Blackface Halloween ?

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by SeeBass

^the problem is you and I could sit on the street corner and probably find an issue for some group with every 4th costume going by

Yes but how many of them have been as publicly contentious and have such deep-rooted animosity as something like blackface and it's connotations?

EDIT: All I'm saying is it's a bad idea. If I saw some dude dressed up in blackface on Halloween I wouldn't scream "I Never!" and faint like a wealthy dowager, I would however think that guy's probably kinda dumb and definitely awkward.

[SeeBass]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

Yes but how many of them have been as publicly contentious and have such deep-rooted animosity as something like blackface and it's connotations?

That certainly doesn't make something less serious to the person a certain costume may offend and volume of people offended shouldn't be the reason why something is offensive or not.

I do not think it is a bad idea done in the correct context.

[PsYcNeT]

Eh I like the inversion suggestion earlier in the thread. Blonde hawk, blonde beard, you can still talk like Mr T (that's like, 90% of the costume, and 100% of the fun).

Really if this thread even exists, the OP knows it's probably not a good idea.

EDIT: I also wanted to say that I'm not against tastelessness either (which blackface is), but that tastelessness needs a purpose, typically either to a) send a message, or b) be funny. Blackface does neither.

[missdpuck]

What if I go as a hooker and nobody stops? ;(

[mrgreen]

I saw a great tiger woods costume (white dude with brown paint face/arms) at a party with several black guys there who all loved it. Zero offence. There's a difference between simply trying to do a good job of looking like someone and using make-up to achieve it and using make-up to do something overtly offensive/racist.

[squiggs96]

I am not offended by blackface, but I'm white, so my opinion may not matter. I think if the intent of your costume is to idolize a character it's not racist, but some will still be offended by it. I'm also not convinced that making your skin colour look like a black person's skin colour is blackface. I think that is reserved for show polish or paint, that is an entirely different colour.

Tyler Bozak did blackface last year when he went as Michael Jackson. He took a lot of flack from that. http://www.torontosun.com/2012/10/31...ks-online-rage

Raffi Torres and his wife went as Jay Z and Beyonce. Patrick Kane and Adam Burish went as Dennis Rodman and Scottie Pippen, all as blackface, and all received some backlash. On the reverse note Dwight Howard used whiteface to go as Justin Timberlake.

I don't think there is anything wrong with any of these costumes, as the intent was not racist, but I haven't lived through any of the lives of the people that are offended.

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by squiggs96

I don't think there is anything wrong with any of these costumes, as the intent was not racist, but I haven't lived through any of the lives of the people that are offended.

One thing you have to remember though, is that a vast majority of "racist" incidents had no intention of being racist. Ignorance or obliviousness is quite often the catalyst.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

A white guy doing blackface on his own = bad idea.

A white guy doing blackface with a black guy doing whiteface = your best bet.

Do you know someone to go as Hannibal?

[Tinordi]

It's 2013 and we're talking about whether it's appropriate to go in blackface on Halloween.

[SportsJunky]

Can't you just think of a better costume idea and avoid the issue all together? Mr. T as a halloween costume sounds like you gave up trying to think of a good idea.

[The Goon]

What about going as Slutty Mr. T?

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by The Goon

What about going as Slutty Mr. T?

Grace Jones?

Edit; Nm.. Was thinking Tina Turner in Mad Max. I think that would a female equivalent of Mr. T.

[calgarywinning]

Probably the very idea that you created the thread may represent that' it's not the best costume idea.

[TSXCman]

Black face Mike Vernon?

[AMG_G]

My Caucasian girlfriend dressed up as Flavor Flav blackface and all in grade 12 for Halloween. No issues back then?

[corporatejay]

Isn't there a difference between blackface and painting your face black? If he paints his face like an exaggerated cartoon of a black person I think that's totally offside but if he's just using black make up to look likes black person I think it's no offensive.

That being said I would consider your audience. A house party with a bunch of friends might be fine but if you go to a pub or club someone may take offence and then you have a big crap storm on your hands.

[Flames89]

If you have to ask, you shouldn't be Mr. T
He deserves someone with bigger balls to represent him.

[Huntingwhale]

[FlamesAddiction]

While I personally don't think it is "blackface" or racist, it is almost a guarantee that some people will, if maybe only a small percentage, therefore you are bound to offend someone.

With that in mind, why bother? Who needs the drama that bad just to have an accurate Halloween costume? Seems like a pretty silly thing to risk upsetting people over (even if you personally don't think they should be upset).

[yads]

Have you seen Lethal Weapon 5?

NSFW!