NationStates Jolt Archive

Sounds exciting. And racist?

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,432023,00.html

I don't think he thought this one through.

Pics or it didn't happen.

Well this is FO...wait a minute...

Excuses of our time:

But Kuhn told FOXNews.com that he was not in blackface, but in "tanface,"

Ahh, tanface, that's....umm...what?

Pics or it didn't happen.

There's a pic in the link.

I'd say no more racist or offensive than the black-comedian-doing-the-white-guy-voice

Pics or it didn't happen.

http://www.wichitanaacpblog.com/2008/10/oh-no-he-didnt-mayor-of-ark-city.html

I love his explanation: I'm not a blackface, I'm a tan face!

It's not black, it's ebony with a hint of obsidian and a dash of jet! More oynx than black!

I'm surprised he didn't try for the usual defence: I know black people! I have some black friends!

kudos for his drag name and back-up singers. Couldn't get more offensive unless he used his dick to pistol whip an 88yr grandma. I shouldn't say such things, it might give him ideas for next year.

Pics or it didn't happen.
that your reply for everything?
I took an enormous dump this morning. Believe me, or do I need to send you pics of that monster trying crawl out of the pan?

that your reply for everything?
I took an enormous dump this morning. Believe me, or do I need to send you pics of that monster trying crawl out of the pan?

If your poop is crawling you should change your diet.

If your poop is crawling you should change your diet.
Or at least chew more thoroughly

http://www.wichitanaacpblog.com/2008/10/oh-no-he-didnt-mayor-of-ark-city.html

Holy Shit....I think having that picture posted all over the interwebs would be punishment enough.

Maybe he went to UVM.

He had the guts to a) meet with the NAACP and b) apologize, so 1 point for him.

Now what if a black mayor painted himself up with makeup and acted like a dumb blonde white girl?

Me-thinks nothing would happen.

Now what if a black mayor painted himself up with makeup and acted like a dumb blonde white girl?

Me-thinks nothing would happen.

ah...the good ol' "It's reverse racism that's what it is!" defence.
you ppl never get tired of using that one, do you?

ah...the good ol' "It's reverse racism that's what it is!" defence.
you ppl never get tired of using that one, do you?

Not necessarily, just more of a double standard.

And the fact that this is national news just adds to the racism fire. If this nation wasn't so racist, this wouldn't be a story.

This just sickens me. I mean abso-fucking-lutely sickens me. To think that this asshole would dare do something tasteless or obnoxious at a drag contest . . . there are no words.
He has singlehandedly ruined the reputation for class and discretion that drag queens around the world have upheld.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_M8chV5JZM8c/SOSwXeh_XSI/AAAAAAAADXE/YTZAW799TCg/s1600/MellKuhn.jpg

It's absolutely hilarious.


Also, it's not true blackface...

Now what if a black mayor painted himself up with makeup and acted like a dumb blonde white girl?

Me-thinks nothing would happen.

I don't think that it was racist, just insensitive. The reason why it is offensive is not because it is inherently racist to dress up as another race but that there is a history of white people dressing up and painting their faces balck in order to mock black people while black people were very much oppressed.

To be honest, I thought that would have been obvious (edit: to the mayor).

Now what if a black mayor painted himself up with makeup and acted like a dumb blonde white girl?

Me-thinks nothing would happen.

It would make the news, but it would more likely be a cause of ridicule than outrage for most people.

I don't think that it was racist, just insensitive. The reason why it is offensive is not because it is inherently racist to dress up as another race but that there is a history of white people dressing up and painting their faces balck in order to mock black people while black people were very much oppressed.

To be honest, I thought that would have been obvious.

Not to the ignorant.

Lordy, Lordy the man is an idiot

Meh! I see nowt wrong with it. If I go to a fancy dress party dressed a Dracula is it because I am somehow making a bigoted statement about my hatred for vampires?

Meh! I see nowt wrong with it. If I go to a fancy dress party dressed a Dracula is it because I am somehow making a bigoted statement about my hatred for vampires?
that depends. Has there been a multi-century history of denigrating and enslaving Vampires, denying them basic human rights, disenfranchising them, subjugating them, treating them as something less than human, threatening them with real and suggested violence to keep them 'in their place' and mocking them?

Cause if not, the two situations don't really match up then, do they?

So it's ok to parody a woman, just not a black?

The NAACP thugs have struck again.

Meh! I see nowt wrong with it. If I go to a fancy dress party dressed a Dracula is it because I am somehow making a bigoted statement about my hatred for vampires?

Only if your dress is not perfectly realistic.

that depends. Has there been a multi-century history of denigrating [...] Vampires, denying them basic human rights, disenfranchising them, [...] treating them as something less than human, threatening them with real and suggested violence to keep them 'in their place' [...]?

Yes.

Furthermore, it has always been seen as proper, honorable and necessary not just to "keep them in their place", but to outright genocide vampires.


The media campaign to promote and glorify vampirism has only started in the last decades of the XX century.

that depends. Has there been a multi-century history of denigrating and enslaving Vampires, denying them basic human rights, disenfranchising them, subjugating them, treating them as something less than human, threatening them with real and suggested violence to keep them 'in their place' and mocking them?

Cause if not, the two situations don't really match up then, do they?

Well yes there is a history of vampires being portrayed in a less than favearable light.

Really though, you say because of history that for a white man to dress up as a black man is somehow inherently racist?

Man then I guess both Vanilla Ice and Marshall Mathers have a lot to answer for huh!

Yes.

Furthermore, it has always been seen as proper, honorable and necessary not just to "keep them in their place", but to outright genocide vampires.


The media campaign to promote and glorify vampirism has only started in the last decades of the XX century.

Yep you have to admire T.Pratchett's stance on human undead relations.

Well yes there is a history of vampires being portrayed in a less than favearable light.

Really though, you say because of history that for a white man to dress up as a black man is somehow inherently racist?

Man then I guess both Vanilla Ice and Marshall Mathers have a lot to answer for huh!

When Eminem dresses up in blackface and starts calling black people "******s" then you might have a similar issue. And yes, I know he slipped and used the word once, in the 90's.

If its considered a racist act that he painted his face, is it also considered a sexist act that he's dressed in drag? Just curious.

Of course. There's an even longer history with women.

...Dressing in drag has to be considered sexist, but a large majority of the people dressing like women are gay anyway and therefore are completely immune to any sort of political backlash.

Also, talking and writing like politicians and corporate leaders, which we do in International Incidents, is an occupationist act.

Did anyone else catch the fact that he also named his "tan-faced" character: "Smellishious Poon"!

He is officially such a buffoon that he goes full circle back to funny!

When Eminem dresses up in blackface and starts calling black people "******s" then you might have a similar issue. And yes, I know he slipped and used the word once, in the 90's.

Bwhahaha! Ohh please do show me where it says he done that in the OP?

...Dressing in drag has to be considered sexist, but a large majority of the people dressing like women are gay anyway and therefore are completely immune to any sort of political backlash.

Most transvestites are straight . . .

I wish more politicians did things like this. I'd lol heartily.

Most transvestites are straight . . .

Indeed.

Well yes there is a history of vampires being portrayed in a less than favearable light.

Really though, you say because of history that for a white man to dress up as a black man is somehow inherently racist?

Man then I guess both Vanilla Ice and Marshall Mathers have a lot to answer for huh!

I'm not entirely sure why we are comparing this to vampires, seeing as they don't exsist.

Like I said, its not racist, just insensitive. It would be like me dressing as a "Black and Tan" and going to a party in a nationlist area in N.Ireland. In both cases, I would be ignoring the fact that what I would be wearing has very hurtful associations with the past.

As a Public official he should know better.

I'm not entirely sure why we are comparing this to vampires, seeing as they don't exsist.

Like I said, its not racist, just insensitive. It would be like me dressing as a "Black and Tan" and going to a party in a nationlist area in N.Ireland. In both cases, I would be ignoring the fact that what I would be wearing has very hurtful associations with the past.

As a Public official he should know better.

Well now do you speak as a black person or perhaps an Irish person, or maybe a black Irish person?

Lets put it to the vote huh. Oi all you black people out there are you upset to see whitey dressed like a black man?

Like I said, its not racist, just insensitive.

*snip*

As a Public official he should know better.

Insensitive. Lord knows we don't want to dare offending someone. Doesn't that carry the death penalty in most liberal states?

No one seems that concerned with stepping on my Judeo-Christian, white, anglo-saxon, protestant, middle class, working man toes.

No one seems that concerned with stepping on my Judeo-Christian, white, anglo-saxon, protestant, middle class, working man toes.

Boo hooo

Boo hooo

Exactly my point. Try to keep up.;)

Exactly my point. Try to keep up.;)

Is that what you call stepping on your toes? A tad oversensitive.

Is that what you call stepping on your toes? A tad oversensitive.

Extremly oversensitive. Sometimes I cry during soap operas.

you ppl never get tired of using that one, do you?

If he said you ppl to him, you would be freaking out right now, buddy.

Well now do you speak as a black person or perhaps an Irish person, or maybe a black Irish person?

Lets put it to the vote huh. Oi all you black people out there are you upset to see whitey dressed like a black man?

Admittedly I am speaking only as an Irish (well N.Irish) person. I'd also like to think that the Mayor did make an honest mistake. I'm not totally and utterly outraged, I can just see how this could be percieved as offensive.

Admittedly I am speaking only as an Irish (well N.Irish) person. I'd also like to think that the Mayor did make an honest mistake. I'm not totally and utterly outraged, I can just see how this could be percieved as offensive.

Ahh okay I can go with that. However offence, is it given or taken?

Insensitive. Lord knows we don't want to dare offending someone. Doesn't that carry the death penalty in most liberal states?

No one seems that concerned with stepping on my Judeo-Christian, white, anglo-saxon, protestant, middle class, working man toes.

Did you include these two because I specifically mentioned Irish Catholics in my anology because that was a toss up between dressing up as an IRA guy in a loyalist community.
But yeah, whenever I hear of a public official dressing up as something connected with the oppresion of the " Judeo-Christian, white, anglo-saxon, protestant, middle class, working man toes". Shouldn't be waiting too long what with us being the most oppressed group on the planet. Oh wait...

Ahh okay I can go with that. However offence, is it given or taken?

That is dependent on context. If I get offended because I see someone walking down the street wearing a a blue and pink striped shirt and a silver tracksuit and I get offended because he is "obviously" mocking my long-dead unlce, who was infamous for his awful taste in clothes, then I am probably taking offense.
If on the other hand, it is the funeral of my long-dead uncle and people break into the church and begin screaming about what a terrible dresser my uncle was and how he deserved to die for having such horrendous clothes, then I would say that the offense was definetely given.

Shouldn't be waiting too long what with us being the most oppressed group on the planet. Oh wait...

Jeez.....how long is that going to be held over our head? Jeez. it's like the girlfriend or wife never ever letting you forget that you got drunk one night and accidentally talked dirty to her sister on the phone.

This should be taken in jest BTW.

Did you include these two because I specifically mentioned Irish Catholics in my anology because that was a toss up between dressing up as an IRA guy in a loyalist community.
But yeah, whenever I hear of a public official dressing up as something connected with the oppresion of the " Judeo-Christian, white, anglo-saxon, protestant, middle class, working man toes". Shouldn't be waiting too long what with us being the most oppressed group on the planet. Oh wait...

*laughs* Actually, the entire point was...QUIT WHINING! Get over it. I know. It's pathetic all these white guys are mocking us. We'd never do that. Not like on, oh, I don't know BET. Never happens. Black politicians running for president don't classify white working class americans as bitter and clinging to their guns and their religion. I don't have to get a group of my buddies together and harass them to make myself feel better.

It was a joke. It was a costume contest. And where I come from, the most outrageous, sensational outfit wins. Apparently he got it right.

That is dependent on context. If I get offended because I see someone walking down the street wearing a a blue and pink striped shirt and a silver tracksuit and I get offended because he is "obviously" mocking my long-dead unlce, who was infamous for his awful taste in clothes, then I am probably taking offense.
If on the other hand, it is the funeral of my long-dead uncle and people break into the church and begin screaming about what a terrible dresser my uncle was and how he deserved to die for having such horrendous clothes, then I would say that the offense was definetely given.


Heheh *cough* I mean, I'm sorry for your loss.

Yeah I know what you mean but even then, if you choose not to be offended then the offender has no power huh.

Extremly oversensitive. Sometimes I cry during soap operas.

Dawson's Creek really moves you, eh?

Dawson's Creek really moves you, eh?

Actually, Dawson's Creek does more than that. James Van Der Beek. MMM-mmm-MMMM!!!

Wow, this thread headed downhill even faster than usual.

There was never any ground to begin with. The thread is simply falling in thin air.

Wow, this thread headed downhill even faster than usual.

You're just jealous because you wish you were such a pretty black girl.

Not racist, but a bit insensitive.

*laughs* Actually, the entire point was...QUIT WHINING! Get over it. I know. It's pathetic all these white guys are mocking us. We'd never do that. Not like on, oh, I don't know BET. Never happens. Black politicians running for president don't classify white working class americans as bitter and clinging to their guns and their religion. I don't have to get a group of my buddies together and harass them to make myself feel better.

It was a joke. It was a costume contest. And where I come from, the most outrageous, sensational outfit wins. Apparently he got it right.

Dude, I am white. I've also included examples of when I think it wld be offensive to wear certain costumes in the presence of WHITE PEOPLE. I know that you've just got started on a nice little rant and it's easier to ignore that but please pay attention.

The fact of the matter is that I said it wasn't racist but insensitive.
I said that I thought that the Mayor had just made a mistake and that there was nothing intentional in it.
At the moment, you are really the only one whining, all I've done is agree with the Mayor.

Heheh *cough* I mean, I'm sorry for your loss.

Yeah I know what you mean but even then, if you choose not to be offended then the offender has no power huh.
I think that is true to a degree. But if someone did burst into the funeral and start shouting obsenities about your close (dead) relative, I think it would be hard not to get offended.
But I know what you mean, most black people I know probably wouldn't have particularly cared. However if someone does get offended in such a situation, I still think it is appropriate for the mayor to appologise because I can understand how someone might take offense in that situation.

Then again, I believe in being sensitive and trying not to offend people if I can avoid it and so I am a whiner and you might not want to listen to a word I say incase I try and oppress you.

...or something....

I don't think that it was racist, just insensitive. The reason why it is offensive is not because it is inherently racist to dress up as another race but that there is a history of white people dressing up and painting their faces balck in order to mock black people while black people were very much oppressed.

To be honest, I thought that would have been obvious.

Just because you don't think it's racist, doesn't mean other people don't think it's racist.

To be honest, I thought it'd be obvious to have read my second post at the top of this page.

Just because you don't think it's racist, doesn't mean other people don't think it's racist.

To be honest, I thought it'd be obvious to have read my second post at the top of this page.

The obvious was actually referring to the Mayor, not you. Sorry that really wasn't clear. Reading back over it, I can see how it would have been difficult not to have interpreted it as an attack on yourself. I screwed up there.

Once again, Appologies.

If its considered a racist act that he painted his face, is it also considered a sexist act that he's dressed in drag? Just curious.

As far as I am aware it generally isn't considered to be sexist (though some radical feminists do hold this opinion). Most feminists believe that both male and female drag acts are challenging societal role allocation based on sex, subverting the gender binary, and assisting in the fight against patriarchy.

My opinion, some people are too fucking sensitive about race. He was doing something to raise money for a good cause. That is all being overlooked in the rush to call him a racist. Not every depiction of a black person by a white person is a racial insult or revealing of a racist state of mind. He way playing with a stereotype in an effort to be funny so he could raise money and awareness for CASA. Get over it.

While he may not have intended his act to be racist, and raising funds for charity is generally a good thing to do, Blackface comedy has a long and unpleasent racist heritage, so I'd regard what he did as an error of judgement. Naturally, some people were angered, given the history of Blackface comedy and its unflattering portrayal of black people. But the guy has apologised, and that should be the end of it.

Not every depiction of a black person by a white person is a racial insult or revealing of a racist state of mind.

Every! Blackface is as bad as KKK worship. We all are idiots and can't be allowed make jokes about people who aren't Reasonably Young Able-Bodied Middle-Class White Male Christians.

The obvious was actually referring to the Mayor, not you. Sorry that really wasn't clear. Reading back over it, I can see how it would have been difficult not to have interpreted it as an attack on yourself. I screwed up there.

Once again, Appologies.

Ah I see, good old internet:p

Thank you.

Every! Blackface is as bad as KKK worship. We all are idiots and can't be allowed make jokes about people who aren't Reasonably Young Able-Bodied Middle-Class White Male Christians.

...Or, people in positions of authority have a responsibility to consider how their public speech and actions might be viewed by the people they have power over.

I'm not entirely sure why we are comparing this to vampires, seeing as they don't exist.

Like I said, its not racist, just insensitive. It would be like me dressing as a "Black and Tan" and going to a party in a nationalist area in N.Ireland. In both cases, I would be ignoring the fact that what I would be wearing has very hurtful associations with the past.

Until I looked it up on wiki I was curious as to why it would be insensitive to go dressed as a blend of pale ale and stout . . .

Not every depiction of a black person by a white person is a racial insult or revealing of a racist state of mind. He way playing with a stereotype in an effort to be funny so he could raise money and awareness for CASA.
The cognitive dissonance in these two sentences is amazing.

Until I looked it up on wiki I was curious as to why it would be insensitive to go dressed as a blend of pale ale and stout . . .

Pft, if you are an Irish Nationlist, it has to be Guniness or Nothing!!

Ah I see, good old internet:p

Thank you.

Well I think I have to take more of the blame than the internet, I did leave out a couple of key words.

Anyhu, back to arguing,


Moron





....ic mayor

**doesn't bother to read thread to know that there are apologists claiming that this was OK, that people of color are too sensitive, it's all the fault of minorities, white people are oppressed, etc**

*leaves to avoid naseau*

<.<
Fox news... Questionable shyte.

**doesn't bother to read thread to know that there are apologists claiming that this was OK, that people of color are too sensitive, it's all the fault of minorities, white people are oppressed, etc**

*leaves to avoid naseau*
so... why'd you post then?

Do you think the mayor was being racist and sexist?

<.<
Fox news... Questionable shyte.

yep, it's all there, plain as day in the article. :rolleyes:

<.<
Fox news... Questionable shyte.

Your face is questionable shyte.