The Aussie Adoration of Blackface

Saturday Dec 5, 2009 – by Sky Obercam

6a00e54f95ac8188340120a70a1577970b-800wi When Australian e-zine, Tangent Mag, uncovered their latest issue featuring a model in Blackface, we felt compelled to ask: Should we really expect anything less from our conscious-deficient counterparts from down under? It was plain old tactless when the ‘über sophisticated’ Europeans decided to revisit the Blackface trend, but can the Aussies be measured by the same stick? Hell, it’s only been about 30 years since non-Whites were even allowed to step foot onto their fair land. Besides, can we really blame a nation founded by penal colony residents for being insensitive and narrow-minded?

Yes (the Aborigines and Harry Connick, Jr. can attest to that).

As we’ve stated time and time again, this futile attempt at generating shock value at the expense of others is dense and wretchedly conventional. These “high fashion” spreads may be absent of bright red lipstick, deranged expressions and other grotesque minstrel-style imagery. However, these new images of haute couture clad lily-white models smudged in brown (or black) make up are totally in keeping with the cunning nature of contemporary racism.

Again, we suggest that fashion’s creatively challenged set utilize an innovative means to create the controversy they seek. It’s rather shocking as well that an industry that embraces being on the vanguard of “what’s in” has held on to the Blackface trend for so long. Perhaps for some, racism is always en vogue. Pity.

Everyone has their take on the whole sordid blackface craze but the fact remains that there are many of us on all sides of the synthetic racial divide that have grown intolerant of this widespread covert racist/insensitive imagery. Who knows? Maybe one fine day, people will realize that racism is a disease, not a marketing ploy.

By the way, Neither Tangent Editor-in-Chief, Heather Cairns nor Creative Director, Emmanuel Giraud were available for comment. Figures.

Hats off: Imelda.com

BlaqCurrant says:

December 9, 2009 at 6:02 pm

“I’ve seen many a fashion phot of dark skinned Black people painted with powder pale makeup for contrasts sake – are these images taken as being insensitive to white people or reflective of a magazine that won’t use White models so it paints Black models White instead?”
Maybe the images of a black person in a powdered pale made up face would be offensive to a white person if their history was one of slavery and oppression. But it doesn’t bother me. As for as “white models done up in traditional garb” why don’t you ask a Native American, Middle Easterner, or an Indian what they think, I am sure their responses would run the gamut just like the responses here.

I agree that there is a major difference in being racially insensitive and in being racist, the lines can and do get blurred sometimes, especially on the subject of Art.

“I’ve also seen photos of White models done up in traditional garb and Native American/Indigenous fetaherhead….are these publications guilty of the same insensitivity or “racism” that people are accusing this Austrailian Magazine of?” – Yes these publications are guilty of the same “insensitivity” as far as I am concerned.

“would these it illicit the same response if a magazine photographed a light skin Black person in blackface?” They would illicit the same response from me if that publication was an Australian, European, Asian, Latin, etc publication.

There is nothing “knee jerk” about a white person in blackface no matter how “in fashion” black is or how artistic and out side the box the image is.

“eye catching and visually stimulating” …Yeah ok, a dark skinned black beauty would have been just as or even more so “eye catching and visually stimulating”.

↑ Reply

Happiness says:

December 11, 2009 at 11:03 pm

Nothing can ever replace true melanin.

I find these pictures of White people painted Black offensive and I think they do it to wind us up and make fun of us and to make trouble. Check out Youtube for the Australian Jackson Jive video and see for yourself.

However, I notice these days that there are many Black people who instead of speaking up for something that is done to degrade Black people, will openly embrace it. I suppose it’s the sign of the times we live in. Most have been brainwashed and are so busy either trying to be White or sucking up to White people (playing Uncle Tom and kissing ass) that they can’t see when we are being blatantly insulted and degraded and don’t care anyway, as long as they can fit in.

In the meantime, I always have to wonder why some White people who don’t like Black people and claim to be racist will sit in the sun toasting themselves trying to look like us, one has to wonder. As, I said already, nothing can replace naturally occurring melanin.

rei says:

December 13, 2009 at 2:59 am

“It’s only been about 30 years since non-Whites were even allowed to step foot onto their fair land.” Uh. What?

CAM says:

December 13, 2009 at 9:25 am

I suggest that if you would like to make socio-political comments on the current use of “blackface” in some publications, you might want to leave the xenophobic remarks out of your commentary. Your summation of Australia’s cultural values as ‘conscious-deficient’ highlights your own ignorance of Australian culture. If you do not have the journalistic capabilities to write an article without fuelling the issue with your own bigotry, you should find a new occupation.

I assume you have access to the internet: make use of it and research Australian values thoroughly before you blame an entire country for the idiotic actions of some individuals or publications.

And, as for Australia being a penal colony, you may want to research early American history properly too. America was also a penal colony. You may also want to research what sort of individual was sent to Australia and what type of crimes they committed. As it stand, you are not only a bigot, but a classist as well.

You are an embarrassment to our profession.

Dot says:

December 13, 2009 at 12:11 pm

So the Cronulla Riots in 2005 didn’t exist? Oh wait…let me guess, Australia’s immigration policy is much more relaxed than the American immigration policy? Are you also saying that your aboriginals have not been enslaved?

As far as I’m concerned, journalism isn’t an occupation or profession anymore…its a damn pass time and for you to hold it on this pedestal is to further yourself in a pit of denial.

The author is allowed to express her opinion and if you don’t like it then leave!
Dot says:

December 13, 2009 at 12:30 pm

And the objectivity and partiality that you are so fond of in the “journalism” field is a myth that media outlets use to keep themselves “relevant”. We all know you are guided by media corporations who decide what you say and what you do…

But hey…everyone needs to feel important and if that’s your fix than more power to “ye”!
Clnmike says:

December 13, 2009 at 7:46 pm

Cosign Dot.