It happened again...
 

This time Kappa Sig at UT got caught dressing up in blackface..

http://www.wbir.com/News/news.asp?ID=9654

Exerpt from Article - "UT put on a sensitivity program for fraternities not long ago, explaining why painting faces black is so offensive. "

These are college students we're talking about! Cream of the crop, bastion of higher education, keepers of the flame of knowledge, etc. and they needed a sensitivity program to explain why a white person in blackface is offensive??? :confused:

did he really do that as louie armstrong? i'm not so sure.... if so, why is that so bad? if a african american dressed up as a eminem, with blond hair and light makeup on his face no one would say a thing. i am tired of this double standard. michel jackson made himself white...and what would happen if a white person made themselves black? maybe some white people really want to be black.

ok dude, while I agree that there's a double standard, it's stil not excusable to do blackface. I'm pretty sure a BGLO would get in trouble for doing "whiteface" (though I doubt they'd be dumb enough to do something that stupid). And, using Mikey J isn't exactly a good example.

Yes, a Delta Sig is saying this, but as a Filipino, I was hurt, shocked and disgusted that my "brothers" did the same thing.

There are black, latino and asian Kappa Sigs, Delta Sigs and AChiRhos, I wish these chapters would take that into consideration when they decide to do something completely assinine like blackface.

It's such a double standard dude. I know exactly what you mean.

-Rudey
--Oh by the way please let me know the last time a black guy painted his face with white shoe polish. It's not such a common occurence out in the boonies of NYC and Chi Town, but then again we're not as cultured as some other big city folk.

Oh there's a double standard.

Whatever, I'm drunk..........Go Aztecs!

Ok...but being realistic, I doubt that's the case.

I have seen white people who identify closer with "urban" culture, purposely (and admittedly) tan heavily for darker skin.

However, I have never seen a white person put shoe polish on their face (but maybe their shoes) and go clubbing.

I think that if the person wanted to be black, he would not have done blackface, because...black people dont do blackface.

I think that if a black person did white face (which to be honest, I've never seen) would cause some media attention.

Micheal Jackson is also a poor defense for your argument. He's so eccentric, that who really knows what he's up to.

But yes, that all aside, I can see your frustration with general double standards.

I think there are varying degrees of bad and stupid... This would fall into one of the lower categories.

The difference between this and other blackface incedents is that they were not portraying negative, racist stereotypes. Take for example the AGR's at Ok State... They dressed up in Klansmen outfits for a party and others wore blackface and nooses... I wouldn't categorize them as the same thing.

I truly don't see how this is the same thing.

I agree. At least these guys apparantely weren't dressed as KKK members portraying a lynching.

Still, this is insensitive. A real question is why these folks don't learn from the mistakes of others. This has certainly been in the news enough recently.

Also, tell me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me that all of these blackface incidents have been men. There have been women in the pictures and at the parties, but the offenders have all been male. Wonder why that is.

Finally, a double standard may make you mad, but it doesn't make the offensive behavior acceptable.

Again I say, stupity and hatred is not the only cause, it's also what they think they can get away with. Again I say, no one would even think of doing such a thing at my school, unless they're planning to transfer or wished to be harassed. It would not be tolerated.

Dude, I thought you were hispanic. Why does this so-called double standard bother you, lol. :confused:

I just kinda wanted to bring up as a side note how the media views Asians. I swear, every time I turn on my TV or go to the movies, every Asian guy either talks with this heavy accent, acts like he's this badass gangsta, or knows karate. Take the character on City Guys for example., or the Asian guy in How High. While I think that they're somewhat funny, I get annoyed sometimes when people assume that I race a Honda, know karate, eat rice all the time and eat dogs.

Actually it looks pretty harmless. I think its in light of the prior situation that everything looks bad.

Taken out of the context of the alabama incidents this might not bat an eyelash.

It was a plausible reason to be dressed that way and if you think in terms of winning a costume award it was a great ploy.

Unfortunately for Kappa Sigma they chose famous musicians. And lets face it, there are a lot of truly famous black musicians that have become among the timeless classics. Way beyond the to-die-for-today-forgotten-tomorrow poppy artists that win MTV music Awards.

It would have been hysterically funny to have a black man or dark skinned man paint his face white, wear white gloves, a big 80's jacket, tight pants and say he was Michael Jackson.

Lets keep everything in perspective?

I know a lot of people don't want to think deeply about issues but I know we are better on here than the average unthinking sheep.

As far as the administration is concerned, it sounds like they want to make an example. If I were those "kids" I would have their parents on the phone with the administration right away. Or better yet go in person.

For some reason administrators feel free to screw over those they believe are "kids" but fear parents a bit.

Um...are you serious? Really? Cause if a Black person dressed up as Eminem, I would have a LOT to say!

Not that this analogy should even be entertained, but is MJ NOT the target of criticism and harassment? Is he not seen as pathological? What on earth was your point here?

And there have been people who have donned black skin in an effort to truly live the black experience. They couldn't do it. There is a book about it, but I can't remember the name? Can a GC'er with intact brain cells help me out?

And if anyone truly wants to be another race, that is their own self-hatred issue. It has nothing to do with frats dressing up in blackface because they think it is funny or cute.

I HIGHLY recommend that everyone go out and rent the movie BAMBOOZLED. Then perhaps you can begin to understand why this is NOT funny in any context.

While this might make sense on the surface, it really boils down to miseducation. If he really knew the significance of ANY sort of blackface, he would never have done it. You can dress as a black musician without painting your face black.

Also, administartors fear parents because THEY are the ones paying the money...duh!