I watched and listened to a discussion a few minutes ago on Aljazeera TV about a Japanese
Dance Group where some of its dancers paint their faces black. I can't really remember
the dance group's name now; it was in Japanese.

But the central theme of discussion was if the Group's intentions where racist or not. There
where divergent views from all the discussants, some said they where racist by simply painting their faces black
why other saw nothing wrong with them painting it black. But for the Group, the reason behind some dancers painting their faces black is to depict the uniqueness of the blacks and how energetic they could be.

One of the discussant asked a question that got me thinking: Why is it labelled or viewed as racist
most times if a white person paints his or her face or any part of the body black to perform, but
when a non white does same by painting their faces white no negative meanings are read to it?

What do you think?

It harkens back to some of the most racist times in history. Painting your face black i.e. blackface came from minstrel shows where white performers would demean and portray racial generalizations of black people, that is why black people particularly get upset and view it as negative and have every right to do so in my opinion and ‘white people don’t.’ There is no historical or cultural conflict about dressing yourself up as white like blackface, painting your face white does not have centuries of targeted racial oppressive history behind it and whilst I personally believe that making fun of ANYONE for their skin is wrong, it doesn't carry the same historically oppressive institutional context.

1bkaye:
It harkens back to some of the most racist times in history. Painting your face black i.e. blackface came from minstrel shows where white performers would demean and portray racial generalizations of black people, that is why black people particularly get upset and view it as negative and have every right to do so in my opinion and ‘white people don’t.’ There is no historical or cultural conflict about dressing yourself up as white like blackface, painting your face white does not have centuries of targeted racial oppressive history behind it and whilst I personally believe that making fun of ANYONE for their skin is wrong, it doesn't carry the same historically oppressive institutional context.

OK! This makes sense. no doubt historically, "blackface" has been used especially in America to portray stereotypes of black people.
Both White and Black entertainers used the techniques to portray racial generalizations of black people. But just wondering;
have we not gotten to that point where all these mimicking be ignored? though difficult to due to its long years of
"advocacy", but starting as individuals, we should realize no one can put you down except you allow them. If i discovers that someone easily gets irritated by an action, if given the opportunity to get back at such a person, its just a matter of pressing that button. This just reminded of a racist chant my Uncle told us he suffered around the early 80's while in the UK studying. He was initially addressed as the man with "burnt Face", funny now though any time he remembers, but not so funny back then. Over time he ignored them and God helping him he was doing well at his studies and they also discovered this burnt face guy is topping all in class and not a dunce, they resorted back to calling him his real names.