Metro Pulse/Color Conscious/The Soul of Blackface

Comment
on this story

by George White, Jr.

Petra nervously shuffled the photographs from the fraternity party like a deck of cards. Although she had memorized every disgusting detail of the racist images, the pictures no longer upset her as they once did. After all, she told herself, she was just a black woman gazing into the party life of her white, college-age peers.

Just as she looked at the weird shimmering of brown shoe-polish on pink skin, Barrett blew into Chandler's Deli with his big smile and bigger voice. After they embraced, Petra cast her eyes downward. "What's wrong? Is it the pictures?" Barrett inquired. "No. Well...yes," Petra said.

Sensing her anxiety, Barrett coaxed her, "Let me see." Barrett's smile faded as he said "You know, this is so terrifying that sometimes I can't find the words..."

Petra's hand rested lightly on Barrett's as they sat down at their table. "Barrett, I know that minstrel shows were a form of entertainment ridiculing blacks, whether slave or free, but it was more than just theater, right?"

"Of course," Barrett replied softly, "Minstrels were founded by white actors, singers, and songwriters who used blackface, as well as their marketing campaigns, to convince audiences that the entertainers were providing an authentic glimpse into black life. In addition to the fact that the harsh stereotypes concealed the complexity of black existence, they also reinforced slavery and racial discrimination in every conceivable form of social, political, or economic activity."

"That's right," Petra chimed in. "The character 'Jim Crow' was supposed to be an old, crippled slave who enjoyed life on a plantation. So I guess the power of blackface comes from the fact that the images justified treating blacks like sub-humans unworthy of respect."

"Yep," Barrett offered grimly, eyes still scanning, "and an entire social system of segregation, enforced by violence, was named after him."

"I remember my parents teaching me," Petra continued, "that most of the writers, actors, and directors of these shows were Northerners who knew few blacks and had no experience with plantation slavery. It makes you wonder how they could do such a thing."

Without looking up, Barrett responded, "Well, it's like a friend of mine from Chicago said, but in a different context, that the dangerous combination of arrogance and ignorance can lead to just about anything. It was especially important in the 1850s as a response to black demands for voting rights, an end to employment discrimination, and the abolition of slavery."

"Right," Petra added, "instead of admitting that our government and legal systems were flawed, society just dismissed their complaints because blacks were not to be taken seriously."

"What really bothers me," said Barrett, "is the idea that these frat boys shouldn't be punished because they didn't know that these images were offensive and anti-democratic. C'mon, who are they fooling? Not only did everybody hear about the same foolishness on other campuses, but the UT administration forced the Greeks to attend a meeting on this very subject. Even if they hadn't attended that meeting, everybody should know. It's not like kids are going into Party City and saying 'Mamma, I wanna be Stepin Fetchit this Halloween!'"

Petra's laugh almost forced Diet Coke through her nose. "Yeah, B, I feel you," she said, regaining her composure, "but I disagree. I'm not saying that those boys are innocent. I am certain, though, that many white people never think about race; they figure it's not an issue for them; they feel unassailable; they feel entitled to do anything their minds can conceive. Thus, they can sincerely act shocked when someone wants to hold them accountable for their despicable deeds and pretend to be the victims of 'overly aggressive' black protesters or 'politically correct' administrators."

"But...that's worse...than just being ignorant," Barrett stammered quizzically.

"I'm sayin', tho'," Petra affirmed, "And the timing couldn't be more appropriate. Check it: the Justice Department casually dismissed claims of voter fraud during election 2000. As neo-conservatives attack Affirmative Action and other reforms, black people keep demanding an end to continuing racism. And as we knock on the doors of power, the response seems to be 'Ain't nobody in here but us chickens.'"

Now it was Barrett's turn to stifle a soda-filled laugh.