Blackface

[Rsmyth]

Questions; is it ever ok for anyone to don blackface?
Should Quaker Oats change their logo depicting Aunt Gemima?
What about the Washington Redskins logo?

[Gene C]

I watched the video of Meghan Kelly, on what she said, and her apology.
Sometimes, not always, people look for reasons to be offended.
Especially if it makes them look culturally sensitive and politically correct. And it's about the only way they feel they can get attention.

I suppose if you don't want to be offended don't act or show the negative behavior of those who the "culturally insensitive" portray.

I don't behave like "poor white trash", or a "red-neck" so that stereotype doesn't offend me.
"Old fogey" doesn't bother me either, I worked hard for these gray hairs.
"Cheesehead" doesn't seem to offend the people in Green Bay.

And, I never heard negative comments in the media about Saturday Night Live skit on Black Jeopardy, and they have done 4 of them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWuJHbVZBQg
and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7VaXlMvAvk

Too many people are offended because the are looking for something to be offended by.

[Rsmyth]

Gene, I am not sure if she was insensitive or just did not know the history of blackface. She has a history of saying those types of things; "and kids, remember, Santa Claus was white." And so was Jesus. In these times why would you say that? We are not that far removed from the Three Stooges appearing in blackface and the Little Rascals saying the "N" word. Tonto, is Spanish for dumb person or fool and was initially portrayed by a Caucasian as were most Indians in Hollywood. Things have changed for good reason. Unfortunately I believe she will loose her job over this.

[Gene C]

I think you are right, she may loose her job over this.
To many times we expect people in the public eye to never make a verbal mistake. We hold them to a standard that is to high.
I've said a few things I would like to take back, written a few things that didn't come out the way I meant them to
She apologized, seemed sincere, the finger pointing and fault finding is not necessary. If people don't care for her, they don't have to watch or listen to her. It's not just her, but I rarely watch NBC.

Even Lincoln misspoke on occasion.
I can get over that.

As for Tonto, I always liked Jay Siverheels portrayal.

[L Verge]

I think this is a problem that will only be solved over time as older generations who were raised not really realizing that certain people would be offended by certain things die off and, hopefully, a kinder and better educated citizenry takes its place. We can only hope and also pray that some good history is preserved - such as the rich legacy of minstrel shows that contributed to the overall role of theater arts in general. The great Victorian and silent film actor, Joe Jefferson (better known as Rip Van Winkle) began his career at age four here in Washington, D.C. as a minstrel in blackface. His "starring role" had him climbing out of a sack and performing an early version of a later hit - The Shadow Dance.

[AussieMick]

The BBC (British) had a very popular variety show for many years (20 in fact) named the Black and White Minstrel Show.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Black_...strel_Show

[Jim Garrett]

We live in a hypersensative world. The past needs to be relagated to the past and remembered in the context of the times. I think one has to remember that we are surrounded by political correctness and people who want to bait people into arguments that can't be won. Robert E. Lee has been revered, honored, studied by the military and by scholars. Volumes have been written about his admirable qualities. Today he has horns and a spiked tail, placed on him by those who have never read one sentence about the man.

I hope that the pendulum will settle down and rest in the middle. I would like to see it in my life time.

[AussieMick]

Sadly, some people seek to take ridiculous advantage of the most innocuous comments. Some people are terrified of being accused of being incorrect and hence refuse to defend those comments.
I've watched the youtube extract and Kelly (IMO) said nothing that any sensible person would consider offensive ... but that is obviously debatable.

My father was Irish and sometimes called Paddy (not his name). He took it in good part ... usually. Only in one instance when the other person was clearly being offensive did my dad 'jack up' and let rip.

[L Verge]

I just found an item in a catalog that I should buy for all of us conservative oldtimers who think some of this controversy over what is offensive and what is not is offensively ridiculous. It is a plain old coffee mug with GOOD MORNING, AMERICA! WHAT ARE YOU OFFENDED BY TODAY? as its decoration.

[My Name Is Kate]

Some worry about the appropriateness of donning blackface, but apparently have no problem at all with stories like this being published in the (fake news) mainstream media:

https://dailycaller.com/2018/10/25/nyt-t...n-fiction/

[Christine]

I think this is a problem that will only be solved over time as older generations who were raised not really realizing that certain people would be offended by certain things die off and, hopefully, a kinder and better educated citizenry takes its place. We can only hope and also pray that some good history is preserved - such as the rich legacy of minstrel shows that contributed to the overall role of theater arts in general. The great Victorian and silent film actor, Joe Jefferson (better known as Rip Van Winkle) began his career at age four here in Washington, D.C. as a minstrel in blackface. His "starring role" had him climbing out of a sack and performing an early version of a later hit - The Shadow Dance.

Laurie you have more confidence than I do. I am afraid we are raising a generation of young people who will be so confused. I was raised in a very simple right or wrong home. Racial epithets were never ever spoken in our home. Never heard on television or in our music. Now vile words punctuate music and video games and movies. A few years ago a top white actor donned "blackface" for a movie. And that was okay? A friend's adopted African-American 12 year old was derisively called "n. . ." at school and she was told by the administration that they couldn't do anything about it. What? WHAT? If I am so confused imagine how confused kids are!

[Rsmyth]

Christine, bullying of children is unacceptable. We have no idea how many children get up and dread going to school each day. In this day and age that school system should be ashamed of themselves.

[Christine]

Christine, bullying of children is unacceptable. We have no idea how many children get up and dread going to school each day. In this day and age that school system should be ashamed of themselves.

Absolutely!!!! And she is meeting with the superintendent - hopefully real change happens and the bullies are held accountable.

[My Name Is Kate]

In this day and age, children are taught to bully while thinking of themselves as the victims. If you don't like what someone has to say, shout them down, turn your backs on them, run them out of town, and worse.

https://www.breitbart.com/video/2017/06/...untry-now/