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Not News, But Am I A Racist?
My wife and I have just returned from a 'come as your hero' party.
I went as Rick James who, in my opinion, is the most unrecognised piece of brilliance ever to have uttered a note (Google Fire and Desire - just superb).
Anyway, I blacked-up. And about 45 minutes ago was told I was racist for doing so. I tried to explain that as Rick James is a hero so how on earth can it be racist, but it fell on death ears.
So, an I wrong or, if as I suspect, is my accuser a complete moron?
I went as Rick James who, in my opinion, is the most unrecognised piece of brilliance ever to have uttered a note (Google Fire and Desire - just superb).
Anyway, I blacked-up. And about 45 minutes ago was told I was racist for doing so. I tried to explain that as Rick James is a hero so how on earth can it be racist, but it fell on death ears.
So, an I wrong or, if as I suspect, is my accuser a complete moron?
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AOG
Back on the derailment:
//But to bring matters up to date, the ancestors of those who were taken from Africa, are now living much better lives that the ancestors of those who escaped slavery.//
No, I don't agree. There are those who are the descendants of slaves who have much better lives, and there are those whose families were not sold into slavery who have much better lives.
It's no where near cut and dried like that. That is a huge oversimplification.
Back on the derailment:
//But to bring matters up to date, the ancestors of those who were taken from Africa, are now living much better lives that the ancestors of those who escaped slavery.//
No, I don't agree. There are those who are the descendants of slaves who have much better lives, and there are those whose families were not sold into slavery who have much better lives.
It's no where near cut and dried like that. That is a huge oversimplification.
Deskdiary - What you have here is the difficult situation where intention collides with perception.
You did not intend any racial slur with your costume, but that does not mean that none was received by people who saw you wearing it.
This gives rise to the difficult moral dilemma - are you entitled to wear what you want, given that your motives are not provocative, and by the same rule, are people entitled to take offence at what you wore, regardless of whether that was your intention or not.
Personally, my way round it is this - I would say that you did not intend to upset anyone, but you ran a knowable risk, and as such, you have to accept the consequences of your actions.
Is it wrong to assume that someone who blacks up is racist? Yes it is - but such is our society's perception of that action, that you knowingly run that risk, and lack of intent does not present an inviable defence.
I am sure that in future, you will consider carefully your costume choices based on this experience. Having a hero, and not intending offence does not mean that everyone else is going to understand and accept your appearance. You need either to be ready to accept that, or re-think your outfit for the evening.
You did not intend any racial slur with your costume, but that does not mean that none was received by people who saw you wearing it.
This gives rise to the difficult moral dilemma - are you entitled to wear what you want, given that your motives are not provocative, and by the same rule, are people entitled to take offence at what you wore, regardless of whether that was your intention or not.
Personally, my way round it is this - I would say that you did not intend to upset anyone, but you ran a knowable risk, and as such, you have to accept the consequences of your actions.
Is it wrong to assume that someone who blacks up is racist? Yes it is - but such is our society's perception of that action, that you knowingly run that risk, and lack of intent does not present an inviable defence.
I am sure that in future, you will consider carefully your costume choices based on this experience. Having a hero, and not intending offence does not mean that everyone else is going to understand and accept your appearance. You need either to be ready to accept that, or re-think your outfit for the evening.
oh, I don't know, andy. If he'd been to a regular fancy dress party where he could dress up as anyone he liked, to make up as a black man would quite reasonably cause offence.
But this was quite specifically a "come as your hero" party. And he did. It's possible, as has been suggested, that he could have done so without blacking up, and that would probably have been the wisest course. None the less, he was doing what it said on the invitation.
But this was quite specifically a "come as your hero" party. And he did. It's possible, as has been suggested, that he could have done so without blacking up, and that would probably have been the wisest course. None the less, he was doing what it said on the invitation.
jno - // oh, I don't know, andy. If he'd been to a regular fancy dress party where he could dress up as anyone he liked, to make up as a black man would quite reasonably cause offence.
But this was quite specifically a "come as your hero" party. And he did. It's possible, as has been suggested, that he could have done so without blacking up, and that would probably have been the wisest course. None the less, he was doing what it said on the invitation. //
I think your point is valid, but sadly some people trample all over the finer points of invitation interpretation in their rush to be offended - and that is why, personally, I would have said, Yes, RJ is my hero, but given the potential for confrontation in our modern PC world, I'll pick a hero whose representation will be less contentious.
But this was quite specifically a "come as your hero" party. And he did. It's possible, as has been suggested, that he could have done so without blacking up, and that would probably have been the wisest course. None the less, he was doing what it said on the invitation. //
I think your point is valid, but sadly some people trample all over the finer points of invitation interpretation in their rush to be offended - and that is why, personally, I would have said, Yes, RJ is my hero, but given the potential for confrontation in our modern PC world, I'll pick a hero whose representation will be less contentious.
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