Black Face Controversy

This being a channel about controversial topics means we gotta talk controversial, so here we go and our today's topic is black face.

This has recently showed up on the news as Ralph Northam (politician that was before this incident unknown to me but suddenly became infamous) identified him self in a year book from 1984 where he poses with a black painted face next to a person in KKK costume. This picture I 100% agree with is racist. As he then elaborated that he tried to imitate Micheal Jackson I started to wonder how much implications there are on his racism. Definitely his friend is racist. Painting one self to mock people of color based on stereotypes is definitely racist as well. The setting of the photograph being next to the KKK costume is also racist. Trying to imitate an idol that is black however should not be racist? How much of the setting of the picture can be blamed on the Northam?

The views on racism in America have changed a lot within the past few years. When studying Shakespear in school we had to watch Othello acted out by a painted white guy. (why couldnt they use a black actor?)

In Comedy Central Sarah Silverman played a woman that painted her face black in idolization. (those lips definitely were with malicious intend)

In recent years there have been even outcries about white people wearing hairstyles that resemble popular hairstyles for people of color. Honestly that hair is cool and it probably takes a lot of effort, so I don't see the problem with copying that hair.

So I believe for someone living in 1984 it would have been difficult to talk one self out of class a picture with alcoholic white kids. I can't be sure on how willing he was to be photographed at that time in this setting.

However I feel the real issue about the picture is that him openly admitting to it in public without regret shows that he has not learned the past few years during this increased awareness about blackface.

perhaps his wife should have held him back like she did when he was about to MOONWALK during the apology interview.

You might not be comfortable yet with the thought of painting one self because you idolize a certain person of different color, but when you think about it, it is a very popular thing to do in Asia as they idolize white skin. I don't feel offended by them by them whitening their skin. I feel sad though that many of them go through lengths of covering up all skin in 40 degrees heat or constantly wear umbrellas, to a point that a non-muslim country managed to have everyone equally covered as a burka would cover. Also they will then associate darker skin with being poor for not affording the cream and having to work on the fields.

Then to protest against this white face idolization some will go to the extend to use tanning cream instead of whitening cream.

My point is it is, while I agree that Ralph Northam is racist /clueless, not all black face I would consider racist, and its dangerous to just make this black and white simplification. People might change their skin color to either fight white skin discrimination or to idolize a person they like. You have to see the intentions of the person not the message.

PS:
Is Trump racist to oranges? I really think he needs to resign, he might be a racist.