Local students weigh in on ‘black face’ debate

A PHOTO of two University of Pretoria students covered in brown paint and dressed in domestic worker outfits has polarised public opinion and sparked a heated debate on social media platforms about whether it’s racist or not. The picture, which was taken at an alleged dress-up party shows two girls wearing scarves over their heads and pillows stuffed into their skirts to make their buttocks look bigger.

The photos were posted on Facebook but were soon removed. The duo now face disciplinary action and a possible expulsion from the university.

On twitter the photo under the hastag (#blackface #racism) has also got people talking.

Earlier this year the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) said it was gravely concerned about the reported incidents of racism, at universities around the country. 

Northglen News decided to ask local students at a local college in Durban North what they thought of the ‘black face’ scandal and whether it was racist or not.

Tammy Moodley: “This is racist. The fact that the girls painted their faces and stuffed pillows into their dresses makes this racist. Apartheid is still a sore subject, some people are saying these girls are part of the born free generation so them dressing up like domestic worker doesn’t reflect a racist ideology. But we are made aware at primary school level that this isn’t cool.”

David Orbin (22): “It’s not racist, it was all in good humour. Some of my friends that were neknominated have dressed up as domestic workers, it’s a matter of perspective.”

Francesco Fracasso (23): “South Africa has bigger problems to worry about. This isn’t racism and it’s being blown way out of proportion.”

Maxine Caruth (20): “You’d have to look at the context and what the intent of the girls was dressing as domestic workers. It is offensive but some of the punishments proposed is taking it too far.”

Lotha Sibisi (23): (He did not want to be photographed) “This is deeply insulting. It shows the stereotypes from Apartheid are still alive and well. If the girls dressed as domestic workers but didn’t paint their faces or stuff their dresses then this wouldn’t be racist. The fact that they went to this length to depict African workers is offensive and rude.”