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News: White kid goes blackface to portray MLK; gets kicked out
Member Since: 1/11/2012
Posts: 14,421
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Originally posted by Mélina
You aren't from America are you?  |
Yes, born and raised...
that kid has no idea about the origins of blackface, and why should he worry about that? It was a class project.
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Member Since: 8/31/2011
Posts: 18,529
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Quote:
Originally posted by ethan
Why are his parents to blame? There is NOTHING wrong with this. If it had been Abraham Lincoln and he'd gone without his face painted, it'd be fine. But since he was portraying a black man and he was not born black, it's wrong, it's his parents fault, they deserve to be shot, etc. That's ridiculous.
He wasn't being funny or disrespectful, he was trying to portray MLK, and his parents supported him. People who have a problem with that have to realize how stupid that makes them look.
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There is NOTHING wrong with this .
There is NOTHING wrong with this.
There is NOTHING wrong with this.
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If u say so.
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Member Since: 6/1/2010
Posts: 65,177
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Quote:
Originally posted by ethan
Why are his parents to blame? There is NOTHING wrong with this. If it had been Abraham Lincoln and he'd gone without his face painted, it'd be fine. But since he was portraying a black man and he was not born black, it's wrong, it's his parents fault, they deserve to be shot, etc. That's ridiculous.
He wasn't being funny or disrespectful, he was trying to portray MLK, and his parents supported him. People who have a problem with that have to realize how stupid that makes them look.
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No. 
No one had a problem with him being a white kid portraying a black man. They had a problem with him painting his face black because of the history behind 'blackface.'
And yes, his parents are to blame. They are responsible for his actions at that age, and even if it wasn't meant to be offensive, they should have still known that someone painting his face black isn't the smartest thing to do. He could have portrayed MLK without painting his face. That shouldn't even had been an important part of his portrayal.
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Member Since: 1/11/2012
Posts: 14,421
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Quote:
Originally posted by Cap10Planet
No.
No one had a problem with him being a white kid portraying a black man. They had a problem with him painting his face black because of the history behind 'blackface.'
And yes, his parents are the blame. They are responsible for his actions at that age, and even if it wasn't meant to be offensive, they should have still known that someone painting their face black isn't the smartest thing to allow a young child to do. He could have portrayed MLK without painting his face. That shouldn't even had been an important part of his portrayal. |
But that's what he wanted to do, he is white and MLK was black, so he wanted to paint his face to look like him. He doesn't know what happened a long time ago, he doesn't know the negative connotation and the history associated with blackface, so what reason did he have to think it was wrong? He was paying respect to a very important figure in black history.
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 3/13/2011
Posts: 9,521
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White kids put black face paint on all the time at primary school in the UK. Nobody gives a ****, and we're the ones that started the slave trade. He's a kid, people need to back off.
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Member Since: 2/27/2012
Posts: 20,342
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Quote:
Originally posted by ethan
Yes, born and raised...
that kid has no idea about the origins of blackface, and why should he worry about that? It was a class project.
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you cant be serious. just because he doesnt know the origins doesnt make it okay. i cant paint my face black and act like its ok because 'i didnt know the origins', the point is its wrong, and worse than a white person using the 'n' word.
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Member Since: 11/29/2011
Posts: 3,004
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I can see why some people don't see this as offensive, but if the kid was portrayin someone from Japan or China and went into the school with some way of having his eyes held in slits, none of y'all would be tryin to defend it.
The whole situation could've been handled better since he's just a child, but if the school knew who he was goin to be then they shoulda been prepared for this to happen. And the parent's shouldna let that boy walk out the front door lookin like that.
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Member Since: 6/1/2010
Posts: 65,177
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Quote:
Originally posted by ethan
But that's what he wanted to do, he is white and MLK was black, so he wanted to paint his face to look like him. He doesn't know what happened a long time ago, he doesn't know the negative connotation and the history associated with blackface, so what reason did he have to think it was wrong? He was paying respect to a very important figure in black history.
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And that's the point of people saying that his parents should have known better. I just find it odd that his parents at that age had no clue that painting a face black could offend people. He's a kid, and it's obvious he didn't intend on offending anyone and is innocent in it all. If anything, he learned a valuable lesson at a very young age. It's unfortunate that it took his parents longer to get the whole idea, though.
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Member Since: 1/11/2012
Posts: 14,421
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Quote:
Originally posted by nezLaos
you cant be serious. just because he doesnt know the origins doesnt make it okay. i cant paint my face black and act like its ok because 'i didnt know the origins', the point is its wrong, and worse than a white person using the 'n' word. |
But he's seven. If you're comparing your intelligence to that of a seven year olds, then that's on you. He would not even be able to comprehend the history of blackface. That is a stupid argument. The point is it's not wrong, and people are overreacting
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Member Since: 2/27/2012
Posts: 20,342
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i have to remind myself that the average age on atrl is 15-20 and it
clearly shows.
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Member Since: 5/4/2011
Posts: 2,464
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Quote:
Originally posted by ethan
But that's what he wanted to do, he is white and MLK was black, so he wanted to paint his face to look like him. He doesn't know what happened a long time ago, he doesn't know the negative connotation and the history associated with blackface, so what reason did he have to think it was wrong? He was paying respect to a very important figure in black history.
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It's not a big deal, but I'm quite sure his parents know about blackface, and they should have told him why painting his face black probably wouldn't be the best idea. Why is this difficult?
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Member Since: 11/6/2010
Posts: 8,184
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Quote:
Originally posted by ethan
Yes, born and raised...
that kid has no idea about the origins of blackface, and why should he worry about that? It was a class project.
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But his parents MUST HAVE. It's already been established that a majority or all of us feel that the kid's intentions were not negative but given that blackface itself was created and has been used in a negative light against African Americans, it should have been a no-go from the start to make sure you don't offend anyone in the first place.
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Member Since: 1/11/2012
Posts: 14,421
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Quote:
Originally posted by Cap10Planet
And that's the point of people saying that his parents should have known better. I just find it odd that his parents at that age had no clue that painting a face black could offend people. He's a kid, and it's obvious he didn't intend on offending anyone and is innocent in it all. If anything, he learned a valuable lesson at a very young age. It's unfortunate that it took his parents longer to get the whole idea, though. |
It was his idea, I don't see why the parents would have to say no to him. Everyone who was behind it knew that it was an earnest step that the boy meant with only good intentions. If he was in high school, it'd be different. But the boy is in second grade.
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Member Since: 6/2/2011
Posts: 28,055
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Americans make way too big a deal out of race sometimes.
It's just skin colour. If we hold on to the past then we can't move forward. There is a difference between obvious racism and a child dressing up as a historical figure for a class project.
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Member Since: 5/4/2011
Posts: 2,464
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Quote:
Originally posted by ethan
He would not even be able to comprehend the history of blackface.
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Yes he would. 
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Member Since: 1/11/2012
Posts: 14,421
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Quote:
Originally posted by nezLaos
i have to remind myself that the average age on atrl is 15-20 and it
clearly shows.
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Says the person who said that the parents deserved to be SHOT for this
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Member Since: 2/27/2012
Posts: 20,342
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Quote:
Originally posted by ethan
But he's seven. If you're comparing your intelligence to that of a seven year olds, then that's on you. He would not even be able to comprehend the history of blackface. That is a stupid argument. The point is it's not wrong, and people are overreacting |
im not blaming the kid at all, and if you let one person do it, others will think its ok. it is wrong. maybe you should paint your face black and find out the hard way.
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Member Since: 6/2/2011
Posts: 28,055
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Quote:
Originally posted by Mélina
But his parents MUST HAVE. It's already been established that a majority or all of us feel that the kid's intentions were not negative but given that blackface itself was created and has been used in a negative light against African Americans, it should have been a no-go from the start to make sure you don't offend anyone in the first place.
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If people are offended...so ****ing what? He was not being racist, if someone is offended they can deal with it on their own. People place far too much value on appeasing everyone.
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Member Since: 8/31/2011
Posts: 18,529
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IF this and IF that. I don't give a **** if he was playing Martin Luther King or Luther Vandross to be quite honest.
IF he came to the school as an asian with taped up slanted eyes IT WOULD STILL BE WRONG
IF he came to school as a Jamaican with a dam dred wig screaming "MON MON MON' IT WOULD STILL BE WRONG
I can't get over black face being compared to slicking your hair back like a "mob boss"
Can we stop trying to come up with these scenarios to try to avoid the main point. It is his parents' fault. They should of explained this to him. H e could of played Martin Luther King without painting his face black. Wearing a nice suit and saying "I HAVE A DREAM" would of been enough. His parents should of told him to stop.
No one is saying the kid should have known. We are saying that THE PARENTS should of had enough common sense and guidance to tell their kid NO.
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Member Since: 12/4/2009
Posts: 6,471
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Quote:
Originally posted by Hoetenks
I can see why some people don't see this as offensive, but if the kid was portrayin someone from Japan or China and went into the school with some way of having his eyes held in slits, none of y'all would be tryin to defend it.
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What kind of comparison? Slanting your eyes is nothing like painting your face. Painting your face a lite yellow caramel to give me asian teas would be comparable.
Anyway, his intentions were in the right place. If he was aware of the possible reactions, he would've reconsidered... but he's a kid for crying out loud. He wasn't ridiculing MLK.
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