSXCman]

funny costume.

I'm all for the offensive costumes, it adds to the holiday fun!

[Joborule]

People just look to be offended about anything these days.

Just ignore them. All they are is noise.

[malcolmk14]

Racist? No, because I don't think he meant any malice. Ignorant? You betcha.

[Deegee]

People who claim they don't even know racism exists anymore or have never met a racist have obviously never left the city in their life.

They are out there in droves. Especially in small towns.

[Daradon]

I don't get how you can't dress up of someone of a different race
If you admire that person its a compliment. Maybe more controversial I don't know why you can't dress up as Hitler. What is scarier that Hitler?

[octothorp]

Insensitivity aside, I just sorta question why any white guy would think that it's a good costume idea. Obviously you're just going to look like a white guy in facepaint dressed as Michael Jackson. Not everyone is going to be equally able to pull off every halloween costume. If I've got a choice between going out for Halloween as Iginla or Kiprusoff, it's going to be the guy that I have sorta similar skintones to. Doesn't matter which player I like more. That's not me being racially sensitive, that's just knowing what's going to work as a costume.

[Da_Chief]

Not racist but he did it on purpose to get a rise out of people.