Last week was the Mr. NDSU contest. It’s usually pretty good, a fake pageant where the contestants raise several thousand dollars for diabetes research. This year however the event was marred, by the Saddle and Sirloin club entry. Their lip-synching skit was a parody of the YouTube video “I have a crush on Barack Obama.” The candidate dressed up as Obama by painting his face black and putting on an afro wig. During the skit he got a lap dance while two cowboys had pretended to have anal sex and finished by ripping up the Barack 2008 banner they were holding.
This caused quite a stir on campus, offending the black and LGTB community. Even worse, since Barack Obama is visiting North Dakota soon, the story of the racist skit has been in the news around the whole nation. Everyone from Fox news to CBS to the Star Tribune have run a story about the Mr. NDSU skit. It’s always great to be famous, but I hate that NDSU is now famous for being racist.
Thing is, I don’t know if the skit REALLY was a hate crime. The contestant obviously has issues with Obama, and his skit made fun of the man, but does that mean he hates him because he is black? Dressing up in blackface was a way for racists to make fun of people of color back in the 1920’s, but that doesn’t mean everyone who dresses up like that is racist. I’m not saying the skit was offensive to black people, but offensive doesn’t mean always mean wrong. Same goes for the part of the skit dealing with the two gay cowboys.
Obviously people are hurt and offended. I am offended that this guy did it, and I do think he probably is a racist hick. But I love free speech more than punishing a racist, and I hope NDSU’s national fame doesn’t cause them to be heavy handed in their investigation.
April 1, 2008 at 10:42 am |
I tend to agree with you that there is a difference between the historical use of what is termed “blackface,” which was used to laugh at a stereotypical and offensive version of an African-American, and a person painting their face black to make fun of a specific political candidate (as opposed to a racial or ethnic group).
September 17, 2008 at 4:19 pm |
September 17, 2008 at 4:25 pm |
Obama is obviously using the race card because he has a lot to gain and nothing to lose.
Think about it, black people want racism to exist because they can use it as an excuse for everything, and because blacks are the biggest beneficiaries if racism exists.
How exactly would white people benefit from racism?
… just imagine if there was a White History Month. I believe that Black History Month just causes more segregation and racism. it should be changed into American History Month.
Blacks tend to be more racist because they can get away with it easier. They like to preach their 200 year old slave propaganda to take advantage of people.
And remember it was Obama’s church and racist pastor for over 20 years who claimed “God DAMN America!!!”.
Are you automatically racist if you disagree with a black person??