Thursday, October 29, 2009

From Emily: Modern Black Face?

I just saw “this photo of Obama” on facebook.


Anyone disturbed by the similarity to “black face”?

I have no problem with people expressing their view that Obama is a fascist (no matter how misguided that particular view seems to me). But this kind of photo is unacceptable. I don't care if they're really trying to say he's acting like a clown, or just that he's wearing a mask. It's insensitive, and it perpetuates racism, whether they know it or not.

3 comments:

  1. Yeah, I think that's a bit over the top.

    The photoshopping was quite impressive, though. Inappropriate, but impressive.

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  2. ...I wouldn't say it's anything like blackface, actually. Because it's the same makeup as the joker. It's meant to look exactly like Heath Ledger's joker and not just clownish. Even if he were white they would have put the white makeup and red lipstick etc. on.

    I agree that it isn't really appropriate, though.

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  3. Anonymous - I know that whoever did the photoshopping didn't intend for it to look like a white version of blackface, but I maintain that it looks like it all the same.

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