HTT: Is white face offensive?

muffyvonmuff · March 2014

So after the whole SSS "white people cant feel racism nonsense" the other day, low and behold look what happens with Nick Cannon and his new album "White people Music". To preface the story Nick Cannon decided to make an alter ego 'Connor Smallnut' to help promote his new album and in doing so donned white makeup, a wig and false teeth so he appeared to be a white skater kid.

Heres some links

https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/nick-cannon-slammed-whited-promote-upcoming-album-article-1.1732779

And I know this link is Perez Hilton, but it has his tweets at the bottom:

https://perezhilton.com/2014-03-24-nick-cannon-whiteface-connor-smallnut-controversial-white-people-party-music-mariah-carey-april-fools#.UzGEzf3-YmQ

So is it offensive?

muffyvonmuff · March 2014

The only thing I immediately think of is this past halloween when Julianne Hough dressed up as Crazy Eyes from 'Orange is the New Black' and had to give a public apology. The whole issue seems like a double standard.

Jenball717 · March 2014

I agree that it is a double standard. To eliminate racism it seems counterintuitive to point out all the stereotypes and play off them for humor. You KNOW if someone made a "music black people like" album there would be an uproar.
I have noticed this in a few things, like there being a "black" tv station. If there were a "white" station that would be racist.

norbert5 · March 2014

I don't like it when white people do black face, using Nick Cannon's example, like Robert Downey Junior, so I am going wih no I don't like white face. They both seem weird and unnecessary.

Plus some of his tweets are just wrong. I feel like the "white privilege" tweet just seems disrespectful coming from a multi millionaire married to a possible billionaire.

Eta: words are hard today and I can't think of a better then disrespectful.

deedee1017 · March 2014

comeongetdown said:

I think he's begging for attention. It's childish and annoying.

You've just summed up Nick Cannon.

norbert5 · March 2014

@beernifer‌ I don't think they are different. But I have never watched White Chicks.

yesthisiskim0401 · March 2014

Weljadraak · March 2014

Ugh. Fucking racism.

I checked out @supersecretstatus "Sistah Vegan" link and it focuses on White* supremacy in "the system" and how it is not racist for Black* people to exclusively congregate. I can get on board with these ideas because I do believe that there is stilll racism in the workplace(also sexism) and that there are some areas of "the system" (I'm thinking law enforcement) that are racist. I do believe that old White men rule a lot of dollars. However, I also believe that there are strides in changing this, whether employers believe in them or not. I think more and more people -not the old White dudes that have mansions but actual people - push for equality. Equality is a BIG idea and has been for what? like 50 years?? Huge advancements have been made in it. I feel like I am veering on straying because of how fucking enormous this topic is. Whatever - I hate those old White dudes, too. As for the law enforcement aspect, well, that's a tougher one. Don't get me started on the Brothers in Arms but there were/are certain drug laws that are racists, specifically the crack/cocaine one.

Ugh. ugh ugh ugh ugh UGH.

*in the link, the author capitalizes Black but not White. I just feel like this is some of the stupid shit that contributes to racist nonsense, not like what I talked about above.

There are racist extremists on both ends of the spectrum, which make them opposite yet equal (lol). Unfortunately, the extreme people get most of the attention so things may appear skewed. FTR, I don't think the old White dudes themselves are racist. I think it is just primarily White upper-levelers but that probably has more to do with history and familial hierarchy . History because well, White people did actually rule this country and familial hierarchy because old money.

Someone's probably going to call me out on this, IDK, i'm kind of blind right now because this truly is a hot topic and has been a theme the past couple days on this board.

sleepy33 · March 2014

I don't find it offensive. I think blackface is offensive because of the historical context of blackface/minstrel shows, etc.

Weljadraak · March 2014

Oh shit, I forgot about Nick Cannon.

It's not the same as Blackface.

muffyvonmuff · March 2014

norbert5 said:

I don't like it when white people do black face, using Nick Cannon's example, like Robert Downey Junior, so I am going wih no I don't like white face. They both seem weird and unnecessary. Plus some of his tweets are just wrong. I feel like the "white privilege" tweet just seems disrespectful coming from a multi millionaire married to a possible billionaire. Eta: words are hard today and I can't think of a better then disrespectful.

RIGHT! Hows your mansion Nick? Oh and the twins look really cute in their Burberry outfits Mariah.

MissLauraPants · March 2014

I thought White Chicks was funny....

White face for me is not offensive...but black face seems offensive...unless it is Robert Downey

WhenInRome11 · March 2014

sleepy33 said:
I don't find it offensive. I think blackface is offensive because of the historical context of blackface/minstrel shows, etc.

This exactly.

tashad18 · March 2014

I think he became irrelevant so he married Mariah Carey. I think he was still pretty irrelevant so he had to do this. He seems immature and it is annoying, but I'm not necessarily offended by it. He makes himself look like a fool. I do think the follow up tweets about "white privilege" are offensive. Trust me, he has way more privilege than I do. The title of the album irks me as well.

Black face definitely has the negative historical context where there is none for white face. That being said, everyone needs to just realize that racism can happen to everyone. I am tired of the double standard in America.

tmccord21 · March 2014

Not offended. I actually kinda like him on America's Got Talent

taylormarie923 · March 2014

I don't find it offensive. I also don't mind Nick Cannon. He hung out and played blues music fused with rap for a good chunk of a day with my husband, which I think is super cool of him. DH says he is very down to earth.

I also suddenly have the urge to watch lethal weapon 6.

Chrisanna0508 · March 2014

I don't know that I am necessarily offended, but racism just brings up so many double standards that it pisses me off. There are racists in every ethnic group and none of them are ok in my book. We shouldn't hate people just because they have a different color and history. And this goes for all races/nationalities/colors. I hate that the country is coming to this because white racists are no worse than minorities who are racists.
ETA: I know this will be unpopular, so flame away. I've got my big girl panties on.

huntjul · March 2014

Yes, I think it's offensive. Also, white people can't feel racism, what? If that's not a racist statement, then what is?

We live in someone else's country and thus are a minority here. I understand that. However, I am disturbed by how many times DH comes home and says he was called "a fucking white man"--like last week when he was shopping in the market and told a seller that he didn't want to buy coconuts today. DH is a genuinely good guy, and I know he didn't do anything rude to trigger the epithet either. There can be racism against any race.

huntjulsmanny · March 2014

huntjul said:

Yes, I think it's offensive. Also, white people can't feel racism, what? If that's not a racist statement, then what is?

We live in someone else's country and thus are a minority here. I understand that. However, I am disturbed by how many times DH comes home and says he was called "a fucking white man"--like last week when he was shopping in the market and told a seller that he didn't want to buy coconuts today. DH is a genuinely good guy, and I know he didn't do anything rude to trigger the epithet either. There can be racism against any race.

Word.

SuperSecretStatus · March 2014

Nick Cannon looks ridiculous, and I'm sure it's offensive to some people. However, it doesn't have racist ties/implications like yellow, brown, and black face do. Also, I agree that he needs to check his own privileges. He's wealthy and male, both of which give him privilege.

HFrizzle · March 2014

I don't find the white face issue offensive, but I do take offense to his tweets and racial remarks towards white people in general.

Ursidae · March 2014

I don't find it offensive.

I don't see him as a comedian, either.

☑ Publicity stunt achieved. (I wasn't even aware that he was married to Mariah, let alone made music.)

@weljadraak "there are some areas of "the system" (I'm thinking law enforcement) that are racist"

I read this as a blanket statement towards law enforcement as in police... profiling is illegal.

do you mean to specify our judicial system?

"As for the law enforcement aspect, well, that's a tougher one. Don't get me started on the Brothers in Arms but there were/are certain drug laws that are racists, specifically the crack/cocaine one. "

The disparity is just that, in my eyes, and I think the media and courts ran with the "disproportionate" numbers=racism. I think the 100:1 was put in place to crack down (no pun intended) on a serious problem with crack use (excluding even the thought of powdered cocaine because of its mute position at the time), rather than to oppress a racial group. All races were affected by the min/max sentencing, albeit African Americans were the majority percentage-wise.

As far as retroactive for minimum sentencing laws to non-violent offenders, I don't believe in most sentencing being removed via the retroactive clause. . . . a law is a law: don't break it unless you're willing to face the consequences. Again, I think racism (based on the different percentages between different racial groups of crack users) is being used as a defense to enact the retroactive clause.

I have no idea about "brothers in arms"... I'm unfamiliar with this term. Educate me.

CousinVicki · March 2014

1) smallnut

2) wasn't their a convo on here where 99% of you didn't even know the term blackface or its implications?

3) this is just stupid. and isn't he married to mariah carey? what more needs to be said.

CousinVicki · March 2014

also, is the white man's overbite offensive ? lolll

Weljadraak · March 2014

There has been much speculation on the war on drugs and racism, @ursidae. There is a clear correlation between the drug and the ethnicity of its users. Black and Latino people are more likely to use crack than powdered cocaine. Marijuana is another example. Though marijuana laws AND use are equal among the races, a Black person is 3.73 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than a White person (American Civil Liberties Union). Also, per government statistics, 12% of the US population is Black, yet Black people comprise 44% of drug arrests.

The Brothers in Arms is like saying Boys in Blue.

pandaglitter · March 2014

I think that his album title is meant to be funny. Blackface was not meant to be funny. So there's a difference. It's a small difference, but it's there. I still don't think it's very funny or in good taste. I also am not a huge nick cannon fan and didn't know he made music.

Overall, I think blackface and whiteface shouldn't happen and that skin color shouldn't be on the forefront. Someday "white" and "black" will be minorities and the majority will be somewhere in between and any privilege will be based on hard work and creativity.

RIGGGGHHHHT?????

AggieAsh23 · March 2014

I don't find it offensive, however I strongly believe that if we want to achieve equality for all, it needs to be practiced for ALL. Treat others how you want to be treated.

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