Blackface In Goodman Theatre Production Ignites Controversy

A play at the Goodman Theatre that features a white actress in blackface is sparking controversy.

Late Wednesday afternoon, hours before the opening of The Wooster Group production of Eugene O'Neill's play, "The Emperor Jones," at the Goodman, Third World Press sent out e-mails asking for a boycott of the show. It also had asked for a boycott of a panel discussion scheduled earlier in the day at the Chicago Cultural Center titled "Performing Other: Constructing Race and Gender Onstage and Off."

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[spark19me]

who cares?

[Eric8869]

To educate people who aren't from Chicago - The Goodman theatre has a long history of producing theatre that is very inclusive of African American performers, playwrights and history.

They recently produced "The Ballad of Emmitt Till" for example. They are far from racist in any way.

I understand the reaction to black face by the african american community. It is a "thing of the past" that need not be resurrected.

However I do think it's funny that the black community engages in homophobia/racism in their own art forms and doesn't see the contradiction. Almost every black play or movie has an offensive gay joke or character in it. Performers like Eddie Murphy have no problem doing "yellow face" to make fun of asian people etc.

I also have a real problem with people protesting things they have not seen.

[BGM1906]

And if gays have a problem with something said or done that's homophobic in nature, then they should protest...I'm not sure I understand your point. Don't you remember when Eminem was on the hot seat because of homophobic lyrics? Hip hop can be misogynistic and homophobic...make some noise about it. Blacks have a problem with black face and we're making it known. Question: If the KKK wanted to have a rally in your neighborhood, would it make sense not to protest because they haven't held the rally yet and you're not quite sure what they're going to say?

[Eric8869]

well go look at the blogs on here about Obama Choosing Rick Warren to pray at the inauguration.

There were black people who were soooo upset that gay people were unhappy about a homophobic person speaking. Any slight criticism of Obama was not to be tolerated.

Black people have been very unhappy about gay people protesting the black vote on prop 8 and protesting Obama's choice of Rick Warren.

So which is it? Protests are good or bad. Or you can only protest white people?

[robXdion]

This is not the place for your whine about Prop 8. Not all of the black community is for that. To characterize them all as such is rac.ist. Let it go. And where did you get this claim about Eddie Murphy?

[ChicagoSpook]

Eric8869

you must be one of those Chicago Lake front goo goo liberals because Eddie Murphy also has done Black face in movies and has made fun of Black people just like Richard Pryor did

Now perhaps if you mentioned the rampid homophobia amonst Black ministers ( even though half of their male congregations are closeted gay), then you might have a cogent point. But I'd have to accuse you of racism.

Just like if you challenged how no body both Black or white calls out the political powerhouse Rev./ State Senator/ James ( I travel to Springfield in a Leer jet purchased by my congregation)
Meeks
for not only being publically homophobic but actually every year spending 100,000, thousand dollars on a "haunted house" next to his mega Church that not only has gays in hell, but also a woman who had abortion (and her doctor) and even a Buddist Monk of all people in hell. And this joker, oppps I mean State Senator has one of the biggest congregations in Illinois!

p.s I think my man Eminem has matured because any hip hop head knows he did his song "Stan" with Sir Elton John and then they hugged at the end of the song. Check it out, its da bomb!

Spook Out

[lvdragonlady]

What everyone seems to be missing it the fact, that until recently (last 80?yrs) this was how blacks were portrayed in plays and shows because they were not allowed to perform along side whites.
This is very demeaning and should have never been allowed(anytime) but certainly not in this day and time by anyone.

[tel8034]

Agreed ...........................

I would expect this type of insensitivity from those Palin "REAL AMERICAN" communities, but not in Chicago..........................

Any one who knows American history, knows exactly what wearing "blackface" meant in a 100%segregated America, and knows what it means now........... There is no way to slice this, dice this, try to explain this, or even make apologies for this.......................

This never should be happening in 2009.

[ChicagoSpook]

Two reasons why its Not Racist At All

A She can't be racist because she voted for Barack!


B. The Only Black people who can rightfully say that they're be being discriminated against are upper income Black people and Chicago Democratic Black politicans like Roland Burris who spent their entire lives denying racism except when playing the race card suits their career. Oh and of course Conservative self hating Black people like Clearence Thomas

Any body else is playing the race card

[GeorgeP922]

In the land of Bobby Rush, Burris and Blago, this doesn't surprise me one bit.

[LITNUP]

so the Wayan Bros can do white face....Where is Bobby Rush when you need him

[clearthinker2008]

You know, Americans should take entire courses in "two wrongs don't make a right". But even going along with your nonsense LITNUP, African Americans didn't enslave and mock whites for centuries, plus there is no reason in the play for her to be playing a black man. In the stupid movie you simplicity compared this to, there was a reason for dressing up like the white women (to save their butts). In this case there is nothing. Nada. No reason for it. Stop being a simpleton and actually think before you post.

[ohpuhleezee]

Huge difference. that movie was about black cops that dressed up like white females. This white female playing a black male has absolutely nothing to do with the play. Its unnecessary. Chicago isnt a small town. Its a major city with a huge black population. They easily couldve found a black male to play the part. they needed some controversy to drum up interest.

[Eric8869]

and before that they did offensive gay stereotypes on IN LIVING COLOR