Kid criticised for trying to look like his hero
Discussion
youngsyr said:
ZedLeg said:
youngsyr said:
A relevant comparison is of the use of stereotypical English accents on many "bad guys" in Hollywood action movies - any individual character isn't racist per se, but you could argue that the practice overall is racist as it makes a direct link between English people and criminal behaviour.
Being English isn't a race.As per the The Equality Act 2010, racial discrimination is when a person is treated less favourably than another person in a similar situation because of their race, colour, descent, national or ethnic origin or immigrant status.
Seems you really don't understand the key aspects of the topic we're discussing.
Is dressing as a female, as in female impersonator, misogynistic? There is little difference between that and this lad. Many FIs do so to emulate their heroes (See, I didn't say heroins so no one can take offence) as this lad did.
It is true that racism is not only intent. Unconscious actions can be racist. In this case, however, the woman's - sorry person's - actions appear to be just about as neutral as you can get. Is putting on face paint in such circumstances an action that might generate racist thoughts or actions in others? Or is there some sort of ownership by people who are not white of all non white skin colour?
The kid is not to blame. The mother, or parent rather, has done something that many people on social media seem to be offended by. Is it sufficient for someone to complain to prove the case of racism?
Or would the world be a nicer place if we allowed kids to be kids? He idolises a black sportsman, somewhat indicative of a totally non racist person. There is much talk about black roles models. Here we have a kid showing the way forward. Or, perhaps, the way we should all be.
I know you don't need to black your face to show support for a black person. You should have seen the number of black Elvis supporters who turned up at a club for a karaoke night in Brighton. And Japanese. It added to the atmosphere. I don't think I'll ever forget an aged Japanese singing 'The Girl of My Best Friend' out of key. A magic musical moment. But some people with their own ethnic hair colour wore black wigs. It was magic.
This was an error on the parent's behalf. It was not racism.
On the bright side, all this will teach the kid not to go outside his own racial group when looking for heroes. So a positive there for racism.
It is true that racism is not only intent. Unconscious actions can be racist. In this case, however, the woman's - sorry person's - actions appear to be just about as neutral as you can get. Is putting on face paint in such circumstances an action that might generate racist thoughts or actions in others? Or is there some sort of ownership by people who are not white of all non white skin colour?
The kid is not to blame. The mother, or parent rather, has done something that many people on social media seem to be offended by. Is it sufficient for someone to complain to prove the case of racism?
Or would the world be a nicer place if we allowed kids to be kids? He idolises a black sportsman, somewhat indicative of a totally non racist person. There is much talk about black roles models. Here we have a kid showing the way forward. Or, perhaps, the way we should all be.
I know you don't need to black your face to show support for a black person. You should have seen the number of black Elvis supporters who turned up at a club for a karaoke night in Brighton. And Japanese. It added to the atmosphere. I don't think I'll ever forget an aged Japanese singing 'The Girl of My Best Friend' out of key. A magic musical moment. But some people with their own ethnic hair colour wore black wigs. It was magic.
This was an error on the parent's behalf. It was not racism.
On the bright side, all this will teach the kid not to go outside his own racial group when looking for heroes. So a positive there for racism.
ZedLeg said:
youngsyr said:
A relevant comparison is of the use of stereotypical English accents on many "bad guys" in Hollywood action movies - any individual character isn't racist per se, but you could argue that the practice overall is racist as it makes a direct link between English people and criminal behaviour.
Being English isn't a race."Nic Nat" is held aloft in Perth as good role model for kids and something of a social celebrity as well as one of the city's top sportsmen. It is highly likely the young lad genuinely looks up to him and wanted to dress up as his idol, as is customary on book week. Its highly unlikely his parents understood the potential offence caused by blackface because that particular issue is one rarely encountered there and lets face it, that area the size of western Europe only has one newspaper - so if it wasn't reported in The West, no one will know about it.
What is sad is where this kid saw skin colour as no barrier, a bunch of do-gooders have swept in and categorically built a very high one. "You are different from them, they are different from you but whatever you do, remember everyone is exactly the same." What a load of b
ks. Sadly, there is so little going on in Perth that it really doesn't take a lot for a load of semi-educated, self-entitled morons who live in a bubble of endless economic growth, crippling remoteness, stifling heat and alarming rates of skin cancer to start up the outrage bus and collect up all their well-meaning friends on the drive from Mindarie to Mandurah, stopping for boutique coffees along the way, of course. Storms in tea-cups were practically invented there.
This remember, from the country with one of the lowest population densities in the world and the strongest economies, on the only island that is so big its a continent in its own right, who as a nation celebrate the number days they can go without letting a single "boat person" (illegal immigrant, usually via Indonesia in boats) in to the country. Believe me, whatever mud you can sling from here does not even scratch the surface of Australia's problems with race, innocence, diversity, its place in the world, global social responsibility or any number of other issues. You literally have to go and see it for yourself.
INXS started their career in Perth as a band. Their break-through single was Original Sin, a song written about how small children don't see race, adults and education build it in for them and you wake up one day and discover you can't be friends anymore. In 1984. The ironing.
ETA: The other alternative is that the mum, like many of the locals, simply didn't give a flying fk who she insulted because " straya, s!".
What is sad is where this kid saw skin colour as no barrier, a bunch of do-gooders have swept in and categorically built a very high one. "You are different from them, they are different from you but whatever you do, remember everyone is exactly the same." What a load of b
ks. Sadly, there is so little going on in Perth that it really doesn't take a lot for a load of semi-educated, self-entitled morons who live in a bubble of endless economic growth, crippling remoteness, stifling heat and alarming rates of skin cancer to start up the outrage bus and collect up all their well-meaning friends on the drive from Mindarie to Mandurah, stopping for boutique coffees along the way, of course. Storms in tea-cups were practically invented there. This remember, from the country with one of the lowest population densities in the world and the strongest economies, on the only island that is so big its a continent in its own right, who as a nation celebrate the number days they can go without letting a single "boat person" (illegal immigrant, usually via Indonesia in boats) in to the country. Believe me, whatever mud you can sling from here does not even scratch the surface of Australia's problems with race, innocence, diversity, its place in the world, global social responsibility or any number of other issues. You literally have to go and see it for yourself.
INXS started their career in Perth as a band. Their break-through single was Original Sin, a song written about how small children don't see race, adults and education build it in for them and you wake up one day and discover you can't be friends anymore. In 1984. The ironing.
ETA: The other alternative is that the mum, like many of the locals, simply didn't give a flying f
k who she insulted because " straya, s!". Edited by 308mate on Friday 26th August 16:54
Brads67 said:
How else is a white kid supposed to emulate a black man ?
Or are white kids not allowed to emulate black men ?
Why would you want to if they are that bloody sensitive??Or are white kids not allowed to emulate black men ?
Oh that's right,they are not, it's white middle class people getting offended on their behalf. Pathetic.
Strange that this cultural appropriation only works one way.
The white folks aren't allowed dreads, or native American head dress or loincloth
But none whites are allowed suits (an 18c European invention), or spectacles a 1300c Italian invention or jeans a French fabric most well known for prospectors in the gold rush.
The white folks aren't allowed dreads, or native American head dress or loincloth
But none whites are allowed suits (an 18c European invention), or spectacles a 1300c Italian invention or jeans a French fabric most well known for prospectors in the gold rush.
Brads67 said:
How else is a white kid supposed to emulate a black man ?
Or are white kids not allowed to emulate black men ?
Pretend to be them, get involved with whatever it is you admire them for, put posters of them on your wall, dress like them. Just don't paint your skin to look like theirs, is it really so hard?Or are white kids not allowed to emulate black men ?
ZedLeg said:
Seriously, you guys are defending blacking up? 
It's pretty misguided of the mother to think it's acceptable.
Well, he's not putting on a white sheet and hood and is burning crosses is he?It's pretty misguided of the mother to think it's acceptable.
What he's doing is trying to look like his hero. How the f**k is that racist? He admires the chap, that is not exactly being racist is it? In fact, it could be said to be quite the opposite could it not?
The problem with society these days IMHO is all too many people have no idea what actual racism is, and cries that this is offensive etc diminishes from those who really know what it is like to be the victim of racism.
Issi said:
'Rugby crossed with cricket' - I think you've got that a bit wrong.
Indeed,its more"rugby, crossed with assault & battery" 
308mate said:
Good stuff actually from Oz
The main mistake the mum made was underestimating the ability of the permanetly offended to explode over anything!TeamD said:
Hoofy said:
I posted the two oriental examples because I'm Chinese. I have no problems with David Carradine pretending that he's half Chinese in Kung Fu.
Compared to China I think we're all minorities 
No offence intended at all
geeks said:
Hoofy said:
youngsyr said:
That's stretching the comparison way too far, IMO. I'd see your point if he'd been made up as a minstrel, but he hadn't - he'd just darkened his skin and put a wig on to look more like his idol.
Do you think that Robert Downey Jr was being racist in Tropic Thunder?
Might be worth pointing out that he was nominated for an Oscar for his performance.
Great example.Do you think that Robert Downey Jr was being racist in Tropic Thunder?
Might be worth pointing out that he was nominated for an Oscar for his performance.
"What do YOU mean, "you people"???"
I've run many fancy dress parties over the years. On the sci-fi night a mate dressed as Lt Uhuru from Star Trek. He wore complete uniform, false boobs, wig and blacked up.
After the party a few guys, including him, ended up in Bristol's rather infamous Blue Mountain night club.It was on the edge of St Paul's
Did the majority black clubbers get outraged? No. If anything they were amused and admired his balls for doing it. No negative responses at all, just more partying.
I don't condone black face or the thinking behind it. But dressing up today for an event is very different. Lads who went to a party as the cast of Cool Runnings were cited as racist in the press. It was white people who complained. Does it touch a guilt nerve or something? I'm genuinely curious not having a go.
After the party a few guys, including him, ended up in Bristol's rather infamous Blue Mountain night club.It was on the edge of St Paul's
Did the majority black clubbers get outraged? No. If anything they were amused and admired his balls for doing it. No negative responses at all, just more partying.
I don't condone black face or the thinking behind it. But dressing up today for an event is very different. Lads who went to a party as the cast of Cool Runnings were cited as racist in the press. It was white people who complained. Does it touch a guilt nerve or something? I'm genuinely curious not having a go.
Six Fiend said:
I've run many fancy dress parties over the years. On the sci-fi night a mate dressed as Lt Uhuru from Star Trek. He wore complete uniform, false boobs, wig and blacked up.
After the party a few guys, including him, ended up in Bristol's rather infamous Blue Mountain night club.It was on the edge of St Paul's
Did the majority black clubbers get outraged? No. If anything they were amused and admired his balls for doing it. No negative responses at all, just more partying.
I don't condone black face or the thinking behind it. But dressing up today for an event is very different. Lads who went to a party as the cast of Cool Runnings were cited as racist in the press. It was white people who complained. Does it touch a guilt nerve or something? I'm genuinely curious not having a go.
I think it's that many people in society do not understand what racism actually is, but are aware that they, like all human beings, have a tendency to stereotype and group people together based on their characteristics and are petrified of being labelled a racist following the huge media focus on the issue over the past 20 years or so.After the party a few guys, including him, ended up in Bristol's rather infamous Blue Mountain night club.It was on the edge of St Paul's
Did the majority black clubbers get outraged? No. If anything they were amused and admired his balls for doing it. No negative responses at all, just more partying.
I don't condone black face or the thinking behind it. But dressing up today for an event is very different. Lads who went to a party as the cast of Cool Runnings were cited as racist in the press. It was white people who complained. Does it touch a guilt nerve or something? I'm genuinely curious not having a go.
So, they see white people putting on black make up and immediately go into full outrage mode and scream "racism!", to prove their non-racist credentials.
Those of use who have spent a bit more time thinking about the issue take it for what it is, a kid idiolising their hero.
Well I must make sure to rush home & chastise my daughter ...
here she is imitating a Tibetan monk(ess?) & then an Aussie Surfer Dawg
What a thoughtless person...
You know she has had to put up with being called Mud face at school , The "N" - "Why are you here" & the one the made her laugh the most at how thick these people are was "Go home P**i"
Not great, but she is a well balanced & imo, a mature thinking young lady. To much time worrying over nothing....we even had one mother complain to a teacher that my Daughter had played Mary in the Christmas school play the past two times & in her view it was because she is black ??? The teacher told us she replied "No its because she is the best singer in this year" Lol
If you want to worry then do so ,my advice as a member of a mixed race family, just enjoy your life & ignore it all...
here she is imitating a Tibetan monk(ess?) & then an Aussie Surfer Dawg
What a thoughtless person...
You know she has had to put up with being called Mud face at school , The "N" - "Why are you here" & the one the made her laugh the most at how thick these people are was "Go home P**i"
Not great, but she is a well balanced & imo, a mature thinking young lady. To much time worrying over nothing....we even had one mother complain to a teacher that my Daughter had played Mary in the Christmas school play the past two times & in her view it was because she is black ??? The teacher told us she replied "No its because she is the best singer in this year" Lol
If you want to worry then do so ,my advice as a member of a mixed race family, just enjoy your life & ignore it all...
279, raising my children there have been challenging times, re there skin colour.
I have always told her that she is a beautiful girl & some white girls would love to have her complexion, as they seem to make them selves orangey, have there Lips pumped up & sometimes their bums Lol Black girls make their hair straighter & some poor souls attempt to bleach their skins to lighten them. She is quite happy within herself.
We had one small incident that bothered me more than her mother, when she said I am not Black ,I am white she was about 7yrs old...hence the discussion I have outlaid above.
I have 4 sons I have told each one of them, You are no better than anyone & no one is better than you!
I told my daughter a similar thing..to which she said "Then why do I win all the races at school & county daddy"..she was 9 then .
My point is 279 , if things are blown out of proportion it can become a problem, if you shrug it off life so much more fun...so in answer to your question it would not bother me...Ah hold on, there was one time when she was upset with her hair , she wanted it to be straight like her friends at school, her mother was against it, to her (mum) it would weaken the hair etc...daughter did not get her way.
A few weeks went by & a mother at the school approached my wife to ask would she be so kind as to show her, how my wife made such lovely hairstyles for our daughter.
A week or so later all my daughters friends had had their hair re-styled by my wife & daughter no longer cared about straight hair...poor wife's arms were falling off though lol, hope this helps .
I have always told her that she is a beautiful girl & some white girls would love to have her complexion, as they seem to make them selves orangey, have there Lips pumped up & sometimes their bums Lol Black girls make their hair straighter & some poor souls attempt to bleach their skins to lighten them. She is quite happy within herself.
We had one small incident that bothered me more than her mother, when she said I am not Black ,I am white she was about 7yrs old...hence the discussion I have outlaid above.
I have 4 sons I have told each one of them, You are no better than anyone & no one is better than you!
I told my daughter a similar thing..to which she said "Then why do I win all the races at school & county daddy"..she was 9 then .
My point is 279 , if things are blown out of proportion it can become a problem, if you shrug it off life so much more fun...so in answer to your question it would not bother me...Ah hold on, there was one time when she was upset with her hair , she wanted it to be straight like her friends at school, her mother was against it, to her (mum) it would weaken the hair etc...daughter did not get her way.
A few weeks went by & a mother at the school approached my wife to ask would she be so kind as to show her, how my wife made such lovely hairstyles for our daughter.
A week or so later all my daughters friends had had their hair re-styled by my wife & daughter no longer cared about straight hair...poor wife's arms were falling off though lol, hope this helps .
Gerraldi, you come across as a wonderfully well balanced person. Too much is made of white initiated racism, many people haven't had the experience of growing up in an environment where being white is a minority position and racism is a two way street however our apologists cannot countenance that this could possibly be true.
Keep well.
Keep well.
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