British Teens Win Awards for 9/11 "Twin Towers" Costumes

[Teelie]

It's quickly becoming a discussion I'm not interested in persuing either. While it's worthwhile to debate it's also not the place to do so and I'm not prepared to argue the merits of it until I'm blue in the face.

 

[NickNitro]

I still think black face is not really that offensive. When I was little there were 2 girls in my neighborhood 5-6 years older than me who both dressed up as Steve Irkle from Family Matters and had painted their faces black with suspenders and glasses, I thought it was a great costume. I dont understand how its offensive?

If you are going as a famous black person, and you want to paint your white face and hands to look black, why is that an issue?

 

[Tanin]

Blackface is mostly offensive due to the nature of how the actor portrays the black person and that you should just hire a black actor now. It has racist overtones all over it. You can probably get away with it for a Halloween costume though. (When used properly of course)

 

[Sawyer]

You can dress up like a black character for Halloween without resorting to blackface. I could dress like Lando Calrissian without pulling an Al Jolson, and the wardrobe is distinct enough that people would still know who I'm supposed to be.

 

[jmc]

My point wasn't about the deaths that Napoleonian ( sp ? ) wars caused but if you compare him to Hitler you have no grasp about these historical figures.

Now, I will leave this thread for the hijack has turned it into a direction I don't want to follow.

I never even mentioned Napoleon and Hitler in the same sentence. I merely stated his hands weren't exactly clean, which they weren't, yet people make fun of him now. The only one who made the Hitler connection was you mon ami.

 

[jmc]

I still think black face is not really that offensive. When I was little there were 2 girls in my neighborhood 5-6 years older than me who both dressed up as Steve Irkle from Family Matters and had painted their faces black with suspenders and glasses, I thought it was a great costume. I dont understand how its offensive?

If you are going as a famous black person, and you want to paint your white face and hands to look black, why is that an issue?

We had an issue a few years down hear regarding blackface and a rugby player. There was rather well known player of Fijian decent who had a massive affro, had very distinct look about him and was a real character of the game. Anyway, some young 12-13 year old Caucasian fan went to a game one night and decided to dress up as him because he was his favourite player, covering his face in black make up and all, afterwards he got to meet up with the player after the game, get a photo with him and an autograph. Pretty harmless stuff really, but the photo got out onto the social media and people went ape **** calling the parents idiots and racists for allowing their child to do that. The player then had to come out in defence of the kid saying he felt no offence what so ever and was perfectly fine with the kids costume in order to clam everyone down.

 

[batsone]

i just think the costumes sucked. as in poor representation.
every thing else i can see past( poor taste, sure) poor execution i dont feel the hight.


no, really
lighten up. its a crappy costume.
getting all worked up over it changes nothing.
oh and 911 was an inside job

 

[chamber-music]

Also take into account that this girls are British and that 9/11 may not had the same emotional impact on them than it has on Americans.

9/11 was big news in Britain. 67 UK citizens died in the attack making us the non-American nation with the highest losses.

The girls were probably being a little insensitive and thought it would be funny. They must be pretty dumb to think they wouldn't get a negative reaction from some people.

 

[chamber-music]

I still think black face is not really that offensive. When I was little there were 2 girls in my neighborhood 5-6 years older than me who both dressed up as Steve Irkle from Family Matters and had painted their faces black with suspenders and glasses, I thought it was a great costume. I dont understand how its offensive?

If you are going as a famous black person, and you want to paint your white face and hands to look black, why is that an issue?

Personally I think black face looks ridiculous and is unnecessary. You can dress up in the costume of a black character without putting on stupid make up. The same goes for a black person as a white character. If I wanted to dress up as superman I would just wear a costume and perhaps a wig, I wouldn't put in blue contact lenses and white face paint as it would look stupid.

Black face has racial connotations going back for centuries in which white people would 'black up' to mock black people for their own amusement in things like minstrel shows.

I can perfectly understand why people get offended by it due to the historical significance. While someone dressing up as Urkel may be because they like the character and as a light hearted positive homage there are still people who dress up as black people such as Trayvon Martin or some racial stereotype like a black faced gangster rapper to mock black people.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

I don't necessarily agree with that, it's not as outrageous as it would have been 10 years ago, in another 10 years time even less so. It may still be tasteless but it won't be nearly as offensive.

Right. Where's the outrage over the people who dress like Marie Antoinette with a bloody neckline or assassinated JFK with leaky brain-matter, or a medieval plague-victim (all of which I've seen over the years).

 

[Mike_D202]

There was a girl dressed like Miley Cyrus that beat the Ghostbusters in 3 costume contests. Now THAT was offensive.

 

[TheBat812]

Question : how do you dress as a rapist, I am curious.

Their intent was not to mock the victims of 9/11, the result of course has this effect.

Also take into account that this girls are British and that 9/11 may not had the same emotional impact on them than it has on Americans.

I may be blasted for that but I am not outraged by their costume. Do I think it is bad taste, absolutely.

Agreed. Its also not like they were the twin towers on fire or destroyed though. Simply not a big deal.

 

[redhawk23]

I still think black face is not really that offensive. When I was little there were 2 girls in my neighborhood 5-6 years older than me who both dressed up as Steve Irkle from Family Matters and had painted their faces black with suspenders and glasses, I thought it was a great costume. I dont understand how its offensive?

If you are going as a famous black person, and you want to paint your white face and hands to look black, why is that an issue?

Because dark skin is a social marker that has a large number of implications for people who have it. It is often a major part of their identity personally but unfortunately in our society it has also been a negative social marker. A white person "putting on" blackness for entertainment value is exploitative as they are operating from a position privilege. At the end of the night, they can just wash it off. There's also the matter that more often that not, it is used in a mocking manner, portraying harmful stereotypes and there is a long, long history of doing so.


This website basically sums it up

http://www.shouldidressinblackfaceonhalloween.com/

 

[redhawk23]

Agreed. Its also not like they were the twin towers on fire or destroyed though. Simply not a big deal.

Sarcasm?

Because look at the pictures, their costumes include the explosions and fire and reportedly even jumping figures hanging from them.

 

[TheBat812]

I didn't notice that honestly. Still not cool but still not the end of the world. People adjust so offended by everything it's a bit pathetic. To be clear I'm not saying it's awesome they did this. They're dumb for thinking this is not in poor taste.

 

[BLACKVULCAN]

This is my last take on this,( cause it's hah it's just so insane!) but it's in reference to "it's just a costume!
if you put on any "just a costume" that is probably going to get you a beat down... it's probably a sure bet you shouldn't!

I.e.: Black face costume in Harlem=Beat down
I.e.: These 2 chicks in times square( and from seeing the comments on other sites from native new yorkers about this)= A BEAT DOWN!
I.e.: Hitler costume in Israel= a Beat down and then what happened to Mussolini's body!

some people don't take to kindly to "it's just a costume" which is why these 2 chowderheads pulled this stunt in a bar in the United kingdom!

and from reading more of this story one these chick's dad said "oh no! i am going to have a 'talk" to her about pulling this stunt!" I.e: which probably = a beat down on her narrow ass!

 

[Ajendo]

I'm surprised by all the heat these girls are taking. Sure, it's offensive but it's less offensive than some of the stunts that many of the people complaining about it have pulled or advocate in general. At least these chicks had the "decency" to do this on Halloween and not just out of the blue.

 

[Warhammer]

I'm surprised by all the heat these girls are taking. Sure, it's offensive but it's less offensive than some of the stunts that many of the people complaining about it have pulled or advocate in general. At least these chicks had the "decency" to do this on Halloween and not just out of the blue.

How many costume parties do you have at work or attend outside of the month of October?