beta
so a lot of people seem to be confused at why the portrayal of the black man towards the end is racist: yes, we often have bigger lips. no one is denying that we have different features. those features should be embraced and loved! but to know why the image is offensive you need to understand the history of blackface minstrelsy in the united states.
in the 1800s, at the height of chattel slavery, the most popular show to see in america was a minstrel show. it’s hard to put into words what a cultural phenomenon this way. the blackface comprised of white people darkening their face with burnt cork, and drawing on big red lips. they portrayed stupid, happy, and clumsy slaves. they sung and danced (often happily about slavery) and made their stump speeches. all the while real black people were suffering one of the biggest evils in history. treated worse than animals. minstrelsy was used as a justification to continue slavery during the abolitionist movement. as if to say, “look at them! we can’t end slavery, they’re so happy on the plantation.” minstrelsy was SO popular that many of the caricatures have a legacy to this day. jim crowe, the mammy, sambo, jezabel…once you know, you can’t help but see it in most media. and the black character in this book is an obvious example of this legacy.
but wait golfdad! what are you talking about? this is manga? from japan! how would they know the dark history of blackface? do they even know what it is? well…
in 1854 commodore perry of the US had a mission to open the borders of japan for trade (or else). he succeeded through threats, and for a celebration of the end of japans long isolationism, he decided he would bring the finest of american entertainment. you guessed it: a live blackface minstrel show. and minstrelsy actually became an art form in japan, even up to the 1920s and 30s. not nearly as much as popular america of course. but japan had very little ethnic diversity. this was some of their first depictions of black people. ever. of course it would have aftershocks in the cultural zeitgeist for years. blackface went VERY out of style in america. but even to this day, in japan, you can find people doing blackface only a few years ago. the intent isn’t malicious. it’s ignorant. but ignorance does NOT absolve something of its hurtfulness.
i have studied minstrelsy for years now. i am black and american. even if it’s not intentional, it’s clear that the caricature comes from a deeply inhumane history. which is clearly offensive.
yeah yeah, tldr. but you’d be surprised how many people don’t know this history.