Blackface has never been funny — unless you were a racist who enjoyed minstrel shows a century ago — and it never will be.But apparently that seemingly obvious fact still goes unnoticed in some places in 2008.Fox44 reported on Friday that the Kappa Sigma fraternity chapter at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches recently held a fundraiser at a local bar where women could bid on members to become their “slaves” for a day.Slave? Maybe “servant,” “minion” or even “bitch” would be a less offensive choice of words. But calling the event a “slave auction” can’t be that bad, right?Of course not — unless the people being auctioned actually dress up as slaves.Some of the fraternity members being auctioned off felt the need to dress up in blackface for the event.In case you don’t know, blackface began during minstrel shows in the past, where white performers sang, danced and wore the makeup to humiliate and emphasize black stereotypes.The whole Northwestern State incident reminds me of a similar one that occurred here in April.Kappa Delta held a sorority function entitled “Opposites Attract.” At the function, College of Basic Sciences College Council Secretary Nick Tusa wore dark makeup to resemble Heidi Klum’s husband, British musician Seal.These two situations are on completely different ends of the spectrum.Dressing up as a popular musician for a party and going to extremes to look as much as a slave as possible aren’t on the same wavelength.But the point is — whether intended or not — the image of someone in blackface almost always conveys a negative image.Only in extreme cases does it spark laughter  — see Robert Downey Jr. in “Tropic Thunder” if you don’t believe me.Multiple online message boards focused on the topic say the fraternity behind the “slave auction” is one of the only that holds events with black fraternities and sororities.That’s all find and dandy. But does that give Kappa Sigma the right to participate in one of the most traditionally offensive acts imaginable?I think not.—-Contact Tyler Batiste at [email protected]