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Discussion Boards => Off-Topic => Debate & Discuss => Topic started by: linderlizzie on February 07, 2019, 09:43:40 am
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I happen to believe that not all cases of "blackface" were meant to demean people of color. How else could you emulate them properly? Al Jolson is an example. If you choose to read the article below, check out where I highlighted a couple of portions to prove my point.
The following is from The History of Minstrelsy.
"Al Jolson
Perhaps the most popular blackface artist of the 20th century, Al Jolson was a hugely influential entertainer, inspiring future artists such as Judy Garland, Jackie Wilson and Bob Dylan. A natural entertainer with impressive energy, Jolson’s performance style was over the top, wringing all the humor, sentimentality and melodrama from a song. His complete commitment to songs and characters entranced audiences.
Born in Lithuania in 1886, Asa Yoelson immigrated to New York as a child and grew up singing and performing in circuses, vaudeville shows, and burlesques. In 1909, he was hired as a blackface performer in Lew Dockstader's Minstrels, his first experience in the genre. In 1911, he made a smashing debut as an opening act for a play, singing Stephen Foster songs in blackface. His popularity soon overwhelmed Broadway and Jolson became a star and enjoyed a string of hit performances until he retired from the live stage in 1926.
Jolson’s crowning glory came in 1927 in the first full-length talking movie, The Jazz Singer. His semi-autobiographical character struggled to decide whether to pursue a career as a jazz singer or pursue his father’s vocation as a cantor at a Jewish temple. Jolson’s liberal views on race and his belief that African and Jewish Americans shared experiences of discrimination and hate gave his performances depth and meaning that was missing from most white blackface entertainers before and since. Unlike the minstrel shows that came before, The Jazz Singer called attention to the fact that the performer wore a mask. His performance enthralled audiences around the country. It was even reported that black audiences wept during screenings.
Jolson starred in other major films during the 1930s and beyond, but The Jazz Singer is the film that vaulted him to international stardom. The film’s debut brought a flood of praise and broke all existing box office records. His performance is credited with popularizing African American music more than ever before and creating new interest in contemporary black artists such as Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Fats Waller. The Jazz Singer also helped make Jolson the highest-paid entertainer of his day.
The practice of blackface continued in the U.S. for several more decades, steadily declining after the 1930s. The Civil Rights movement and changing attitudes on race helped relegate blackface to the dustbin of history."
I'm open to some frank discussion regarding this topic. This is just my point of view right now.
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"Emulate them properly?" Do you honestly think blackface is what black people looked like? Or acted like?
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I hate when politicians bring up crap that happen 30 years ago to try and demean someone. I am sure that we all have things from our younger days that we wish we had not done.
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I hate when politicians bring up crap that happen 30 years ago to try and demean someone. I am sure that we all have things from our younger days that we wish we had not done.
Amen Nanny.I guess thats why they say "if"is a big word.
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When black people dress as white characters they don't have to paint their skin white to emulate them.
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When black people dress as white characters they don't have to paint their skin white to emulate them.
Do you have an example of this? I would like to see that. I'm not familiar with anyone of color doing that.
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I do not think it is appropriate, however when Joy Behar showed her blackface picture, I thought she looked more beautiful than she does without it!!!
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wow I havenot go approve yet
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enough with the Identy Politics, lets debate how we can create more jobs for the lower class...
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I pretty much agree with the original poster. "Blackface" isn't always intended to be disrespectful. Nowadays most people are doing it to dress as a character for halloween or something. I think the girl from Dancing with the Stars got in trouble for that reason. I don't think she was trying to be disrespectful, she was just trying to emulate another actress/character.
In the case of stuff like Jolson, I can understand it being uncomfortable these days, because it looks more like a caricature of a black man the way he did it. But, again, it was a different time. I don't think it was intended to be 'hateful'. It was just a style of singing back then.
I'm not saying I would do 'Blackface' or encourage others to, but there's an awful lot of rhetoric about it, as if it's some unpardonable social offence, when 'hate' isn't necessarily always involved.
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Who really cares, but if people use to do that and no one makes a big deal then why is it such a big deal now? Why don't they get upset when people try to dance or sing like them? I think that would be offensive ??? Just another thing to complain about vrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr :bad: 8)
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You should just be yourself and act like a smart person I don't really think people should feel obligated to act how a lot of people the same race as them act or be demeaned for it they should just be judged and discerned purely by their character, I'm sure there are reasons people act why they act they shouldn't be made to feel bad about it especially about a touchy subject but maybe instead carefully given some constructive criticism for how they could do better. ;)
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I hate when politicians bring up crap that happen 30 years ago to try and demean someone. I am sure that we all have things from our younger days that we wish we had not done.
Me too. Since they want to only pick and choose certain politicians or another public figures, it's just not right. If they want to do that, then I suggest they investigate EVERY public figure/politician and put their past out there. but of course they won't do that. Even Carol Burnett show would've been banned and/or trashed with today's attitude. Everyone is offended over something, even minor things. Ridiculous!
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I hate when politicians bring up crap that happen 30 years ago to try and demean someone. I am sure that we all have things from our younger days that we wish we had not done.
Me too. Since they want to only pick and choose certain politicians or another public figures, it's just not right. If they want to do that, then I suggest they investigate EVERY public figure/politician and put their past out there. but of course they won't do that. Even Carol Burnett show would've been banned and/or trashed with today's attitude. Everyone is offended over something, even minor things. Ridiculous!
I remember the Carol Burnette show.That is a very good example how she made us laugh and no one seemed to get offended.Times were different then.Love of greater number has cooled off as was predicted.
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There are some eye-opening responses to "Why is blackface offensive?" at https://www.quora.com/Why-is-blackface-offensive
Sometimes we need another perspective.
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To be honest, as a Black person myself, I find it to be offensive and inappropriate. However, I am not going to raise a tizzy over it. What I hate is the fact that people dredge up misdeeds from 30 - 40 years ago and make a federal case over it (such as the Virginia governor, whose college yearbook illustrated white students in blackface). Honestly, he should have kept his mouth shut about it. When he started talking about dressing like Michael Jackson for a contest, I was like 'Where the hell is this moron's PR representative?! LOL
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The only personal experience I have had with this was about 50 years ago when I sang in a Mistral Show our Barbershop Chorus put on and our director (who is still an amazing performer) sang Ak Jolson's Mammy in blackface (on one knee) and the mixed race audience gave him a standing ovation that lasted several minutes. I think the society of today is missing out on a lot.
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There are some eye-opening responses to "Why is blackface offensive?" at https://www.quora.com/Why-is-blackface-offensive
Sometimes we need another perspective.
That was certainly interesting. Thanks for the viewpoint you presented.
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I hope that we can all stop talking hate, race, and color, and just come together in peace...
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We are all human. Why is living in love and peace so much to ask? The only race is the human race.
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people have lost their minds on this stuff , big cry babys
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Why is it people are not offended or outraged by the demonstrators who go around covering their faces with black masks, and doing bad things in open sight, that too is very offensive in my eyes...think about that...