I’ve had enough. There comes a point where a person can no longer make excuses for the idiocy of their past or try to cover up relatively good intentions masked under a web of ignorance. To think, Kristen Oaks fell 13 votes short of becoming Student Government vice president. Not to say anything about her qualifications, which if you’ve ever spoken to her, sound about the same as any other person running for Student Government: I’m really passionate about being organized and helping achieve the best interests of the student body. I really think I’m most qualified because I’m dedicated, I come up with new ideas and I really want to make a difference. Now I’m an elected official. I’ve heard some version of this song-and-dance for the past four months now, which sound slightly like comments made by someone fresh off a lobotomy. But a lobotomy would prevent someone from either coming up with or actually fulfilling a desire to dress in blackface. On April 19, a Kappa Delta sorority function entitled “Opposites Attract” featured two notable celebrity guests – Kristen Oaks as a pregnant Heidi Klum and newly-elected College of Basic Sciences College Council Secretary Nick Tusa, in blackface to emulate Klum’s husband Seal. The pictures – one featuring Tusa and Oaks, the other featuring Tusa with a woman named “Lois” – have offended many students including African and African-American studies major and former SG Senator John Collins. In an e-mail featuring the two pictures, Collins expressed his disgust with Oaks and Tusa’s actions. “Typically, I would not be bothered by what my fellow classmates do,” Collins wrote. “But these pictures are rather disturbing. Ms. Oaks is pictured as if she’s pregnant, with Mr. Tusa to her extreme left. Both seem very happy and are smiling broadly. “While Ms. Oaks seemingly did nothing wrong, aside from showing extremely poor judgment,” Collins continued, “Mr. Tusa’s actions are in very poor taste. I am offended and I am sure lots of other students on campus, from any cultural, racial, ethnic or religious background should be.” People figured I wanted to address this issue, as many are unfamiliar with the inflammatory nature of blackface, whether satirical or otherwise. This has happened to me before, as the Student Senate debated President Colorado Robertson’s Student Athletic Advisory Council, questioning one spot on the council reserved for a “minority student representative.” The Senate looked around the room to find a minority who would take issue. When all 50 heads in the room turned to me – the only black person in the Atchafalaya Room – I waved my hands in exasperation. It doesn’t bother me when I am called to address these issues, whether racist or, in this case, ignorant beyond ignorant. Blackface has its roots – no pun intended – in minstrel shows of the past. “Stereotypes embodied in the stock characters of blackface minstrelsy played a significant role in cementing and proliferating racist images, attitudes and perceptions worldwide,” according to John Strausbaugh, author of “Black Like You: Blackface, Whiteface, Insult and Imitation in American Popular Culture.” As attitudes toward black people shifted throughout time, the prominence of blackface dissipated quickly. Soon, reputable black entertainers, including Sammy Davis Jr., Whoopi Goldberg and Damon Wayans dressed in blackface to educate and to pay homage. Blackface was never eliminated from society, as Saturday Night Live actors Darrell Hammond and Fred Armisen regularly apply makeup to emulate Jesse Jackson and Barack Obama. But Hammond and Armisen are actors. Oaks and Tusa are elected student officials, and their display, however innocent, is insulting on many levels. My main problem is the party’s theme, “Opposite’s Attract.” Obviously, Oaks and Tusa have no problem perpetuating the stereotypical view of white and black people as opposites. Their combined costume seems to scream white and black people come from “opposite” worlds, and when they “attract,” white girls get pregnant. Their costumes weren’t racist, and I can’t stress that enough. Their costumes were merely mind-numbingly stupid. I questioned both Oaks and Tusa on this issue, and both replied, via e-mail, that they decided to pick a couple they admired. “In no way was I trying to offend or make fun of anyone,” Tusa said. Oaks was slightly wordier. “We DID NOT choose the couple because we wished to make fun of them, or because we thought it would be humorous,” Oaks said. “We simply wanted to dress as people we admired. When we realized the impact that our portrayal created, we were and are appalled. Never was there in any way a slight intended to the couple or to any race. “I chose to be Heidi because I have always admired her work and value a lot of the same things she does. She obviously embraces diversity, and that is one of the many qualities I respect in her. They are two very talented, attractive people: qualities we wished to portray.” Well, Madame Oaks, because you obviously respect Heidi Klum because “she obviously embraces diversity,” I only have one question. What are you doing Friday night? I don’t even need makeup.
—-Contact Eric Freeman Jr. at [email protected]