http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57436121/boy-wears-blackface-for-mlk-history-report/

Quote :

"(CBS News) A second grader's makeup for a school project is stirring up controversy in Southern Colorado. CBS News affiliate KKTV reports Meridian Ranch Elementary School student Sean King dressed up as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as part of a living wax museum assignment for history class. He used make-up to darken his face. Watch the KKTV report. A school spokesperson told KKTV a complaint led the principal to determine the costume was a disruption. "They wanted me to clean up immediately or leave," Sean. The boy's parents took him home. There's no word on whether the boy's grade will be affected."

5/17/2012 11:39:08 AM

5/17/2012 11:40:09 AM

KKTV

5/17/2012 11:41:29 AM

5/17/2012 11:43:56 AM

It's now racist to portray dominant black figures as black. Got it.

5/17/2012 11:48:39 AM

^are you a troll

5/17/2012 11:49:33 AM

Please, it's the b-word. Lets be respectful, here.

5/17/2012 11:51:44 AM

I dressed as MC Hammer for a Black History Month field trip in second grade. I missed the bus and spent all day in the bathroom in parachute pants covered in goofy neon handprints.

5/17/2012 11:53:00 AM

Quote :

"There's no word on whether the boy's grade will be affected."

lol

5/17/2012 11:53:32 AM

he's not wearing Blackface.


he painted his face back.


there's a huge difference that society, as of yet, apparently can't handle.

5/17/2012 11:53:48 AM

not offensive at all in this context

also:

5/17/2012 11:53:55 AM

yes, this would have been racist if he was eating watermelon or something.

5/17/2012 11:57:11 AM

When I was in 4th grade we were doing one of these things where you pretend to be a historical figure. I got George Washington Carver, and some adult actually gave me a thing of black makeup to put on because, well... I'm not black. I didn't want to put it on so I didn't, figuring it was the less-worse option to just preface every interaction with "yes, I'm supposed to be black but I'm not".

The event was awkward as hell. I wanted to leave right after it started.

No, seriously, [true story]

[Edited on May 17, 2012 at 12:00 PM. Reason : ]

5/17/2012 11:59:20 AM

ITT White people complain about having to remember the historical context of blackface.

5/17/2012 12:02:29 PM

they only problem I see is that they did a shitty job with the makeup

5/17/2012 12:05:47 PM

i think it is more disturbing that this white kid holds a philanderer in such high regard

5/17/2012 12:08:34 PM

lol, these kids had no idea anything was wrong until the adults told them....way to go. How is anything ever supposed to get better if we don't let it?

5/17/2012 12:09:58 PM

I doubt they teach 2nd graders about historical figures sexual activities

5/17/2012 12:10:00 PM

well based on this article, the media expects kids to have the knowledge that adults have

5/17/2012 12:10:44 PM

Quote :

"i think it is more disturbing that this white kid holds a philanderer in such high regard"

that's gonna happen when you give somebody their own federal holiday.

5/17/2012 12:12:47 PM

i think he looks more like a little hitler who had something blow up in his face like wyl e coyote.

5/17/2012 12:13:49 PM

he looks more like al sharpton with the hair dripped n slipped back

5/17/2012 12:14:38 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackface

Quote :

"Blackface was an important performance tradition in the American theater for roughly 100 years beginning around 1830. It quickly became popular overseas, particularly so in Britain, where the tradition lasted longer than in the US, occurring on primetime TV as late as 1978 (The Black and White Minstrel Show)[4] and 1981."

OMFG, the racism persisted almost until the majority of TWW users were born

5/17/2012 12:16:08 PM

Quote :

"ITT White people complain about having to remember the historical context of blackface."

Seriously. How about if the kid had been dressed in Nazi regalia for a European history event? Would that be cool? The point isn't about historical accuracy. It's about how the history has been used to subjugate people. White supremacists still wear Nazi regalia as a sign of presumed racial superiority. Dumbasses still wear blackface as a way to denote racial inferiority of the object (i.e., African Americans) and racial superiority of the subject (i.e., the White person in blackface).

NO I don't think this kid intended to be racist by wearing blackface. I do, however, think that it's his parents' responsibility to understand the racist implications of sending their son to school with his face painted black.

5/17/2012 12:17:39 PM

this is the school system, the parent is never responsible

5/17/2012 12:19:05 PM

Yes, I'm sure this kid was "wearing blackface as a way to denote racial inferiority of the object (i.e., African Americans) and racial superiority of the subject (i.e., the White person in blackface). "



And if the kid was told by his teacher to represent Hitler and he dressed like Hitler, then it sounds like he completed the assignment as instructed.

Quote :

"i think he looks more like a little hitler who had something blow up in his face like wyl e coyote. "

lololol

5/17/2012 12:22:11 PM

Quote :

"OMFG, the racism persisted almost until the majority of TWW users were born"

Here are some more modern incidents of blackface. And yes, there are also even more recent examples. I'll let you look for those yourself. It'll be good practice for using other sources besides wikipedia.

1. University of Alabama at Birmingham: In 2001, three white medical students dressed as Stevie Wonder, a character from Fat Albert and a black woman to go to a Halloween costume party. All three wore blackface. They have since apologized publicly (Bartlett).

2. University of Tennessee: In 2002, six white Kappa Sigma fraternity members used blackface as part of a Jackson 5 Halloween costume. They were seen by black students while walking to a private, off-campus party. Kappa Sigma was suspended, but the students were not punished (Jet).

3. Syracuse University, New York: In 2002, a white member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity went to a bar dressed in blackface as part of a Tiger Woods costume. There was no statement to indicate what sort of action had been taken against the student (Black Issues in Higher Education).

4. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater: In 2001, a Caucasain member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity appeared in brown body paint to portray Charles Barkley at the annual homecoming variety show. The fraternity wrote apology letters that were distributed around the campus, insisting there was no malicious intent (Schuster).

5. University of Virginia: In 2002, Caucasian members of the Zeta Psi and Kappa Alpha dressed up as Uncle Sam in blackface and an Afro wig and Venus and Serena Williams. Nothing was done to Kappa Alpha, as it was determined that the offending students were from Zeta Psi, which is on probation now (Hamilton).

6. University of Louisville, Kentucky: In 2001, Caucasian Tau Kappa Eplison members attended a Halloween party in blackface. (Ironically, one African American member dressed in a Ku Klux Klan costume, and no action was taken against him.) The chapter has been suspended (Bartlett).

7. Auburn University, Alabama: In 2001, white member of two fraternities (Delta Sigma Phi and Beta Theta Phi) wore blackface to Halloween parties. Pictures were taken, and one of the cruelest depicted one student dressed in a Ku Klux Klan costume, holding a noose around another student, who is in blackface, standing in front of a Confederate flag. Both chapters have been shut down and are no longer recognized by the university. Fifteen members total from the fraternities have been suspended from the university, pending further action (Bartlett), (Burroughs).

8. University of Mississippi: In 2001, two white students attend a Halloween party and a picture was taken of one in blackface on his knees, picking cotton from a small bucket. The other is dressed as a policeman, holding a gun to the other's head. The incident is pending further action (Bartlett).

5/17/2012 12:24:18 PM

^^ Did you not read the last sentence of my post? I don't think the kid was trying to be racist, but it was his parents' responsibility to know that they shouldn't send their kid to school with his face painted black.

[Edited on May 17, 2012 at 12:26 PM. Reason : k]

5/17/2012 12:26:10 PM

yet nobody gets upset when kids sit "indian style" or make stupid paper feather headdresses for fucking thanksgiving.

nope, this kid clearly wanted to be the captain of the amistad, case closed.

5/17/2012 12:26:52 PM

people are using the term "blackface" too liberally

theres a difference between character depiction and making fun of a stereotypical sect of a population in general and acting like a coon

people dressing up as celebrities and cartoon characters does not mean they are esposuing some sort of latent racism. jesus

black face is not simply throwing on some black shoe polish, it was a whole act aimed at exploiting the old south black bumpkin

[Edited on May 17, 2012 at 12:28 PM. Reason : r]

5/17/2012 12:27:34 PM

i think the kid looks hilarious

and yes, his assignment was to be mlk. but the kid is white, and mlk is dark brown. the kid is pre-pubescent, but mlk had a mustache.

[Edited on May 17, 2012 at 12:33 PM. Reason : ]

5/17/2012 12:31:57 PM

lol, yeah id have had a problem with him coming to school looking like:



not so much what he actually did.

although it does make me happy to know that God actually is stupid enough to not know what blackface truly is.

5/17/2012 12:32:12 PM

i better go get this mole removed from my face before someone mistakes it as attempted blackface!

shit!

theyre gonna string me up if i attend my required attendance klan rally/fish fry this afternoon; no way i can reschedule being a white person and all.

5/17/2012 12:33:56 PM

Another point: It's just silly that they painted his face black. Would you expect a Black kid to paint his face white if he was dressed up as Abe Lincoln?

5/17/2012 12:35:50 PM

^Would any white people actually be offended if they did though? I personally would applaud their extra effort in an attempt to portray the person.

[Edited on May 17, 2012 at 12:39 PM. Reason : ]

5/17/2012 12:39:10 PM

^ No, White people wouldn't be offended. That's part of our White privilege-- not having to feel offended if we see people in Whiteface. There's not history of people using Whiteface to oppress people and suggest our racial inferiority.

5/17/2012 12:41:31 PM

idk the romans and huns did some pretty disparaging things to my german ancestors.

5/17/2012 12:45:04 PM

I didnt know i couldnt do that

5/17/2012 12:45:25 PM

today i learned fraternity bros in the south are all racists

5/17/2012 12:51:02 PM

great. another white guilt fucker.

5/17/2012 12:52:17 PM

molehill:mountain

that kid wasn't coming from a racist place, and none of the other kids took it as racist...but they sure fixed that

5/17/2012 12:52:47 PM

^^^

3. Syracuse University, New York: In 2002, a white member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity went to a bar dressed in blackface as part of a Tiger Woods costume. There was no statement to indicate what sort of action had been taken against the student (Black Issues in Higher Education).

4. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater: In 2001, a Caucasain member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity appeared in brown body paint to portray Charles Barkley at the annual homecoming variety show. The fraternity wrote apology letters that were distributed around the campus, insisting there was no malicious intent (Schuster).

5. University of Virginia: In 2002, Caucasian members of the Zeta Psi and Kappa Alpha dressed up as Uncle Sam in blackface and an Afro wig and Venus and Serena Williams. Nothing was done to Kappa Alpha, as it was determined that the offending students were from Zeta Psi, which is on probation now (Hamilton).

6. University of Louisville, Kentucky: In 2001, Caucasian Tau Kappa Eplison members attended a Halloween party in blackface. (Ironically, one African American member dressed in a Ku Klux Klan costume, and no action was taken against him.) The chapter has been suspended (Bartlett).

[Edited on May 17, 2012 at 12:54 PM. Reason : r]

5/17/2012 12:53:22 PM

ahaha you motherfuckers are being outargued by BHS

5/17/2012 12:55:01 PM

Quote :

"i think he looks more like a little hitler who had something blow up in his face like wyl e coyote."

Quote :

"haha, i thought the same thing "

Quote :

"people are using the term "blackface" too liberally theres a difference between character depiction and making fun of a stereotypical sect of a population in general and acting like a coon people dressing up as celebrities and cartoon characters does not mean they are esposuing some sort of latent racism. jesus black face is not simply throwing on some black shoe polish, it was a whole act aimed at exploiting the old south black bumpkin"

Exactly, definitely not "blackface" even in application, let alone context.

Now, I would say that while not wrong, the parents should have recognized that most people are extremely ignorant AND have an awfully low capacity for critical thinking, and would likely misinterpret it and get up in arms for no reason whatsoever. They should have considered whether or not the juice was worth the squeeze.

...but then again, most people are extremely ignorant AND have an awfully low capacity for critical thinking.

[Edited on May 17, 2012 at 12:57 PM. Reason : ]

5/17/2012 12:55:12 PM

^^^my god. the racism. the horror. the crime. the killings. the lynchings. the draggings!

WHEN WILL THESE FRATBOYS STOP????????//

[Edited on May 17, 2012 at 12:55 PM. Reason : ^^^]

5/17/2012 12:55:37 PM

maybe if colorado had more black people this wouldn't have happened

5/17/2012 12:57:35 PM

Quote :

"Here are some more modern incidents of blackface. And yes, there are also even more recent examples. I'll let you look for those yourself. It'll be good practice for using other sources besides wikipedia. 1. University of Alabama at Birmingham: In 2001, three white medical students dressed as Stevie Wonder, a character from Fat Albert and a black woman to go to a Halloween costume party. All three wore blackface. They have since apologized publicly (Bartlett). 2. University of Tennessee: In 2002, six white Kappa Sigma fraternity members used blackface as part of a Jackson 5 Halloween costume. They were seen by black students while walking to a private, off-campus party. Kappa Sigma was suspended, but the students were not punished (Jet). 3. Syracuse University, New York: In 2002, a white member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity went to a bar dressed in blackface as part of a Tiger Woods costume. There was no statement to indicate what sort of action had been taken against the student (Black Issues in Higher Education). 4. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater: In 2001, a Caucasain member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity appeared in brown body paint to portray Charles Barkley at the annual homecoming variety show. The fraternity wrote apology letters that were distributed around the campus, insisting there was no malicious intent (Schuster). 5. University of Virginia: In 2002, Caucasian members of the Zeta Psi and Kappa Alpha dressed up as Uncle Sam in blackface and an Afro wig and Venus and Serena Williams. Nothing was done to Kappa Alpha, as it was determined that the offending students were from Zeta Psi, which is on probation now (Hamilton). 6. University of Louisville, Kentucky: In 2001, Caucasian Tau Kappa Eplison members attended a Halloween party in blackface. (Ironically, one African American member dressed in a Ku Klux Klan costume, and no action was taken against him.) The chapter has been suspended (Bartlett). 7. Auburn University, Alabama: In 2001, white member of two fraternities (Delta Sigma Phi and Beta Theta Phi) wore blackface to Halloween parties. Pictures were taken, and one of the cruelest depicted one student dressed in a Ku Klux Klan costume, holding a noose around another student, who is in blackface, standing in front of a Confederate flag. Both chapters have been shut down and are no longer recognized by the university. Fifteen members total from the fraternities have been suspended from the university, pending further action (Bartlett), (Burroughs). 8. University of Mississippi: In 2001, two white students attend a Halloween party and a picture was taken of one in blackface on his knees, picking cotton from a small bucket. The other is dressed as a policeman, holding a gun to the other's head. The incident is pending further action (Bartlett)."

Aside from 6, 7, and 8, no, I don't understand.

5/17/2012 12:57:47 PM

what's the source of that list? http://www.whiteguilt.com?http://www.perpetuatethemyth.com?

[Edited on May 17, 2012 at 1:00 PM. Reason : .]

5/17/2012 12:59:46 PM

Quote :

"great. another white guilt fucker."

white privilege does not equal white guilt. you don't have to feel guilty about being white to acknowledge that you are in a privileged position in this country if you're white. and don't start in on "reverse racism" and affirmative action either. if you haven't realized at this point in your life that you have a leg up for being born white in america, then it's not my responsibility to educate you.

5/17/2012 1:01:17 PM

Quote :

"i think he looks more like a little hitler who had something blow up in his face like wyl e coyote."

Ahahahahaha

5/17/2012 1:03:38 PM