Poor woman, just a little short of the requisite equipment I fear.
Yeah, well, black faced costumes aren’t forbidden either. What society deems offensive varies, as do the reactions. Wearing a costume of priest with a fake child at your crotch might give you the “Dankest Costume” award at a local club holding a costume contest. But it will get you asked to leave if you bring it to a Catholic school’s trunk or treat.
Bopping around your white suburban neighborhood as a parody of a black celebrity might get you a mix of chuckles and stink eyes - but probably no repercussions. Do it in a a more mixed neighborhood and you may end up confronted for your poor choice of costume. But that’s ok, you were willing to offend - mission accomplished!
Mmm part of me wants to agree with you because I try to be optimistic. But the realist in me says that you’re wrong. Most costumes I have seen aren’t someone trying to earnestly portray a black character, but rather parody or spoof either a caricature of black people or a specific celebrity. A kid who doesn’t know better who dressed up as MLK for a school presentation (that really happened) or as say Black Panther I could give a pass for, as you said, not meaning to do anything wrong and not really knowing better.
Ignorance of why something is offense isn’t much of a defense for adults. People don’t think, but the damage is done. Being called out is the risk you take.
Nope - they are just as likely trying to be “ironic” or “funny”. Take Kevin Smith’s “Buddy Christ” as an example. It’s for the LOLs.
I would say intent matters to a DEGREE. But if you didn’t intend to burn your house down playing with matches, and you still managed to burn your house down playing with matches, you crying that isn’t what you were trying to do won’t change that fact.
We aren’t talking about legal proceedings. I don’t know anyone who has been legally tried and convicted of wearing an offensive costume. So I am not sure why were off on that tangent. The penalty is you pissed people off - whether one means to or not. Worst case someone retaliates against you while you are out - or calls you a bad name on the internet - which is the risk you take when you don’t use your brain.
1 Like
Half the population in New Zealand think that golliwogs are great. They are proudly on display in a number of children’s shops.
1 Like
Really? I’m a bit lost for words. It’s not as if systemic racism doesn’t exist in NZ. Maybe because you guys missed out on slavery in the main (that’s my understanding, anyway) racism doesn’t bite quite so deep?
2 Likes
The presence of unembarrassed white people is not a good indication that the racism is less deep.
Modern New Zealand (like other places) was built on enough ugly colonialism. In some places it might be openly challenged less, so people feel more comfortable and not self-conscious about it.
Still based in gross old racism, though.
2 Likes
There’s plenty of racism. Against the Māori people, Pacific peoples, Asian people, you know, anyone who doesn’t have white skin. You’re right we don’t have a history of slavery, or at least not from Africa. When talking with a couple of co-workers about golliwogs (both in their 50s at the time) the general understanding I got was that they had happy memories of golliwogs from their childhood, that they didn’t think they were racist people (who does?), and that therefore golliwogs weren’t racist.
4 Likes
So what’s the exchange rate for this? Is it just one cookie, or one from each audience member?
5 Likes
Just one.
8 Likes
Just a minor point here. Dressing up for Halloween in a black panther costume (sans black face ofc) is perfectly fine for anyone. Adult. Child. Regardless of race.
Black panther is a fictitious character. He is a comic book and film super hero defined by his costume and super powers.
Is it fine for a black child to wear a captain America costume? Can an Asian man go to a costume party wearing a wolverine costume? Can a Latino child dress as Superman? All yes. Just as with Blacl Panther. Because these are characters defined by costume to begin with. They are not people.
3 Likes
OH I agree. I didn’t mean to suggest differently. My kid was Mulan for like 2 Halloweens . She even got to meet the “real” Mulan once. And I made her a custom Garnet costume from Steven Universe. Neither required changing her skin or appearance - just added the costume. Well, we drew a third eye for the Garnet costume once.
2 Likes
Agreed. As a person of color, I personally don’t have an issue with anyone of any background dressing up as Akoye or T’Challa… as long as they don’t darken their skin with makeup.
The characters are recognizable enough that it isn’t even “necessary.”
6 Likes
Watching a Foxbot like Kelly try to make it in the real media is sort of like watching a pornstar try to make it in Hollywood.
This topic was automatically closed after 5 days. New replies are no longer allowed.
