11/21/24
March 17, 2010
Yup, That's Some Blackface At A Hockey Game: Got a highly touted prospect in the minors, and you want to show the world you're a fan? You could wear his jersey. Or, if you're in Quebec, you could break out the shoe polish and afro wigs.
Montreal Canadiens Fans: Racist or Harmless Humour?
posted by tommytrump to hockey at 01:12 PM - 24 comments
I wouldn't consider what these guys did as racist but I would call it idiotic and/or ignorant. They probably didn't mean any harm with this stunt but it sure as hell wasn't thoroughly thought out.
posted by BornIcon at 02:03 PM on March 17, 2010
Never did give Canadiens' fans much credit for intelligence or sensitivity. This seems to fit my prejudices.
posted by Howard_T at 02:07 PM on March 17, 2010
guffaw! Nice one, Howard!
posted by mjkredliner at 02:19 PM on March 17, 2010
Keep in mind that this happened in Quebec where they consider themselves more French than Canadian. Frankly I'm not surprised.
posted by Tinman at 02:26 PM on March 17, 2010
racist. No way adults living anywhere, except maybe under a rock, can be ignorant to the fact that wearing blackface make up would be considered offensive. Not the biggest issue out there, but that doesn't excuse their behavior.
posted by dviking at 02:45 PM on March 17, 2010
I'm with Harry Connick on this one. Blackface is deeply racist. They shouldn't have been allowed in the arena dressed like that.
posted by rcade at 04:53 PM on March 17, 2010
It is indeed in poor taste and is the height of ignorance, though, given the context I will give these guys the benefit of the doubt and will simply assume they are stupid.
Funny that if they had just worn the afros and jerseys, and not the face paint, no one would care. It's the specific blackface that changes the whole thing. It's the minstrel thing. I'm terribly ignorant of the history of blackface minstrel stuff in Canada, but given modern shared culture, I don't think they can ask to be excused from criticism. Yes, they were cheering for Subban - but insulting him at the same time.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 05:26 PM on March 17, 2010
Absolutely racist. But the main problem with the article is the author, "Kyle", contnually apologizing for his thoughts. He should grow a ball or two and stand by his initial inclinations that the situation he was reporting was just wrong.
posted by bobfoot at 03:32 AM on March 18, 2010
Yes, they were cheering for Subban - but insulting him at the same time.
I agree. I personally don't look at it as these two being racist but more or less just dumb. The blackface took it to another level even if they didn't mean for it to be viewed at as being racist but I sure can see why people would look at it as such.
posted by BornIcon at 09:56 AM on March 18, 2010
Harmless humor. These guys look about the age where they were probably drunk and thought this would be funny. I have to agree. Looking back it may have not been the best idea, but if i saw them at the game , I would have laughed, not called the NAACP.
posted by Debo270 at 10:27 AM on March 18, 2010
I wonder if these are the same douchebags that threw a banana at Kevin Weekes during the 2002 playoffs.
posted by NoMich at 11:35 AM on March 18, 2010
Harmless humor
Harmless to whom? The average white hockey fan? Probably, though I hope not in all cases, as this thread indicates.
Harmless to most people of colour? I doubt it.
posted by owlhouse at 04:32 PM on March 18, 2010
I'm interested in seeing BornIcon and Debo defend their positions. I'm even willing to spot them thirty-five years to pretend they're living in the middle of the relatively progressive seventies as a starting point.
posted by bobfoot at 03:04 AM on March 19, 2010
I'm interested in seeing BornIcon and Debo defend their positions.
I don't want to speak for someone else but why would you think that I need to defend my position about anything?
I am a minority living in the United States of America and have dealt with my fair share of racism in it's ugliest form.
Now, do I consider what these two did as racist? No, not really. I would classify it as I have before, idiotic and ignorant and I'll continue to stand by what I originally said.
posted by BornIcon at 07:27 AM on March 19, 2010
The reason some people are laughing off blackface today is because it's so rare. The reason it's so rare is because people stopped laughing it off and started confronting it.
Anyone see the Mad Men episode where one of the main characters sang in blackface about his "mammy" at a society function? It's amazing that crap lasted as long as it did.
posted by rcade at 09:16 AM on March 19, 2010
I have always failed to see the humor in or the rationale of performing in blackface. What was the point?
posted by yzelda4045 at 09:48 AM on March 19, 2010
The reason some people are laughing off blackface today is because it's so rare.
Personally, I'm not laughing it off. I didn't find it funny but I also don't look at what these two guys did as being racist or that they did it with malice intent. They went to a game in support of Subban but did so in a way that many people would perceive it as being racist and rightfully so. I would never try and tell someone how or what they should feel but I didn't think they it in a mean spirited way (at least I don't believe they did), they just need to be educated on the history of blackface.
posted by BornIcon at 10:11 AM on March 19, 2010
So would it be fair to say that the blackface itself is undoubtedly racist, but that it doesn't necessarily mean that the men involved were racially motivated? Insensitive, sure; stupid, probably; racists, well only they know what they believe.
posted by tahoemoj at 11:04 AM on March 19, 2010
That would be fair to say and well put.
posted by BornIcon at 11:06 AM on March 19, 2010
It was racist. Period. Does that make them racist? I don't know them, and I don't really care. I'll let the apologist deal with the 'no they're just misunderstood' angle. The act is racist, and they deserve any grief they get for doing it.
Insensitive, sure; stupid, probably; racists, well only they know what they believe.
Beyond stupid. To give them the benefit of the doubt I'd have to consider them mentally challenged.
posted by justgary at 03:24 PM on March 19, 2010
why would you think that I need to defend my position about anything? I didn't say that. I said I would be interested in hearing you defend your position.
I am a minority...(etc...) Not a part of the discussion. As regards this discussion, you don't need to know my race, I don't need to know yours. The only reason we have to bring this up is to attempt to acquire emotional rhetorical high ground.
Acting in blackface in any capacity is racist. The intent is unimportant. Kids making a mistake - I'll buy that - and hope they learn from their mistake.
posted by bobfoot at 03:36 AM on March 20, 2010
Racist.