Why people celebrate Halloween with blackface

They claim it’s just a costume, but it has historical significance

“Black is not a dress” is a statement that has been made by many black people. And yet some people have used blackface despite their offense. Minstrel shows, which began in the 1830s, featured white actors who blackened their faces, usually using shoe polish and burnt cork to mock the physical characteristics and mannerisms of blacks. These performances increased in popularity after the Civil War. According to the Smithsonian“these performances characterized blacks as lazy, ignorant, superstitious, hypersexual, and prone to theft and cowardice.” They attempted to codify the racial concept of whiteness by portraying blackness “as its antithesis.” By portraying black characters negatively, these shows provided justification for their subjugation in American society.

While most consider blackface a shameful pastime confined to the realm of Jim Crow, there are some examples of white people continuing the practice into the modern era. For example, black fishing refers to someone presenting as black by changing their appearance or speech patterns. Like actors in minstrel shows, these performers darken their skin, usually with make-up and suntan. His goal is to be indistinguishable from a black person. An analysis of black-fishing by Instagram influencers suggested that the practice is performative. “Racialized bodies and aesthetics become props in themselves, to be adorned and erased at a whim,” Wesley E. Stevens posted at Social Media + Society. While some white influencers reduce blackness to an aesthetic they exploit for support, they can quickly shed that persona to enjoy the social benefits of whiteness.

Wearing blackface is an ongoing tradition, usually at Halloween costume parties where guests are expected to dress up as a famous, historical or fictional character. There is nothing wrong with a white person admiring a black person and wanting to dress in their likeness. However, when someone darkens their skin tone and makes fun of black people’s mannerisms, they act like minstrels. And none of this is necessary. For example, if you want to dress like former President Obama, you can wear a tan colored suit. Those who follow politics will have the joke. But, if you instead choose to darken your skin, you should know that it will be considered blackface. And attending a Halloween party does not make this behavior acceptable. Remember that minstrel shows were always presented as comedy, so arguing that these holidays are a time for fun and festivity doesn’t change, say, the racist implications of blackface.

While the use of blackface is generally frowned upon in the post-civil rights era, costume parties offer a thin veil of plausible deniability. White partygoers can wear dark makeup and make fun of black people the way minstrel show actors did, while still saying they’re not racist. Of course, not all whites participate in the practice. However, there are always a few who keep this tradition alive and remind us of the prevalence of anti-black racism. Touré wrote in cry last year, “Dear white people, this Halloween, for once, don’t do blackface,” practically asking white Americans to stop participating in this unpleasant tradition. However, it is unlikely that the white people who needed to hear this message were listening or willing to read the article. Those who choose to wear blackface in this day and age have indeed evaded good guidance.

Black people have asked white people to stop wearing blackface over the years, but the tradition continues for a few reasons. Some really lack cultural competence. They don’t have anyone in their inner circle or group chat to reject the idea right out of the gate. However, others wear blackface despite annual warnings for a far more nefarious reason: to mock, belittle, and belittle black people. Regardless of your intent, wearing blackface fosters an environment where racism is socially acceptable. This, of course, endangers blacks. For example, researchers found a relationship between endorsement of racist stereotypes and judgments of criminal behavior and punishment (Hurwitz & Peffley, 1997), indicating that those who believed myths about blacks were more likely to to agree to harsher punishments against the accused. In another study, Jardina and Piston (2022) found that “dehumanizing attitudes toward Black people can powerfully influence candidate evaluations and voting decisions.”

Although minstrel shows have long since shed their decency in the eyes of most Americans, some have continued to uphold this tradition of blackface, albeit in more subtle ways. We must remember that stereotyping is not just an effort to belittle those in a lower social position and reduce them to negative characteristics. It is also a way to harden negative attitudes towards racial minorities by highlighting their differences. For example, in 2006, a congressman from New York, Mike Lawler, wore blackface when he attended a college Halloween party as Michael Jackson. Of course, he could have easily dressed like the King of Pop in his iconic military-style jacket and shiny white gloves. Removing the look does not require someone to darken their skin color. But this is rational thought and his act goes beyond rationality.

Black people can say, “Blackness ain’t a costume,” until we’re blue in the face, but if white people refuse to listen, the practice will continue. Only, in this version of black face, racism is denied rather than accepted. For example, in 2021, Brevard County firefighter Jake Johnson wore blackface to a Halloween party, claiming he was dressed as Denzel Washington. Needless to say, it did the award-winning actor no favors. A few weeks later, he returned for “light duty” and denied accusations that he was racist. Unlike those who proudly expressed racist attitudes during Jim Crow, some whites in the modern era wear blackface while denying racism as a motive. However, regardless of one’s willingness to acknowledge the harm, wearing blackface is a tradition rooted in anti-black racism. Efforts to portray the decision as a comedic premise are nothing new: they are aligned with traditional minstrels’ performances, which sought to reduce the darkness to just one costume.