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Northwestern students 'blackface' costumes spark outrage

Staff Reporter | Posted November 6, 2009 9:05 AM

Some students at Northwestern University in Chicago are in hot water after they wore Halloween costumes with blackface.

"While I fully support the principles of free expression, at the same time I am deeply disappointed to see any example of insensitivity that demeans a segment of our community," Northwestern President Morton Schapiro told students, faculty and staff in an e-mail to the community.

One of the students (shown above) dressed as a female tennis player in blackface while another wore a T-shirt with the word "Jamaica" on it.

Marcus Shepard, an intern in African American Student Affairs, told The Daily Northwestern student newspaper that he found photos of the students on Facebook on Sunday morning, but the photos were later removed.

"I know people who've dressed up as African Americans before, and they haven't felt the need to paint their skin," Shepard told the paper. "I was kind of taken aback by the whole situation."

The blackface minstrel act was a "very popular form of entertainment in 19th-century America" but also considered a "highly racist depiction of African Americans," according to one historical account on National Public Radio.

Articles written by a Staff Reporter are unsigned reports from a member of the staff.

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Comments 39

reality_check
2009-11-06 10:11:39

who cares....?

Chester
2009-11-06 11:39:29

Not a shock, a Dallas Cowboy's cheerleader did the same thing last week, this is thier idea of fun and nothing will happen to them, it never does. My only thing is why not show the white dudes face? That is worse than the black face, let him be a man and deal with it.

Ostend Street
2009-11-06 13:23:08

This is America in year 2009. Who cares?? I care because we're far better then having to continue to demean others and think it's o.k. Well, news flash -- "It's not o.k.!" Nor will it ever be. I feel some things go too far and all the while we have these people telling us to stop whinning and it's just having fun or we're too sensitive. Walk a mile in our shoes and you will soon find out that it's not funny.

Ash
2009-11-06 13:24:24

Why as people of colour must we report things like this?

It seems that we "look" for racist things.

Can we focus on good news that uplift people of colour?

keon
2009-11-06 14:52:55

I agree with Ash we should be focusing on uplifting our community.

Halloween Costume
2009-11-06 15:11:25

'Chester 2009-11-06 11:39:29Not a shock, a Dallas Cowboy's cheerleader did the same thing last week, this is thier idea of fun and nothing will happen to them, it never does. My only thing is why not show the white dudes face? That is worse than the black face, let him be a man and deal with it." Chester, would it make a difference of that " white dude" was actually black??? Because he is!

Chester
2009-11-06 15:44:07

Halloween costume, nope, it does not matter if he is "black," show his face, nothing new with Uncle tom blacks wanting a white woman and will act a fool to do so. Let him explain his self hatred that he would allow himself to be part of the nonsense other than a desire to be accepted by the "whites" who will mock his mother just as quick as they will and have called him the n-word, keep it real now, we all know this sort of joke and those who use it. And, Ash, since this is the USA and COLOR still matters, perhaps a look back on what black face means might be wise, and, its not as if COLOR has not matter in the UK or other English speaking countries as they too have "fun" with black face.

Halloween Costume
2009-11-06 16:12:32

OK so you say this is " blackface" I say it is a couple of College kids dressed up as someone they admire. So it is wrong for a couple of white kids to want to dress up as a sports & music heroes??? Come on, this incident does not even pass the sniff test of being blackface or racists. And btw what if this kid was biracial one parent black one parent white? So how does he determine which race to be accepted by??? Neither, he choses to accepted by people based on their person, color is not a factor. And the more everybody behaved like that the better off we all would be. So please let's not make an issue out of a non issue.

Halloween Costume
2009-11-06 16:31:34

Chester. So let me get this right. If the guy is white, show his face to expose him for the white racist that he must be. If he is black he must be an Uncle Tom Now I can hardly wait for your answer if he is biracial and race doesn't matter? See where I am going here. Careful where you throw stones.

Caneesha
2009-11-06 16:59:41

I am so totally OVER getting my hackles up over every little preceived 'rasicm' . . . real or imagined. No wonder slavery ended nearly 150 years ago and we still can't wipe our own bottoms . . . get over it and get on with it already! Our own behavior is what is keeping the racist pot stirred . . . we have perpetuated our own racism for over a century by continually playing the helpless victims!

MidwestGuy
2009-11-06 17:03:33

Chester what sort of twisted logic is this? Can you please tell me what female tennis star the person in black face resembles? In fact, what black person do you know who looks anywhere close to the depiction in the picture. If the person in black face is indeed black, then he certainly does need to deal with issues of self-hatred.

I'm black and if I wanted to dress up as Denzel Washington, what sense would it make for me (as a black man) to paint myself coal black while covering up the rest of my black skin, with even blacker clothing just to show how much of a fan I am?

See where am going here? Careful when you attempt to excuse the inexcusable.

MidwestGuy
2009-11-06 17:06:40

Caneesha believes that blacks are responsible for racism. She must be referring to all the blacks we've seen for months now out in droves calling for a revolution. Oh wait, that would be white people.

Yet, these are "Caneesha's" thoughts. Yes you got it, Caneesha.

Chester
2009-11-06 17:35:56

Midwest, you misunderstood what I wrote, I do not condone this sort of foolishness, but, sadly in 2009, its appearing more and more and its not just the black face with blacks, its also in the form of anti-Hispanic trash as well. It seems to be considered good, old fashioned, clean fun for whites to don black face, be it drunk, uncouth college students, dimwitted, bleached blond cheerleaders, or the obese withe drag queen who makes big bucks off his black face. I guess they do it as they know they will seldom if ever get called out for it as they know they'll get the Glen Beck's and Fox News folks to defend thier freedom to act a fool, no matter how offensive.

reality_check
2009-11-06 19:17:34

Ostend-- you shouldn't give other people so much power over you... why you or anyone else would care about the actions of some stupid college students is beyond me...unless their actions cause you and yours direct physical harm...otherwise...who cares?

Halloween Costume
2009-11-06 19:39:03

Chester. I see you have posted again, but did not address my question. So as you flame some more, how do you know they are Fox fans or Glenn Beck Fans?? Maybe they are MSNBC fans. Maybe they despise Beck and everything he says? Maybe they actually don't know who Glenn Beck is? Or any other talking head on FOX News.. Maybe they are just "ignorant" College students who did not really understand what they did could be an issue. Maybe a better approach would be a " teachable" moment for these kids, rather than shoot first and ask no questions. Again. Kid behind " Williams ' costume is white, he must be exposed as a racist. Ops, he's black he's an Uncle Tom. Nope maybe his biracial and no response. See , I was throwing out possible scenarios and you jump to all negative conclusions no matter what, to push your hate filled agenda. Look in the mirror and change your approach.

Ostend Street
2009-11-06 19:55:37

The power comes from recognizing what I see is wrong. It has nothing to do with power over me. My power is to comment and let it fall where it may. If it's on deaf ears or dull minds, so be it.

Who Cares
2009-11-06 20:40:31

I was less offended by this then I was with White Girls

Yi
2009-11-06 20:43:54

The first guy in the photo would have been expelled under the new Morehouse dress code policy

Chester
2009-11-06 21:02:18

So true, Ostend Street, but, those with a clue can see right through the trolls and thier nonsense, to live and hide behind a computer is just so sad, but, typical of cyber cowards/GOP racists.

TDSmoove
2009-11-06 22:13:13

Fact of the matter is that everyone of age in this country knows that what Blackface is and what it means. So let's not act like it's all innocent. Plus by standing by and letting things we know are wrong side by, we condone them. I for one will never let that happen. If you stand for nothing you'll fall for anything.

Ostend Street
2009-11-06 23:16:10

Sometimes I use other names just to compliment myself

Chester
2009-11-06 23:17:14

Like this

Ostend Street
2009-11-07 00:43:00

Bless your heart!! Whatever turns you on.

H. Smart
2009-11-07 15:21:00

Ash, I think you need balance. You need folks to report the good and bad. If all report is the good, while the communities of color are suffering, it wouldn't be a realistic picture. So I am in favor of DV and other platforms pointing on the wrongs in society. Pretending it doesn't occur would be a fault on our part.

dirySouthdude
2009-11-08 15:59:43

A DEVIL does what he is supposed to do. It is his fcuking nature!! He is EVIL by nature. Time nor space will change the nature of this barbaric caveman!

whattttttttttttt
2009-11-08 20:31:24

I love how the black community bitches about some dumb kid dressed up as one of the Williams sisters. There are over double the comments about this sh** then on the Fort Hood article. And you wonder why the latins are passing you fools up. Get a life. Get straight and pull your fu**ing head out of this gutter trash. Bit**ing about this. HA. Have you ever seen white girls? .... Have you ever watched an episode of Def Comedy Jam? All that sh** is filled with stereo types.. mean spirited BS. But .... whites don't waste their time on that. Seriously. Get a fuc**ng life you losers

Jose
2009-11-10 03:57:09

So if I want to dress as Serena Williams for Halloween, i should not paint my face black and wear a wig and fake boobs and a tennis outfit? I should either choose a new idea for my costume or do a Serena Williams that looks like me (lame). May be I'll wear a poncho, a big moustache and a mexican hat or may be I'll pretend to be a gay hairdresser and swish it up with eyeliner..... Get a life. None of this people were trying to demean anybody except themselves and just for dumb fun. Minstrels...Uncle Tom...you give them too much credit.

Vincent
2009-11-10 10:48:01

Black people don't support Gay rights and eaqual rights, then why should others repeacet Blacks? If Blacks allow and preach discrimination, then why shouldn't others? THINK!

MidwestGuy
2009-11-10 11:05:44

Jose, if you look/ed at that photograph of the person wearing the tennis outfit and Serena Williams came to mind, your issues are far greater and consuming than what can be dealt with in this forum.

If you choose to wear a poncho, big moustache and a mexican hat as a costume, is it safe to call you Enrique Iglesias or Sonia Sotomayor?

LOL
2009-11-10 17:11:57

No Midwest guy.... Jose thought that because in other media outlets where they actually interviewed this KID he mention he was Serena Williams. LOL@ this being Midwest guy only news source. Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!

STEPHANIE G.
2009-11-10 17:30:00

.....and who said that latins are passing us up??? Bit-- on my black people. Speak your minds!!!!

whattttttttttttttttt
2009-11-10 17:33:22

I did. And they are. Have a look around some day. Good luck =)

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