# Is the mask in this picture racist? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 27, 2012, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-mask-in-this-picture-racist/635967 "2012-09-27T03:52:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2012, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-mask-in-this-picture-racist/635967/41 "2012-09-27T19:31:27Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > It’s parody, it’s **crude** , but it’s not racist. It’s a mask with brown skin intended to portray a guy with brown skin. But I do think it’s racist for that reason. It’s like they couldn’t even be bothered to make a mask that looks like the person, and they all look alike anyway, so that’s good enough, right? To me, I would not have thought it was Obama except for the context. It looks nothing like him except for skin color. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2012, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-mask-in-this-picture-racist/635967/42 "2012-09-27T19:35:28Z")
I vote not racist. Ignorant, but not racist. On the plus side, the Kenyan village can relax. We seem to have found three spares. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2012, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-mask-in-this-picture-racist/635967/43 "2012-09-27T21:01:03Z")
> [@Blackberry](#): > > But do you honestly think race has nothing to do with those guys’ feelings about Obama? Portraying him as not a real American, but as a Kenyan with missing teeth, is just about him as an individual? The question wasn’t if the guys in the picture where racist. The question is if the mask was. Its the same mask that vendors sell on the streets near the White House. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2012, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-mask-in-this-picture-racist/635967/44 "2012-09-27T21:02:56Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > But I do think it’s racist for that reason. It’s like they couldn’t even be bothered to make a mask that looks like the person, and they all look alike anyway, so that’s good enough, right? To me, I would not have thought it was Obama except for the context. It looks nothing like him except for skin color. I think it looks reasonably like Obama. They got the ears and the hairline right. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2012, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-mask-in-this-picture-racist/635967/45 "2012-09-27T21:58:07Z")
Let’s suppose, for whatever reason, that Obama did, in fact, steal his shirt. Why would he write “Obama Stole My Shirt” on his chest with a marker? Why not wear a shirt that reads “Obama Stole My Other Shirt”? At least _that_ would be ironic and not utterly stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2012, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-mask-in-this-picture-racist/635967/46 "2012-09-27T22:36:55Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > Let’s suppose, for whatever reason, that Obama did, in fact, steal his shirt. Why would he write “Obama Stole My Shirt” on his chest with a marker? Why not wear a shirt that reads “Obama Stole My Other Shirt”? At least _that_ would be ironic and not utterly stupid. It’s a politico-economic criticism. He’s saying that the poor economy, which of course is due to Obama (as he sees it), went beyond taking [“everything but the shirt off his back”](http://duckduckgo.com/?q=everything+but+the+%22shirt+off+his+back%22) and even took his shirt. His having another shirt to wear would contradict this and defeat the purpose of his statement. ---
**Author:** ![Simple\_Linctus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2012, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-mask-in-this-picture-racist/635967/47 "2012-09-27T23:09:19Z")
No reason at all to think it’s racist. Many reasons to think it’s retarded. To be perfectly honest, I think it’s inda racist to think its’ racist. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2012, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-mask-in-this-picture-racist/635967/48 "2012-09-27T23:20:30Z")
The mask is creepy and stupid, but makes me think “RACIST” only because the skin color is so off. Racists tend to exaggerate otherness features. If Obama were a Jewish guy, the mask would have a nose out to the sidewalk. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2012, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-mask-in-this-picture-racist/635967/49 "2012-09-27T23:46:52Z")
I feel dumber just for having looked at that picture. ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2012, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-mask-in-this-picture-racist/635967/50 "2012-09-28T06:07:33Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > Missed the point. > > I did say it’s something _ **I** _ try to do, and it usually works fine in my own head. It’s not a suggestion for everyone to do it, it’s just what works for me, and in this case there was more to my post, where I said: If it had said a village in Hawaii or Illinois, that wouldn’t have been racist, of course. But see, that’s an example of why the opposite game doesn’t work. There is no comparable saying that would apply to George Bush. Without context the opposite would be to say a village in [some European country of his background] but I’m sure I don’t have to explain to you that that wouldn’t be remotely the same thing. > [@Blaster\_Master](#): > > Yes, the famous person is black and the person wearing it is white, How do you know he’s white?! Maybe he’s a black albino who is part of the Back-to-Africa movement and dislikes Obama for catering to the white devil too much and not being true to his Kenyan roots, is what I would say if I was some of the people in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Namkcalb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c89c15/32.png) [@Namkcalb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Namkcalb)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2012, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-mask-in-this-picture-racist/635967/51 "2012-09-28T06:25:01Z")
> [@Blackberry](#): > > Obama isn’t actually from Kenya Bush isn’t actually from Texas ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2012, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-mask-in-this-picture-racist/635967/52 "2012-09-28T06:25:12Z")
[Regular Obama mask](http://www.amazon.com/Barack-Obama-Adult-Half-Mask/dp/B007ZKAGR0/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1348813296&sr=8-9). [Ridiculous Sambo bullshit Obama mask](https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/MdulkotIaOYYgEws3pROHxdB8b3Gp0LozA5Mknsyn8s?feat=directlink). ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2012, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-mask-in-this-picture-racist/635967/53 "2012-09-28T06:32:24Z")
Another vote for mind-bogglingly stupid, but not racist. Obama is black. People who don’t support particular politicians often like to caricature them. Put those two facts together, and you can end up with what’s in that photo. If Hilary Clinton were president and the man in the picture was\* wearing a mask that wasn’t an overly good representation of her, but was clearly female, would the mask automatically be sexist? I don’t think so. - Technically I believe that should be “were”, since it is the past subjunctive (?), but “were” sounds awful to me. Any grammarians care to weigh in? ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2012, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-mask-in-this-picture-racist/635967/54 "2012-09-28T06:44:38Z")
> [@Namkcalb](#): > > Bush isn’t actually from Texas Just for fun this once let’s not be ridiculous. Bush wasn’t born in Texas but he grew up there. Who the fuck cares? What does that have to do with anything? ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2012, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-mask-in-this-picture-racist/635967/55 "2012-09-28T06:50:45Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > - Technically I believe that should be “were”, since it is the past subjunctive (?), but “were” sounds awful to me. Any grammarians care to weigh in? Yes it should be “were,” and yes it’s the subjunctive (not “past subjunctive,” which I don’t believe exists). In this instance the subjunctive indicates a condition contrary to fact. How is it you’re comfortable with “If Hilary Clinton were president” but not with “[if] the man in the picture were wearing a mask”? Are you sexist? Racist? Maskist? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2012, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-mask-in-this-picture-racist/635967/56 "2012-09-28T12:05:04Z")
> [@Gary\_T](#): > > Yes it should be “were,” and yes it’s the subjunctive (not “past subjunctive,” which I don’t believe exists). In this instance the subjunctive indicates a condition contrary to fact. > > How is it you’re comfortable with “If Hilary Clinton were president” but not with “[if] the man in the picture were wearing a mask”? Are you sexist? Racist? Maskist? 😛 If I were capable of doing so, I’d make a smart-ass response to that. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2012, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-mask-in-this-picture-racist/635967/57 "2012-09-29T01:05:19Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > But I do think it’s racist for that reason. It’s like they couldn’t even be bothered to make a mask that looks like the person, and they all look alike anyway, so that’s good enough, right? To me, I would not have thought it was Obama except for the context.\*\* It looks nothing like him except for skin color.\*\* It’s funny you say this. The mask is suspect to me precisely because the skin color is so dark it suggests racial mockery, or at least racial stereotyping (“All black people are literally black looking!”). ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2012, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-mask-in-this-picture-racist/635967/58 "2012-09-29T20:57:08Z")
For the record just saw the same exact mask in Walmart in the Halloween section. Right next to the Romney masks. They didn’t get it from Stormfront. It’s a standard cheap Obama mask. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2012, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-mask-in-this-picture-racist/635967/59 "2012-09-30T11:12:09Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Why would it be racist to wear an Obama mask? There are Bush masks, Clinton masks, Nixon masks, etc. Because this one is designed to make him look stupid (the lack of teeth). I at first wasn’t sure, but I looked closely at the actual mask, and it contains obvious black stereotype alterations to the president’s appearance. You’ve got a racial stereotype and trying to make them look stupid. That’s racist. I’m actually surprised so many of you don’t think it so. Also, both “was” and “were” are acceptable for the past subjunctive now. I got laid out by an English major in college when I kidded her about it. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2012, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-mask-in-this-picture-racist/635967/60 "2012-09-30T11:16:17Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > I’m going with “No” because the mask isn’t racist. I is being used by someone who may be a racist. If Hillary Clinton was president, would it be sexist to be critical of her in this fashion? If the mask played on some Illinoisan stereotype and was deliberately designed to look nothing like her but instead stereotypically female, then, yes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-mask-in-this-picture-racist/635967.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-mask-in-this-picture-racist/635967.md?page=4)