Gastonia NC Church performs a skit in black face to honor blacks

http://news14.com/Default.aspx?ArID=583336

It a stunning display of ignorance and insensitivity (if you believe the church) a church performed a skit intended to honor African Americans which featured white actors in black face. Much more at the link.

GASTONIA, N.C. -- Black leaders in Gastonia are coming together to discuss a skit at a church they said is "inconsiderate."



The controversy started last month at the Pilgrim Baptist Church on Beaty Road, when three white men wore black face paint during a play that was supposed to honor gospel music history.

At a mother-daughter banquet the week before Mother's Day, the church wanted to honor blacks of the 19th century by acting out their spirituals. Since then, a picture of one of the men in blackface has circulated into the public.

just a few years ago they made MLK day a county holiday.

if they truly wanted to honor african americans, they could have invited a choir from another church, and actually got to meet some real human beings instead of abstract stereotypes.

I'm guessing there were no black people in the congregation.

but the TV story I saw, which lead me to that site, stated there were a few black people in that congregation. That makes this all the more amazing.

and I didn't think it could be.
go figure.

we had a man in a church I used to go to, who was as right wing as they come, loved Ollie North for example, but he loved gospel music, and he organized a yearly get-together of all willing churches for a sing-in, which included all sorts of choirs of all ethnic backgrounds and was a big community event.
Sadly, he passed away and after a few years the event sort of petered out, but it was an excellent opportunity to replace stereotypes with real human beings. the world was a little better for a while because of it.

sounds like it was a great event.

I mean, honestly, what is wrong with catholics, muslims, protestants, atheists, buddhists etc. finding a common community goal that they can all get behind and work on, engendering brotherhood at the same time, like feeding homeless?

but I dream, I dream.

I live in San Diego and had not traveled in the South until 2001 when I visited family stationed in Charleston SC and then went to visit an online friend who lives in Gastonia NC. She has a son who was about 14 at the time who lived with his father. He was visiting while I was there and we went to dinner. While we were eating, he began to spout the most vile racist remarks, tossing around the N word and other epithets as though they were confetti and told him I didn't appreciate racist comments. I was shocked, to say the least. I asked his mother about it later and she told me that ever since he went to live with his dad, he began this behavior. The mother is not bigoted in the least, having grown up in a racially diverse neighborhood. Her best friend all through school was African-American. Her ex is a Greek-American (a naturalized citizen) so I would imagine he has encountered prejudice on his own, so if he is either modeling this attitude or tolerating it at home, I am even more surprised. I asked why she allowed him to spew hate in front of her and she told me that she has repeatedly told him language such as he uses is unacceptable, but she doesn't have full-time custody, so it is hard for her to monitor and discipline him. Also, she confided in me that she is afraid of him when he gets angry - he is a very big kid - close to 6 feet tall and over 200 lbs. Apparently, he has put his hands on her in the past. there was a new boyfriend in the picture when I was there and hopefully, he can use his position as a father figure to be a better role model for the kid and curb this behavior - and the aggression as well.

Therefore, I wasn't too amazed by this article because it appeared to me that racism is still very much alive and kicking in Gastonia. Shameful.

Sorry to take up so much space - I guess it struck a chord with me.

JB

:crazy:

It would have been nice if lightning would have come out of heaven and struck them down as soon as they stepped on stage...

:dunce:

isn't it? It's not exactly backwoods rural there.

What a disgusting display of ignorance. Of course, this isn't anything new.