We should all black up to show solidarity with our South Sudanese migrant brothers.
Should we also wear golliwog badges, wear top hats and learn to tap dance? I'm not too well versed in what's correct these days :
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Clinton Huxley » 21 Jun 2012 » 14:10:36 GMT
Odd lot the Germans. The Dutch too, who at Christmas do this - 'blackface' they call it I believe. I wonder if the Scottish Dutch fellow can explain it given he seems to have adopted all their ways. :
What about Eddie Murphy whiting-up? That's gotta be racists too right?
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"It isn't necessary to imagine the world ending in fire or ice.
There are two other possibilities: one is paperwork, and the other is nostalgia."
Frank Zappa
"This is how humanity ends; bickering over the irrelevant."
Clinton Huxley » 21 Jun 2012 » 14:10:36 GMT
We English have blackface mummers, who perform plays live in the street etc in a similar environment to morris dancing. Quite a lot of morris dancers also black up.
It's not clear whether it's meant to be taking off black people. It might have been originally, or possibly some other idea behind it.
It might be that the name morris comes from "moorish" , which was considered exotic in the middle ages.
Blacking up was just an extension of dressing up.
The Dutch have some old story of a santa clause type figure, and he had black helpers who were blackface.
This "Black Peet" was one of the helpers, I think.
I don't see anything wrong with it. Black people in Africa often "white up" to look exotic. Nobody's calling it racist.
While there is a market for shit, there will be assholes to supply it.
Rationalia relies on voluntary donations. There is no obligation of course, but if you value this place and want to see it continue please consider making a small donation towards the forum's running costs.
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"It isn't necessary to imagine the world ending in fire or ice.
There are two other possibilities: one is paperwork, and the other is nostalgia."
Frank Zappa
"This is how humanity ends; bickering over the irrelevant."
Clinton Huxley » 21 Jun 2012 » 14:10:36 GMT
Is white people singing the blues racist? There's not much difference between blacking up, and singing black music. Or playing jazz.
That would make black country and western singers racist too. And Black opera singers.
It's all got to stop.
While there is a market for shit, there will be assholes to supply it.
It is right that the minority in question gets to define what is offensive to them. It is then for the majority to decide if they wish to respond. In the case of the blacked up Black and White Minstrel show the groundswell was clearly that it should be accepted as offensive.
I don't give a monkey's bollocks if a black guy 'whites up' to make a point. He has an historical right to as far as I'm concerned. It may be 'racist' in the strict sense of the word but it isn't offensive or oppressive as far as I'm concerned either.
I'd agree, up to the point when someone starts asserting that that's our music, that's our literature, that's our cuisine, and you're not allowed to enjoy it.
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"It isn't necessary to imagine the world ending in fire or ice.
There are two other possibilities: one is paperwork, and the other is nostalgia."
Frank Zappa
"This is how humanity ends; bickering over the irrelevant."
Clinton Huxley » 21 Jun 2012 » 14:10:36 GMT
Brian Peacock wrote:I'd agree, up to the point when someone starts asserting that that's our music, that's our literature, that's our cuisine, and you're not allowed to enjoy it.
