I simply do not understand. Even if someone doesn’t understand why wearing blackface is wrong, wouldn’t they–if they were smart–know that the stunt is bound to land them in big doo-doo in the year 2003? Particularly if they’re an elected official or a high-ranking government employee? Wouldn’t they?!
This man isn’t an idiot. He’s obviously intelligent, at least when it comes to book-learnin’. IMHO, this isn’t some poor innocent schmuck who didn’t mean no harm. This isn’t a cave-dweller who ain’t never seen no colored people before. This is a man who apparently knows his way around the world.
I know many people here think the word “racist” is used way too often, and I’m inclined to agree. But this cannot be denied: the man is RACIST. If he wanted to go as a crook, he could have put on the uniform and the shackles. He did not have to go there with the blackface and the afro!
I think the fool should lose his job. How is a black defendent supposed to feel assured that this guy will provide an objective judgement after this? How is anyone supposed to trust this guy will provide an intelligent judgement after this? Because either a racist or a dumbass (or a dumbass racist) would do something as stupid as this.
If you are representing an organization (like a fraternity or a school) or a governmental agency (like a police or fire department) or you’re a celebrity (like Ted Danson), do not be surprised when people want you fired for being a DUMBASS RACIST.
In 1993, Ted Danson showed up to shindig in honor of Whoopie Goldberg dressed in blackface. The two were dating at the time and apparently Goldberg had put him up to it, but he got some criticism for it.
Or, if you’re going to form a club to ‘get into’ your European ancestry, don’t call it a “Caucasians’ Club.”
Or, if you’re not of minority X, don’t use a demeaning nickname for minority X (“the n-word principle”),
Or, if you’re reaching out to ‘Nascar dads’ as a political base, don’t refer to them as “white men with a Confederate flag on their pick-up.”
Or, don’t use “Southern Heritage” or “States’ rights” as thinly veiled rallying cries to turn back desegregation and slavery.
Or, if you’re a public figure, and you’re going to do any of these things anyway, don’t do it in front of the press, they have a tendency to tell others about it.
The above are from my new book, Eight Simple Rules for Dating my Creole Daughter, Or, How Not to Be Stupid.
Since you posted a link to the two-year old story concerning Auburn, I’ll comment as a graduate of Auburn University and a person who was on the staff there for a number of years.
99.9 % of the students, faculty and alumni of Auburn were embarrassed and humiliated by the actions of a handful of drunken frat-brats. The individuals involved were suspended from the university, and their fraternities were subjected to disciplinary action.
Decades of hard work and honest effort to have a diverse university that exhibits a friendly attitude towards all people were dealt a blow by a few idiots that got drunk at a Halloween party.
Measures to deal with this sort of thing were put into place. A “Zero Tolerance” policy was adopted. This was put to the test last week when an assistant football coach apparently used a racial slur while disciplining a player. The coach was fired the same day.
No large organization is ever going to be completely free of jerks. Auburn University is striving to be as free from that type of jerk as possible.
Please don’t judge the people and atmosphere of Auburn by the actions of a tiny minority.
As for the judge in question, it goes without saying that he should be removed from office at once.
Well, the judge being from New Orleans, he might NOT think he did anything wrong. There is a Mardi Gras crewe called Zulu. It was founded by a bunch of black people who wanted to make fun of the white people’s parades. To achieve this, they put on grass skirts and wigs and – the crowning glory – BLACKFACE. Yes, they were making fun of themselves and making fun of the rich white people at the SAME TIME. Genius!
The parade continues to this day. A Zulu coconut is the prized throw, though they don’t throw them anymore. My mom’s husband has been invited to be the token white guy on a float. And yes, I think he’d have been wearing a sign that says “Token.”
So yeah, this judge might not think it’s so bad. But even so, outside the context of the Zulu parade, it’s pretty fucking inappropriate.
A little more than 30 years ago, there were race riots where the OP is from. To think that racism and race relations problems only exist in the South is just ignorant.
And I’m hoping that you mean you’re not surprised that this happened, but you should be shocked, otherwise, you’ve become numb to race issues.
It’s being numb to race issues which leads some people to putting on blackface and a prison outfit and wondering why other people are so mad.
While I cannot and will not condemn this man as racist based on this one action, I have no problems whatsoever condemning him as insensitive and an ass.
Please, when quoting this Dean line, include the full context, including the entire original quote:
When he delivered that line in February and again in March, his opponents didn’t say a word about it and he in fact got a standing ovation from the crowds, including the black members of the crowds. It’s only an “issue” now because 1) Dean is the front-runner and 2) he delivered it clumsily in his most recent use. See teapot, tempest in a.
I was at a fraternity party this Halloween and encountered a guy in blackface. He was supposed to be Jamaican, and was wearing a large pot leaf necklace to prove it.
I’d just like to point out, for the record, that “states’ rights” is not always about turning back desegregation, though I suppose for some people it is. There are some of us who continue to believe in Federalism and local government. We are not all racists.
John Carter of Mars - Does Auburn’s “zero-tolerance” policy apply only to employees, or is this for students too? I am opposed to campus speech codes. Even if the speech is offensive, it deserves protection.