Why is Black face wrong?

[MichiganManLifer]

This is another stupid double standard out there. Why on earth is it not OK to dress up like a celebrity for Halloween? This isn't racist or even malicious. Can somebody tell me a good reason why these people are under attack?

A teacher at Chestnut Grove Elementary School with Decatur City Schools apologized on Monday morning for using blackface as part of his Halloween costume.

The Decatur City Board of Education held a meeting Monday morning to discuss the fifth grade teacher, Heath Morrow, who wore blackface to dress up as Kanye West for Halloween.

The picture gained international attention when the Daily Mail reported Morrow dressed as Kanye West and his wife joined him as Kim Kardashian West in an early Halloween celebration effort.

Decatur City Schools Superintendent Dr. Ed Nichols read a letter from Morrow where he apologized from his error in judgment and said his intentions were not malicious. In the letter, he said he wasn't raised that way and he has not taught his kids that way.

Morrow said he and his wife made a decision based on celebrity and political climates and he doesn't want that to reflect on Chestnut Grove Elementary.

Here's a look at the letter from Morrow:

To whom this may concern:

I would like to first apologize for my error in judgment. My intentions were not malicious or directed toward any certain group of people. I would also like to say that everyone who knows my character and knows my heart, knows that I have never seen color in my life. I wasn’t raised or taught that way and do not raise my children that way. I see people for who they are, and my wife and I go out of our way to help anyone we can in my profession as an educator. When deciding to dress up for a Halloween party, my wife and I made a decision based on celebrities and the political climate today. I do not want this to reflect on my school or school system based on my poor decision that I made. Again I apologize and this will not happen again.

Sincerely,

Heath Morrow


http://www.wistv.com/story/30349647...eacher-who-wore-black-face?clienttype=generic

 

[The Tradition]

It just is. No watermelon or fried chicken, either.

 

[Vroom_C14]

JFC - this country has gone in the shitter. Better not dress as a ghost then, that would be white face, or a red skittle as that could be construed as a native american...

 

[MichiganManLifer]

What would happen if Kanye dressed up like Eminem for halloween? Exactly. Nothing.

 

[MichiganManLifer]

JFC - this country has gone in the shitter. Better not dress as a ghost then, that would be white face, or a red skittle as that could be construed as a native american...

Exactly. He CLEARLY states it was not malicious and Kanye is a celebrity that asks for attention like this. What the F is the problem here, really? How about we focus on real racism rather than all these perceived slights. It's a joke.

 

[The Tradition]

Rachel Dolezal wears black-face makeup every day.

 

[naturalmwa]

Google it, the answer should jump out at you.

 

[Big_Palooka]

I see no problem in what he did....dressing up as Kanye, Obama, ect. is not being rascist.

Now if he dressed up as one of these, there is a problem:

 

[MichiganManLifer]

Google it, the answer should jump out at you.

Blackface represents a time when white Americans would put dark paint on their faces and act out incredibly racist and offensive stereotypes about African Americans. The symbolism of blackface is incendiary, insensitive and racist. This is a fact. This is not up for debate.

Here is the first definition/explanation i found... Two things, the "time represented" was long ago and I love the "Not up for debate" part. Says who? What about this?

How about these racists? Is this ok?

 

[swagsurfer02]

His wife.......WOOD

 

[dbq hawk 32]

Blackface is wrong... this isn't an example of blackface.

 

[naturalmwa]

Blackface represents a time when white Americans would put dark paint on their faces and act out incredibly racist and offensive stereotypes about African Americans. The symbolism of blackface is incendiary, insensitive and racist. This is a fact. This is not up for debate.

Here is the first definition/explanation i found... Two things, the "time represented" was long ago and I love the "Not up for debate" part. Says who? What about this?

How about these racists? Is this ok?

Sure, that seems racist too. Stereotypes are usually based on some racist, sexist or bigoted ideas of some stripe. What's your point? Employ them if you like, but be ready for the blow back. Americans have a right to get pissy.

 

[IACub]

Is this ok?

No. No, that is definitely not okay. That is terrifying.

 

[Hoosierhawkeye]

I see no problem in what he did....dressing up as Kanye, Obama, ect. is not being rascist.

Now if he dressed up as one of these, there is a problem:

This

 

[Hoosierhawkeye]

Sure, that seems racist too. Stereotypes are usually based on some racist, sexist or bigoted ideas of some stripe. What's your point? Employ them if you like, but be ready for the blow back. Americans have a right to get pissy.

Do Americans get pissy or is it the SJW's and the PC Police who get pissy without good reason. Which is something they tend to do . . . often. . . and unapologetically.

There is a difference between trying to be a racial caricature and dressing up as a celeb who is black.

It's good if Americans get mad at people for trying to be racial caricatures. It's bad if they are going after people dressing up as a specific black celeb.

 

[Menace Sockeyes]

Yep, not racist. I get why blacks are touchy given its history, but they have to understand context. But Swag gave made the only important point in this thread...Niiiiiiiice!

 

[The Tradition]

Dude should have really swung for the fences and wore this jacket as part of his costume:

 

[linkshero]

I'm guessing Effie Brown is lit-tril-ly having a hard time with this.....

 

[naturalmwa]

Do Americans get pissy or is it the SJW's and the PC Police who get pissy.

I don't see a difference.

 

[MichiganManLifer]

Sure, that seems racist too. Stereotypes are usually based on some racist, sexist or bigoted ideas of some stripe. What's your point? Employ them if you like, but be ready for the blow back. Americans have a right to get pissy.

First, most "Americans" aren't pissy. They are busy working (unlike these low life Obama handout recipients - both black and white).

My point is, a black teacher could have dressed up like Justin Bieber. There would be NO issue, NO news story and NO outrage. I just showed a picture from "White Chicks"... I personally don't care, but Social justice warriors use a double standard, because they're racist POS's.

 

[hawkeye54545]

We have become a nation of politically correct pussies? I apologize if any of you are pussies and I offended you.

 

[naturalmwa]

First, most "Americans" aren't pissy. They are busy working (unlike these low life Obama handout recipients - both black and white).

My point is, a black teacher could have dressed up like Justin Bieber. There would be NO issue, NO news story and NO outrage. I just showed a picture from "White Chicks"... I personally don't care, but Social justice warriors use a double standard, because they're racist POS's.

You sound pissy.

 

[MichiganManLifer]

You sound pissy.

If I sound pissy it's because I'm tired of constantly reading double standard crap and people trying to neuter this country with a bunch of BS like claiming this teacher is racist. It's pathetic and nobody can really put out a viable reason why people are outraged by this. If they quit being outraged, I'll quit being outraged..I didn't start this crap.

 

[mstp1992]

First, most "Americans" aren't pissy. They are busy working (unlike these low life Obama handout recipients - both black and white).

My point is, a black teacher could have dressed up like Justin Bieber. There would be NO issue, NO news story and NO outrage. I just showed a picture from "White Chicks"... I personally don't care, but Social justice warriors use a double standard, because they're racist POS's.

Justin Bieber's Canadian. Nobody cares.

 

[naturalmwa]

If I sound pissy it's because I'm tired of constantly reading double standard crap and people trying to neuter this country with a bunch of BS like claiming this teacher is racist. It's pathetic and nobody can really put out a viable reason why people are outraged by this. If they quit being outraged, I'll quit being outraged..I didn't start this crap.

I didn't start it either, but I am choosing not to get pissy over it. I have no proof of this, but I suspect a pissy reaction is just what some objectors want.

 

[naturalmwa]

We have become a nation of politically correct pussies? I apologize if any of you are pussies and I offended you.

You are what you eat.

 

[Rustys Dad]

Sadly ... if you are white ... pretty much anything you say or do related to African Americans will face scrutiny. It's just the way our society (specifically the media) has been conditioned to operate ...

Now as for the guy in article ... With today's sensitivity toward African Americans he should have absolutely known without a doubt this was not a smart decision ...

Pretty much anywhere you turn in news/social media ... 98% of any "speculated racist" acts involves a Caucasian as the "perpetrator" and African Americans as the "victims." We don't see police videos of African American officers and Asian "victims." We don't see Asian officers and Caucasian "victims."

It's like when you see the one of 1,000s of police videos where we see the end result ... of a Caucasian officer using force on the African American "victim." And yet, the story LEADING UP the incident gets little play ... Meaning, the media doesn't talk about what the "victim" did leading up to the video ... We just see the end results of the officers using force on the "victims" and then everyone cries foul.

Technology is a great thing ... but social media and smartphones have really changed our behaviors as a society ... We have 8-second attention spans ... The "media" knows it has to capture our attention ... And so sadly, sites like TMZ and headlines about the stupid things and people around us are what draw people in. CNN used to be a respectable news source. Now, it's home page is more like TMZ ... That's sort of how our society has become conditioned ... short attention spans ... immersed in our smartphones ... and overall - dumber. And the "media" (I use that term loosely) LOVES to stir the racism pot.

With smartphones and social media, if you are "offended" by something you can quickly tell the world how "offended" you are. Before you know it, a video of sitting in your car eating a piece of watermelon could go "viral" and someone will deem you a racist. It's just what our society has become unfortunately ... And for some reason the focus has really been placed on not upsetting the African American community ...

 

[5446myno]

I've never come across anyone who used the term SJW" as a perjorative that wasn't an ahole.

"Whiteface" doesn't have the same racial implications because it hasn't been used as a means of mocking white people for centuries. But it's fine if you don't understand that, as long as you aren't so arrogant you think that you get to decide what others find offensive, or such an ahole that you don't actually care what offends those around you.

In other words, just don't be a jackass and you'll be fine. If you insist on spending your energy fighting for your right to be a jackass, then don't be surprised if people call you one. It's not complicated.

 

[Hoosierhawkeye]

I don't see a difference.

SJW's and PC police are only a very small subset of Americans who are given far too much attention and voice.

 

[Hoosierhawkeye]

I've never come across anyone who used the term SJW" as a perjorative that wasn't an ahole.

"Whiteface" doesn't have the same racial implications because it hasn't been used as a means of mocking white people for centuries. But it's fine if you don't understand that, as long as you aren't so arrogant you think that you get to decide what others find offensive, or such an ahole that you don't actually care what offends those around you.

In other words, just don't be a jackass and you'll be fine. If you insist on spending your energy fighting for your right to be a jackass, then don't be surprised if people call you one. It's not complicated.

As I said, a racial caricature would be racist.

But he's dressing up as an actual black celeb.

In terms of offensiveness there needs to be a standard as to the reasonableness of the offense in the first place. Being offended doesn't make you right.

It's entirely reasonable to be offended by the Confederate battle flag given it's history. I find it offensive myself. It's entirely reasonable to be offended by racial caricatures. It's not reasonable to be offended by someone dressed up as Kanye West unless you happen to be Kanye West.

I'm also curious as to how many actual black people where offended by this or if it's another case of the SJW's telling people that it's offensive.

 

[hawkeye54545]

He could have just wore a nozzle on his head and wrote Massengill on his chest and been Kanye West.

 

[5446myno]

As I said, a racial caricature would be racist.

But he's dressing up as an actual black celeb.

In terms of offensiveness there needs to be a standard as to the reasonableness of the offense in the first place. Being offended doesn't make you right.

It's entirely reasonable to be offended by the Confederate battle flag given it's history. It's entirely reasonable to be offended by racial caricatures. It's not reasonable to be offended by someone dressed up as Kanye West unless you happen to be Kanye West.

I'm also curious as to how many actual black people where offended by this or if it's another case of the SJW's telling people that it's offensive.

So you think you can mimic a very common means of racial intolerance and expect everyone to assume your intentions are good this time? Why would they care?

Are you suggesting we commission a "board of offense" or something, to dictate what others have a right to find offensive or not?

Who the hell do you think you are to determine that for others? How would you go about setting those standards for everyone?

 

[MichiganManLifer]

I've never come across anyone who used the term SJW" as a perjorative that wasn't an ahole.

"Whiteface" doesn't have the same racial implications because it hasn't been used as a means of mocking white people for centuries. But it's fine if you don't understand that, as long as you aren't so arrogant you think that you get to decide what others find offensive, or such an ahole that you don't actually care what offends those around you.


In other words, just don't be a jackass and you'll be fine. If you insist on spending your energy fighting for your right to be a jackass, then don't be surprised if people call you one. It's not complicated.

Why do YOU get to decide what everyone is offended by? That's what you're doing in your post.

So not having the same rights as black people makes me an a-hole? I don't care what offends people when i provide a DIRECT comparison that does not offend people. Guess what, it's not 1876 or 1952 or whatever. Black people have rights, our freaking president is black. What is ignorant is you refusing to believe the steps we've taken to bring equality to all AND that you are willing to say one thing is ok vs. a certain race, but not another. My God your ignorance is baffling. You are the racist here, not me or the guy in the story.

 

[fredjr82]

SJW" .

Social Justice Warrior or Sir James Whitney School for the Deaf?

 

[fredjr82]

It's not reasonable to be offended by someone dressed up as Kanye West unless you happen to be Kanye West.

Who the F are you to tell people what should or shouldn't offend them? I don't find it reasonable that people are offended by abortion (I know, I know) so it's not reasonable for you to be offended by those getting them. Feel free to share what else we're not allowed to be offended by since you seem to be both judge and jury in that environment.

 

[5446myno]

Why do YOU get to decide what everyone is offended by? That's what you're doing in your post.

So not having the same rights as black people makes me an a-hole? I don't care what offends people when i provide a DIRECT comparison that does not offend people. Guess what, it's not 1876 or 1952 or whatever. Black people have rights, our freaking president is black. What is ignorant is you refusing to believe the steps we've taken to bring equality to all AND that you are willing to say one thing is ok vs. a certain race, but not another. My God your ignorance is baffling. You are the racist here, not me or the guy in the story.

I specifically told you it didn't matter if you understood or agreed. So I'm most certainly not telling you that you need to feel offended by anything, so you're missing the mark.

And no one's seeking to deny you any rights. I have yet to see anyone suggest blackface be illegal, so I'm not sure what you're on about, really. You're the one telling people how they should feel, not giving a damn if they feel differently than you think they should.

In short, you're being a jackass. Please stop.

 

[fredjr82]

Why do YOU get to decide what everyone is offended by? That's what you're doing in your post.

Ask Hoosier the same question. He doesn't think anyone should be offended by it and you're unreasonable if you are. I doubt you care about his stance though because you're on the same "team" with your opinions.

 

[BelemNole]

If he was some schmo going to his buddy's halloween party the costume was no big deal. But he's a teacher in Atlanta and posted the photo on social media - he's in trouble for being stupid.

 

[The Tradition]

How come no one is offended by the fake Kardashian butt?

 

[Hoosierhawkeye]

So you think you can mimic a very common means of racial intolerance and expect everyone to assume your intentions are good this time? Why would they care?

Are you suggesting we commission a "board of offense" or something, to dictate what others have a right to find offensive or not?

Who the hell do you think you are to determine that for others? How would you go about setting those standards for everyone?

No I'm suggesting that we don't run down the name of people for a few unreasonable people being offended.

And as far as the racial intolerance meme that was the caricature of black people, not the black face itself.

Why wasn't Robert Downey Jr.'s role in Tropic Thunder considered racist?