Writer's Block Unplugged Question
Is blackface ever okay? Consider the sorority girls who put on blackface to look like the Cosby family for a party or similar Halloween costumes, which don't seem to have an ill or derogatory intent. Question asked by jen in "Writer's Block: Unplugged"
It depends. Let me make my points. Back in the time period of the 1870s all the way through the 1950s, one who dressed in black face did an over exaggerated profile of southern African Americans, with the intention of making people laugh. It was very popular back then and people loved it. Of course, you barely see people dressing up in blackface in modern times. And when they do, it's usually something like a Halloween costume of a historical African American. So is black face ever okay? For the most part, no. It's racist, cruel, and insulting. But in some very rare circumstances where blackface is being used in a way that isn't offensive, such as a Halloween costume of Mr. T, then in my opinion, that's okay.
It depends. Let me make my points. Back in the time period of the 1870s all the way through the 1950s, one who dressed in black face did an over exaggerated profile of southern African Americans, with the intention of making people laugh. It was very popular back then and people loved it. Of course, you barely see people dressing up in blackface in modern times. And when they do, it's usually something like a Halloween costume of a historical African American. So is black face ever okay? For the most part, no. It's racist, cruel, and insulting. But in some very rare circumstances where blackface is being used in a way that isn't offensive, such as a Halloween costume of Mr. T, then in my opinion, that's okay.