America is not the only place in the world where Blackface has manifested. However; because of the popularity of the minstrel shows here, the world has come to adopt it.
I just became aware of the practice in the Netherlands of Zwarte Piet-- Santa Clause's servant. It is still common-- if not more common for people to dress up in ridiculous costumes and paint themselves pitch black. Check this out from Wikipedia:
"During recent years the role of Zwarte Piet has become part of a recurring debate in the Netherlands. To this day, holiday revellers in the Netherlands blacken their faces, wear afro wigs and bright red lipstick, and walk the streets throwing candy to passers-by. As at Carnival, some of the actors behave dim-wittedly, or like buffoons, and/or speak mangled Dutch as embodiments of Zwarte Piet."
Wow! Our legacy runs deep, and it really makes me question --even more-- how Hollywood can think it's somehow okay for Robert Downey, Jr. to act in Blackface in "Tropic Thunder". It's ridiculous.
Watch this sample from Youtube of a "comedy" spoof in the Netherlands (it's from 2007!!!):
No comments:
Post a Comment