Five minutes into the Oscars and Billy Crystal goes in blackface.
While in the car with Justin Bieber in an Oscar skit, a brown Billy Crystal appeared as Sammy Davis Jr. saying, “Then we are going to go kill Hitler!” At first glance it was an innocent joke, but when you think of the history of Hollywood it’s clear that not much has changed.
For those who don’t know, blackface is a form of theatrical makeup used in minstrel shows, and later vaudeville, in which performers create a stereotyped caricature of a black person. The practice gained popularity during the 19th century and contributed to the proliferation of stereotypes such as the “happy-go-lucky darky on the plantation” or the “dandified coon.”
The style of acting is widely look down upon and almost universally considered racist.
Do you think the Oscars should issue an apology?
