Thoughts on "black face" costumes this Halloween

[One Brow]

Is a costume really the exact same as blackface from the early 20th century when it was used almost exclusively to mock people of color? If I'm a huge fan of say LeBron James, or of course Donovan, and want to resemble him for Halloween how do I go about doing that in any kind of realistic way? Is this even remotely the same as say the movie "white girls"? Curious what everyone thinks.

Does it need to be exactly the same?

Why is altering your skin part of a respectful costume for such a figure. Is blackness part of what you admire about this person? Would you admire them less if they were not black? If the answer to both is "no", what does changing your skin color accomplish that could not be better accomplished by other things?

 

[The Thriller]

I’ve learned from experience over the past two years that those who whine the most about others taking unnecessary offense aka “triggered” are triggered the easiest.

The biggest bitches in the country right now are young white conservative males.

Sure they can make some cheap *** Thriller video clip but don’t you dare take away their Alex Jones **** off twitter or Facebook! How dare anyone ask them to like... I don’t know... get off their asses playing video games and go get college degrees!

 

[The Thriller]

Black face has one of the ugliest backgrounds in American history. It’s not so much that it was a form of entertainment but as a form of maintaining the socio-economic status quo through demeaning African Americans into being less than human. If you don’t know it’s history, try educating yourself:

 

[Thee Idiotic Minivan K]

Would wearing a mask be as offensive as paint?

 

[One Brow]

Would wearing a mask be as offensive as paint?

Wearing a mask has less of an offensive history associated with it. To be honest, IDK.

 

[DasJazz]

I think the only reason this is even a thing is because the PC groupies are making it a thing. The people that are dressing up as whoever they are, are not intending for it to be a racist statement, they are showing that they admire the person they are imitating.

I'm pretty sure most people should be able to recognize when someone is being blatantly racist vs dressing up as a favorite character or famous person. Problem is, in today's world, everything you say or do has to offend somebody and to me that is the real issue.

 

[Zombie]

I think the only reason this is even a thing is because the PC groupies are making it a thing. The people that are dressing up as whoever they are, are not intending for it to be a racist statement, they are showing that they admire the person they are imitating.

I'm pretty sure most people should be able to recognize when someone is being blatantly racist vs dressing up as a favorite character or famous person. Problem is, in today's world, everything you say or do has to offend somebody and to me that is the real issue.

For sure man. Black people are only offended by black face because they are told to. Run with that.

 

[DasJazz]

For sure man. Black people are only offended by black face because they are told to. Run with that.

Perhaps read what I said? If the intention is clearly racist, that will be obvious and those people doing so are juvenile and disgusting. But to act like dressing up to imitate a character for Halloween is racist is asinine at best.

Not everything and everyone is or has to be racist or offensive.

I don't condone anyone intentionally trying to put down another race. But again, being angry because someone is trying to dress up like a character they adore and admire is really reaching. At the end of the day, what is the intention? If it is to put down or shame, etc, a race, than yes, that is absolutely horrible. But if you're truly trying to become that character you admire and dress up exactly like them, that is not being racist.

 

[One Brow]

But again, being angry because someone is trying to dress up like a character they adore and admire is really reaching.

I don't choose my skin color when I get dressed in the morning. Changing your skin color is more than dressing up.

Just out of curiosity, who do you admire simply because they are black? If you don't admire someone because of their blackness, why imitate it?

 

[Gameface]

I don't choose my skin color when I get dressed in the morning. Changing your skin color is more than dressing up.

Just out of curiosity, who do you admire simply because they are black? If you don't admire someone because of their blackness, why imitate it?

This.

You do not need to imitate skin color to dress up like someone. There are many many different skin tones, and if you don't feel like matching the skin tone of another caucasian is essential for your costume of a white person then why is it essential to your costume representing a black person?

 

[Alfalfa]

This.

You do not need to imitate skin color to dress up like someone. There are many many different skin tones, and if you don't feel like matching the skin tone of another caucasian is essential for your costume of a white person then why is it essential to your costume representing a black person?

Probably the best response I've ever seen about this topic.

 

[elan_prodigy]

You cant. Simple. Dont do it. EVER.

Its funny, sad and super disappointing reading some of these comments.

 

[lauriandres]

I don't choose my skin color when I get dressed in the morning. Changing your skin color is more than dressing up.

Just out of curiosity, who do you admire simply because they are black? If you don't admire someone because of their blackness, why imitate it?

I am pretty sure, that if i would made myself as similar as Takeshi Kitano in Tokyo or Sammo Hung in Hong Kong during the Halloween, then 99% of local people would laugh and maybe even would like to take photos with me.

 

[elan_prodigy]

If it offends someone it’s racist regardless of why you are doing it. Reminds me of when ESPN did an auction draft on tv and got blasted on social media because people thought it resembled a slave auction from back during the time of whites owning and buying slaves. It didn’t seem racist to me, but that’s how it goes. If you want to dress as DM, put on a DM jersey and leave your face the way it is.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No one had better even think of pulling this **** in a #45 jersey!!

 

[elan_prodigy]

If you want to be DM for Halloween

1. Wear his jersey
2. Get his haircut, a wig that resembles his haircut, or that black and white hat he wore all the time last year
3. Wear that "45" medallion necklace he wears all the time
4. Grow a patch of hair on your chin

That should do it.

(Also dressing as an athlete is the lamest costume possible)

5. Wear a #45 over a spiderman outfit.

 

[elan_prodigy]

We were discussing this with my daughter and a few if her friends. Not this exact case, but the concept in general. I was curious what the jazz fanzers think. Apologies if something similar has been posted before.

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/nur...kface-beyonce-costume-facebook-144034220.html



Is a costume really the exact same as blackface from the early 20th century when it was used almost exclusively to mock people of color? If I'm a huge fan of say LeBron James, or of course Donovan, and want to resemble him for Halloween how do I go about doing that in any kind of realistic way? Is this even remotely the same as say the movie "white girls"? Curious what everyone thinks.

Lmfao. Dudr you aint 6'8 and built like a brick **** house. Painting yourself black aint gonna convice people you are Lebrons body double ffs.

As for DM, because I dont want him embroiled in your ignorant bs my suggestion is wear #45 over a spiderman outfit. **** everyone has a trademark that symbolise them more than their skim color.

Just wear a choker and a #23 jersey and people will know who you dressed as...

 

[elan_prodigy]

I think the only reason this is even a thing is because the PC groupies are making it a thing. The people that are dressing up as whoever they are, are not intending for it to be a racist statement, they are showing that they admire the person they are imitating.

I'm pretty sure most people should be able to recognize when someone is being blatantly racist vs dressing up as a favorite character or famous person. Problem is, in today's world, everything you say or do has to offend somebody and to me that is the real issue.

You are the problem.

Im totally against PC but I know an ignorant ******* when I see one.

 

[LogGrad98]

Lmfao. Dudr you aint 6'8 and built like a brick **** house. Painting yourself black aint gonna convice people you are Lebrons body double ffs.

As for DM, because I dont want him embroiled in your ignorant bs my suggestion is wear #45 over a spiderman outfit. **** everyone has a trademark that symbolise them more than their skim color.

Just wear a choker and a #23 jersey and people will know who you dressed as...

So I guess my wording was wrong, so I will fix it. I was using "I" to talk about a fictional person that may want to do this. I did not use "one" but I should have. I do not want to dress as an athlete. I am shocked how many people seemingly only took THAT from the original post. Please re-read the OP for the correction. I assumed most people here would get that from the tone of the post, however I must have overestimated JF in that regard.

 

[elan_prodigy]

So I guess my wording was wrong, so I will fix it. I was using "I" to talk about a fictional person that may want to do this. I did not use "one" but I should have. I do not want to dress as an athlete. I am shocked how many people seemingly only took THAT from the original post. Please re-read the OP for the correction. I assumed most people here would get that from the tone of the post, however I must have overestimated JF in that regard.

There is no "tone" in forums or txt messages for that matter. How you right something is not often how people read it so choice of words and grammar is important.

 

[LogGrad98]

So this question came about because the other night we had 8 teenage girls in our home getting ready for a halloween dance at school. It has been great for my daughter for our move to California for many reasons, not the least of which was that she is exposed to a much higher level of diversity. Of the 8 girls, 2 of them were caucasian. The others were a very broad assortment, including 4 that were either african american, or mixed race (mom black, dad hispanic, like that). They were talking about this because it was all over social media. One of the black girls mentioned that she didn't think it was any big deal, but another one said her mom and dad told her that it was very offensive. It kind of made me think, how is this viewed, and how it is propagated. If her parents had never told her that would it still be offensive. If we raised an entire generation and did not tell them what they needed to be offended by would a lot of this just die out?

Another question that we discussed was is "whiteface" the same as "blackface". They were split, and it was very interesting to hear them discuss it. I just asked questions along the way and listened. 15, 16, and 17 year olds can put together some good arguments, and think more deeply than people might think. I found it very enlightening. So I thought it would be a good topic of discussion here.