Dear White Folks: Just Say No to Blackface This Halloween

October 25th, 2011 - By Alexis Garrett Stodghill
Blackface is Racism Even at Halloween

No, it's not okay if you have crazy black friends.

Over on the web site Good, Senior Editor Cord Jefferson has penned a rather PC tract begging young white people not to don blackface this Halloween season, as every year there is some tear-soaked scandal in which this happens. The young whites cry that they didn’t know it was wrong. The black folks cry, “Why are we still being treated this way?” Lots of anger and accusations of oversensitivity and insensitivity are hurled back and forth. And then by Thanksgiving, the whole thing dies down. Until the same time next year, when it all happens again.

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  • Allison Ranieri

    good lord this is so shameful… i cant even imagine it..saying to people IM GOING TO BE BLACK FOR HALLOWEEN. like..what are you thinking??? how does it ever sound like a good idea to take EVERY SINGLE RACIST STEREOTYPE you have about the way, in your white bred little bubble, perceive that “black people act” and then actually have the IGNORANCE and absolutely idiocy to make a HUGE mockery of yourself and your whole race?? not to mention of course, how absolutely freaking racist this is?? good lord i am ashamed

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_3EHQVSA365QAAO7CZUYW33EF5M Jonna

    just out of curiosity; I was a mime for halloween. was my white face racist?

    • Nate

      No.  But all mimes do look alike with their white faces.  Why is that?  By the way, I am totally not racist.  Some of my best friends are mimes.

  • Some6guy9

    I think anyone that’s ignorant in general is only going to perpetuate racism, stereotyping, and segregation.  For some reason, BET and Latino television channels are ok, but if something were labeled “For Whites” it would be wrong. Probably because a lot of things were labeled that way back in the day, but we’re supposed to be past all of that B.S., aren’t we? I bartend for a living, and some of the clubs considered to be the most “ghetto” are the ones that are all black, or all latino. This isn’t because anyone is keeping any race in particular out of them, but because the IGNORANT people are segregating themselves. WEIRD?! Unfortunately, all of this B.S. still exists because people are too hard-headed to listen to each other and just accept one another for what we are: human. Idiots everywhere, whether they’re S.A.’s, White trash, or “N” words ( I just really don’t like that word). And for the record, I’m Mexican-American, and I grew up around the worst trash my kind has to offer…and I dream of the day we can all hang out at the same club, no matter what race, and have a good time.

  • http://twitter.com/rewith85man Ernest DeBrew III

    I like that.

  • LaughingWhiteMeatMan

    oh and the pics you choose are way too funny. Got to admit I got a good laugh out of them

  • Yeyla

    It's a costume. Get over yourself.

  • SAMANTHA

    I can't believe you are bringing history into this context: It's Halloween. If they want to add a darker complexion to their skin for HALLOWEEN to legitimize their desired 'persona', it's their choice. They are playing a character. Why are you so touchy and offended as if they are consciously thinking "I'm gonna channel blackface and really put them down and make them look 'ghetto' (or whatever)" If they were really trying to be that disrespectful, they would NEVER do anything that would remotely identify them with black people, much less try and 'pass' for one. One cannot put down/stereotype other ethnicities then cry 'victim' when something is not even directed at them personally. People must step aside from pent-up insecurities and stop trying to pass the blame on others as though one simple Flavor Flav costume with dark foundation is the cause for an uprising. I guarantee NO white person was AS offended while watching "White Chicks" (equipped with their completely whitened skin) as whoever gets offended for a white/light toned person that artificially darkens their skin. Remember people tan, etc. Not every action one does is meant to humiliate blacks. Whatever happened to being proud of your skin tone and being flattered that someone without it would go through the trouble of applying a similar shade when what YOU have is natural. There are too many problems that exist in the world to waste minutes taking offense to a Halloween costume. This is such a First-World issue as there are many people throughout the world, regardless of skin, that cannot afford food to eat. Be glad that you are alive, can eat and have as many opportunities as you do. Some people will never be as 'lucky'. as for the 'ghetto' thing, people are just calling it as they see it. And blacks are not the only ones considered ghetto, as long as you are from a low-income neighbor, ghetto is the first word that pops in their head. Accept this then prove them wrong. You cannot change people.

    • Sociology/ Black studies major

      Do us a favor take a black studies class and humble urself racist 31t©#

  • BlacksNeedToGrowUp

    get over yourselves. racism will exist for as long as black people keep clinging to it.

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  • iamghost

    Im not racist of any sort and I do agree that its not ok to do such, but instead of always complaining about aww he did blackface or some black comedian was bustin on white folks….which I hear all the time….WHO CARES! I don’t get all bent out of shape when I hear the comedians bustin, I laugh with em. If we spent more time laughing and joking with each other and less time pulling that race card over something ridiculous as this then we could continue that move away from whatever was goin on 70 years ago. Whites affend blacks and blacks offend whites…..sounds typical? Your only offended if you let yourself get offended, plain and simply. I truely think their are bigger issues in the world than this…..what about the black homeless guy that’s eatin out of the same dumpster as the white homeless guy….I bet those guys could care less about trivial issues as this

  • Steph10

    I absolutely agree that white face has overt and subtle racist overtones. Its wrong, having lived with a whole white population a vast majority of my life (there were 7 black people in my HS including myself, you were lucky if you saw another one the entire day) they get really defensive when you call them racist or even suggest that what they are saying or doing is racist. Hopefully seeing an article such as this, would enlighten them.

    BTW, I am black and I love Halloween, none of my black friends seem to have a particular disdain for the holiday.

  • numero

    Black Folks dont go dressing up as white folk either.

    • poundz

      apparently you didnt see the very first pic huh?

    • Guest

      There’s a few in the pics homie

  • Jimmy Swaggered

    Oh stop it Alexis! I thought you "loved whiggers"!!

  • http://www.facebook.com/patoneal Patrick O'Neal

    I think the article is cogent and salient. The words "I'm not racist, my best friend is black!" rings in my mind when seeing my fellow caucasian brothers and sisters dress in this way. It is terrible and I hope some people read this article grow more aware of what this all looks like. Thanks and Blessings!

  • omega jade

    I do agree with what you are saying. However, i dont expect that this or any other article will change the minds of ignorace. And some will probably argue that dave chapelle does whiteface on his show. I do hope there are a few out there that would be sensitive to the issue. But i definitely would not hold my breath.

    • WinGhostHunter

      How about stop using the term "white folk". THAT sounds equally ignorant.

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  • Deeana

    WHite people are just ignorant. They refuse to learn america's history, but scream American. They claim them didn't know pretending to be black on HALLOWEEN was wrong, but they know not to say the "N" word (some, not all). Playing dumb doesn't work anymore.

  • IllyPhilly

    I believe the disrespect comes if they get in black face and start saying n*gga this or call women h@es or just act "ghetto" like that's what we're all about. If they just dressing up as Barack or Lil Wayne (even as he's a fool) just like people dress up as Marilyn Monroe then what's the problem??

    • CurlyDoll

      wow… I can't believe 8 people actually agreed with you. Dressing up like Marilyn Monroe and getting in blackface is two different things. There is no negative connotation (race related at that) with getting dressed up like Marilyn Monroe.

  • Kayla

    on a side note you really couldn't put this whole article on one page?

    this reminds me of Amos and Andy, and how they would dress up in blackface. It's very disrespectful. but this makes me sad because alot of people people make themselves an easy target to be made fun of. I mean with the ebonics, sagging pants, and all these rappers out here, and loud neck rolling etc