Cosplayer being labeled ‘Racist’ for her blackface Michonne From ‘The Walking Dead'

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Is it racist that I mimic a black person because I admire them? No.
Is it racists if a black person mimiced me, because s/he liked me? Absolutely not.

I'm going to stop you before you and others start to believe that

What Is Cultural Appropriation and Why Is It Wrong?

"Taking intellectual property, traditional knowledge, cultural expressions, or artifacts from someone else's culture without permission..."

I implore you and others to read the entire definition in the link before you make assumptions based solely on the taken words.
 
That wasn't my question. Why can't a black man paint his face white was the question. Sure you don't have to but why shouldn't he?

The black cosplayers I know don't even think about it. The goal is to have the costume as on point as possible. It's also uncomfortable both physically and mentally. There are black cosplayers who have painted up before and surprise surprise they were called racist.
 
This has everything to do with it, imo. Her intent is to admirably portray one of her favourite characters in one of her favourite TV shows. If people are getting offended at someone who had absolutely no intent to offend or belittle anyone, then I think they need to take a step back and ask themselves what exactly about this offends them.

This is precisely what I want to know. Clearly there are people who are sensitive to this so I want to know what makes this blackface. I want to "get it."
 
Not remotely true. Else we wouldn't have white folk across the internet arguing down minorities about how it "isn't offensive" and that we are "too sensitive" and how "it's a tribute" or "just a joke".

Ok, I posted that as a joke. Racism != Porn, but the rest of what I said, I stand by.
 
Not remotely true. Else we wouldn't have white folk across the internet arguing down minorities about how it "isn't offensive" and that we are "too sensitive" and how "it's a tribute" or "just a joke".

can i ask why you think it's only white folk who think some people are being too sensitive?
 
You're making bad analogies into an art

That's incredibly constructive.

What is it about topics such as these that bring out shitty passive-aggressive comments like this?
I'm just trying to put a point across that you might not agree with, there's no need to make it any more serious than it already is.

Feel free to explain why my point is so invalid.
 
Racist people aren't ignorant?
All racists are ignorant, but every ignorant person isn't racist. There is an ideology behind racism and if you accidentally say or do something that can be seen as racist because you had no idea that what you said or did was racist, then no, you're not a racist. You're an ignorant person who did an ignorant thing.
 
The girl says clearly on her blog post, she doesn't half-ass anything. "You don't have to..." Isn't a compelling reason.

She's a fucking moron then.

『Inaba Resident』;135126544 said:
Nobody is saying that you have to. She wanted to be as accurate as possible though. Its not exaggerating features or making fun of another race, so what's the issue?

I'm saying she doesn't have to. It's a very stupid decision in my eyes unless you're dressing up as Mystique.
 
All racists are ignorant, but every ignorant person isn't racist. There is an ideology behind racism and if you accidentally say or do something that can be seen as racist because you had no idea that what you said or did was racist, then no, you're not a racist. You're an ignorant person who did an ignorant thing.

This.
 
Not remotely true. Else we wouldn't have white folk across the internet arguing down minorities about how it "isn't offensive" and that we are "too sensitive" and how "it's a tribute" or "just a joke".

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『Inaba Resident』;135126544 said:
Nobody is saying that you have to. She wanted to be as accurate as possible though. Its not exaggerating features or making fun of another race, so what's the issue?

The means don't justify the ends. Just because it's her intention to be "as accurate as possible" doesn't mean it's not offensive to some end.
 
I really couldn't care less about this. There is a difference between someone changing their skin tone for a well put together costume and someone making themselves into a racist caricature. I see no reason to be an absolutist about this.
 
She's a fucking moron then.



I'm saying she doesn't have to. It's a very stupid decision in my eyes unless you're dressing up as Mystique.

She didn't have to change her hair either, but she did, to better represent the character she portraying. Does her hair offend you?
 
Please find me examples of minorities defending their racist behavior online.

Nice job dodging your massive generalization and big ass assumption that everyone saying "This isn't racist" on a forum where you can't actually see them is white.

You could be very well right, but blanket statements like that are never a good idea
 
Please find me examples of minorities defending their racist behavior online.

Your mind would explode the moment you realize that the world is full of white people facing racism and living as minorities. Some of them are posting in this very thread.
 
Probably already mentioned, but it's okay for actors to do the same in movies (Robert Downey Junior and the reverse for Eddie Murphy)?

The intention was to be faithful and is innocent in my eyes.
 
If she checked in with them first and took their advice on execution, and also stated her ironic reasons for doing such....maybe. context checklist marked off, now what to do about that delicate imagery?

I know.. silly putty nose!

She wanted to look like the character. That is the point of cosplay.
 
『Inaba Resident』;135127126 said:
How is it offensive? I've yet to see somebody explain that.

This. I'd love to hear from someone in this thread who is black, and who is genuinely offended by this cosplay, and their reason/s as to why they are offended. Even with the knowledge that the cosplay is out of nothing but admiration.
 
It's insensitive as hell and a slap to the face of minorities that do cosplay and get shit all of the time, because of their skin color. I don't think she was trying to be racist though. Naive, yes. Racist, no. Now, she should know better.

That nose is way more problematic to me. It's like she didn't even try. That's coming off worse to me than the tan.

What's more ridiculous, is Europeans (fucking lol) acting like they don't have these problems. Or calling and asking a black friend if this shit is cool, like they're supposed to rep for all of us. Better yet, insinuating that a fucking hair style change like dreads, is racist or some shit. I'd name names, but my sarcasm detector might be broken. lol

When will these idiots learn you don't have to change your skin color to cosplay someone.

Pretty much.

edit: LOL @ people bringing up White Chicks like it was a good movie, or acting like Whoopie and Eddie didn't get shit for whiteface, or that people didn't call Snoop out for it recently.
 
Nice job dodging your massive generalization and big ass assumption that everyone saying "This isn't racist" on a forum where you can't actually see them is white.

Except I didn't make that assumption at all. Please don't put words in my mouth. I'm well aware that there are some minorities defending this. Never said they weren't.
 
That's incredibly constructive.

What is it about topics such as these that bring out shitty passive-aggressive comments like this?
I'm just trying to put a point across that you might not agree with, there's no need to make it any more serious than it already is.

Feel free to explain why my point is so invalid.

Fine, I'll be agressive-agressive

Blackface being offensive=tattoos being antisemitic? tattoos existed way before Nazis tattooed people during the Holocaust and do not only stand for oppression

Ignoring the character's skin color is shuffling her blackness under the rug? No, people do it all the time and no one is upset

Depictions of black characters in old cartoons mean we shouldn't allow black characters in modern cartoons? Nothing says the modern depictions are or have to be racist

bad analogies
 
『Inaba Resident』;135127126 said:
How is it offensive? I've yet to see somebody explain that.

It's the cultural context surrounding black face that can make it offensive -- the decades of white people dressing up as caricatures of black people in film and on stage. Just the act of whites putting on makeup to look black is offensive to some people.
 
You're saying you can see absolutely no merit in the comparison I'm putting forward?

Just because historically something was done in a tasteless and offensive way doesn't mean anyone doing anything slightly similar with completely different intention should be associated with it.

The historical blackface you're referring to is entirely different in style and intent.
Identification tattoos in concentration camps were different in both style and intent to tattoos people choose to put on their bodies.

It's a comparison I'm making to draw attention to how ridiculous comparing the old to the new really is.


Another comparison would be to say that just because black cartoon characters in old cartoons were portrayed in a pretty racist manner, we shouldn't allow black characters in modern cartoons.

I get that the style and intent of someone painting their face black as part of cosplay is completely different from blackface.

However, a white person painting their face black was a very prominent part of blackface, the act of painting their face black and "playing" a black person was insulting. That is much more similar than someone getting a tattoo is to people in concentration camps getting a tattoo.

I don't think this is racism, but your comparisons make no sense at all.

Also, black characters in cartoons itself weren't racist, it was the treatment of those characters, so that is why we don't mind black characters in cartoons now.
 
All racists are ignorant, but every ignorant person isn't racist. There is an ideology behind racism and if you accidentally say or do something that can be seen as racist because you had no idea that what you said or did was racist, then no, you're not a racist. You're an ignorant person who did an ignorant thing.

An action can still be labeled racist though, with or without the person carrying it out actually being racist.
 
Except I didn't make that assumption at all. Please don't put words in my mouth. I'm well aware that there are some minorities defending this. Never said they weren't.

Then why did you feel the need to focus on one group?

Not remotely true. Else we wouldn't have white folk across the internet arguing down minorities about how it "isn't offensive" and that we are "too sensitive" and how "it's a tribute" or "just a joke".
 
You just can't ignore the intention and the context of this situation, you just can't. This is a non issue and is ridiculous to compare it to any other racist act.
 
Definitely doubt it was meant as racist but man... Just don't do it. You can be michonne and just not paint your face black.

The historical connotations are just too abundant. It's like dressing up like a Nazi. No your not a Nazi but some people will find it disrespectful.

Soo, you're comparing black people to Nazis?

OMG RACIST!
 
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