A white Chingy??

[ZZ-kai-]

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.

Originally posted by Lady Pi Phi
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.

[Rudey]

Originally posted by ZZ-kai-
Exaclty....you should see the protest sign I made.

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

[ZZ-kai-]

Go talk about Economics somewhere.

Originally posted by Rudey
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

[Rudey]

Originally posted by ZZ-kai-
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.

[ZZ-kai-]

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

[Rudey]

Originally posted by ZZ-kai-
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.

[KSig RC]

Originally posted by thermobryan
How do you know? For a word to be used in the general public there has to be some sort of history behind it, and all it sounds like is that youre trying to justify using derogitory remarks towards white people since there is supposedly no history behind them, does that still make it right?

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.

[33girl]

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.

[AXJules]

Originally posted by KSig RC
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.

****applause****

[Lady Pi Phi]

Originally posted by 33girl
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.

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.

[mrblonde]

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

[Lady Pi Phi]

Originally posted by mrblonde
Its not every college party. You just hear about them in these threads because people dont go in costume to non costume parties.

The point was why have costume parties at all.

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

[SouthrnBelle]

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)

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.

[mrblonde]

Why does every college party have to be a theme, come in costume deal?

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

[33girl]

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.