Thoughts about 'Maui' costume from Disney's Moana?

[Magpie]

There is a huge difference between blackface referencing back to the derision of a minstrel show and a child wearing a Halloween costume, whether they're wearing makeup with it or not. Drawing a correlation between the two is reaching for something to be offended about rather than just allowing the world to appreciate different cultures, even when they aren't their own.

When it involves the actual painting of a person's face, there isn't enough difference.

I'm not at all offended by the costume. I like the costume! But I think it's still too soon, and racial issues are still too raw, for us to start painting our faces brown - at least in North America. For any reason.

So, wear the costume as a costume. Leave your face bare. It's all good! (And honestly, on closer inspection, there's nothing about the costume that looks like "skin". With all that "muscle" padding, it looks like a brown and black patterned quilt.)

 

[3Gsandme]

My daughter isn't white" skinned but my daughter has "painted" with makeup her medium dark face paler to dress in a Taylor Swift costume. I don't think it offended anyone. Certainly not me and I'm as pale skinned as you can get.

Well, naturally, because one person isn't offended no one must be?

I'm not saying you do or don't have to be offended by anything. I'm saying, I don't think it's appropriate for people to make themselves up as another race. Either by face paint or a body stocking, like this is.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I struggle with cultural appropriation as well. I understand it but I don't always understand it. If that makes sense. However, the costume depicts someone if darker skin and I don't think it's appropriate on that level. Youre almost literally putting on the skin of a brown person.

Yes, but the idea of "dressing up in costume" is to assume a different personality/character. Isn't it? I don't see an issue with it. That said, I'm sure there are going to be plenty of others who think it's bad taste.

 

[AnnaFloridaLover]

Well, naturally, because one person isn't offended no one must be?

I'm not saying you do or don't have to be offended by anything. I'm saying, I don't think it's appropriate for people to make themselves up as another race. Either by face paint or a body stocking, like this is.

Are you saying someone should have been offended that my daughter painted her face paler than her own shade? Happens ALL the time. Personally, I fake tan just to take off the white glare off my own. It's entirely different than "black face". And by the way, go ahead and be offended by my daughter's Taylor Swift wannabe look.

 

[3Gsandme]

To me saying that only kids of a certain color should be allowed to wear a costume is much worse then painting skin to be another race. How would you react to someone saying that only white kids can have a costume because its not appropriate for others?

That's not what I'm saying in the least.

Dress up as Maui. Wear a "skirt". Wear a necklace. Have mom or dad draw tattoos on your arms and/or a t-shirt Wear a headband. Don't wear a brown body suit.

Does a black boy want to dress up as Peter Pan? Great! Outfit! Hat!Green tights! Don't paint your face white.

I'm consistent here.

Does your daughter want to Mulan? Get the dress. Get the obi. Pull her hair into a bun. Don't paint her face.

 

[AnnaFloridaLover]

That's not what I'm saying in the least.

Dress up as Maui. Wear a "skirt". Wear a necklace. Have mom or dad draw tattoos on your arms and/or a t-shirt Wear a headband. Don't wear a brown body suit.

Does a black boy want to dress up as Peter Pan? Great! Outfit! Hat!Green tights! Don't paint your face white.

I'm consistent here.

Does your daughter want to Mulan? Get the dress. Get the obi. Pull her hair into a bun. Don't paint her face.

You don't get to tell me or other's not to paint your face white. I mean, you can, but we don't have to listen. Lol.

 

[wilkeliza]

I wouldn't dress myself or my (purely theoretical) children in that costume, but I'm not sure how else it could have been made. Are there sheer materials that could show the tattoos against the wearer's actual skin tone? I have no idea.

There are sheer materials but they are always going to have some sort of tint. If they used a brown sheer material it would have caused the same issue and if they would have used a white or pale sheer material it would have been called white washing the character. It was a loose loose no matter what way they went with it.

 

[3Gsandme]

Are you saying someone should have been offended that my daughter painted her face paler than her own shade? Happens ALL the time. Personally, I fake tan just to take off the white glare off my own. It's entirely different than "black face". And by the way, go ahead and be offended by my daughter's Taylor Swift wannabe look.

Thanks. I like to get permission before I'm offended. Is your daughter white? If she's white, it's moot. If she's biracial and still identifies as white, it's still moot. She's not doing anything wrong, IMO, by saying "well, I'm white but Taylor Swft is also white but whiter than me so I'm going to put on lighter foundation". The same with sunless tanning. You're not putting sunless tanner on your legs to play a black person, are you? I'd guess not.

If your daughter is biracial, she's free to make her own decisions. I don't pretend to speak for anyone. I'd side eye anyone who painted their face to mimic another race. Regardless. I'm consistent there.

 

[Magpie]

See I have a problem with this in general. With the idea that because some people can't be responsible with X (weed, alcohol, makeup, a gun, etc) that no one else should be allowed to use them.

Just like alcohol shouldn't be banned just because some people will drive drunk and guns shouldn't be banned just because some people are going to commit illegal acts with them. I don't think it should be considered taboo to wear a type of makeup because some people won't use it responsibly.

We made it illegal for everyone to drive drunk, even though plenty of folks back in the 70's would argue that they drove better when they were drunk. So why should they have to suffer just because some people couldn't handle their liquor?

Also, no one's actually making blackface illegal. They're saying it's socially unacceptable and offensive, due to the fact that it comes all packaged together with a whole history and culture. And that racist culture isn't dead yet!

It's like, you really can't wear a white sheet with a pointy head and argue that it's just a "ghost" and say that other folks are just looking for something to be offended about. It's a symbol that points back to something ugly, just as blackface is a symbol, and swastikas are a symbol (sorry, Hindus and Bhuddists!).

Legally, of course, you CAN put your child in blackface. But, there will be social repercussions. And, personally, I'm good with that!

 

[ColoradoDisneyFreaks]

When it involves the actual painting of a person's face, there isn't enough difference.

I'm not at all offended by the costume. I like the costume! But I think it's still too soon, and racial issues are still too raw, for us to start painting our faces brown - at least in North America. For any reason.

So, wear the costume as a costume. Leave your face bare. It's all good! (And honestly, on closer inspection, there's nothing about the costume that looks like "skin". With all that "muscle" padding, it looks like a brown and black patterned quilt.)

There are all sorts of ways to wear makeup with a costume that don't constitute "painting your face". Should a child put on a full face of dark foundation? No, but if a girl in a Mulan costume wants to wear the face makeup that goes with that costume from the movie, they should, if a boy wants to wear it, they should.

 

[3Gsandme]

You don't get to tell me or other's not to paint your face white. I mean, you can, but we don't have to listen. Lol.

You're taking this super personally. It's not. I don't care what color you paint your face. I really don't spend much time in my life on this except for the fact that I live in a tiny town that actually had a Minstral Show. So, I admit I spend a small portion of time, every year, on the topic of black face.

If I saw someone in black face, id pretty much find you tacky AF. I wouldn't say anything to you. I wouldn't confront your child. Same if I saw a black child with in white face. It's all the same. I'd side eye. I'd think you were tacky. I'd move on.

 

[Magpie]

Personally, I'm just glad Disney chose not to sell a rubber mask!

Now, THAT would have looked wrong on a child!

 

[Cantw8]

I thought Halloween was a time to let your imagination run wild. I certainly am not a pregnant nun nor have I ever been but I have played one on Halloween I just don't see what the harm is

 

[AnnaFloridaLover]

You're taking this super personally. It's not. I don't care what color you paint your face. I really don't spend much time in my life on this except for the fact that I live in a tiny town that actually had a Minstral Show. So, I admit I spend a small portion of time, every year, on the topic of black face.

If I saw someone in black face, id pretty much find you tacky AF. I wouldn't say anything to you. I wouldn't confront your child. Same if I saw a black child with in white face. It's all the same. I'd side eye. I'd think you were tacky. I'd move on.

I'm not taking it personally. You said if you are dark skinned you don't get to make it paler. Sorry, you don't make the rules. And, I'm not worried about you confronted my child at all. That would be an enormous mistake. LOL you think my daughter is tacky for dressing like Taylor Swift? That makes me so sad. LOL!

Thanks. I like to get permission before I'm offended. Is your daughter white? If she's white, it's moot. If she's biracial and still identifies as white, it's still moot. She's not doing anything wrong, IMO, by saying "well, I'm white but Taylor Swft is also white but whiter than me so I'm going to put on lighter foundation". The same with sunless tanning. You're not putting sunless tanner on your legs to play a black person, are you? I'd guess not.

If your daughter is biracial, she's free to make her own decisions. I don't pretend to speak for anyone. I'd side eye anyone who painted their face to mimic another race. Regardless. I'm consistent there.

You actually wouldn't know if my child was biracial by looking at her. None of my kids look biracial. Does that mean you would give her the "side eye" (ooh scared) without knowing her? Nice way to be to a child.

 

[AnnaFloridaLover]

I thought Halloween was a time to let your imagination run wild. I certainly am not a pregnant nun nor have I ever been but I have played one on Halloween I just don't see what the harm is

You might get side eyed (which is apparently a bad thing).

 

[robinb]

I don't think it should be considered taboo to wear a type of makeup because some people won't use it responsibly.

I'm trying to wrap my head around a "responsible" use of blackface and it's just not working for me.

 

[JJZMgailey]

Hey folks? It's just fine to disagree with each other, but please keep the conversation civil or you might find that you're no longer able to post in this thread.

Thanks!

 

[pryncess527]

I honestly don't see this as comparable to black face, at all. It's not body paint to alter your skin color. it's netting to re-create the tattooed look. Yes, it may be brownish netting (because they had to pick some color) , but I just don't think it's in the same realm as face paint. The goal is to re-create the tattoos.

 

[bcla]

When it involves the actual painting of a person's face, there isn't enough difference.

I'm not at all offended by the costume. I like the costume! But I think it's still too soon, and racial issues are still too raw, for us to start painting our faces brown - at least in North America. For any reason.

So, wear the costume as a costume. Leave your face bare. It's all good! (And honestly, on closer inspection, there's nothing about the costume that looks like "skin". With all that "muscle" padding, it looks like a brown and black patterned quilt.)

I've seen it all. The African-American family next to us at Disney on Ice (wasn't the Frozen show though) had two daughters in Anna and Elsa costumes complete with blonde and red wigs. We had a trick or treat deal at work where employees could bring their kids to do it through the cubes, and one East Asian coworker brought his daughter wearing a Doc McStuffins costume, although it didn't come with a wig.

 

[Magpie]

I honestly don't see this as comparable to black face, at all. It's not body paint to alter your skin color. it's netting to re-create the tattooed look. Yes, it may be brownish netting (because they had to pick some color) , but I just don't think it's in the same realm as face paint. The goal is to re-create the tattoos.

I agree, I think there's two different issues being discussed here.

1. The costume.

2. Painting your face to match the costume.

You can be in favour of one and not the other, be opposed to both, or support both, but they're not the same thing.