Blackface Halloween ?

[GGG]

If you wish to offend no one then dont do it.

As a white guy (whose opinion doesn't count) its okay because intent is more important. If it weren't for the hockey players who did it a few years ago I wouldn't have even known it was a thing.

[Bill Bumface]

I dressed up as Mr. T in University. I didn't even consider the racist implications of it until I got to school and remembered two of my profs were black and born outside of North America. One stopped class to ask me what I was dressed as. She had no idea who Mr. T was

I also had one black student passerby in Mac Hall give me the dirtiest look ever. I felt like a bit of a dink, as I hadn't even considered I'd offend people. I'd probably wear it to a party where you know most people, but doing something highly public will probably lead to someone being offended.

[Tron_fdc]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

I dressed up as Mr. T in University. I didn't even consider the racist implications of it until I got to school and remembered two of my profs were black and born outside of North America. One stopped class to ask me what I was dressed as. She had no idea who Mr. T was

I also had one black student passerby in Mac Hall give me the dirtiest look ever. I felt like a bit of a dink, as I hadn't even considered I'd offend people. I'd probably wear it to a party where you know most people, but doing something highly public will probably lead to someone being offended.

Aren't you 8 feet tall and something like 100lbs? You probably looked like an offensive Wilt Chamberlain.

I had a skinhead buddy do Mr T back in the 90's, and he had no problem with it. It was probably as offensive as you can imagine, combat boots, rolled jeans, wallet chain, flight jacket, black face and mohawk. It looked absolutely nothing like Mr T, and he didn't get hassled at all.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

Aren't you 8 feet tall and something like 100lbs? You probably looked like an offensive Wilt Chamberlain.

I had a skinhead buddy do Mr T back in the 90's, and he had no problem with it. It was probably as offensive as you can imagine, combat boots, rolled jeans, wallet chain, flight jacket, black face and mohawk. It looked absolutely nothing like Mr T, and he didn't get hassled at all.

6'7 200lbs... (this reminds me of another thread)....

But the visual effect of 6'7 200lbs is practically indistinguishable from 8' 100lbs. Varying degrees of lanky.

I actually stuffed the upper arms of my shirt to look more Mr. T like. It was pretty awesome.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by GGG

If you wish to offend no one then dont do it.

As a white guy (whose opinion doesn't count) its okay because intent is more important. If it weren't for the hockey players who did it a few years ago I wouldn't have even known it was a thing.

Can you expand on that please?

[GGG]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Can you expand on that please?

I am white therefore I can't dictate how a black person should feel about blackface. A member of the historical group who did the oppressing can't just say to the oppressed group get over it, it was a long time ago. Only the oppressed group can say that.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by GGG

I am white therefore I can't dictate how a black person should feel about blackface. A member of the historical group who did the oppressing can't just say to the oppressed group get over it, it was a long time ago. Only the oppressed group can say that.

Thanks, I thought you might have been going down the 'I am an oppressed white man" road.


Cheers

[Coys1882]

Originally Posted by GGG

Only the oppressed group can say that.

The problem lies in that who represents the group? A committee? A % of its members? One person?

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by coys1882

the problem lies in that who represents the group? A committee? A % of its members? One person?

naacp....?

[Tinordi]

Originally Posted by Coys1882

The problem lies in that who represents the group? A committee? A % of its members? One person?

Why does the group need representation? Ultimately a "group" is just a collection of individuals. If you show up at a halloween party in blackface and a black person gets offended they doesn't need to first call the local chapter of black people to ask whether it's the group's position to be offended. They just gets offended and therefore you've failed.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Coys1882

The problem lies in that who represents the group? A committee? A % of its members? One person?

No one represents the group. Any member of the group can be offended. Now I don't neccesarily have to care if someone is offended but I can tell them being offended is stupid.

Edit i meant to say you cant tell someone being offended is stupid.

[Coys1882]

I'm an a$$hole - sorry guys. I'm not that worried about offending people it seems.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Go as Mr. T dressed as Mr. Clean in poorly done whiteface.

[BOSSY]

Dressing up as Mr T for Halloween with your face painted black is nothing close to "blackface" so have fun and don't worry about it... Blackface is an over the top attempt at stereotypical humor - your not making fun of blacks so don't worry about it

[MrMastodonFarm]

hulkrogan is 6'7?

Good lord, we can never hang out. I hate being next to people taller then me. Growing up and still (for the most part) being one of the tallest people in the room gives me the willies when someone towers over me.

[driveway]

I would say that blackface is blackface, regardless of what else you're wearing and you probably shouldn't do it.

[MissAvery16]

Dwayne Wade dressed up as Justin Timberlake..



Raffi Torres as Jay-Z



But to avoid any drama when you're out might as well just go as a white Mr. T

[fatso]

Originally Posted by MissAvery16

Dwa

Raffi Torres as Jay-Z



But to avoid any drama when you're out might as well just go as a white Mr. T

Here's how you know your plan is a bad one. Ask yourself: "is this something Raffi Torres would do?". If the answer is "Yes", then DO NOT DO IT! (unless of course you're planning on being a complete d-bag).

[annasuave]

I'm given to understand that the use of of blackface is potentially offensive because back in the early days of theatre, black people weren't allowed on stage. If any role required a black person, it would require a white actor to dress up in blackface to portray a black person - generally in the role of savage/dumbass/object of ridicule. Blackface was pretty blatant and offensive caricature.

I don't think there's anything specifically offensive about about white guy dressing up as as a specific black guy. But unless you can pull it off really, really well - you run the risk of looking like a dumbass in blackface.

But then, I'm neither black, nor a theatre-buff. I could be wrong.

[Kswiss]

This was actually the first time I encountered blackface ... or more like brown face...i found it so odd that a white dude played this guy. Maybe this should go to the GMGs thread....