To anyone who's suffered oppression, reminders of oppression, (viewing or hearing about a person darkening their skin to look like a person of color), naturally will be viewed as offensive and racist.
This is what blackface does and no one wants to be offended or be reminded of past insults or mockery.
Every person of every shade and hue of skin rightfully
deserves to be treated with respect and dignity, equally.
Here is a list of words to describe skin color.
I have two questions-
1. Is it possible to portray someone of darker skin color than your own to honor and person positively?
2. Is it possible for a person of color to view 'blackface' other than being an act of racism?
The answers of these questions are complex and depends upon many factors and actually may not be answerable.
Two examples-
For instance, Zwarte Piet. is depicted annually in the Netherlands during a St. Nicholas festival. People darken their faces and dress up to remember 'Black Pete", who was a Moor from Spain (which I think may actually be an Arab or Muslim).
And this presenter in South Korea accused of blackface. This presenter may have darkened his face as a visual flattery and acknowledgment of his positive liking of a certain character of color.
I believe the answers depend on the intention, the situation, and the perception.
Even if the intention is clearly stated that blacken face is not meant to be offensive but be an artistic expression to favorably and adequately re-enact or portray a person of color, a blacken face can still be viewed to be in poor taste and/or viewed as offensive and racist.
Even if the situation is meant to honor a person of color, the honoring done in blackface may still be viewed as offensive and racist.
(even the term 'person of color' can be controversial terminology. )
Even if a person of color views the intent and the situation favorably as the person in blackened face wants it to be, not every other person of color is going to view a blackened face that same way.
Remember-
What's right and well-meaning by one isn't necessarily right and well-meaning to another concerning blackface as Megyn Kelly had once thought.
People's sensitivities are heightened concerning any reminder of persons being offended and a person darkening their face to resemble a person of color is considered an offensive, racist, insensitive act.
Squelch any urge to blacken your face because the controversy and damage of doing so is reason enough not to go there.
'Persons of color' may be a term referencing more than one specific nationality, minority or race of people.
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| What contributes to the color/pigmentation of skin |
Here is a list of words to describe skin color.
I have two questions-
1. Is it possible to portray someone of darker skin color than your own to honor and person positively?
2. Is it possible for a person of color to view 'blackface' other than being an act of racism?
The answers of these questions are complex and depends upon many factors and actually may not be answerable.
Two examples-
For instance, Zwarte Piet. is depicted annually in the Netherlands during a St. Nicholas festival. People darken their faces and dress up to remember 'Black Pete", who was a Moor from Spain (which I think may actually be an Arab or Muslim).
And this presenter in South Korea accused of blackface. This presenter may have darkened his face as a visual flattery and acknowledgment of his positive liking of a certain character of color.
I believe the answers depend on the intention, the situation, and the perception.
Even if the intention is clearly stated that blacken face is not meant to be offensive but be an artistic expression to favorably and adequately re-enact or portray a person of color, a blacken face can still be viewed to be in poor taste and/or viewed as offensive and racist.
Even if the situation is meant to honor a person of color, the honoring done in blackface may still be viewed as offensive and racist.
(even the term 'person of color' can be controversial terminology. )
Even if a person of color views the intent and the situation favorably as the person in blackened face wants it to be, not every other person of color is going to view a blackened face that same way.
Remember-
What's right and well-meaning by one isn't necessarily right and well-meaning to another concerning blackface as Megyn Kelly had once thought.
People's sensitivities are heightened concerning any reminder of persons being offended and a person darkening their face to resemble a person of color is considered an offensive, racist, insensitive act.
Squelch any urge to blacken your face because the controversy and damage of doing so is reason enough not to go there.
'Persons of color' may be a term referencing more than one specific nationality, minority or race of people.
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