Judge Suspended For Wearing Blackface To Party

[Smoker29]

This one gets a big old WTF! And no, this is not from the Onion.

http://www.nbc4.tv/news/3994952/detail.html

NEW ORLEANS -- The Louisiana Supreme Court has given a judge a six-month suspension for wearing blackface makeup, handcuffs and a jail jumpsuit to a Halloween party.

Judge Timothy Ellender will lose all of his pay during the suspension. That totals more than $50,000.

Ellender, who is white, said the costumes worn by him and his wife were meant as a joke. She dressed as a policewoman. And the party's host, Ellender's brother-in-law, was dressed as Buckwheat.

The justices agreed Ellender did not mean to insult blacks. Still, they ordered him to take a sociology course to get "a greater understanding of racial sensitivity."

[Mr. I.]

what is this world coming to??

[Duemellon]

I remember readin when it initially happnd.

Yah, just remembr, comedy is the way we deal/w racism b/c laws, marchin, lynchin, & disenfranchisement, ain't doin shit

[ahart2001]

Political OVER-correctness. if he showed up as a hillbilly with his wife as his sister carrying his baby, noone would have said a thing. People are too hyper-sensitive about everything nowadays.

[Johnnylama]

Originally posted by ahart2001
Political OVER-correctness. if he showed up as a hillbilly with his wife as his sister carrying his baby, noone would have said a thing. People are too hyper-sensitive about everything nowadays.

BLACK FACE!!! Ever heard of a minstrel show? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minstrel_show)

Obviously, you're not black.

(Neither am I, btw.)

[Duemellon]

Originally posted by Johnnylama
BLACK FACE!!! Ever heard of a minstrel show? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minstrel_show)thnx JL.

Not just cuz of the clarification, but b/c u linkd Wiki... I love that premise.

[Johnnylama]

Originally posted by Duemellon
thnx JL.

Not just cuz of the clarification, but b/c u linkd Wiki... I love that premise.

Thanks! I love wiki... some of the best info. I love reading the behind the scenes discussions of the articles, too. Open the book and let everybody write: the world is the editor. Wow. Very cool.

[rocketman70]

I'm sorry, but this is so WRONG. That judge is an ass.

[chicodaman]

Judge not ....lest......ye......nevermind,

[Duemellon]

Originally posted by Johnnylama
Thanks! I love wiki... some of the best info. I love reading the behind the scenes discussions of the articles, too. Open the book and let everybody write: the world is the editor. Wow. Very cool. check out my contributions (I'm sure u'll consider some of them to b quite predictable)

[ahart2001]

If he was being intentionally degrading toward blacks, then yes it is wrong. Was there evidence of him doing anything racist besides the black face? Its halloween party, its a costume.

If I came dressed up in a maid's outfit, is that sexist? It could say that women should always be subservient.
If I dressed as a hillbilly (as I mentioned before) it could be saying that white people from the country all have sex with their sisters.

I am not saying that it is totally the correct thing to do, but look at it in context. Halloween is a time to dress up in all kinds of ways that are otherwise socially not acceptable. I have been known to make jokes about races and sexes, but I would never treat someone differently based upon their sex or ancestry. But maybe I am just not normal. I dunno.

[ahart2001]

The link was interesting. I have heard of Black Face performing, especially in pre-civil war times. I did not know that it ended up taking an abolitionist stance. Very interesting.

[Duemellon]

Originally posted by ahart2001
The link was interesting. I have heard of Black Face performing, especially in pre-civil war times. I did not know that it ended up taking an abolitionist stance. Very interesting. U do realize that it lasted up into the 40's? right?

[the-dude]

I have 2 kinds of haloween costumes, one is kids costumes modified to be sexually explicit or kinky, and the other is overemphasized stereotype... In fact i usualy introduce myself as [whatever] stereotype man. Stereotypes are funny to me because they are so rediculous. (let me say in advance that i know im gonna get some shit for saying that) However it seems like this judge had no idea that he might be playing on a stereotype, and thats whats creepy. He has no idea. Comedically stereotype play can be very effective(both in terms of laughs and social commentary) as long as its clear to you and your audience (or others at the party in this case) what you are doing and that you know better. George Carlin and Richard Prior are (were) very good at this type of thing. I get a sneaking suspicion that the judge didnt know any better, and his joke backfired appropriately. That being said, i would NEVER do blackface. Never. And im not a judge!

Anyone remember the Ted Danson fiasco?

[despondent]

I definitely think what he did was insensitive and very ignorant. However, because this act took place outside the official duty of his position, I don't think he should have been docked his pay. I do agree with the order to get sociology training. The only way for ignorance to be overcome is with knowledge.

[Johnnylama]

Here’s the issue for me: why black if he was just trying to dress up as a criminal? Obviously to reinforce the idea that most criminals are black. As a judge, that is a very dangerous assumption, and, since this assumption was based only on skin color, is racist by definition.

The history of blackface performers and mistral shows is very real, and painting his face black would obviously associate himself with this kind of performance as well, which only compounds the problem.

Ignorance is his only defense, and ignorance to this extreme qualifies him as unqualified for his job. Look at statistics about blacks, especially black males, in prison. It’s no joke. NO joke.

I had a kid in class once who, as a joke, pretended that her dad died over the summer to freak out her friends. What she didn’t realize was that the boy sitting behind her ACTUALLY HAD his dad die that summer. NOT FUNNY. NEITHER is associating blacks with crime. These are real people with ruined lives. It is a very, very VERY real problem. A JUDGE?!?! Unreal.

He should be fired. If I, as a teacher, were convicted of possessing illegal child pornography I would be fired because I would be considered a danger to the people I work with. This man’s actions prove that he is a danger to the people he works with because he is associating blackness with criminality, or, at the very least, extreme racial insensitivity. How can he be a fair judge to the people who appear in front of him?

[markalot]

While it might be interesting to wonder if it was a racist act or not I think the bottom line is this guy is too stupid to be a judge. I no longer trust his judgement, that's for sure.

[tobedawg]

Political OVER-correctness. if he showed up as a hillbilly with his wife as his sister carrying his baby, noone would have said a thing. People are too hyper-sensitive about everything nowadays.

Yeah kinda like religious conservatives who get all up "in arms" when you don't want to call them "Christians"..

[ahart2001]

Originally posted by tobedawg


Yeah kinda like religious conservatives who get all up "in arms" when you don't want to call them "Christians"..

huh?

[ahart2001]

Originally posted by Johnnylama
Here’s the issue for me: why black if he was just trying to dress up as a criminal? Obviously to reinforce the idea that most criminals are black. As a judge, that is a very dangerous assumption, and, since this assumption was based only on skin color, is racist by definition.

The article did say he was dressed up as Buckwheat with his wife as a police officer. Not sure the connection between the two, but I do know Buckwheat was a "Lil' Rascal" and he was black. if that was the character Buckwheat he was portraying, then being black was part of the costume.

BTW, noone answered about the hilbilly or maid idea for costumes. WOuld anyone here wear one of those and not see them as offensive, but still see the black sterotype as offensive?

[yoshomon]

Originally posted by ahart2001
BTW, noone answered about the hilbilly or maid idea for costumes. WOuld anyone here wear one of those and not see them as offensive, but still see the black sterotype as offensive?

How is that relavent to what happened? Does the existence of prejudice against poor rural white people make racism against black people ok?

Goddamn, I thought your first reply was a joke.

[postfeminist]

the judge wasn't dressed as buckwheat, someone else was.

i think it should affect his job. as a judge, the guy is supposed to stand for things, some of them justice. he obviously thinks black people are criminals, and this story makes it clear that a person of color isn't getting a fair trial from this guy.

[ahart2001]

Originally posted by yoshomon


How is that relavent to what happened? Does the existence of prejudice against poor rural white people make racism against black people ok?

Goddamn, I thought your first reply was a joke.

No, it doesn't make it right. I am just pointing out they ways that people could interpret as expressing prejudices and racism/sexism/other"ism"s and some people don't think twice about it.

On a side note . . . Personally, I like the old 1950's era metality of the racial equality movement . . . who cares what race you are, we are all human. Kinda like the melting pot theory. The Army still sticks with that thinking (one color in the Army . . . green). Today it is more of a "lets celebrate our differences" mentality. Many times, 'celebrating' the differences leads to more dis-unity that there was in the first place. Just my opinion.

[ahart2001]

Originally posted by postfeminist
the judge wasn't dressed as buckwheat, someone else was.

i think it should affect his job. as a judge, the guy is supposed to stand for things, some of them justice. he obviously thinks black people are criminals, and this story makes it clear that a person of color isn't getting a fair trial from this guy.

Thanks for pointing that out . . . I misread that part.


Maybe he was being a UC basketball player ;)

[Smoker29]

You know, I don't agree with what the judge did. He had to have known that it would cause problems. I just don't think any judge could be that stupid.

With this fresh on my mind, I saw a commercial for "White Chicks" on TV today. You've got two black guys in "white face."

Sure, they're cops and not criminals, but still...

[Duemellon]

Originally posted by ahart2001
BTW, noone answered about the hilbilly or maid idea for costumes. Would anyone here wear one of those and not see them as offensive, but still see the black sterotype as offensive? Yah, I kind'v ignored this b/c it seemed to b an argument in semantics.

I would b (& hav been) offendd by ppl doin such. But u knew that alrdy. Just b/c they r equally insultd but only one is recognized as an insult doesn't make it less insultin.who cares what race you are, we are all human.That's a diff discussion that I don't hav time to get into right now.

As noble as ur view sounds, it creates acceptance thru denial & intentional ignorance. I'll elaborate at a different time of day, I guess.

The place we need to get to is tolerance of differences.

[yoshomon]

Originally posted by ahart2001
Many times, 'celebrating' the differences leads to more dis-unity that there was in the first place. Just my opinion.

Why should there be unity without equality?

[Sovrana]

Originally posted by ahart2001

BTW, noone answered about the hilbilly or maid idea for costumes. WOuld anyone here wear one of those and not see them as offensive, but still see the black sterotype as offensive?

Let me try to explain this. Neither waitresses, maids, nor hillbillies are offensive (in or of themselves) to women or caucasions so dressing as either is not seen as offensive.

Blackface (historical references noted earlier in the this thread) is offensive to people of color so dressing as such makes light of or displays ignorance or insensitivity to this fact.

[postfeminist]

i 2nd due & the always wise Sovrana...

[Johnnylama]

Originally posted by postfeminist
i 2nd due & the always wise Sovrana...

I 2nd the 2nd. Is that a 3rd? Can that be done?

The problem with unity is what you're unified under. If unity means that an individual must "act white" to be accepted, that's not going to fly. Individual differences can be respected within a unified people. That's what America is supposed to be all about. That was the IDEA that created America in the first place.

[keyst2891]

This is the first time reading this thread... I don't mean to bring up the past but I just have to give my thoughts.

Anyone ever see the movie "White Chicks"?

Should white people, including myself, find that offensive?

The question I have is that if people are complaining about a double standard like Ahart seems to be, could it be the fault of white people because they are not offended by certain things?

I am not offended by portrayals of hillbillies, blondes, jocks and white people in general. Should I be? I mean my dad was born and raised in the hills of Tennessee as a poor boy, my sister is a true blonde, I'm a jock and I'm white. Therefore, I should be offended. I'm not.

I think the problem might be that people like me SHOULD find offense in some of the portrayals and jokes. Letting it roll off our back as humor would be too easy. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

We all have stereotypes and jokes... Every culture, race and creed. I mean I'm Catholic and Catholic jokes were getting really old for me last year. Yet, I let it go. I just think that maybe the fault isn't in the people that find off color jokes offensive, maybe it is those of us who don't find the same jokes about our own culture offensive that cause this problem.

[Duemellon]

Uhm...

Am I gettin this right? R the white ppl tryin to out-victimize the black ppl?

WOW.

Ridiculous contest kiddies. Ridiculous.

[markalot]

Making fun of someone in the minority is different than the majority. I'm generally anti-political correctness, but I do recognize that you have to try and understand the minorities (whatever color) point of view.

Now let's do some blonde jokes.

[postfeminist]

the issue of should be offended and are offended are 2 different things. we're all different. what offends each one of us may well be different. i don't think anyone can tell you what should offend you.

and again, it's about power. the majority has more power. when the minority pokes fun at the majority, it's for a lot of different reasons.

when aaron mcgruder [comic author of the boondocks] makes fun of other people of color, is it offensive [he's black]? is it empowering for him to write and draw a strip about Huey Freeman, a kid transplanted to the suburbs and who critiques mainstream "black culture" at every pass (he wants to give out the most embarrassing black entertainer awards as an example)?

[i got interrupted and lost my train of thought.]

[JSpaceman]

Originally posted by postfeminist

[i got interrupted and lost my train of thought.]
But you were doing so well! :)

[Duemellon]

Originally posted by postfeminist
[i got interrupted and lost my train of thought.] Brilliance doesn't make pit-stops, if u missed it, or come to a stop sign, it keeps barrellin thru to destinations unknown.

[markalot]

[i got interrupted and lost my train of thought.]

What was that about hats again?

[tobedawg]

Good post Frost..

You helped me to better understand my thoughts on the subject.. Seriously!