Reviewing blackface in New York

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — On October 3, the New York Times published a screenshot of a 2005 photo of Republican New York Congressmember Mike Lawler wearing blackface as part of a Halloween costume. Lawler—a Republican from New York’s 17th District in Westchester and Rockland Counties—issued a public apology:

As has been well-documented—most recently by the Daily Beast—I was a so-called ‘Super Fan’ of Michael Jackson, so much so that I was mentioned by name in his biography for my outspoken support of him and the Jackson Family. I loved Michael’s music, was awed by him as a performer, and by his impact on pop culture. One of my greatest memories is attending his concert at MSG before his untimely death. When attempting to imitate Michael’s legendary dance moves at a college Halloween party eighteen years ago, the ugly practice of black face was the furthest thing from my mind. Let me be clear, this is not that. Rather, my costume was intended as the sincerest form of flattery, a genuine homage to one of my childhood idols since I was a little kid trying to moonwalk through my Mom’s kitchen. I am a student of history and for anyone who takes offense to the photo, I am sorry. All you can do is live and learn, and I appreciate everyone’s grace along the way.”

Rep. Lawler

Blackface is dark makeup—or, historically, burnt cork or shoe polish—that’s worn to look like—or mock—Black people, usually as a costume and often reinforcing racist stereotypes. The practice of wearing blackface comes from New York minstrel shows in the 1800s.

New York does not specifically outlaw blackface, but current hate crime measures and human rights laws aimed at discrimination can apply if it’s used to harass or intimidate. And in 2021, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation— S2987A / A5679A —declaring racism a public health crisis, aiming to address hate and bias. More often, though, the consequences for wearing blackface come from public backlash or disciplinary action at private employers.

Several other blackface incidents have taken place in New York. For example, in 2013, Democratic Assemblymember Dov Hikind initially defended wearing blackface and an Afro wig as part of his basketball player costume for a Purim party. Eventually, he issued a public apology. And in 2018, a Metro-North supervisor named Richard Ranallo faced public scrutiny over a similar 2013 Halloween costume.

Native Brooklynite Jimmy Kimmel apologized in 2020 for “embarrassing” blackface impressions of NBA star Karl Malone on “The Man Show,” which aired from 1999 to 2004. In 2020 Jimmy Fallon —born and raised upstate—had a similar controversy over a Chris Rock impersonation on Saturday Night Live.

Also on SNL, which films in New York City, Fred Armisen —not from New York—said he wore “honey color” makeup to portray Pres. Barrack Obama in 2008. And Joy Behar , from Brooklyn like Kimmel, admitted back in 2016 to wearing “makeup that was a little darker than my skin” to a Halloween party for her “beautiful African woman” costume in around 1971.

Billy Crystal , born in Manhattan, slapped on blackface for a skit while he hosted the 2021 Oscars. Also born in Manhattan, Robert Downey Jr. controversially played a method actor who wore blackface in an attempt to convincingly play a Black man in 2008’s Tropic Thunder.

And in 1993, actor Ted Danson —not from New York—famously wore blackface with white gloves, a tophat, and an exaggerated white mouth at the New York City Friar’s Club Roast of Whoopi Goldberg, his girlfriend at the time. New York radio titan Howard Stern also drew criticism when he lampooned Danson later that year by wearing blackface himself. In ’93, Goldberg defended Danson’s costume; in 2020, Stern said he wouldn’t do it again.

A famed vaudevillian from the early 1900s, Al Jolson could be the most notable blackface performer of all time. He started performing in blackface in Brooklyn in 1904, and he wears it throughout the 1927 film “The Jazz Singer.”

In 2018, a Snapchat video of a SUNY Plattsburgh student in blackface circulated. The university addressed the issue publicly and opened a campus-wide dialogue about racial sensitivity.

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