Comments on: Harry Potter And The Boy Who Wore Blackface To The Movies http://www.toledofreepress.com/2011/07/22/harry-potter-and-the-boy-who-wore-blackface-to-the-movies/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=harry-potter-and-the-boy-who-wore-blackface-to-the-movies Toledo's Largest Sunday Newspaper Mon, 20 May 2013 20:19:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc Toledo Newspaperhttp://www.toledofreepress.com/wp-content/themes/tfp/images/tfp_logo_small.gifhttp://www.toledofreepress.com15746The Toledo Free Press is a weekly newspaper in Toledo, Ohio. It was founded in 2005 by Thomas Pounds. By: Susan Scuffham http://www.toledofreepress.com/2011/07/22/harry-potter-and-the-boy-who-wore-blackface-to-the-movies/comment-page-1/#comment-294010 Susan Scuffham Sat, 30 Jul 2011 21:39:15 +0000 http://www.toledofreepress.com/?p=33842#comment-294010 Robert Paulson, You say that this teenager knew what he was doing. What he was doing was dressing up as a character and having fun. He was not mocking anyone, nor did he think anyone would be offended by how he dressed. I find it really hard to believe that you, as well as Mr. Miller, actually feel insulted by this. It's only a problem if someone makes it a problem. So please, I urge you and Mr. Miller, to stop creating problems, and to enjoy your friends, enjoy your time and enjoy your lives. How wonderful it is to see a happy teenager enjoying his happy life. Robert Paulson,

You say that this teenager knew what he was doing. What he was doing was dressing up as a character and having fun. He was not mocking anyone, nor did he think anyone would be offended by how he dressed. I find it really hard to believe that you, as well as Mr. Miller, actually feel insulted by this. It’s only a problem if someone makes it a problem. So please, I urge you and Mr. Miller, to stop creating problems, and to enjoy your friends, enjoy your time and enjoy your lives. How wonderful it is to see a happy teenager enjoying his happy life.

]]> By: Tyler Durden http://www.toledofreepress.com/2011/07/22/harry-potter-and-the-boy-who-wore-blackface-to-the-movies/comment-page-1/#comment-293941 Tyler Durden Sat, 30 Jul 2011 00:34:56 +0000 http://www.toledofreepress.com/?p=33842#comment-293941 Robert, what kind of middle school history class did you have? There is even less of a chance that these kids would be familiar with the origins of blackface than they would be familiar with the origin of the fake name you used. Robert, what kind of middle school history class did you have? There is even less of a chance that these kids would be familiar with the origins of blackface than they would be familiar with the origin of the fake name you used.

]]> By: David Jefferson http://www.toledofreepress.com/2011/07/22/harry-potter-and-the-boy-who-wore-blackface-to-the-movies/comment-page-1/#comment-293875 David Jefferson Fri, 29 Jul 2011 03:14:21 +0000 http://www.toledofreepress.com/?p=33842#comment-293875 Robert. You need to relax. Kid or not a kid, that was a very clever idea. Eric Gentry and all of the others all have very convincing points, and it seems as if you're just trying to snag the spotlight as Mr. Miller did and try to start a racial uprising. You almost did it as well as Mr. Miller! Maybe you should work for the Toledo Free Press too; because a highly acclaimed and classy paper such as that could use your self-esteemed intellect and intelligent comments. Robert. You need to relax. Kid or not a kid, that was a very clever idea. Eric Gentry and all of the others all have very convincing points, and it seems as if you’re just trying to snag the spotlight as Mr. Miller did and try to start a racial uprising. You almost did it as well as Mr. Miller! Maybe you should work for the Toledo Free Press too; because a highly acclaimed and classy paper such as that could use your self-esteemed intellect and intelligent comments.

]]> By: Robert Paulson http://www.toledofreepress.com/2011/07/22/harry-potter-and-the-boy-who-wore-blackface-to-the-movies/comment-page-1/#comment-293869 Robert Paulson Fri, 29 Jul 2011 00:41:30 +0000 http://www.toledofreepress.com/?p=33842#comment-293869 Honestly...Eric Gentry get off of your high horse and everyone else defending this teenager. There are appropriate things to do, and then there are not. Painting your face black is incredibly offensive, if you cannot understand why clearly you know nothing about America's history. If you can understand why saying the "N word" is inappropriate, you can understand why this is as well. This is a 18 year old, he knew what he was doing. It would be a different story if it was a young child, this is an adult who knows better than this. And hiding behind the veil of, "It was all in good fun, and we just loooove harry potter!" is just digging a deeper hole. You can't play the ignorance card, anyone who passed middle school history knows of the tasteless mockery made of black people through blackface/minstrel shows. I live in Perrysburg and this makes me ashamed. Honestly…Eric Gentry get off of your high horse and everyone else defending this teenager. There are appropriate things to do, and then there are not. Painting your face black is incredibly offensive, if you cannot understand why clearly you know nothing about America’s history. If you can understand why saying the “N word” is inappropriate, you can understand why this is as well. This is a 18 year old, he knew what he was doing. It would be a different story if it was a young child, this is an adult who knows better than this. And hiding behind the veil of, “It was all in good fun, and we just loooove harry potter!” is just digging a deeper hole. You can’t play the ignorance card, anyone who passed middle school history knows of the tasteless mockery made of black people through blackface/minstrel shows. I live in Perrysburg and this makes me ashamed.

]]> By: Steve Cassity http://www.toledofreepress.com/2011/07/22/harry-potter-and-the-boy-who-wore-blackface-to-the-movies/comment-page-1/#comment-293859 Steve Cassity Thu, 28 Jul 2011 21:29:19 +0000 http://www.toledofreepress.com/?p=33842#comment-293859 Mr. Miller, I don't understand your complaints in line with this action. Our generation (those of us that struggle to remember anything earlier than the 21st century) understand the struggles that have occurred interracially in the past. As a writer, and formerly educated English student, I would expect you to be aware of the same. Today we live in a world that does not simply exist, but thrives on interracial relations. For example, our global economy. Notice I said interrracial relations, and not tensions. A caucasian male attending a movie premier dressed as his favorite character should not raise any alarm in the community. Whether you are simply looking for a topic to write about, or completely and whole-heartedly support your writing on an emotional level, it is outright ignorant. In a metaphorical way, you ask this young man to look further than skin deep, yet you can't even look past some silly makeup. There's a reason you're writing for the Toledo Free Press. Grow up. Mr. Miller,
I don’t understand your complaints in line with this action. Our generation (those of us that struggle to remember anything earlier than the 21st century) understand the struggles that have occurred interracially in the past. As a writer, and formerly educated English student, I would expect you to be aware of the same. Today we live in a world that does not simply exist, but thrives on interracial relations. For example, our global economy. Notice I said interrracial relations, and not tensions. A caucasian male attending a movie premier dressed as his favorite character should not raise any alarm in the community. Whether you are simply looking for a topic to write about, or completely and whole-heartedly support your writing on an emotional level, it is outright ignorant. In a metaphorical way, you ask this young man to look further than skin deep, yet you can’t even look past some silly makeup. There’s a reason you’re writing for the Toledo Free Press.

Grow up.

]]> By: Robert Johnson http://www.toledofreepress.com/2011/07/22/harry-potter-and-the-boy-who-wore-blackface-to-the-movies/comment-page-1/#comment-293806 Robert Johnson Thu, 28 Jul 2011 05:44:10 +0000 http://www.toledofreepress.com/?p=33842#comment-293806 Ahem...I believe Perrysburg has real life black people as well as Westfield. Many African Americans approached the young man and asked to take pictures with him, a smile on their face to go along with it. I understand where you are coming from Mr. Miller, but the topic is unnecessary. Ahem…I believe Perrysburg has real life black people as well as Westfield. Many African Americans approached the young man and asked to take pictures with him, a smile on their face to go along with it. I understand where you are coming from Mr. Miller, but the topic is unnecessary.

]]> By: Ryan Schaefer http://www.toledofreepress.com/2011/07/22/harry-potter-and-the-boy-who-wore-blackface-to-the-movies/comment-page-1/#comment-293770 Ryan Schaefer Wed, 27 Jul 2011 20:33:36 +0000 http://www.toledofreepress.com/?p=33842#comment-293770 Do you really think the worst case scenario, "an excuse for mocking, racist act of immaturity" even had a slight possibility of being correct? Maybe from your home town they might be a little more sensitive. Where I'm from though, even the majority of inner city friends in our generation would find this entertaining. Call me ignorant, but I've never heard of "blackface" in my life and I don't think many others in the education system are hearing about it either. Don't get me wrong, there is still discrimination and racism but this isn't it. Do you really think the worst case scenario, “an excuse for mocking, racist act of immaturity” even had a slight possibility of being correct? Maybe from your home town they might be a little more sensitive. Where I’m from though, even the majority of inner city friends in our generation would find this entertaining. Call me ignorant, but I’ve never heard of “blackface” in my life and I don’t think many others in the education system are hearing about it either. Don’t get me wrong, there is still discrimination and racism but this isn’t it.

]]> By: Terry Riesen http://www.toledofreepress.com/2011/07/22/harry-potter-and-the-boy-who-wore-blackface-to-the-movies/comment-page-1/#comment-293748 Terry Riesen Wed, 27 Jul 2011 16:22:25 +0000 http://www.toledofreepress.com/?p=33842#comment-293748 You assumed that Perrysburg was filled with backward-thinking parents and young adults filled with hidden agendas based in hatred and race-baiting. I assumed someone working under the banner of a news source would show some journalistic effort, like fact-checking, and integrity even for opinions on the editorial page. Guess we were both wrong. You assumed that Perrysburg was filled with backward-thinking parents and young adults filled with hidden agendas based in hatred and race-baiting. I assumed someone working under the banner of a news source would show some journalistic effort, like fact-checking, and integrity even for opinions on the editorial page. Guess we were both wrong.

]]> By: Susan Scuffham http://www.toledofreepress.com/2011/07/22/harry-potter-and-the-boy-who-wore-blackface-to-the-movies/comment-page-1/#comment-293745 Susan Scuffham Wed, 27 Jul 2011 15:50:06 +0000 http://www.toledofreepress.com/?p=33842#comment-293745 I completely agree with everything from the previous two comments. Beyond that, I don't believe that you were honestly offended. Now it's only something people get upset about just because they want something to be upset about. Having something to complain about just to complain. Or- writing something just to have something to write about. A fan of the movies, however, not a fan of your writing, Mr Miller. I completely agree with everything from the previous two comments. Beyond that, I don’t believe that you were honestly offended. Now it’s only something people get upset about just because they want something to be upset about. Having something to complain about just to complain. Or- writing something just to have something to write about. A fan of the movies, however, not a fan of your writing, Mr Miller.

]]> By: Rebecca http://www.toledofreepress.com/2011/07/22/harry-potter-and-the-boy-who-wore-blackface-to-the-movies/comment-page-1/#comment-293716 Rebecca Wed, 27 Jul 2011 05:45:31 +0000 http://www.toledofreepress.com/?p=33842#comment-293716 You're too sensitive and wrong. He was being harmless and didn't mean to offend anyone. How dare you take offense to something that honestly does not concern you. In fact, if this situation did concern you to such an extent why didn't you walk up to the young man and face him yourself rather than speaking out via the Toledo Free Press. I respect other cultures/people, like you, but next time don't be such a liberal idiot and think about the fact that this is the real world and young people will do things you don't agree with from time to time. Excuse this young man, not adult, for being so "insensitve" and not taking the history of black face theater into account. Excuse him for not taking a quick history lesson before dressing up as BLAISE, a harry potter character not a slave or any derogatory type person, to the movies. You’re too sensitive and wrong. He was being harmless and didn’t mean to offend anyone. How dare you take offense to something that honestly does not concern you. In fact, if this situation did concern you to such an extent why didn’t you walk up to the young man and face him yourself rather than speaking out via the Toledo Free Press. I respect other cultures/people, like you, but next time don’t be such a liberal idiot and think about the fact that this is the real world and young people will do things you don’t agree with from time to time. Excuse this young man, not adult, for being so “insensitve” and not taking the history of black face theater into account. Excuse him for not taking a quick history lesson before dressing up as BLAISE, a harry potter character not a slave or any derogatory type person, to the movies.

]]> By: Eric Gentry http://www.toledofreepress.com/2011/07/22/harry-potter-and-the-boy-who-wore-blackface-to-the-movies/comment-page-1/#comment-293712 Eric Gentry Wed, 27 Jul 2011 03:51:29 +0000 http://www.toledofreepress.com/?p=33842#comment-293712 Well Mr. Miller, it seems that you have run out of suitable topics to compose about. This young man happens to be one of my best friends, his mother applied the make-up, and he was dressed as Blaise Zabini, one of Mr. Malfoy's friends. At least attempt to get your facts straight before you start throwing accusations out for the community to see. And also, I'd like to point out that the urban community is spread incredibly thin throughout the town of Perrysburg, and let's be honest; no one cared. In fact, the idea was loved by many. We had pictures taken with several groups because the idea was so out of the ordinary and unique. Just trying to clear some things up for you. Maybe your generation hasn't moved on from racial predjudices, but ours has. He dressed up as Blaise because it's his favorite Harry Potter character, not to undermine African Americans. In our group was an African American and not once did he think what "BLACKFACE" did was racist at all. Sorry, but your attempt to create news of a racist upsurging failed. We're just a bunch of Harry Potter fanatics expressing our love for the books and movies by dressing up as our favorite characters. Didn't know it was a crime to show admiration for one of the African American characters in the film. Maybe you're the racist one here? Well Mr. Miller, it seems that you have run out of suitable topics to compose about. This young man happens to be one of my best friends, his mother applied the make-up, and he was dressed as Blaise Zabini, one of Mr. Malfoy’s friends. At least attempt to get your facts straight before you start throwing accusations out for the community to see. And also, I’d like to point out that the urban community is spread incredibly thin throughout the town of Perrysburg, and let’s be honest; no one cared. In fact, the idea was loved by many. We had pictures taken with several groups because the idea was so out of the ordinary and unique. Just trying to clear some things up for you. Maybe your generation hasn’t moved on from racial predjudices, but ours has. He dressed up as Blaise because it’s his favorite Harry Potter character, not to undermine African Americans. In our group was an African American and not once did he think what “BLACKFACE” did was racist at all. Sorry, but your attempt to create news of a racist upsurging failed. We’re just a bunch of Harry Potter fanatics expressing our love for the books and movies by dressing up as our favorite characters. Didn’t know it was a crime to show admiration for one of the African American characters in the film. Maybe you’re the racist one here?

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