BlackFace is Funny - Or Else

Painting ones` skin black, a practice known as blackface, is a centuries old theatrical gimmick – and for the last nine decades, a cultural taboo. It wasn`t until 1915, when D.W. Griffith`s The Birth of a Nation was released, that the general public started to make waves that, um, this could be just a little offensive.   

The film, billed as “historical”, used only white actors to portray African Americans and despite segregation and Jim Crow laws in full swing, the American people went into a stir.   Of course, change doesn't happen overnight and blackface endured as a standby in comedy and satire for a little while, popping in modern day films here and there.  The latest version, Tropic Thunder, has Robert Downey Jr. portray an actor, portraying a black soldier.  Commenting on his racial-reversal, Downey Jr. states "It's entertainment that's set up by people who are high-minded enough to not be racist or offensive…" To that end, Downey Jr. seems to be attracting praise for his unique role, but is this something that really deserves praise in the first place?

Directed by Ben Stiller, Tropic Thunder isn`t the first time blackface has made it to the silver screen this quarter century.  In fact, it wouldn`t be the first time Stiller himself has used blackface for laughs.

We at Debonair have uncovered a few other mainstream instances of blackface used in comedy:

 

Tropic Thunder (2008)



Robert Downey Jr. plays Kirk Lazarus, playing a hardened black sergeant. Pictured with Tropic Thunder Director Ben Stiller.

 

Zoolander (2001)



Surprise! - Zoolander stands as Stiller's masterwork. The only controversy this film stirred-up was for it's post-9/11 digital removal of the WTC.

 

Soul Man (1986)

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Although billed as a comedy, Soul Man isn't all that funny. Perhaps that's why the film caught a bit of flak in its 1986 release. In fact, C. Thomas Howell (pictured) was on the fast track to stardom until this goose egg forever tarnished his career.

 

Silver Streak (1976)



Silver Streak marks the first time Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor played opposite one another in a film. The scene (above) originally called for a white man to walk in on Gene Wilder, totally fooled by his blackface disguise. However, Richard Pryor insisted to Director, Arthur Hiller, that the scene be rewritten - whereas a black man encounters Wilder, and isn't fooled. Pryor's suggestion made the final cut.

 

Whoops Apocalypse (1986)




Michael Richards acts in this British satire depicting the start of World War III. The experience of playing a black man gives Richards an unprecedented respect for racial tolerance. Oh wait, never mind.

 

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		John W. DeFeo e. jdefeo(at)debonairmag.com John W. DeFeo is the co-founder of Debonair Magazine. He lives and works in New York city and loves advertising, movies, and art. You can view a sample of his creative works at www.johnwdefeo.com. For more articles by John, click his photo.