By JuJuBe (Joanna)
When I was a teenager, my family, and the families we were closest to would put on a "talent" show. We would rent out a Knights of Columbus Hall, cook a huge spread, and put on a performance for family, friends and neighbors. No fancy choreography or professionally written scripts. Just a small group of amateurs singing, performing comedy skits, dancing and lip syncing. Not open to the public, just for our own amusement.
Well, one year three women (friends of my mother) decided to perform an "homage" to the Supremes. My grandmother sewed some elaborate costumes. The ladies practiced every day to perfect their dance moves. And when the ladies got on stage to perform, the whole crowd burst out laughing. Why? Well...... about those "costumes".... they had the glittery dresses, the wigs, and, oh, yeah.... BLACKFACE.
At the time, I was a relatively clueless kid, yet I KNEW that this made me REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE. I knew there was something wrong with this "tribute", but I was assured by other family members that their actions were not RACIST, because it was done out of RESPECT. Ummm, yeah, which explains the raucous laughter, right??
I look back on that now and am embarrassed that I actually sat in the audience watching this debacle and said nothing publicly in protest. And the fact that everyone was laughing? Looking back, it saddens me that these are people I used to spend most of my time with. Because honestly, the people who participated in the show probably are CLUELESS as to the offensiveness of their act to this day.
