Blackface

[_Kevin Graham]

Ok, so there is another stupid deflection in the media going on about a governor doing "blackface" some 35 years ago at a costume party. For three days now they're still going on and on about this.

My first reaction was to say well, "this was 35 years ago and times were different."

Some of you may remember actor Ted Danson doing black face back in the 90's in a show for Whoopie Goldberg. It only seemed to have offended a relative few, but she clearly wasn't offended and there were many black folks involved in the show who knew what was going to happen and none of them complained either. I remember Montel Williams getting up and walking out and some people said he was just complaining only to get attention because his show's ratings were falling.

I don't know. I'm not saying blackface isn't offensive to some people back then or even currently. I just can't help put myself in this guy's shoes for a second. Not because I had ever dressed up in blackface, but because I attended a private school in Alabama 1978-1986 and this school prohibited the admission of African American kids. My level of awareness on racial issues was close to zero. If someone referred to black people using the N word I probably thought nothing of it. Blackface? I wouldn't have understood what the big deal was. After all, people dress up like celebrities all the time and if that celebrity is black (i.e. Michael Jordan), wouldn't they need to darken their face? Likewise, if you're Dwayne Wade trying to look like Justin Timberlake, you'd have to put on "white face."

We were sheltered from interacting with black kids so I had absolutely no feelings on the matter one way or the other. We were a product of our environment growing up and I didn't interact with anyone from the black community until I moved to Atlanta in 1987, where roughly 5% of the school was black. I do remember dressing up like an Indian several times, which by today's standard is simply unacceptable. But I don't think I was being racist at that time.

I don't know what this governor's early life was like but I guess my point is that times change and people change with it. If he has a documented history of racism sentiments over the past 35 years, that would be something different. But I think it is entirely plausible that this guy isn't a racist. I keep in contact with a few of my former classmates from Alabama, one of whom is currently in an interracial marriage. I don't know if she was ever in blackface as a kid or ever used the N word, but it wouldn't shock me to find out that she did. But she changed.

[_EAllusion]

The Ted Danson blackface routine, in poor taste or not, was specifically making fun of the idea of being in blackface. It's a meta-joke about being offensive. That is not the same thing as being in straight-up blackface.

(Whoppie Goldberg supposedly wrote most of the material for Danson, so one would hope she wasn't offended by it.)

I don't know what this governor's early life was like but I guess my point is that times change and people change with it.

Northam's response was such a display of mendacity and obliviousness that it lapped disturbing right into hilarious. I'm open to the idea that someone can be genuinely contrite and forgiven for racist stuff they did in the 1980's. I think people are underestimating the reach of overt racist culture into the early 80's. Northam isn't contrite, though. He appears mostly just sad that he was caught.

[_huckelberry]

I think his phrase," I take complete responsibility for this" showed how empty that political cliché can be.If he took any responsibility he would explain what he meant back then and how and why he changed. That could have been instructive and helpful.

Not every use of blackface in the past was for laughing at brutally negative stereotypes.Of course just that was a large enough majority of use that it is understandable that people are offended.

[_canpakes]

My first reaction was to say well, "this was 35 years ago and times were different."

I have a hard time rationalizing that someone should resign from public office today if a photo like this from 35 years ago surfaced. Much would depend upon the person’s actions and behavior within a more recent time frame.

That said, maybe I lived in the wrong place 35 years ago, because I certainly don’t remember playing in klansman and blackface costumes being ‘acceptable’ even back then. And, to have one or more folks choosing that photo to become a representative historical artifact within a yearbook during its creation and editing takes it to an even higher level of ridiculousness and irresponsibility. Maybe that speaks to a certain cultural aspect of a particular part of the country that should be more thoroughly addressed.

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

I was wondering when KG was going to post something about this...




I think he should resign for a myriad of reasons. It also doesn't hurt that a black guy would take his seat if he did the politically expedient thing. I sent an email to the Utah Democratic Party asking them to issue a statement requesting the Democratic Governor from Virginia resign. If anyone in Utah is interested in doing the same here is the email:

mail@utdem.org

- Doc

[_honorentheos]

My first reaction was to say well, "this was 35 years ago and times were different."

I have a hard time rationalizing that someone should resign from public office today if a photo like this from 35 years ago surfaced. Much would depend upon the person’s actions and behavior within a more recent time frame.

That said, maybe I lived in the wrong place 35 years ago, because I certainly don’t remember playing in klansman and blackface costumes being ‘acceptable’ even back then. And, to have one or more folks choosing that photo to become a representative historical artifact within a yearbook during its creation and editing takes it to an even higher level of ridiculousness and irresponsibility. Maybe that speaks to a certain cultural aspect of a particular part of the country that should be more thoroughly addressed.

I mentioned elsewhere that I had friends from my youth in northern Utah dress up as Clarence Thomas and Anita Hill for an LDS Church mutual Halloween party which is not too long after this yearbook photo took place. I remember being uncomfortable with it, but I specifically recall the bishop and a number of the adult mutual leaders at the party laughing their butts off over it. Sure,my friend who dressed in heels and a dress to play Anita Hill was an athletic guy and had a difficult time with the heels while hamming it up which is comedic in its way. But there was absolutely zero adult guidance or cultural awareness on display. So I can't say it was limited to the South though I can't believe anyone in my peer group or the LDS youth leadership would have found white hoods funny. There was a lot wrong with the whole conservative dismissal of the treatment of Anita Hill that is probably tied up in all sorts of prejudices among rural Utah Mormons on display in that incident. I have kept in touch with both guys and they are different people now, have seen a lot more of the world, and are no where near the most right-wing of my old peer group. I've never asked them how they felt about that in retrospect but my guess is they'd be embarrassed by it. Which is kind of odd given I think two of the guys I thought of then as less prejudiced have not really changed and serve as a sort of mirror for me to reflect on how low the bar was in that place and time to think one was progressive.

Anyway, that aside, Northam doesn't seem to be apologetic in a sincere way, and his awareness seems to be limited to being aware it's a bad look that he can't get away from so he is resorting to deflection and denial rather than ownership and apology. I think it's one thing to hold something over a politician that they did as a teen that wasn't criminal and/or not prosecuted. It's something else to have it come to light and not be able to acknowledge what it was with sincere regret for it in retrospect. Of course there would be those who want his head on a plate no matter how he reacted, and that is something I'm opposed to on principle. But I do think he's handled it about as badly as one could which suggests there are deeper problems than just something from his past.

[Guest]

My first reaction was to say well, "this was 35 years ago and times were different."

I have a hard time rationalizing that someone should resign from public office today if a photo like this from 35 years ago surfaced. Much would depend upon the person’s actions and behavior within a more recent time frame.
...

Nope.
Because, for you, the only "determined action and behavior" would be if said person was a Republican. If this guy had been a Republican you guys would run out of matches from the hair fires.
Geez, another day brings about another opportunity for you guysto exercise another double standard.

[_EAllusion]

Nope, because the only "determined action ams behavior" would be if said person was a Republican. If this guy had been a Republican you guys would run out of matches from the hair fires.
Geez, another day brings about another opportunity for you guysto exercise another double standard.

Republicans ran a literal neo-Confederate for Senate in Virginia in November.

[_subgenius]

Nope, because the only "determined action ams behavior" would be if said person was a Republican. If this guy had been a Republican you guys would run out of matches from the hair fires.
Geez, another day brings about another opportunity for you guysto exercise another double standard.

Republicans ran a literal neo-Confederate for Senate in Virginia in November.

and the Democrats got a retro-Confederate elected Governor. Whats your point narcissisus?

[_EAllusion]

Republicans ran a literal neo-Confederate for Senate in Virginia in November.

and the Democrats got a retro-Confederate elected Governor. Whats your point narcissisus?[/quote]

Being a neo-Confederate is much, much worse than what Northam did / is doing in terms of racism, and your "hair fires" prophecy didn't come to fruition. Maybe next time predict something that wasn't already refuted at the time you predicted it?