In postracial America, the boundaries of what’s acceptable behavior are being pushed everyday. That certainly doesn’t mean everything “racial” automatically equates to being “racist”, anymore than it did prior to January 20th. This latest episode of Caucasian Craziness looks like a case study in when keepin’ it real goes wrong. Sorta.
Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader Whitney Isleib has inadvertently stepped into a Halloween controversy by reportedly dressing up as soon-to-be incarcerated rapper Lil’ Wayne in black-face.
Photos of the blonde-haired cheerleader turned hip-hop impresario were posted to Facebook and eventually made their way to sports blog Deadspin.com.
Offensive or just plain fun? Dallas fans are split.
“If she wasn’t a Dallas cheerleader would it really matter? It’s Halloween, you know. You get to go how you want to go” Cowboys fan Laura Pyhrr told CBS 11 Dallas at Sunday’s game.
Another fan was less sure.
“I’m assuming you would hold yourself up to a higher standard – especially if you’re playing for the Cowboys. But wow, not much I can say about that – it speaks for itself” said fan Richard Vasquez.
No one from the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders or the team would officially comment, but a team spokesman told us the team is aware of the situation and addressing it internally.
Isleib was not available for comment following Sunday’s game.
Here’s the moving pictures, in case you’re too lazy to read.
If there’s anything “racist” about this whole situation, it’s the news report mentioning the fact that Lil’ Wayne is “soon-to-be incarcerated rapper.” Uhhh, why exactly is that relevant to the story? Wouldn’t “Grammy winning rapper,” or “serial impregnating rapper,” or “goon/goblin rapper” be more accurate and less inflammatory?
Sorry, I fail to see the big deal with this cheerleader dressing up like a Gremlin. This ain’t like someone’s digging deep into annals of oppressive imagery. She ain’t dress like Moms Mabley or Pigmeat Markham, she dressed like the world’s currently most recognizable pop star. No harm no foul. How dumb would she have looked with that silly dread wig, that grill, and no makeup?
Awww, never mind.
Question: Is the Cowboys cheerleader being racist for channeling Her Inner Weezy, or is this just plain good ole’ American fun? Would you feel differently if this were a white man dressed as Lil’ Weezy?
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I don’t know why a White female would want to be a Black male but…..we do need more Black folks in White face. Hell, Michael Jackson did it and White folks didn’t mind.
I think the race card is played *FAR* too often in the media. I don’t see it as being offensive, hell if there was a contest for best or most convincing costume she gets it because when I saw this picture (aside from the breasts) I thought it was some weird looking black guy… aka lil wayne LOL
I don’t know how I feel about blackface. I mean in her case, it doesn’t seem as offensive because white women technically qualify as a minority. But on the other hand, this is just as offensive as if a white man were to dress as Obama in blackface (I’d be highly pissed and feel it is mockery). I don’t think she mean’t any harm by it, as most white people when it comes to adopting “black culture” (see: stereotypes). But until we fully deal with the racial backlash that exists due to salty white conservatives up in arms over Obama’s win, then I think its probably a safe bet to just leave blackface alone.
Atleast she thinks its funny to dress and act like that. Lil’ Wayne thinks he is keepin it real for a guy who attended the gifted school in lafayette and the drama club in secondary school, to dress up like he is a gangsta with fronts in his mouth. Seriously we made this guy a entertainment icon, so we cant get mad when someone tries to imitate him. I dont know whats worst, for a little black boy who has a great education, middle class home, good family structure to dress like lil wayne everyday… or a silly white girl to find it funny to dress up like a rapper she knows she isnt.