Exactly.

Let's get married.

The bottom line: there can't be a "double standard" when you're comparing two totally different situations.


Side note: As a white woman, I don't give a flying bleep if somebody of another race calls me a cracker because guess what? The fact that their racism is going to affect me significantly in any way is slim. Most non-whites in America don't have that luxury if somebody uses a racial slur against them, and it's a reminder that racism against them is still a part of their daily existence.

No, I don't approve of every aspect of this situation . . . for example, I think calling these guys up and threatening to beat them up is hardly an effective way to go about changing things. But on the other hand, it was their own stupidity that got them into this mess. So I'm not too inclined to feel sorry for them.

THIS is exactly what I'm talking about. It's not the school's responsibility to educate you on every little thing that might be offensive. It's your own damn responsibility.

Seeing that you've been on GC, you've read threads on blackface, you've even contributed your opinion to threads on blackface . . . but you admit you don't even understand the history behind it? Yet blame your teachers for your own ignorance? Despite the fact that you've been exposed to it, and apparently formed an opinion on it despite not researching it whatsoever? WTF?

Seriously, I give up. I don't understand isht like that at all and I kind of doubt that I ever will.

I agree... I don't believe Sugar and Spice was saying that you need to read the book on the history of the N word or research things...or expect the school to teach you.. (because they aren't going to) she's just saying to stop and think before you say/do something, no I don't think it's acceptable for racial slurs to be used against whites either, however I agree with S&S here that if more people actually saw cracker as an insult it would be off the airwaves in a heart beat (it's mainly white men who rule the airwaves) most people I know could care less if someone called them a cracker and see it as kind of a joke word, although all may not... my suggestion is if it offends you say something or no one will ever know and as Elle Woods says if you don't say anything, you'll be in for a really bad hair cut.
I'm sorry but I don't see how anyone can not see that Blackface is offensive. If you were overweight, and some skinny guy padded himself up in some crazy funny exaggerated looking way (which is what blackface looks like, exaggerated and "funny") and said that he was being you for the mixer woudln't you be offended ?

I don't get it. Why does something have to have history tied to it to be offensive? Just because whites were not booted out of Major Leagues, or Universities, or bus routes and called crackers, doesn't make it any less offensive.

There is a double-standard, realize that.

Also, just because a few incidents made CNN and MSNBC doesn't mean that the history behind blackface is being made any more public. If these kids were not greek, chances are 100 times more likely that they didn't get wind of the other events taht took place (IE, Auburn)

Lastly, quit blaming people for 'not knowing history' about blackface. Just because someone read about it on this board, doesn't make them a historian on this fact.

FACT!

Honestly, I don't think you have to know the entire history behind blackface to know it's offensive. Although it would be nice.

Have you ever watched old movie with people dressed up in balck face? Did you notice they were the butt of jokes? If you had, you would realize that they weren'tn imitating balck people, they were making fun of them. Which is how you would know it would be offensive today. It doesn't require a complete history lesson, it requires a little common sense.

You can't compare our plight with that of ANY race Phyllis. One day, God willing, I'll be thin...but I can't change the color of my skin.

Sorry, I can't change history and neither can you, or the kid who played Chingy. There is no reason he should be subject to harassment and possible death because of this. Its one thing if he dressed up, mockingly (as you stated below), but he didn't. Seeing old movies is not a history lesson, most people are not observent enough to say "hey, theres a white guy dressed up with some black makeup on, I assume they are making fun of the black race". People see it as old 1950's comedy - which is how it was - get over it.

When was the last time a white kid was able to move into his dorm 2 days earlier than everyone else, just because he is white?

Its all bull.

While you were trying to say you weren't "protesting", you seem to have posted quite a bit about this. Truly this has taken on a higher priority for you.

-Rudey

Go talk about Economics somewhere.

Actually I double majored and my other major was public policy. This could fall under that. I was also pre-med so maybe I can help guide you through whatever bio-chemical malady you suffer from.

-Rudey
--If it is a malady of discontent, I suggest someone with an MD.

Everyone who went to college started as pre-med or a double major.

I started and finished - very well I might add. I'm not everyone.

I also don't come on GC complaining about how black people are "sensitive" about blackface. If I have a legitimate point to make on the subject of race, I will wait until something of value comes up. That way I don't seem like I'm complaining a lot against people who complain a lot.

-Rudey

You're on the edge here guys. Don't take this any farther or it's gone. If you want to fight and call names, there's a lot of that on the other threads on this topic. Take it there. This one is going to be as civil as possible.

Look . . . the term "cracker" supposedly comes not from the saltine variety, as many assume now, but rather from being the 'whip-cracker' - it's a reference to being a slave owner, if I recall correctly.

Now, sure, it could be slightly offensive to be lumped in with slaveowners . . . but it's probably way more offensive to be lumped in with SLAVES.

I don't feel this needs any more clarification - if you get offended by the word 'cracker' and by 'moving into the dorms 2 days earlier' . . . perhaps we can arrange some sort of 'Trading Places' scenario, finding an Eddie Murphy to your oblivious Dan Akroyd.

It's obviously not a very cool thing (I'm going to avoid "right" or "wrong" for a minute) to refer to someone by an offensive racial term - it is demeaning to use someone's ethnic background as representative of the entirety of their person, or as representative of their status in society. However, when you carry the historical weight of being on top of the totem pole, rather than the bottom, complaining about minor slurs with no history of abasement behind them seems an awful lot like pissing at the rain.

I'm just saying.

This is a really lame addition to the discussion, but -

Why does every college party have to be a theme, come in costume deal? Is your real personality that boring and your social skills that lacking that you have to be dressed up to stimulate conversation? Why are you wasting money on doing this? What happened to going to a party, drinking a few and listening to music/dancing?

Sorry, but I just don't get it.

****applause****

I agree here. I hate theme parties. It's far too much effort when all I want to do is just have a little fun, have a few drinks and meet some people. It's far too uncomfortable to be dressed up.

Its not every college party. You just hear about them in these threads because people dont go in costume to non costume parties. :rolleyes:

The point was why have costume parties at all.

She didn't say every college party is a costume party.

Just because something doesn't make the news (CNN & MSNBC) or isn't public knowledge doesn't keep it from being wrong, disrespectful, offensive, etc. Do you know how much stuff DOESN'T make the news!!!!! Is the news responsible for educating people? I don't think so.

As for the young lady who didn't have blackface mentioned in her PERSUASION SPEECH class...girl bye. I wouldn't expect blackface to be mentioned in a PERSUASION SPEECH class, especially not one dealing w/ the Civil Rights era. Blackface was quite a ways before that sweetie. "My teacher didn't teach me about blackface," is not an excuse. There are certain things that you just know are offensive or inappropriate.

If I were going to a party dressed as a non-African American person, my face would stay the same color it is every other day. There wouldn't be a drop of paint or makeup of ANY color on it.

What is the future going to be like? I'm nervous.

Its a good thing being right never gets old...

It certainly seems that way. FWIW I don't know why every party has to have a t-shirt for it either.

But my point is, unless it's Halloween or maybe a mixer, I don't understand the need for elaborate costumes and makeup, black, white, or purple. Even the "dress-up" mixers we did were usually stuff out of our closets.

Right. Cant we all just agree that Chingy sucks and anyone who wants to emulate him in any way should be savagely beaten?

Yes, that I can agree with.

Yes.

I never new until this was posted in jan. what blackface was or that it was offensive..

This may sound ignorant, but what is so offensive about it?

But no one ever said that he was trying to make fun of Chingy or any other black person. He was trying to "imitate" a black person.
I know the history behind "blackface" and I'm not saying I would have chosen to dress up like that, but I think that this whole thing is being blown way out of proportion. It was a costume for a theme party, not an "anti-black" statement.

I have a similar question. Jimmy Fallon and Darrell Hammond of SNL have used makeup to look like black celebrities. Are the problems the people on this board have with imitation of famous black people or actual minstrel show blackface, with the shoe polish and white, rounded eyes look?

Since people seem incapable of doing a simple search on Blackface, its historical context and why it might be offensive to someone here ya go. You may not share the same sentiment and honestly that really doesn't matter but here ya go so you can't say you weren't informed. As for comedians doing it, I hate it personally when anyone paints their face. It's not necessary for me to paint myself peach to imitate Rikki Lake and to think you do is a problem, but it's not my problem.

Blackface on Campus

Blackface from Jim Crow to Hip Hop

History of Blackface

Racial Co(option)--Visiualizing Whiteness in a Suburban Space

You don't have to be making fun of someone to have it be offensive.

An outfit worn by Chingy or other rapper or artists or whatever theme you're going for can be just as effective without using balckface.

Sure, you might not be able to get it on the first guess and you might have to ask who that person is dressed up as, but you can get the point across.

Like others have said black people don't have to paint their face white to come dress as a white celebrity.
A black female could come dressed in chaps, some skimpy underwear, a bikin top and a blonde wig and people might guess she's come dress as Christina Aguilera, but she doesn't have to paint her face white.

Because they are fun.

And, when I said that I still don't know the history about blackface, I meant that yeah duh I know it's offensive, but I don't know what the REAL history behind it is. Instead of people goin off on people and calling them racist and ignorant, why doesn't someone explain it, please? (ETA... sorry didn't read the rest of the thread)

Why "bye"? Why be rude? I wouldn't expect my whole Theories of Persuasion Speech class to be a history lesson in black civil rights, but it was. And since I don't know the history behind blackface, then how am I supposed to know that it was way before that, sweetie? I KNOW they are offensive.


Blah blah blah. That's how these threads always end up.

damn, damn, damn...how many threads can we have on this subject?

That's subjective.

That's too bad. You went to the wrong school then.

The parties I go to you don't need to dress up to have a good time (hey maybe that should be the theme for the next afterschool special?)

when i was in school...the npc and ifc frats always had those dress up parties, but no one EVER donned anything remotely offensive.

And Fantasia Burrito is going to lose American Idol, because she is black - or will she WIN because she is black?

Well, its a toss up, just ask Elton John.

I don't see what the big deal, it doesn't matter, its always the white mans fault.

Kill Whitey!

Hon, you may or may not be a bigot -- I'm not going to weigh in -- but something tells me you're not too friggin' bright.

Remember that whole thing about how it's not somebody else's responsibility to educate you? What prevents all you kids from using google.com to do a simple search on "blackface"? I'm still not sure I understand.


I'm still curious why it is that so many of y'all reserve the right to be pissed at the word "cracker" yet you don't understand why blackface is offensive.

What is so difficult about not painting your face black?


GC gets more and more brilliant everyday. :rolleyes: Everytime there's a thread on race it comes back to white people complaining about how they're not racist, black people complain too much, and "there's a double standard!" Anybody but me find that amusing?

OK.

I guess it's not possible to discuss this topic without calling people the equivilent of ignorant.

There are several other threads in Risk Management on this very same subject.

Take the argument and finger pointing there.

This one is done.