I repeat a question I asked in 2005: Have there been any research studies of the impact of UK blackening up traditions on self-esteem and group-esteem of people of colour in the UK and on White people in the UK? If so, what were those studies and what were their results?
It seems to me that such studies would be beneficial prior to or in the context of pre-university as well as university educational settings having any educational experiences that invlolve videos, photographic displays, performances,and open discussion about blackening up traditions as they relate or don't relate to 19th century minstrelsy traditions in the US and in the UK.
"The vocabulary available for considering and discussing issues to do with race and ethnicity is sensitive and changes over time. It can also sometimes be a matter of argument and disagreement, and often therefore unclear and inadequate.
The same word means or implies different things to different people. So a term which is unproblematic and indeed positive for one person may be questionable or offensive for another...
Institutional racism In addition to the recognition of direct and indirect forms of discrimination, it is widely acknowledged that institutional racism is a reality in the UK. The inquiry into the murder of Stephen Lawrence a young, Black British man highlighted this and offered the following definition of such racism:
"Institutional racism consists of the collective failure of an organisation to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour, culture or ethnic origin. It can be seen or detected in processes, attitudes and behaviours which amount to discrimination through unwitting prejudice, ignorance, thoughtlessness, and racist stereotyping which disadvantage minority ethnic people."
-snip-
Wouldn't discussions about blackening up traditions in educational settings get around to the question of whether such customs wittingly or unwittingly promote racist setereotyping?