Monday, December 5, 2011
Advice 101: Blackface in Spain is Racist
Deciding what is racist, and what is not racist isn't as hard as one might think. In the case of blackface in Spain, all you need to do is ask yourself these two simple questions and the answer to "is it racist?" will become glaringly apparent.
Simply ask yourself:
1. Have I ever, ever in my life seen a Black man or woman who had naturally pitch black skin, hair always cropped in a wooly afro, and bright red lips...all at once?
2. Is it just a coincidence that all the powerful nations of the world (from Europe to North America down to Latin America) created this image of "the jolly/helper Black person" at the exact same time?
If you can answer "no", to these questions, then blackface in Spain is racist. If you can't, then I call bullshit on your critical thinking skills.
You know what would be really exceptional? If these people actually took off all that red lipstick and black paint, and INVITED African and Middle Eastern people who actually live in Spain to participate in these Christmas parades and celebrations.
I have yet to see a person of Middle Eastern/African decent even have the chance to represent himself as a mago.
And for those of you who honestly believe this is for the most part innocent, and "just another inherent Spanish celebration", please research the history of blackface in Europe (no, not in the United States, Europe). Don't forget to read the part where early costumes did not call for these people to wear wooly wigs and bright red lips, that these were added traditions that coincided with the end of the slave trade and the begining of *gasp* the popular blackface caricature.
This is why you can see this same blackface image represented over and over again all over the world.
Black people don't look like this.
Be keen, my auxiliares in Spain. Examine your surroundings. Ask for or read the opinions of Arab/Afro-Spaniards (no, they won't all agree) about blackface in their country and how it makes them feel.
Really listen to their words, and learn from them.
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Ridiculous. I haven't seen this yet in my city. My students have just told me about the tradition of giving sugar coal. No one told me that there faces are actually painted. There is no way that someone could mistake a pitch black face for a "naturally dark-skinned" man.
ReplyDeleteI agree...I just think it's a little sad that some many auxiliares from the US seem not to notice that this is not simply a cultural tradition.
ReplyDeleteSigh...I just hope I don't have to deal with this where I live, I might just freak out lol ;)
¡Hola! Just discovered your blog and I love it! Check mine out sometime...I think that you will see that we have quite a bit in common. :) Always nice to know!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I have read about this practice before in the Netherlands. Crazy! My boyfriend is a Moroccan living in Spain recently started commenting on such antics after years of denial! Thank goodness that many of Afro decent are starting to see the light! Hopefully more of us can help in changing their racial views!
Looking forward to reading more of your posts! ¡Cuídate, y buena suerte con todo!
www.lanasvidanormal.blogspot.com
Im an arab living in spain and I dont agree with you at all.
ReplyDeleteBlackface is racist in some parts of the world(US) and I understand why but Spain doesnt have the same history, the same context, so you cant compare the situation. Theres three kings and one of them is black, when they dont have a black men they use a white man and disguise him. If they find a black men they let him do it.
Black people dont look like this. Of course, because they are white people desguised as a black person. Nothing more.
You should understand this. "Blackface" doesnt even have a post on the spanish wikipedia.
Theres so many racist things out there, I cant bring myself to worry about this.
AngelaQT: Thanks for stopping by! Yes, I do hope more people take their heads out of the sand and start critically evaluating their surroundings.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous: Thanks for adding your opinion to the mix. One correction, tbough, I never compared blackface in the US to blackface in Spain.