Two words that I'm sure a lot of people will echo, just more elaborately:

Historical Significance

Hmmm
 

.

the movie...
 

Look, I'm black, and I really don't understand why this movie is so offensive. I haven't seen it yet, but from what I've heard, the Wayans are FBI agents who disguised themselves as white women in order to protect two heiressess. I think that sounds stupid, which is why I'm not going to see it. However, it's not rascist. I don't know. Maybe there's something I'm missing here. That's just me...
Danielle

Re: the movie...
 

I guess the the question that many people would ask you is, would you feel the same way if this movie was about 2 WHITE FBI agents dressing up as black women to protect 2 heiresses? I can tell you pretty confidently that IF such a movie was made, there would be a HUGE backlash against it. What people are saying is, why is there what seems to be a double standard? I understand that there is historical signifigance involved with why blackface should not be worn. But, I do not see how it is alright for people to wear whiteface if it is not alright to wear blackface. Is that pretty much what other people are trying to say, or am I completely off?

But in those movies (well, at least in Coming to America, I really haven't seen NP) his character just happened to be white...I think he was just proving he could do it, but he wasn't by any means doing anything "steriotypically white"...he tells a joke and that's about it.

From what I can tell, this movie is made to sterio-type white female blondes... and like others have said... If Jim Carrey and Robin Williams (just pulling two random names) made a movie where they dressed up as two black women and did "black women things" (I can't even think of anything off the top of my head, plus even if I did I wouldn't want to offend anyone) THERE WOULD BE PROBLEMS. Why should it be different the other way around?

I would post my opinions in here but since they are forbidden and will be either edited or deleted, I won't go there. I'll just speak my thoughts elsewhere.

Imperial1

In comedy, the boundaries are different. Am I the only person that saw Jimmy Kimmel dress up as Karl Malone on "The Man Show"? His costume was complete with body makeup.

"Black Face" is different than body makeup though (although there are some that confuse the two).

http://www.sterlingtimes.org/black_a...strel_show.jpg

Above is an example of what blackface looks like.

As you'll notice, the jackasses pictured above have put what I guess is ash on their face (which really doesn't resemble any real skin color). They have accentuated certain aspects such as the lips. That is blackface. Body makeup is NOT blackface.

Blackface has a certain heinous history. Face makeup, when worn to make fun of a race and stereotypes is wrong. When worn to make fun of an individual (like Karl Malone), it isn't the same kind of thing.

In the case of the Wayans, since I haven't seen the movie yet, I'm not too sure they were making fun of the white race. And to tell you the truth, I wouldn't care if they did. No skin off my back. I usually find that kind of humor to be funny. I'm sure they're making plenty of $$$ off of this somehow contraversial movie. We talk and the make bank.