DISQUS

Black Political Thought: Dallas Cowboys cheerleader Whitney Isleib Comes Under Fire for Halloween Costume -- Lil Wayne in Blackface

  • shamontiel · 1 month ago
    If we're going to reprimand Australians and French Vogue for blackface, then she shouldn't be the exception to the rule. She should've known better, and why would you want to dress up as someone going to prison anyway? It's always people who would be terrified at prison who want to wear those jumpsuits and "live the life."
  • Janet Shan · 1 month ago
    Shamontiel -- I understand your position, but I don't agree totally. Have
    you seen some of the Halloween costumes? How come no one complains when
    someone walks around in a KKK costume or a horrible characterization of our
    presidents? I don't recall hearing any outrage over the Wayans' movie "White
    Chicks" nor Eddie Murphy's portrayals of a Jew in "Coming to America," for
    example. Considering the other costumes this young man wore to school, I
    think it was done in jest. Offensive, maybe. For me, Quaker Oats should have
    been pressured to drop the name Aunt Jemima completely. Updating the image
    doesn't still doesn't make it right. Jemima is a throwback to a dark period
    in American history. Look at the language that they used to portray her
    speech? If that wasn't racist, then I don't know what was. As of the French
    Vogue blackface, that was a deliberate move to make money and push the
    envelope. They are no strangers to engaging in such behavior and they got
    called out this time. The high school kid did this to be funny. If we are
    going to be politically correct over blackface/whiteface, then neither side
    needs to engage in this behavior.

    As for the Dallas cheerleader, it was offensive, but certainly not racist. I
    guess it is okay for blacks to portray whites but the reverse stokes the
    anger of the black community.
  • shamontiel · 1 month ago
    No, it's not okay for EITHER side to dress up in blackface, and that was my point. If we're going to wag a finger at people out of the country for doing it, people in our own country knowing the history of blackface shouldn't either! The KKK is an actual group. They were not made over to ridicule anybody. That's the group. It's sick, but it's still an actual group and it doesn't do any added effect besides a sheet. The KKK would be proud to feel like they've gotten additional members so that comparison is weak. No black people are going to be happy to see people joining the blackface crowd.

    As far as Quaker Oats, we're going to agree to disagree. As soon as black people were given more rights to protest Quaker Oats' Aunt Jemima, they did just that and the black, fat mammy left. I don't see the logic in getting rid of that brand because of the way her picture used to look. That makes about as much sense as not showing the TV show "Nell" because all black women aren't loud maids.

    I don't see how this was funny nor did I find the Wayans Bros. "White Chicks" movie funny for the exact same reason. You've never read me say in ANY post that it's okay for blacks to portray whites.
  • Janet Shan · 1 month ago
    Shamontiel -- I am not saying "you" had no issue with "White Chicks." Many
    people in general didn't. Still I don't agree with the issue on Quaker Oats.