My roommate, who happens to be black, went to a house party in Reston, Virginia last Saturday night. While there, he witnessed a guy in blackface as part of a costume. Also, he was called a "nigger" by one of the other (white) guests. Hilariously, the white dude thought that "nigger" was an appropriate friendly term to use with black people you've just met.
Virginia is awesome like that.
Virginians, please remember these rules:
1. Saying "nigger" is never acceptable unless you are quoting a knucklehead (like in this post) or if you're singing along to a song on the radio.
2. Blackface is never OK. It makes people angry. If you really want to dress up as Lil' John, bite the bullet and go as a Caucasian Lil' John.
Thank you for your attention.
10.30.2006
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I hanged a pair of knickers this weekend, what about you?
ReplyDeleteSounds like his name should have been Lil Shit.
ReplyDeleteYeah, after the first time I misappriated the N-word when referencing a black guy I tell everyone is my friend (though he might disagree), I got the memo loud and clear on that....
Don't even go there, girlfriend.
How do you know your Virginia farm boy wasn't dressed as a Macaca for Halloween?
ReplyDeleteI am never easily offended, but in light of his tragic death, I would say dressing up as Corey Lidle is perhaps even more offensive than a black face.
ReplyDeletemy buddy was dead steve irwin, complete with bloody shirt and stingray.
ReplyDeleteGarfield, I strongly disagree. Unless I end up at a party with Corey Lidle's widow, I don't think anyone would be offended by that.
ReplyDeleteBlackface will offend 95% of the people at any party...excluding Virginia parties I guess.
I don't think being Corey Lidle would be funny, just like I don't think being Christopher Reeve would be funny. It's in poor taste.
ReplyDeleteFine, but you would probably be in the minority. Blackface, everyone is offended. So to say a Corey Lidle costume is more offensive than blackface is wrong.
ReplyDeleteI didn't dress as Corey Lidle, but I did dress as a black dude. Thankfully, Slash is light-skinned enough for me to get away with it. It's not like you could see my face underneath all of that hair anyways.
I understand why dropping the N bomb is offensive, but is black face more or less offensive than white people who claim to know what offends all black people because they happen to know a black guy or two.
ReplyDeleteEric, I understand that as a white guy that I am not the most qualified person to speak on racial sensitivities (some would prob argue that using N-bombs in rap song contexts is still a big no-no), but I'd be willing to bet everything I own that an ultra-majority of black people will be offended by a guy in blackface.
ReplyDeleteIf you really want to dress up as Lil' John, bite the bullet and go as a Caucasian Lil' John.
ReplyDeleteA friend of mine did that 2 years ago, used a fiery red dreadlock wig that nicely matched his own hair instead. Went over much better that way, actually.
While your roommate is offended, as he should be, are you any less offensive by bashing Virginia. You do realize a great deal of your readers probably either reside in Virginia or, like myself, happen to be from Virginia. Not everyone from Virginia acts like the people your roommate encountered. It really had nothing to do with Virginia at all. There are bigots everywhere.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, your roommate was in Reston, which is hardly at all typical of the stereotypical Virginia you are trying to paint here. I'd say at least half of the people in Reston aren't even from Virginia. What, people move into Virginia and automatically become racist? Gimme a break. You think that shit doesn't happen in the District, or in Maryland or fucking Canada? It's odd that you seem shocked something like this would happen, but seem to think its par for the course when you cross the river.
Comparing racism to me bashing Virginia is silly. Virginia has a pretty solid racist reputation, so I found it humorous that when my roommate crossed the river he got called a "nigger" in a painful attempt at friendliness. It played right into the sterotype.
ReplyDelete