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[Bobby Roberts]

But how can dressing up like a celebrity be categorically racist?

I'm not talking about wearing the clothes a celebrity wears. I'm talking about coloring your skin as a means to mock someone.

I'd say in that case the person perhaps isn't racist, but he's certainly committing a racist act.

This is essentially what I'm saying. Even if you want to give dude here the benefit of the doubt and take him at his word that he really didn't even consider the possibility he was tapping into a cultural context that's firmly established and has been for around a century now, it doesn't change the facts of his act.

I understand white people being freaked the fuck out at the possibility they're maybe, at some point in their life, being racist and NOT EVEN KNOWING IT. We've (hopefully) been raised knowing that racism is absolutely a wrong, and the idea that we're doing wrong and not even cognizant of the fact is fucked up. But the answer to that is simply being receptive to people telling you when you're fucking up, and working to fix it once it's out there. It's not to try to wrestle the definition of racism itself into a different shape so that you can't possibly be hit by it.

 

[Numb]

It seems like they find it more important that they're not told "no" about something. This is usually where these holes go down.

But they need to find a way to make it ok with them when they already have been given that clear answer.
There must be something else than just no. Some way somehow that is accepted if done correctly.
There isn't tho. That simple. Just stop.

 

[Souldriver]

This is one of those issues where I'll be on the "wrong side of history" or the "non PC side" or something, and it irks me, because normally I'm not in that position. I genuinely don't understand the outrage for face painting.

If the intent is to just look as close to the person you're impersonating, I don't see what's wrong. Unless the end result just looks shitty off course.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

How do the tens of millions of non-white people appropriately capture the non-white pop culture icons they're dressing as every year?!

Except Nick Cannon, Snoop Dogg and Dwayne Wade

who are these people supposed to be? Can someone tell me?

 

[GK86]

Look who is offended - all of the black people.

 

[metalslimer]

I have to question why do people want to use blackface so much anyway? I mean black people generally find it offensive so why is it so important?

 

[Yaboosh]

I have to question why do people want to use blackface so much anyway? I mean black people generally find it offensive so why is it so important?

It makes for worse costumes too.

The only reason to do it is because you think it is funny. And why would you think it is funny? Hmmmmm.

 

[IceDoesntHelp]

I don't think its offensive, unless the person is being straight up racist while dressed up as so.

It's also halloween, I don't get the issue right now.

 

[cyberheater]

This is blowing my mind guys even if somehow he had no inkling this was offensive It doesn't excuse the action intent is secondary, and more then that for Gods sake of course blackface is racist it's history makes it inherently racial. No one cares if it's ok in some parts Europe this occurred in the U.S where no it's most certainly is not okay.

Okay. I'm starting to get it now and I agree.

 

[Discotheque]

is chris brown supposed to be deejay from hustle and flow (mayne)? that sure aint no elvis perm that's for damn sure

Spoiler

no irony intended from choice of img

edit: oh damn, black morticia AND wednesday must be mine.

 

[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

I don't think its offensive, unless the person is being straight up racist while dressed up as so.

It's also halloween, I don't get the issue right now.

It's not like there's a thread full of people explaining it that you could read.

 

[Tripolygon]

Vs

Copy any of Kanye's flamboyant dress style and put on the shutter shades. Everyone will know you are trying to portray Kanye west, you don't need to venture into painting your skin black.

 

[Htown]

This is one of those issues where I'll be on the "wrong side of history" or the "non PC side" or something, and it irks me, because normally I'm not in that position. I genuinely don't understand the outrage for face painting.

If the intent is to just look as close to the person you're impersonating, I don't see what's wrong. Unless the end result just looks shitty off course.

Why do you think people don't like this? If you had to make a guess.

 

[Slayven]

I have to question why do people want to use blackface so much anyway? I mean black people generally find it offensive so why is it so important?

And why they always do Black People?

 

[Ninja Scooter]

I don't think its offensive, unless the person is being straight up racist while dressed up as so.

It's also halloween, I don't get the issue right now.

Well it's settled. It's not racist guys. Pack it up let's go home.

 

[BlackRock]

You can lampoon Kanye without painting your face black. DOing so would really make me question where this "lampooning" was coming from. His costume looks nothing like Kanye, carries no other traits that would lead you to believe it was Kanye. I don't think I've ever seen Kanye wearing a backwards baseball cap. Like, Kanye wears leather skirts and shit and this is what you decide on?

as to your 2nd part: I think a black person could easily make fun of Donald Trump without needing to paint their face. Trump has plenty of easily identifiable traits that would work in a costume for a person of any color. The goofy hair. The stupid red baseball cap he's been wearing lately. The standard business man suit. Put a black guy in a suit, wig and had and everybody would know who he was trying to be.

I think I can see your point. That by making skin color part of the caricature, it's racist. I don't disagree with that. His skin color really shouldn't be part of the satire itself. A cardigan, jeans, some crazy shoes, and some sunglasses or something should have been enough for people figure it out. Especially with Kim. Just like a suit and hairpiece would distinguish Trump. No need for skin color to be a part. Yeah, I agree with that.

 

[DontBeThatGuy]

Ignorance never ends.

 

[CharlieDigital]

Look who is offended - all of the black people.

Not all.

I'm black and I'm not offended. I don't really think it's a racist thing. Kanye is...well..black.

Vs

Copy any of Kanye's flamboyant dress style and put on the shutter shades. Everyone will know you are trying to portray Kanye west, you don't need to venture into painting your skin black.

Dude looks like he's dressing up as Michael J Fox from BTTF.

 

[Gentleman Jack]

Well it's settled. It's not racist guys. Pack it up let's go home.

I love how 'I didn't mean it like that,' is carte blanche for dudes to commit all kinds of racist acts.

 

[Johndoey]

I don't think its offensive, unless the person is being straight up racist while dressed up as so.

It's also halloween, I don't get the issue right now.

But what constitutes "straight up racist" in your view? Because from what i'm seeing apparently as long as your not spewing racial slurs every ten seconds or lynching someone nothing is racist.

 

[marrec]

Not all.

Hey guys, there's a black guy who's not offended so it's open season on Black Face.

Edit: I know you didn't mean it like this

 

[Ninja Scooter]

This is one of those issues where I'll be on the "wrong side of history" or the "non PC side" or something, and it irks me, because normally I'm not in that position. I genuinely don't understand the outrage for face painting.

If the intent is to just look as close to the person you're impersonating, I don't see what's wrong. Unless the end result just looks shitty off course.

It's got deep seeded racist connotations. Black face is up there with whips/chains, watermelon, or nooses, as imagery that the African American community is still very sensitive to, and for good reason, as and people should respect that and try their best to avoid situations where that kind of stuff is thrown around lightly. I don't think it's a lot to ask to cool it with that shit in the name of basic decency.

 

[Chinner]

 

[Numb]

Ignorance never ends.

Fast forward to next halloween with the same issue again.

 

[Dictator93]

I love this show.

 

[Veritigo_X]

I don't think its offensive, unless the person is being straight up racist while dressed up as so.

It's also halloween, I don't get the issue right now.

How do you feel about Zwarte Piet? If Halloween is a good excuse, then surely St. Nicholas' Eve is a good excuse too.

 

[Johndoey]

This is first Halloween on Gaf please tell me this isn't a reoccurring issue?

 

[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

This is first Halloween on Gaf please tell me this isn't a reoccurring issue?

We're just getting started.

 

[whatsinaname]

...

People are actually serious about giving Tropic Thunder and Dave Chapelle as examples?

I think I finally understand why Chapelle quit for a while.

 

[CharlieDigital]

Hey guys, there's a black guy who's not offended so it's open season on Black Face.

I think this is way too hyperbolic.

It just blows my mind that this particular case of blackface is being deemed racist.

If a kid wanted to cosplay Obama because he admired him, would it be racist for him to be in blackface? Is it racist for a white supporter to wear an Obama or Ben Carson mask?

 

[Dash27]

That girl is hot

Carry on.

 

[Professor Beef]

This is first Halloween on Gaf please tell me this isn't a reoccurring issue?

Just wait until February, whoo boy.

 

[AHA-Lambda]

I know someone from my Facebook that done the exact same thing.

The sad part is nobody called him out for it.

 

[Ganzlinger]

I'm not American nor Black so I'll never understand the stigma. I get the idea of blackface being racist. But given the context, the lack of mock intention and lack of stereotypial features, it's hard to see the guy as racist, only as ignorant.

But again, I'm an outsider and my opinion must be irrelevant.

 

[Enzom21]

Fast forward to next halloween with the same issue again.

And the year after that and the year after that... etc. We even have the same stupid responses from the last two fucking years, Robert Downy Jr. and Dave Chappelle. People can't be this stupid.

...

People are actually serious about giving Tropic Thunder and Dave Chapelle as examples?

I think I finally understand why Chapelle quit for a while.

Happens every fucking year... every year.

 

[marrec]

This is first Halloween on Gaf please tell me this isn't a reoccurring issue?

It's almost the exact same thread every year. Even the same pictures of Robert Downey Jr. and Dave Chappelle.

Though this is the first year I've heard someone seriously ask "what about klingons tho"

 

[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

I love all the "well it's not like he went out in public" excuses around the Internet, because saying that just means you know that he knew he was going to a white party full of other racists who would be okay with it. These people are all about wearing the costume of a black person, but forget ever actually interacting with one on a genuine human level.

 

[Dugna]

who are these people supposed to be? Can someone tell me?

That is some nice Grease costumes there, hell if the dude didn't have the lip piercing it would be almost too good.

 

[Newline]

well then go fucking live in the uk, jesus christ

I do live in the UK and I'm mixed race, half Jamaican and half English. I'm just saying we have to shows that have this kind of blackface and it's pretty funny.

 

[Sai-kun]

Wow, RDJ on the first page? I feel like that's usually like page 3-4 shit, but the white folks really went from 0 to 100 quick huh.

 

[Numb]

 

[Ninja Scooter]

I think this is way too hyperbolic.

It just blows my mind that this particular case of blackface is being deemed racist.

If a kid wanted to cosplay Obama because he admired him, would it be racist for him to be in blackface? Is it racist for a white supporter to wear an Obama or Ben Carson mask?

You would hope that someone in that kid's life had enough sense to explain the history of blackface and how there are other ways to admire Obama than to do something that he might find offensive. I mean, honestly, how hard is it to tell someone "Hey, I know you didn't mean it this way, but african-americans might find that deeply offensive and hurtful" and just not do it? Why are people so hell bent on telling people that they shouldn't be offended by something, especially something that has hundreds of years of history behind it, not just some flavor of the month 'outrage culture' shit.

 

[harSon]

This is first Halloween on Gaf please tell me this isn't a reoccurring issue?

Wait till the Holiday season is in full swing

 

[Veritigo_X]

Wow, RDJ on the first page? I feel like that's usually like page 3-4 shit, but the white folks really went from 0 to 100 quick huh.

Improving year after year. Next year it'll be posted in the OP.

 

[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

I think this is way too hyperbolic.

It just blows my mind that this particular case of blackface is being deemed racist.

If a kid wanted to cosplay Obama because he admired him, would it be racist for him to be in blackface? Is it racist for a white supporter to wear an Obama or Ben Carson mask?

Yes. People have told you and everyone else this forever. It's not their fault if you refuse to listen.

 

[Souldriver]

Why do you think people don't like this? If you had to make a guess.

Because it conjures op images of terrible caricatures like 'black face'. But to combat such racist depictions, I feel it's a wrong approach to ban or avoind anything related to skin coloring. If you do that, you just categorically proclaim something as bad, regardless of context and intention.

 

[Mighty Chin]

It's not Blackface. Its not the same as Blackface. I'm astounded that people don't know the difference.

 

[Always-honest]

It's got deep seeded racist connotations. Black face is up there with whips/chains, watermelon, or nooses, as imagery that the African American community is still very sensitive to, and for good reason, as and people should respect that and try their best to avoid situations where that kind of stuff is thrown around lightly. I don't think it's a lot to ask to cool it with that shit in the name of basic decency.

Sure. This is in the usa.
I think what people mean is: if you would ask an innocent kid to dress up like Kayne, he/ she would probably ask for brown facepaint. There is nothing wrong about that colour for that kid. Just one of the characteristics of that person, like maybe a moustache.
But that kid doesn't know about history yet. This guy (probably and hopefully) does so he should be aware of how sensitive this subject is.

i think..

 

[Bronx-Man]

I'm not American nor Black so I'll never understand the stigma. I get the idea of blackface being racist. But given the context, the lack of mock intention and lack of stereotypial features, it's hard to see the guy as racist, only as ignorant.

But again, I'm an outsider and my opinion must be irrelevant.

Think very hard about why so many black people do see a stigma about this. Very hard.

 

[Enzom21]

It's not Blackface. Its not the same as Blackface. I'm astounded that people don't know the difference.

Why is it not blackface? Because it lacks the exaggerated lips?