Cosplayer called 'racist' for dressing as black character

[Schlosser85]

There is no difference between you believing that about yourself or you believing any other negative stereotype about another race. The sooner you stop thinking of all white people as a hegemonic and many-headed "we" the better. You share no traits with historical racists, and the sooner you stop insinuating you or other whites do or feel any link to them whatsoever, the better.

We're all only responsible for our own actions. I don't owe anyone some kind of "apology" for being white or German.

 

[Casius--J]

I don't think its racist in the way that she did it. She said its her favourite character and she wanted to portray her as accurately as possible. I don't see anything wrong with it.

Had her intention to make a mockery of her or black people which was what black face was then it would be a problem

 

[knowsbleed]

Her non-apologetic reaction is the thing that gets me about the entire situation. She might have offended some people and obviously took the picture down because she was receiving backlash but did she ever say anything like, "I'm sorry if this picture offended anybody, that wasn't my intention"? She said "So guys, hope now u all are satisfied and hate more".

 

[SuperT]

Her non-apologetic reaction is the thing that gets me about the entire situation. She might have offended some people and obviously took the picture down because she was receiving backlash but did she ever say anything like, "I'm sorry if this picture offended anybody, that wasn't my intention"? She said "So guys, hope now u all are satisfied and hate more".

Her reaction was the absolute worst. It was basically just the tired "Ya'll just haters" shtick.

 

[TheComicbookKid]

Context plays a huge part in this type of situation. A few years back there was a famous rugby player of Fijian heritage playing in our national team, dark skinned man who wore a huge afro, he developed a big following for that afro and his physical playing style. Anyway, some young white kid who was a massive fan one day went to see him play in a match and dressed up in costume like this player, the kid wore the jersey with the name and number on the back, a big afro wig and painted his skin dark. The player noticed this kid in costume and after the match invited him and the kids dad to meet the team afterwards. The young fan got a bunch of photographs with that player and the rest of the team. When photos got published on Facebook is when the trouble began with people brandishing that kids costume as being racist, such was the backlash the player himself had to come to the kid and the fathers defence saying he wasn't offended at all and the reason he invited the kids to the dressing rooms was because he loved the costume. The thing is if a person of one race has some affinity to a character of a different race and wants to cosplay as them then isn't that a good thing? Why are we trying to place archaic mentalities to the modern world? Yeah stuffed happened decades ago that should be condemned but this situation is not someone trying to offend anyone and to belittle a race of people, she's trying to celebrate this character in the artistic way she knows best, and cosplaying is just the ultimate form of fan art.

1. It's okay for that kid to be ignorant(it's not racist), but the fact his parents would let him out of the house like that is beyond me.




Why is it okay for white people to accurately portray black characters with blackface, but I don't think anyone would defend a white person "slanting" their eyes to look like an asian character "correctly" as anything but offensive. They can wear the costume and wig and be okay.

 

[knowsbleed]

I feel that the person who wrote this article sums everything up pretty well.

http://popcultureuncovered.com/2014/10/14/breaking-down-the-michonne-cosplay-blackface-and-some-of-the-fallacies-within/

 

[The Guard]

Why on earth is this thread so long?

Please tell me there's not actually a debate about just this instance.

There's a difference, a huge difference, between "black face" and "using makeup".

There's nothing racist about this, and people, especially those who play the racist card, need to learn the definition of "racist".

People are so stupid.

 

[knowsbleed]

Yeah, she was definitely ignorant.

 

[Breogan]

It's unacceptable for white people to imitate any other race... that's just how it is.

Unless you are Johnny Depp wearing a prosthetic nose and dark paint to look more like an indian, that was ok'd by Hollywood.

 

[The Question]

Unless you are Johnny Depp wearing a prosthetic nose and dark paint to look more like an indian, that was ok'd by Hollywood.

And criticized by everyone who is criticizing this whole costly thing.

 

[SuperT]

Unless you are Johnny Depp wearing a prosthetic nose and dark paint to look more like an indian, that was ok'd by Hollywood.

Uh, Depp was heavily criticized and called out for that role...

 

[knowsbleed]

Unless you are Johnny Depp wearing a prosthetic nose and dark paint to look more like an indian, that was ok'd by Hollywood.

Because Hollywood is the first thing I think of when I look for a moral compass.

 

[Warhammer]

They weren't called racist, but "whiteface" doesn't have the same historical context of awfulness as blackface does, and white people, as a group, don't have a history and modern reality of being discriminated against like black people do. Racism doesn't exist on a level playing field. That's what makes it what it is.

I've never seen anyone put it quite like this, but I agree. I'm saving this post for future reference.

 

[terry78]

Yeah, I don't care for the smug condescending vibe she had going. Doesn't score any points exactly.

 

[Warhammer]

True. It's not like she put the makeup on to be malicious but how can she not see that it would offend people? It's not like this is hardly the first time a white person doing blackface has received some kind of negative attention. Her dumbass.

 

[Schlosser85]

Johnny Depp is a pretentious idiot, hardly a role model for someone with a moral compass and firm grasp on reality.

 

[Superwoman Prime]

Yeah, I don't care for the smug condescending vibe she had going. Doesn't score any points exactly.

Points for what, exactly? I think her reaction is better than apologizing for having done nothing wrong.

 

[Primal Slayer]

She's used the makeup to make her nose look wider. This is what she actually looks like:

Gorgeous girl, but stupid.

Now that part is stupid, no need to widen your nose. I could really care less if she darkend her skin to try to match the character, but don't need to change your nose esp when Michonnes isnt that wide.

 

[Howlett]

Yeah, I don't care for the smug condescending vibe she had going. Doesn't score any points exactly.

I'm sure after getting tons of nasty emails and comments she wasn't feeling exactly friendly or sympathetic about all of it.

 

[Goshdarn Batman]

The Joker character has a race.

Wouldn't it be hilarious if they made a story where someone cured The Joker, and made his skin normal again...and he turned out to be African-American?

Anyway, I think some people like to be offended. They like to scream "racism". If she had painted herself completely black, with big red lips I would get it...but this?

 

[Bullseye1]

I'm sure after getting tons of nasty emails and comments she wasn't feeling exactly friendly or sympathetic about all of it.

Unreal that some people on here expect an 18 year old German girl to know about how black people were treated in the US and how they were mocked by minstrels dressing up as black people.

Could you imagine being 18 and receiving the hate she got. It's internet bullying which has led to many young women committing suicide. Disgraceful.

 

[knowsbleed]

Yeah, poor girl... she's not getting the positive attention she is craving for and has ignorantly, albiet unintentionally, offended people. So rather than take the high road like a decent person and state that she didn't mean to offend anybody and that if she did so, she is sorry for it, she says something to the effect of "bad attention is better than no attention".

 

[Goshdarn Batman]

Unreal that some people on here expect an 18 year old German girl to know about how black people were treated in the US and how they were mocked by minstrels dressing up as black people.

Could you imagine being 18 and receiving the hate she got. It's internet bullying which has led to many young women committing suicide. Disgraceful.

Yes, often by the same people who claim to be "tolerant".

 

[Bullseye1]

Yeah, poor girl... she's not getting the positive attention she is craving for and has ignorantly, albiet unintentionally, offended people. So rather than take the high road like a decent person and state that she didn't mean to offend anybody and that if she did so, she is sorry for it, she says something to the effect of "bad attention is better than no attention".

How about the people who posted hateful comments apologies and those who wrongly accuse her of racism? It's all very well taking the high road when your not the one being asked to take it.

No doubt the people who posted the hateful comments are equally as young and inexperienced.

 

[Schlosser85]

I'm not a very apologetic person in general, and I definitely wouldn't be feeling apologetic after getting bashed all over the internet.