Man does black face for Kanye West costume because this shit will never end

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Do people still non-ironically post the Tropic Thunder.jpg in defense of blackface? In 2015?

FFS, you'd think they'd have enough time to rewatch that film, they really missed the point of that character.

Edit: Two posts directly above mine haha.

Did you seriously not get that the other characters in the movie view Kirk's use of blackface and faux-ebonics as either weirdly over-the-top or grossly offensive? And that he snaps out his self-absorbed clown show just in time to save his friends? It's funny because he's so clueless about how ridiculous he looks (and acts).

I'd like to hope that wearing 'blackface' will one day pass fully into the same humour category as shitting yourself in public.
 

Arozay

Member
BQMdzsg.gif

Gif blackface!
 

lednerg

Member
Just don't do it. Don't try to come up with reasons why it's not so bad. Don't explain how you're not trying to be racist. Just don't do it.
 
I dunno. Something like this post:


I don't see him following up with other arguments, or even his post getting quoted, but still getting banned for an opinion that isn't entirely unreasonable if you aren't familiar with previous discussions on the subject. There are a few others that follows along those same lines, but I didn't bother searching through all ten pages to see if they followed up with something worse.

Just to make it clear, I'm not defending the viewpoints, I just see how you can land at the opinion if you aren't familiar with the discussion, and I don't see how it's productive to do mass bannings like these.

According to his post history, he mentions going to war with Saudi Arabia. I dunno if that was a joke or whatever, maybe that had something to do with it?

If it's on the subject of this topic, then there's really nothing that indicates his ignorance of black face, actually. Since he says there are much worse versions of black face, he probably understands the concept of it and isn't ignorant of what it means.

I'm guessing he probably got banned for deflection of the issue. It's completely tiresome to hear "well, there are much larger issues at play" because it's downplaying this shit and it's a constant rebuttal. It doesn't add anything to the discussion, and it's immediately shutting down conversation by mentioning that it's not worth it to be angry.

I don't know. Maybe ask a mod why he got banned or something for more details. But I don't think he's indicative of some lack of knowledge since he knew what black face meant.
 

lednerg

Member
I dunno - it was an earnest question. Maybe I didn't look at the OP pic closely enough.

You're thinking of old-timey vaudeville blackface. Blackface, as well as yellowface, redface, etc now encompasses anyone using the race of a character or a celebrity as part of a costume. It's a major faux pas in (at least American) society and should not be practiced.
 

stilgar

Member
It's offensive to be disguised as a black man in America. This is something I've learned to accept whithout questioning it anymore in this very forum.
 

Cindres

Vied for a tag related to cocks, so here it is.
It's already a shitty costume if you have to hold a fucking sign to make it clear who you are, like Kanye walks around with a fucking sign? Ergh, I'm offended by the shittiness of the costume before even getting to the blackface. God I hate costumes that need something like a sign to make it obvious who you are.

Good examples in here, like the Lando one on the second page, great outfit, doesn't need the dude colouring in his skin to make it obvious who that is because it's a well done costume.

It's just needlessly incensitive, but sure let's more white people come along to this thread to tell black people how to feel about issues surrounding their race.
 
It's just needlessly incensitive, but sure let's more white people come along to this thread to tell black people how to feel about issues surrounding their race.
Nah, man..everyone in here is white! We need to be a crutch for our African American friends because they won't do it themselves! Or so I'm told..
 

RexNovis

Banned
Minstrel shows never took place in neither Japan, nor in most European countries, nor in Africa nor any other place of the world but Anglo countries. Consequently, there's no association in these countries between painting your face black and racism. A symbol doesn't exist in a vaccuum, its cultural context changes their meaning and, consequently, the intent of the people that spouse them, kinda like how a Japanese doing the "V" symbol in Britain probably do not mean any harm.

And yes, that applies even to racists symbols, and even to racists symbols that gets americans outraged. Blackface is a quite insular phenomenom and it is mostly unkown outside of your borders (or at least it was until the Internet happened). Hell, at the cost of looking like an insensitive idiot, I have to admit that I didn't even knew that blackface was "a thing" until I entered this very forum.

It's exploiting racial stereotypes for comedic effect. It's wrong. And if you think it's harmless because somehow Japan doesn't have a history of racist stereotypes I suggest to go watch some classic Japanese animated films. They are every bit as offensive and racist as anything Disney and Warner Bros put out. Or perhaps some of the incredibly racist television commercials they put out on a regular basis. Just because blackface doesn't have the same cultural significance as it does in the states (which honestly having seen old school Japanese animation I would completely disagree) does not mean it's not racist. I can't believe people are actually arguing "cultural ignorance" as some kind of excuse. As if "oh bug there's no historical significance they are just exploiting racial stereotypes for laughs." makes this any more acceptable.
 
Well, putting paint on your face and doing racist is still racist even in Europe or Asia.

But what true is that many places don't have the general zero tolerance about blackfaces. Many theater plays used it or still using it, not to make jokes about blacks or some racist messages but because there is a black character in the play but no black actor so the alternative to coloring your face would be to write out the black character.

So there are some differences between Europe and America but not really about the offensive blackface thing.
 

User 406

Banned
This rail has high voltage electricity running through it, so don't touch it.

"Ok, I understand that touching it is a bad idea, but what if I just give it a lick?"

No, don't touch it.

"How about I just rub my dick on it a little?"

DON'T. TOUCH. THE. RAIL.

"Just the tip?"

THE RAIL WILL KILL YOU

"Look, I'm just going to nestle it between my asscheeks a bit. You need to get over it."


We need a kickstarter to buy bish a case of energy drinks at this rate.
 
It's offensive to be disguised as a black man in America. This is something I've learned to accept whithout questioning it anymore in this very forum.
Congrats on the enlightenment! Spread the word. Tell your friends! And have a swell Halloween! I mean..minus fucking blackface..
This rail has high voltage electricity running through it, so don't touch it.

"Ok, I understand that touching it is a bad idea, but what if I just give it a lick?"

No, don't touch it.

"How about I just rub my dick on it a little?"

DON'T. TOUCH. THE. RAIL.

"Just the tip?"

THE RAIL WILL KILL YOU

"Look, I'm just going to nestle it between my asscheeks a bit. You need to get over it."


We need a kickstarter to buy bish a case of energy drinks at this rate.
lol..for real. Blackface is very offensive to many people. Don't do it..

its-hard.gif
 

kurisu_1974

Banned
This rail has high voltage electricity running through it, so don't touch it.

"Ok, I understand that touching it is a bad idea, but what if I just give it a lick?"

No, don't touch it.

"How about I just rub my dick on it a little?"

DON'T. TOUCH. THE. RAIL.

"Just the tip?"

THE RAIL WILL KILL YOU

"Look, I'm just going to nestle it between my asscheeks a bit. You need to get over it."


We need a kickstarter to buy bish a case of energy drinks at this rate.

Are there people dying from this or how does this comparison work?
 
But what true is that many places don't have the general zero tolerance about blackfaces. Many theater plays used it or still using it, not to make jokes about blacks or some racist messages but because there is a black character in the play but no black actor so the alternative to coloring your face would be to write out the black character.
.
Like... In a village where only a handfull of white people live (like 0 multicultural mixture)?

Anyway, yes, in Europe there are a lot of countries with a colonial background where this blackface thing is considered racist too.
Think of black Pete in the Netherlands. Still a very hot topic in the Netherlands. But you do see when people of all gender and colour get equal opportunities and equal rights, there will be more room for some humor towards eachothers differences. But only if we all have the same rights and opportunities. Untill that day, we owe more than we can ask (as a community).
 

Ikael

Member
It's exploiting racial stereotypes for comedic effect. It's wrong. And if you think it's harmless because somehow Japan doesn't have a history of racist stereotypes I suggest to go watch some classic Japanese animated films. They are every bit as offensive and racist as anything Disney and Warner Bros put out. Or perhaps some of the incredibly racist television commercials they put out on a regular basis. Just because blackface doesn't have the same cultural significance as it does in the states (which honestly having seen old school Japanese animation I would completely disagree) does not mean it's not racist. I can't believe people are actually arguing "cultural ignorance" as some kind of excuse. As if "oh bug there's no historical significance they are just exploiting racial stereotypes for laughs." makes this any more acceptable.

I am not saying that Japan doesn't have their own racial stereotypes and race issues (which they do and in spades), but rather than they lack this particular "blackface" one, same as many other countries where painting yourself black doesn't have any kind of racist connotation or whatsoever.

And when the same symbol (painting yourself black) have different meanings (exploiting racial stereotypes for laughs VS just trying to look black) the people that uses them have, consequently, different intents too (which is why the idiots in the OP can't claim ignorance at all).
 

User 406

Banned
Are there people dying from this or how does this comparison work?

I dunno, look at the grey names in this thread? How about the people who get fired from their jobs when their racist shenanigans on social media end up in front of their bosses?

But hey, go ahead and tell us what body part you think would be a good idea to touch the rail with. We're all ears!
 
Like... In a village where only a handfull of white people live (like 0 multicultural mixture)?

Anyway, yes, in Europe there are a lot of countries with a colonial background where this blackface thing is considered racist too.
Think of black Pete in the Netherlands. Still a very hot topic in the Netherlands. But you do see when people of all gender and colour get equal opportunities and equal rights, there will be more room for some humor towards eachothers differences. But only if we all have the same rights and opportunities. Untill that day, we owe more than we can ask.

I have seen plays in Berlin and Kopenhagen in the early 90s with colored faces.
Though it became less common because the African population increased everywhere in the last two decades so there are general black actors available.

It's a more complex thing in Europe. Zwarte Pete's problem is also more his racist origin than the colored face.
 

Alucrid

Banned
I am not saying that Japan doesn't have their own racial stereotypes and race issues (which they do and in spades), but rather than they lack this particular "blackface" one, same as many other countries where painting yourself black doesn't have any kind of racist connotation or whatsoever.

And when the same symbol (painting yourself black) have different meanings (exploiting racial stereotypes for laughs VS just trying to look black) the people that uses them have, consequently, different intents too (which is why the idiots in the OP can't claim ignorance at all).
Look at post 973 and come back and tell me about how Japan's use of blackface isn't at all racist
 
So can someone explain this to me? I don't get the offensive part? Sure the japanese exemples are offensive, a lot, it's really stereotypical and doesn't improve anything! But what's the problem in the OP? I didn't know that it was this offensive to paint your face black in america..

As soon as you paint your face to look more accurate, you are defined as racist? Why isn't there a case by case like every other issues? Sure i get that you don't need to do it, and i can see why it could offense some people, but when it's not in a stereotypical way, why do people still consider it racist?

please it's a genuine question, don't ban me for this, i don't live in america! I understand there's a huge racist issue in america, it's a real problem and people who are blatantly racist should be called out!

Just point out some of the argument in the earlier page if it's already been done, i don't have time to read 20 pages right now, sorry

There's an historical context to it that makes it racist.
 
Just wanted to say how much i love NeoGAF for not tolerating stupid bullshit. Imagine how much better internet would be if all sites where you can leave a comment was moderated this way
 

Syntsui

Member
I won't even give my opinion on this given that so many people were banned for extremely mild comments so let me just give this example that happened in my country

This was pretty common in brazilian comedy shows and people were alway ok with it. This was never taken as a racist act here, the most famous one was Wellington Muniz imitating Pelé:

v.php


There was recently a famous brazilian singer (Michel Teló) who painted his face black as a campaign against racism and faced huge backlash. It was the first time ever I saw this happening in Brazil and it surprised me considering people here were always ok with comedians doing it:

17502108.jpg


The most interesting fact were the arguments used to criticize him, and it revolved around it being extremely racist in USA. For anyone curious about what the text says, its:

''Against all kinds of prejudice. Beautiful initiative from my friend @charles_woods. We are together friend!

I invite my friends, @beluttiooficial, @fernando and my cutie pie @tatafersoza to join this chain of goodness together with me. For a world more equal.

Take your picture and challenge your friends.

#weareallone #paintyourface #onlyone''
 
I'm not necessarily offended by this, if only because for me it just reeks of ignorance and stupidity rather than 'I'm going to go out of my way to offend and belittle an entire race of people'.

I'm a black british young adult living in the UK, though. And this isn't something I've ever come across over here. We're definitely aware of it, and I know the history of it extensively but in an age where political correctness rules our society, it's rare to come across it. Certainly interesting how this thread has blown up, though what I don't appreciate are white people telling black people, or anyone what they should or shouldn't find offensive, so the bannings are good to see. Shit irritates me more than lack of political correctness.
 

Bleepey

Member
I don't get offended as much by people who darken their skin to portray black people or black characters provided they don't do it in a mocking way. That said I get why people are offended by it, the dude could have probably not gotten into a lot of shit if he wore the same thing without the black face. I remember at undergrad there was a Halloween party where a few white girls thought they'd put shoe polish on their face and say they were going as aliens, half the black people in the room gave each other a look like "shouldn't we tell them that this is not a good idea" and the rest were like "no let's see where this goes".
 
I won't even give my opinion on this given that so many people were banned for extremely mild comments so let me just give this example that happened in my country

This was pretty common in brazilian comedy shows and people were alway ok with it. This was never taken as a racist act here, the most famous one was Wellington Muniz imitating Pelé:

v.php

people doing something and "getting away with it"/not getting fired over it, doesn't make it ok. Just like running a red light and not getting pulled over doesn't make it ok

also that guy totally has Pele's body type for that imitation
 

Slayven

Member
Love the cosplay accurancy defense, cause black people are so rare and unqiue. Virtually unheard of so they fall in with Namekians, The Hulk, Andorians, (blue) Kree, and Martians.
 

Beefy

Member
I would suspect many or most of the banned are from outside America.

Blackface means the same in the UK though. It has the same racist history as the USA but probably just not as much went on. We still had disgusting comedies were comedians blackfaced and took the piss (thankfully they were banned). Then there have been events that have been all over the papers when people have done it. I don't know how a person from the UK wouldn't know the history. I haven't a clue about the rest of Europe.
 

Bumpers

Member
This was an amazing thread to read, I don't think there's been such ignorance since the Walking Dead Clementine thread featuring Black Athena.
 

Slayven

Member
This was an amazing thread to read, I don't think there's been such ignorance since the Walking Dead Clementine thread featuring Black Athena.

Shiiiiit folks really felt some type of way when they realized they empathized with a little black girl.

cf1e202eb58447a352384a4906827752.gif

tumblr_monbcbXjoD1spp6k3o1_500.gif
 

Bumpers

Member
Blackface means the same in the UK though. It has the same racist history as the USA but probably just not as much went on. We still had disgusting comedies were comedians blackfaced and took the piss (thankfully they were banned). Then there have been events that have been all over the papers when people have done it. I don't know how a person from the UK wouldn't know the history. I haven't a clue about the rest of Europe.
Vouching for this, anyone in the UK knows about the history of Golliwog dolls, and how even this year it still causes controversy.
 
Blackface means the same in the UK though. It has the same racist history as the USA but probably just not as much went on. We still had disgusting comedies were comedians blackfaced and took the piss (thankfully they were banned). Then there have been events that have been all over the papers when people have done it. I don't know how a person from the UK wouldn't know the history. I haven't a clue about the rest of Europe.

This. Black diaspora's aren't exclusive to the US. Bit silly to generalise the people banned as 'must be from outside of the US' lol
 

Slayven

Member
He really referenced the Rape of Nanking on why Black People should get over it.

Black people can't get over it because it effects so much of our lives
 

JDSN

Banned
People know the rest of us have internet right? Like we can use google to know if in Norway no one has ever complained about blackface or whatever shit they say people are cool there. Are search engines not popular there?

He really stuck his neck out on this one.
No joke, I thought he was cosplaying Gangsta Kitt from Futurama.
 
Blackface means the same in the UK though. It has the same racist history as the USA but probably just not as much went on. We still had disgusting comedies were comedians blackfaced and took the piss (thankfully they were banned). Then there have been events that have been all over the papers when people have done it. I don't know how a person from the UK wouldn't know the history. I haven't a clue about the rest of Europe.

Confirmed.
 

El Topo

Member
I haven't a clue about the rest of Europe.

As a German I don't think I had ever heard of the term blackface or its history before I came to NeoGAF, even though it is (in some context) quite common. For example it is often part of the tradition of Sternsinger (Star boys' singing procession), where children dress up as the three wise men and collect for charity, see e.g. here. Unfortunately I don't know much about the history of blackface in Germany, the Wikipedia entry only mentions recent examples, but often enough instead of casting a black person, they simply put a white man in makeup. It is an issue that was simply ignored for a very long time in Germany. Linguist Anatol Stefanowitsch put it quite well (regarding how/why blackface is problematic in this context), taken from this German article:
Jedes Mal, wenn ein schwarz geschminkter Weißer irgendwo auftritt, sagt das: Schwarze können das nicht. Schwarze kennen wir nicht. Schwarze gibt es in unserer Mitte nicht. Was Schwarze von dieser Rolle halten würden, wenn es sie in unserer Mitte gäbe, interessiert uns nicht.
Every time, when a white man in black makeup performs/shows up, it says: Black people can't do that. We don't know any black people. There are no black people among us. What black people would think, if they were among us, is of no interest to us.

Here's a tip: Even if you think blackface isn't racist or shouldn't be problematic, don't do it. Maybe you're not a racist, but you're hurting people, you're deeply offending them, you're ignoring them.
 
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