You can't really fault the kid or the intent behind the project... but seriously, parents? Slicked-back hair? Is the kid Martin Luther King or Al Sharpton?
The way they keep talking about the "female staff member" makes me think that up until the cameras got there, she was referred to as "the black woman."
I'm sure the kid meant well, but I don't think the parents did.
That fact that they rejected the very reasonable request to simply wash off the blackface makes me think that they intended to cause a stir, and are that specific type of "if we had White Entertainment Television..." right-wing morons. Poor kid.
I am sure you're right, but I hope that you're wrong, because it's such a perfectly bizarre situation if the parents meant well.
I friggin' love the idea that they admire the man and don't see how blackening the kids face should ever equal minstrel show racism from generations past. [and maybe they were thinking of the Wayans brothers' White Girls, and that their son's tribute couldn't be as bad as that lampooning].
I also hope the person who complained had best intentions. Perfect shitshow. Let's get 1000 random blacks and whites together to debate this, and not let them out until they reach some kind of consensus; maybe they can solve the n-word too.
Lastly, I love that this is "CNN Breaking News".
"News"
I honestly see no problem with this. It is just a costume. It's only 'blackface' when the underlying message of the costume or it's purposeful use is for racist intentions. This was a grade school play.
I played a spanish guy in a play in middle school. I got makeup. So fucking what?
I go by a simple set of rules when it comes to evaluating blackface / stereotyped portrayals: was the person's intention respectful, and was it informed?