Attending a Costume Party in Blackface - This happens every year

[Catherine Vincent]

http://www.khou.com/news/local/stories/khou081028_mp_blackface-photos.15b46c571.html

Costume party photos raise controversy in Eagle Lake

10:03 AM CDT on Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Brad Woodard / 11 News

EAGLE LAKE, Texas – Eagle Lake is a charming town just west of Houston.

Costume party photos raise controversy in Eagle Lake
October 28, 2008 View larger E-mail Clip More Video With a population of 3,684 people, it would seem that it would be the kind of place where everyone gets along. But beneath its idyllic surface runs an undercurrent of discontent.

“It's just sad that after all these years, it doesn't seem we've moved forward,” said Renee Cooper, Eagle Lake resident.

Cooper lives in Eagle Lake and is also the town’s former mayor and a former city council member.

“Everybody claims they aren’t racist or prejudiced. But then why did they do it? Did they not think of the consequences? Did they not think of the people they were going to hurt?” said Cooper.

Cooper is concerned about some photos that recently surfaced on the Internet. They were apparently taken at a costume party earlier this month in the neighboring town of Garwood. They show various people in blackfaces.

One of them shows a man with a gun in his belt drinking Old English malt liquor. Another is photo of someone dressed up as a pregnant cheerleader.

[DangerDave921]

1. poor taste will always be around. eom

[arcadian]

2. Eagle Lake an' Garwood's been a feudin' for 150 some aught years.

Similar to the Shelbyville/Springfield feud.