Students accused of racism for blackening their faces

College students at York University dressed as characters from Awesome Runnings. Photograph: Allstar/Cinetext

In York, 4 male college students have been criticised for painting their faces black and dressing as characters from the movie Awesome Runnings, in which a group of Jamaicans enter a bobsleigh competitors. The college students wore black morphsuits, had painted black skin and 1 donned a dreadlock wig.

The information follows reports that law students in Edinburgh this month painted their faces to dress as Somalian pirates for an “all around the planet” themed celebration. Meanwhile at the University of London, a student with a painted black encounter lately won a fancy dress competition at a union occasion.

“I’ve observed that it’s taking place a lot more now,” says Aaron Kiely, Black Students Officer for the NUS. “It really is deeply worrying, due to the fact it fuels racist stereotypes about black folks.

“If you are a black pupil strolling about campus and you see men and women who have dressed up to mock you, what sort of setting does that make for folks who want to discover?”

Isabelle Scott and Sairish Tahir, racial equality officers at York University, agree that the phenomenon is on the rise: “Perpetuating racial stereotypes to develop shock value seems to be an increasingly common theme across younger individuals at universities now.”

They level out that painting faces black was a well-known form of enjoyment in the 19th century. “Blacking up is steeped in a background of discrimination, degradation and bigotry. It started in the 19th century to dehumanise an complete race for the amusement of the privileged and elite.”

Helena Horton, a pupil at York University, says not everyone is convinced there’s anything incorrect with blacking up: “A whole lot of men and women have defended [sporting black paint], saying ‘what’s incorrect with black faces anyway’, and ‘it’s a joke – they’re having exciting, not currently being malicious’.”

“‘Bad taste’ or ‘politically incorrect’ events are in vogue at the second,” says Eleri Watson, a pupil at Durham University, who has held discussion groups about racism and sexism at university.

“At a single party we heard about, white men and women blacked up to pretend to be slaves. There have also been people dressed as Nazis, the twin towers and Jimmy Savile. It truly is typical to see costumes like that. It is branded as banter or as ironic.”

“Some men and women consider it truly is funny,” says Sofia Hewson, a pupil at Durham University. “And if you get in touch with them out, you happen to be branded as humourless. Students are in a cocoon at uni, where they don’t have to participate in true lifestyle and they’re protected from being judged.”

In lad culture, racism and sexism can thrive, says Hewson. “Students are in a bubble and so some believe they can do what they want.”

“Universities look to give students who do factors like this a slap on the wrist,” says Watson. “In the actual planet you could get fired, or be punished by law. If college students go into a job and anticipate that it really is alright to behave like this, then they will have a rude awakening.”

The student union at Birmingham University lately tried to tackle the problem by banning any costume deemed racist from campus venues. The blanket ban drew criticism from several college students, for focusing on all costumes that could be witnessed as racist, like some based mostly on fictional nations.

So is a blanket ban the best way to go?

Jonathan Blausten, a student at Birmingham University, wrote an open letter criticising the union’s ban at Birmingham and accusing it of “perverting what is a really important conversation”.

He stated: “By cutting out even the slightest mention of race, or by hunting for wrongdoing when it isn’t there, they are providing themselves no leg to stand on when somebody is in fact racist.

“There is no difference in therapy, and no space to make an illustration of a person. This stupid, catch-all policy is lazy, and students are currently being punished for no explanation.”

But when it comes to painting faces black, several come to feel a hardline policy is essential and justifiable. “I fully support a zero tolerance approach,” says Kiely. “We have to say that it truly is unacceptable, particularly on our campuses and in public spots.”

More awareness is essential, some students say. “It’s a case of modifying the culture,” says Watson, “rather than getting a ban.”

“We need to have to advertise a healthier culture,” says Hewson. “Universities need to have to actively discourage racism and raise awareness, not just place measures in area once something has happened.”

Students accused of racism for blackening their faces