How Far Back Should We Go

[lankeela]

when considering behaviour that these days is seen as un PC? At junior school I was in a play called Seven Sevens are Forty-nine where some schoolchildren were marooned on a desert island, and on exploring they came across some natives repeating the title, being taught by their headmaster. I was one of the four natives, and we were 'blacked up' (which me being blonde was hilarious at the time). We didn't have any black children at our school and if we did, would it have been worse had we given them the role of the native children? Should I feel guilty for taking part in what would these days be seen as racist? Is that any different to the cricketer who was made to apologise for attending a fancy dress party in 2009 blacked up?

[Mamyalynne]

I don't think you as a child years ago in a play should feel any guilt about that experience.

[lankeela]

I don't - but my point is should the cricketer?

[THECORBYLOON]

You're comparing the actions of children being telt what to do by an adult in authority with those of an adult who did what he did by choice.

[pat2604]

No he shouldn't. Times change and we change and all this apology stuff is absolutely ridiculous.

[Mamyalynne]

No idea about the situation with the cricketer, have only see the one running re racism. anti-Semitism.

[Ken4155]

What you did was done in an age of innocence. Hales did the blacking up as recently as 2009.

[pixie374]

Maybe a maximum of 7 years... but not including under 18s.

[puzzled54]

And Prince Harry in the fancy dress nazi uniform? Black and white minstrel show, prime time tv as I recall? Alf garnett and Love thy neighbour?

[lankeela]

Robin Williams in Mrs Doubtfire?

[pixie374]

I think 5 years is quite recent for an adult, but also they can change a lot in 10 years...
So, I still think in between. There must be some reason we use 7 years, for inheritance, keeping records (more importantly) and so on. Seems reasonable?

[tonyav]

The list is endless, lankeela. Most of my generation in our youth would been jailed now if things had have been so woke and ridiculously pc as it is now back then

[pixie374]

Older people would say the same,I think, Tony. If they saw what we don't go with any more, like racism and homophobia, say.... they would think "we" were impossibly PC now. Things change...

[tonyav]

Things change...

And so they do, not always for the better though imo.

[pixie374]

Can't argue with that :-)

[naomi24]

No, you shouldn’t feel guilty. These days are becoming more ridiculous with every passing day.

[Barsel]

I'm just waiting for the day when we will be banned from sunbathing!

[jno]

blacking-up was already embarrassing by the time the Black and White Minstrel Show was dropped in the 1970s. Since then schoolkids needn't feel guilty, but the teachers who got them into it might like to review their actions. As for adult cricketers in the 21st century, what was he thinking? "I like black musicians, therefore it's okay to make myself up to look like one"?

[Barsel]

Is it acceptable for mime artists and clowns to whiten up or has that been banned?
https://ibb.co/s2T31Mx

[tonyav]

Dear O Dear, I'm glad I was born when I was.

[tonyav]

https://scontent.fbhx4-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/257335291_4584253691627643_4847862758357811826_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-5&;_nc_sid=825194&_nc_ohc=cBwOrRSK2ioAX8MDjtP&_nc_ht=scontent.fbhx4-1.fna&oh=082d0f44eb0974543510a35c43b55130&oe=619CB79F