Ebony Denied
May 23, 2012, 3:14 AM | Updated: Jun 5, 2012, 3:27 am
Has anyone ever seen a minstrel show?
I didn’t think so.
Back in the 1800s, riverboats and vaudeville shows would often offer black entertainment performed by white performers in black face make-up. Later, that was a trademark of the famous theatrical performer Al Jolson. Many of the sketches and much of the comedy was based n the racial stereotypes of the day.
That’s why it’s not done now. It would be tasteless. But now comes a story from Colorado Springs, Colorado that represents what happens when racial sensitivity reaches a level of insulting stupidity.
A second grader was pulled out of class last week because he wanted to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. on Wax Museum Day. His parents brought him to school in a black suit, white shirt and black tie with a moustache because that’s what M.L.K. looked like in the child’s picture.
but the student doing the tribute was white, so he wore black make-up. The school labeled his choice as offensive.
All the 7-year-old white child wanted to do is show his respect for Martin Luther King, Jr, who, I have no doubt, spent last Wednesday shaking his head in wonder.
I’m Pat McMahon.
