User:Sycamore/Blacking up (pastime)

Hobos are well known in the wrong parts of Glasgow, Scotland. Here is one blacking up draw attention to his busking act. The Black community is considerably more tolerant of hobos doing this.

Blacking Up is a hobby that was started by the British during the colonial period for making fun of foreigners and ethnic sorts. It has since been taken up by many western and European countries. Its popularity has grown in woodland areas or within one's own household; particularly of working class people where the metaphorical line in the sand of wealth does not protect against exposure to black people.

In public outside of licensed events it is less acceptable to Black Up, and many feel restricted the same way transsexuals did in the 20th century. It has had something of a renaissance with high profile films like Tropic Thunder (2008) - featuring Robert Downey, Jr. blacking up for the film - as well as many actors and musicians admitting to blacking up regularly.

History

“ Yo motherfucka, I cannie swim lol! ”

An older form of blacking up, called Blackface, was more prevalent in the early 20th century. This practice was along similar lines to Blacking Up, however the aim was essentially derogatory towards Black races, whereas Blacking Up is complimentary and based around imitation rather than coarser exaggeration, or at least that's the aim. Blacking Up as a pastime started in the nineties when political correctness effectively prevented well educated middle class citizens from buying Golliwogs and sneering at "Blacks". This was compounded by a surge in Daily Mail sales with its increased circulation.

To combat this, the government passed a resolution via a sub-committee on racial affairs which would allow white people to Black Up during a bogus pastime called "paint-balling" - an entirely fictitious version of laser quest aimed at the Stag do/Weekend Dad market. Overall only the darkest skin types are emulated in the practice today, as lighter shades look a little bit too much like the terrorist races which have gone out of fashion in recent times.

Practice

An example of a 'Black Up' practitioner. This has been used as entertainment in the past, but now it has become a lifestyle choice with many refusing to acknowledge there inherent white selves.

Usually this involves some form of pigmentation, though there are other methods such as fecal matter or excessive sunbed use. The look can vary as sometimes it is obvious that the features don't match up, and for a skilled enthusiast it involves long and often arduous periods of observation and mimicry. However the most die-hard followers have learned to love being Black, and their ability to Black Up is far superior to mere imitation according to the British Council of Blacking Up. Lenny Henry, the leader of the Blacking Up Council in the United Kingdom, said in a 2001 BBC interview:

“ The rise of Blacking Up is amazing to see, with so many listening to traditionally Black music and spending that extra ten minutes on a sun bed to get realistic look on a discreet weekend 'Black Up' with like-minded friends. Blacking up is the new nudism in Britain ”

Often, the look is not even required: many insecure teenage males pretend to be Black so as to find a social acceptance in a world where white is no longer cool - in fact "white cool" has become the white bread of healthy coolness. Going to Black support groups is also easier to justify to their parents, teachers or drug dealers. Of course this act Black/look white way is considered too tame by the pure-breed Black Up specialists, and they are usually considered outside the "professional league".

The most challenging part is emulating the sense of rhythm which is wholly absent from white people, and also the ability to carry off being black. Notable Black Ups tend to be Americans who, due to high quantities of meat form their most common employment as meat packers, are able to carry off the primordial black physique.

Competitive Blacking Up

Every year in Austria a competition takes place where people from all around the globe Black Up and are judged by well-known Black Up 'artists' such as Lawrence Fishburne, Marshall Mathers and Chiwetel Ejiofor, who judge impressions and lived-in acts such as themselves.

Usually skills such as voice, posture and personality are all rated. Conformation is also a major factor, a term which means that should a person for example be a Skinny White Guy, how closely does his body match a comparative Skinny Black Dude and how much his "aura" is black or white.

Other surprising disciplines include the chip on your shoulder factor. Assessment is based on how quickly a Black Up case can create a fuss over a minor misunderstanding or innocuous quip, such as "you've got really white teeth" or something along those lines. The highest rated are the entrants who, faced with the most minor insults, go to pieces and threaten a media storm, or who use their Black Up skills to successfully get jobs they are unqualified for.

The 'coloured community's' response

Robert Downey, Jr. pictured on one of his "Blackout Weekends". It proved that it was not only an acceptable thing to take on the look and attributes of a Black person, but also use it as a form of self-assured self-mockery.

Although technically offended, many Black people film these Milky Bar Kids for personal amusement, often well concealed in bushes - particularly at night. A negro may have himself quite a chuckle at those whites who have Blacked Up and are imitating their heroes, or are just generally attempting a poor imitation of the street talk the Black community is famed for.

There is a special YouTube channel where Black people can laugh at the white idiots. Often, these attempts by white people are viewed with the same gentle mockery by Black people as white people bestow upon a well-educated Black person who is imitating mannerisms he has learned from being surrounded by whites - much like a chimp in costume or a transvestite.

The MOBO awards are planning on making sure that all guests are Blacked Up, so as to maintain the impression that only genuine Blacks gain entry. The current leader of the Black Brigade, Lawrence Fishbourne said in 2004:

“ Blackness for the Blacks is what we would say if we were white, but we're too fucking stoned man to really give a shit about you crazy Milky Bar Kids. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, I guess! ”

For some reason, outside of Michael Jackson, no Black person seems to have any desire to be white, and the there is no "Whiting Up" culture as yet in the UK. However, in Germany, in order to get around many part of East Berlin, Black guys will white up - this is not a form of fun, but an effective camouflage from psychotic Neo-Nazis.