Poll: Over 4/10 Americans still think blackface is acceptable
Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/31/blackface-poll_n_4182928.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular
According to the new poll, 43 percent of Americans think it's acceptable for a white person to wear blackface in order to appear as a black person on Halloween, while only 37 percent think it's unacceptable. And respondents were almost equally divided on whether it's acceptable to dress specifically as an ethnic stereotype on Halloween. Forty percent said it's acceptable and 41 percent said it's unacceptable.
Blackface was frequently used in stage and later film productions in the 19th and well into the 20th century for heavily stereotyped portrayals of black characters by both white and black actors.
Among white respondents to the new poll, 46 percent said it's acceptable to wear blackface on Halloween, while 44 percent said it was acceptable to dress as an ethnic stereotype.
Black respondents disagreed. By a 68 percent to 21 percent margin, most said it was unacceptable for a white person to wear blackface to dress up as a black person on Halloween, while by a 76 percent to 17 percent most said it's unacceptable to dress up as a racial or ethnic stereotype.
The poll also found a political divide in Americans' views on blackface. By a 59 percent to 27 percent margin, most Republicans said that they thought wearing black face is acceptable, while by a 53 percent to 30 percent margin, most Democrats said it is unacceptable. A 43 percent to 33 percent plurality of independents said they believed wearing blackface on Halloween is acceptable.
The results come on the heels of several instances of blackface that have attracted media attention, including actress Julianne Hough, who dressed as Crazy Eyes from "Orange Is The New Black," an Italian fashion designer who donned blackface at an African-themed party, and a pair who chose to dress as Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman for a Halloween party.
Still, the poll showed signs of progress on the issue. Younger respondents were less likely than older respondents to say that wearing blackface or dressing as a racial or ethnic stereotype is acceptable, with a 41 percent to 31 percent plurality of Americans under 30 saying that blackface is unacceptable.
= new reply since forum marked as read
I'll assume you are honest in your conflict. Benefit of the doubt, and all that.
Blackface has been used to promote stereotypes and demean us since before there was film to record it.
The recent backlash is for exactly the same reason. There is no stigma attached to being white in this country.
Just... NO.
If you are encouraging your children to connect to other cultures/races, then you should go all the way. Embracing diversity includes compassion and understanding of differences and sensitivities. Connection without understanding as you state it, generally ends up exploitative in my view.
As a middle-aged black man, I think the conversation should be about whether WE feel it's demeaning, regardless of intent.
This ^^^ is not harmless fun...
Just say NO to Blackface.
They do not have to THINK about these things until it becomes a "problem".
I don't give a damn about intent because blackface, even in supposed homage, almost always takes a shot at us. Mr. T, Lil Wayne, Travon, Crazy Eyes, "African" parties, the Jamaican bobsled team, etc... those are all punchlines that exaggerate the stereotype. I never see Charles Drew or "black Doctor guy" as a Blackface halloween costume, I wonder why that is? 
I might be throwing gas on the fire because the book/movie were so popular - even here at DU . . . But I wondered WHYYYY - when we had our first black First Lady - WHYYYY was The Help so popular? It's a bit of a different scenario - but the same generl idea.
The same assholes who looked down their nose at Michelle were holding up maids in Jim Crow Mississippi as examples of "good" black women. The maids' defiance aside - they are no longer examples of shattering America's perception of black women - Michelle is.
This is and was an observation of my Italian immigrant husband who sees things for black Americans as they are - because he has the outsider living inside advantage. 
Though I completely understand where she is coming from and feel EXACTLY the same way. Have not read the book, have no interest whatsoever in the movie.
And after reading all of the plagiarism from the white author of the life and story of a black woman who worked as a nanny (of course, that black woman did not receive a dime of the millions made from the book or movie), my interest in the book and movie shriveled even further.
Because they are dim-witted and a roadblock to civil society. Shame on them! 
