Student's MLK Tribute Sparks Controversy

[Anonymous]

If a child were in a pageant and was specifically honoring a Holocause survivor, and dressed the part, including the tattoo, I cannot imagine objecting. Not being able to distinguish between admiration and mockery is bizarre, and shows an inability to use good judgment.

As for your earlier comment, many of us (myself included) have ancestors who were persecuted. Mine had to flee their homes because of religious discrimination. That does not entitle me to speak as if *I* had fled my home. Again, I can make a distinction between my ancestor's life and my own.

[Anonymous]

The equivalent in this case would be a student placing a fake "Jewish nose" on their face while portraying the Holocaust. The tattoo would be accurate, historically correct. This boy's face was painted the color of tar which is not accurate. MLK was not that color and it has been deemed offensive in the past. They didn't buy an afro wig since MLK didn't have his hair in that style, but the black face paint was purchased for this point. Do stores not sell brown face paint? They do and its just as easy to find as black. Just as every Holocaust survivor or victim did not have the same nose and it would be offensive to portray as such. If you are going to go as far as skin painting atleast make it realistic. In my opinion, that is what makes this offensive.

Ashton Kutcher in brown face as a Bollywood director/actor for a Popchips ad was pulled over being called racist just in the last two weeks : http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2012/05/ashton-kutchers-popchips-ad-pulled-after-racist-outcry/

It is best to not try to copy the skin complexion of anyone or any features you associate with someone of a different race or ethnicity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why did they use blackface?

http://abcnews.go.com/images/US/ht_black_Faced_class_project_thg_120517_wblog.jpg

http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim/2012/05/17/ctm_king_051712_244x183.jpg

Why not use brown makeup? Bronzer even.

Place the students photo side by side with this picture of MLK.
http://education.indiana.edu/Portals/54/martin-luther-king-color.jpg

He's pretty close to getting the color correct. Its darker on the forhead because he put black in his hair (MLKs hair was black, BTW).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The equivalent in this case would be a student placing a fake "Jewish nose" on their face while portraying the Holocaust. The tattoo would be accurate, historically correct. This boy's face was painted the color of tar which is not accurate. MLK was not that color and it has been deemed offensive in the past. They didn't buy an afro wig since MLK didn't have his hair in that style, but the black face paint was purchased for this point. Do stores not sell brown face paint? They do and its just as easy to find as black. Just as every Holocaust survivor or victim did not have the same nose and it would be offensive to portray as such. If you are going to go as far as skin painting atleast make it realistic. In my opinion, that is what makes this offensive.

Ashton Kutcher in brown face as a Bollywood director/actor for a Popchips ad was pulled over being called racist just in the last two weeks : http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2012/05/ashton-kutchers-popchips-ad-pulled-after-racist-outcry/

It is best to not try to copy the skin complexion of anyone or any features you associate with someone of a different race or ethnicity.

The person who posted at 17:00 specifically compared it to a tattoo, which is why that was addressed.

But as for the "Jewish nose," I don't recall a lot of African Americans protesting Eddie Murphy doing that, although certainly some Jewish people found it offensive. The hypocrisy stinks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The equivalent in this case would be a student placing a fake "Jewish nose" on their face while portraying the Holocaust. The tattoo would be accurate, historically correct. This boy's face was painted the color of tar which is not accurate. MLK was not that color and it has been deemed offensive in the past. They didn't buy an afro wig since MLK didn't have his hair in that style, but the black face paint was purchased for this point. Do stores not sell brown face paint? They do and its just as easy to find as black. Just as every Holocaust survivor or victim did not have the same nose and it would be offensive to portray as such. If you are going to go as far as skin painting atleast make it realistic. In my opinion, that is what makes this offensive.

Ashton Kutcher in brown face as a Bollywood director/actor for a Popchips ad was pulled over being called racist just in the last two weeks : http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2012/05/ashton-kutchers-popchips-ad-pulled-after-racist-outcry/

It is best to not try to copy the skin complexion of anyone or any features you associate with someone of a different race or ethnicity.

The person who posted at 17:00 specifically compared it to a tattoo, which is why that was addressed.

But as for the "Jewish nose," I don't recall a lot of African Americans protesting Eddie Murphy doing that, although certainly some Jewish people found it offensive. The hypocrisy stinks.

Offensive sells, no one complains about Sasha Baron Cohen as Borat or the Dictator. Kids don't work as professional comedians.