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Kid not allowed to wear Obama mask for talent show

post #1 of 25
3/16/09 at 1:35am
Thread Starter 


http://www.oregonlive.com/education/...nt_talent.html

Love this explanation and openness from the principal ...

Quote:
When asked what was offensive about Dru's skit, Powell refused to discuss it.

"I won't say why it's inappropriate," he said. "I'm not saying anything to The Oregonian. Why? Because I don't want to."
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post #2 of 25
3/16/09 at 1:39am
Obviously the solution is that he should just wear black face.
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post #3 of 25
3/16/09 at 2:49am
The article won't load for me so I can't comment on the "controversy", but it must be noted that wearing a ill-fitting suit while in the presence of Cleavon Little's severed head is not a "talent".
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post #4 of 25
3/16/09 at 3:11am
He dances. I think that's supposed to be the talent.
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post #5 of 25
3/16/09 at 11:23am
Who says that there isn't common sense left in the U.S. school system.

#1) Politics should be left the fuck out of a kids talent show

#2) MAMMY!
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post #6 of 25
3/16/09 at 11:35am
Just read the article and literally laughed at loud at the kid's gay parents basically saying "We're a minority too, and we understand racism, but why isn't it ok for a young white boy to dress like a black man and dance around comically on stage?"

You'd think they'd maybe be a little more sensitive to the connotations of such a thing. But it would seem not.
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post #7 of 25
3/16/09 at 11:39am
Thread Starter 
It's all about content and intent, and in this case, I believe the principal is in the wrong which is why he wouldn't go into details in the article. Didn't want to say what was on his mind and seem like he was calling the kid racist.
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post #8 of 25
3/16/09 at 12:16pm
These school officials play cover-your-ass to ridiculous levels. Kids have been talken out of school for Alka-Seltzer. They can't where baggy clothes because its promoting gang activity. Some schools have torn out lockers meaning the poor little bastards have to break their backs carrying all of their books in their book bags (which must be clear). Its just a pathetic and futile attempt to avoid anything that might make their job more difficult.

Then again, this is probably due to psycho parents as mush as the schools.
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post #9 of 25
3/16/09 at 12:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ElCapitanAmerica View Post
It's all about content and intent, and in this case, I believe the principal is in the wrong which is why he wouldn't go into details in the article.
There are overt connotations to something like this. Very strong, very deep ones. That kid may not have any idea what he's doing and it may be totally innocent in its origin, but that doesn't change the fact that a white child dressing as a comical version of a black man and dancing around on stage is going to carry a shit-ton of baggage, none of it good. I don't think that kid is racist. I don't think he understands at all what he was doing outside of emulating something he saw on YouTube. But that doesn't magically excuse it.

Is it an overreaction? Possibly. But we haven't reached a point as a society where the sorts of things something like this evokes are easily dismissed.
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post #10 of 25
3/16/09 at 5:44pm
I bet C. Thomas Howell wishes that guy was his principal.
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post #11 of 25
3/17/09 at 8:33am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Drew S. View Post
Is it an overreaction? Possibly. But we haven't reached a point as a society where the sorts of things something like this evokes are easily dismissed.
I think in this case we have, in the sense that he's trying to dress up like the president. At some point people are going to have to look at him primarily as the president of the US and nothing more to be quite honest.
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post #12 of 25
3/17/09 at 9:05am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ElCapitanAmerica View Post
I think in this case we have, in the sense that he's trying to dress up like the president. At some point people are going to have to look at him primarily as the president of the US and nothing more to be quite honest.
I agree. Would there have been such a hue & cry if he were dressing up as say Reagan or W when they were in office? I get the minstrel show connotations some might make, but Obama went out of his way to make himself pop culture accessible during his campaign. more kids know who he is than any president in a long time. I took my 2 year old to a book store recently, and he saw a book w/ the President's picture on the cover and said "Look Daddy, Obama." Kids are going to want to do stuff like this. We as a society are going to need to loosen up a bit. Knee jerk overreactions like this could send the wrong message, too.
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post #13 of 25
3/17/09 at 1:58pm
If it's insensitive or not, surely no one would argue it's a blatant double standard. What we might argue about is whether or not the double standard is warranted.
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post #14 of 25
3/17/09 at 2:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ElCapitanAmerica View Post
I think in this case we have,in the sense that he's trying to dress up like the president. At some point people are going to have to look at him primarily as the president of the US and nothing more to be quite honest.
It isn't about Obama, it's about what the kid wanting to do evokes.

Like I said, the kid's intent wasn't racist, but you cannot escape the connotations of what he's doing. You simply can't. It brings to mind things that are sill open wounds to a lot of people. Obama being President doesn't change that.
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post #15 of 25
3/18/09 at 1:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheCynic View Post
If it's insensitive or not, surely no one would argue it's a blatant double standard. What we might argue about is whether or not the double standard is warranted.
Agreed. I say no.

I can see where the offense comes from, but I don't think relations are ever going to improve in any meaningful way if people (on both sides) just can't get the fuck over things like that already. I think we all agree this kid hasn't the first clue what a minstrel show is, and certainly wasn't trying to put one on. I wish interest groups could start looking past the surface and at least TRY to discern the underlying intent sometimes. Yes, I know no interest group had the chance to intervene here because the kid never got to actually do the act, but it's the principal's worrying over what he figured they probably WOULD say that put the kibosh on it. That worry came from somewhere.
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post #16 of 25
3/18/09 at 5:11am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Drew S. View Post
It isn't about Obama, it's about what the kid wanting to do evokes.

Like I said, the kid's intent wasn't racist, but you cannot escape the connotations of what he's doing. You simply can't. It brings to mind things that are sill open wounds to a lot of people. Obama being President doesn't change that.
So when would it be ok?

At the end of the day, if you can do it for other presidents, you have to be able to do it for this one. In my view, not allowing that does more harm than good.

BTW, this is the same mask Obama wore in the SNL skit. What's the message here, the mask is OK to wear only if you are a black man?
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post #17 of 25
3/18/09 at 12:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ElCapitanAmerica View Post
BTW, this is the same mask Obama wore in the SNL skit. What's the message here, the mask is OK to wear only if you are a black man?
If there was eventually a sequel to POINT BREAK (when Obama is an EX-Pres naturally), would they have to enlist a black crook to wear the mask? And if they didn't would there be cries of racism b/c a white man in a black mask would be perpetuating the incorrect "blacks are criminals" stereotype?

Or (like TROPIC THUNDER), it would just be a gag/plot-point.
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post #18 of 25
3/18/09 at 1:10pm
I'm sure this would have been traumatic for the dozen black people in Oregon.

(AMIRITE?)
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post #19 of 25
3/18/09 at 2:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ElCapitanAmerica View Post
So when would it be ok?

At the end of the day, if you can do it for other presidents, you have to be able to do it for this one. In my view, not allowing that does more harm than good.
You're completely missing the point. This isn't about Presidents, it's about hundreds of years of institutional racism, a well documented, much reviled history of white's dressing up as blacks for demeaning and comedic purposes, and the fact that memories of such things still carry a ton of weight.

Quote:
BTW, this is the same mask Obama wore in the SNL skit. What's the message here, the mask is OK to wear only if you are a black man?
I'm not trying to be rude when I ask this, but how long have you been in America? Because you don't seem to have a very deep understanding of U.S. race relations.
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post #20 of 25
3/18/09 at 2:39pm
The real question is: does the kid have any moves?
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post #21 of 25
3/18/09 at 2:46pm
Judging from the picture, that kid probably gets his ass beat at least three times a week. So he may have aquired some pop and lock skills while dodging punches.
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post #22 of 25
3/19/09 at 8:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Drew S. View Post
You're completely missing the point. This isn't about Presidents, it's about hundreds of years of institutional racism, a well documented, much reviled history of white's dressing up as blacks for demeaning and comedic purposes, and the fact that memories of such things still carry a ton of weight.
No, he's not missing the point. And it's only about institutional racism because the principal made it so. The key word in your sentence above, is that what they're trying to prevent here is DEMEANING depictions of blacks by whites dressing up. President Obama exhibits few if any traditionally stereotyped "black" mannerisms. If the kid did an accurate imitation (or one in any manner that wasn't racially stereotypical and demeaning, for that matter), this wouldn't be a minstrel show, it would be political satire. A constitutionally protected free speech activity, last time I checked. Cap seems fully aware of the history here. I think his point is, and I agree, that if what we're really looking for is equality this kind of censorship is an unfair, and unnecessary, double standard.
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post #23 of 25
3/26/09 at 12:38pm
Oh come on, we all know there is nothing more demeaning to black people than getting in their face and reminding them that an African American man is the leader of the free world. Wait, what?

Equating a white kid doing a non-offensive impersonation of Obama with racism and white oppression is a sure sign that you either A: are absolutely overflowing with white guilt, or B: have a general inability to recognize that the overwhelming majority of the world has moved on.
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post #24 of 25
3/26/09 at 3:06pm
Watch the fucking video and listen to the lyrics of the song he's dancing to. It is inappropriate.
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post #25 of 25
3/26/09 at 5:09pm
Why, because it's a rap song? Here are a chunk of the lyrics (the rest are here: http://music.yeucahat.com/song/Engli...bama-Song.html ):

First black prez
Aint that nice,
Im in the highest office thats right!
Now I can do whatever I like
Now I can do whatever I like
yeahhhh
So what Im half black and half white
So what I fist bump with my wife
Man, I can do whatever I like
I can do whatever I like

McCain I thought that you knew
By debate number two
That I was gonna win and there was nothing
That you could do
You got so upset by the third debate
I swear to god I think I saw tear,
LOOK

I picked Joe Biden
Now this ones riding
Long as yall got me you wont need nobody
You want it I got it
Propose it, Ill sign it
Tell them republicans BE QUIET

First black prez
Aint that nice,
Im in the highest office thats right!
Now I can do whatever I like
So what Im half black and half white
So what I fist bump with my wife
Man I can do whatever I like
Man I can do whatever I like



Am I missing something? What is so offensive about that?
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