Paul Bissonnette of the Phoenix Coyotes jumped on Twitter to post pictures from the team’s Halloween party, and I really do wish I could say “Paul Bissonnette as Hacksaw Jim Duggan” was the news to share, even if he thinks Hacksaw said “OOOH” instead of the proper “HOOO”. No, what you see above is winger Raffi Torres as “Jay-Z”, complete with brown skin, and his wife, who I guess thinks a ton of self-tanner and a sparkly dress constitutes Beyonce.
Bissonnette was quick to defend his teammate thinking this was a good idea:
“As far as everyone trying to call ‘Racism’ because Raffi dressed up like Jay-Z can simmer down. He’s a huge Jay-Z fan.”
And that leads us to the next few sentences, which you (and I’m talking to Raffi Torres directly, here) should read carefully and commit to memory:
I get it. You aren’t a racist. You like black people. You wanted to be a black guy you like for Halloween, and that guy has brown skin, so you made your skin brown. When someone like you dons an “innocent blackface”, much like Spanky did that time he put shoe polish on his face to escape the house dressed as Buckwheat, it causes rambling, point-and-counterpoint discussion about the history of prejudice and the widespread ignorance of entitlement on every sports blog and news show known to man. Here’s the quick version … it doesn’t matter whether or not you’re trying to be racist. Wearing blackface, especially in 2011, especially when you’re a sports celebrity and especially when people are taking pictures of you to put on the Internet, makes you the dumbest motherf**ker alive.
You’re stupid. You’re a dumb, stupid idiot. Don’t do this. Just don’t. That’s the end of the discussion. It’s a bad idea, regardless of what percentage non-white you happen to be or how many black people you talk to on Facebook. Your thought process should be “I should dress up as Jay-Z for Halloween … haha too bad I’m not a black guy” and then you dress up as Peanut Butter Jelly Time or the Black Swan or whateveer.
“Jay-Z” isn’t even a good costume for a black guy, it’s just “black guy in Yankees hat and sunglasses”. Jay’s wearing a Biggie Smalls costume anyway.
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So… Why is this any different then Dwayne Wade to dress up as Justin Timberlake last year?
People are ridiculous.
@Aaron – In situations like this, “why can [minority] do x but white people can’t” shouldn’t even come into play. It just sorta begins and ends at “this is a bad idea for everyone, so let’s all stop doing it”.
I bet he’s wearing Bad Idea jeans in that picture.
I didn’t peg you as the “dressing up as another people’s culture is racist” kind of guy. I don’t really see the problem with it, except the fact that he didn’t put a pillow underneath his shirt and Jay Z is an uninspiring costume
C. Thomas Howell really aged well. I wonder if his wife secretly enjoyed hooking up with a black guy.
TWWL The Magazine Asks: What if Jay-Z were white?
@Thatsamare – As a Cleveland Indians fan I CAN’T be that guy. To reiterate what the post was trying to say, I don’t really care about a guy in blackface, I just think it’s a bad idea, and one of those things that should make you go “okay, this isn’t going to go over well with anyone” before you do it. Like, I can’t imagine one person going “oh wow Jay-Z what a cool costume”.
Black guys dressed as white guys = ok
White guys dressed as black guys = racist
Since when did people with no sense of humour get to tell society what is and what isn’t funny? It was a costume, not some sociological study. Get over it.
@V Dub – Again, please read the article. At no point did I say “white guys can dress as black guys and it’s fine”, if that was brought up at all my response would be “stop doing dumb shit”. What black guys can and cannot do has nothing to do with this at all.
Sorry Brandon for doing this on your site, but I’ve really had enough with this. Knowing full well that arguing on the internet isn’t going to get anywhere I have to respond to the commentors.
You’re right. What Dwyane Wade did was stupid. It was stupid racially and it was a stupid idea for a costume. The difference between what DWade did and what Raffi Torres did is that one has an institutionalized history of racism, while the other one is a bad idea. This is why you shouldn’t go in black face. This is why it’s a big deal. This reminds people of the time when white people would dress up as black people and mock them and make fun of them solely because of the colour of their skin. So the reason why this is a bad idea is because it brings back everything that has been done to us a race and a culture before. And before you think it was a long time ago, it performed as late as the 60’s by some culturally insensitive people. So please, stop doing the “it’s not a big deal, looks DWade did it” excuse or “He didn’t mean it maliciously” excuse or anything else. There is no excuse. Ever. Deal.
This why I only dress up as stereotypical Italian characters for Halloween. I’m more offended at how lazy he was in his costume selection.
Black guys dressed as white guys = ok
Yes, yes, white people are the real victims of racism. Glenn Beck had a big chalkboard chart and everything that proved it, right?
If you need this explained to you, I’m sure the nurse’s aide can walk you through it after she cuts up your meat. Try not to choke on the applesauce, Corky.
I’m more offended at how lazy he was in his costume selection.
Seriously. You’re a ginger, dude. Put on the leprechaun costume and shut the fuck up.
The guys name is actually Paul Bonnette. Problem solved.
It is a halloween costume. Take the stick out of your ass and get over it.
“Take the stick out of your ass” said the man who spells it “humour.”
co-sign, Jason Gordon.
Roger Sterling sees nothing wrong with this.
@Thatsamare, V Dub – no. B’s point is not “dressing up as another people’s culture is racist”. If this guy wanted to throw on a white t-shirt, a Yankees cap, and some Ray-Bans and call himself Jay-Z, that’s fine. The point is that wearing blackface is really, really fucking stupid. The only purpose it serves is to dredge up memories of a time when hilarious comedians used to put on blackface and then proceed to make really awful, racist jokes about black people. Because of that history, if you wear blackface now, it probably makes some people wonder about whether you’re racist, too, even if you’re not. OTOH, it removes all doubt about whether you’re a moron. Also, it’s just not that fucking funny.
It seems as though the theme of this is “Some people will get pissy so don’t bother”
I’m more upset with the closeness of his “deuces” finger pose than is incredibly awful attempt at Halloween costume.
Get over yourselves!
Why is “get over it” the only counterpoint? I was never under it. I’m not this guy.
Humour is the proper spelling. Just like honour and colour. It’s called the English language. Try using it properly.
Ummm, No.