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Women’s soccer costumes not racist, WVU says

Published: Friday, November 6, 2009

Updated: Friday, November 6, 2009 00:11

Three West Virginia women’s soccer players blacked their faces for a Halloween event last week.

Photos surfaced earlier this week on Facebook showing three players in black makeup with padding on their buttocks.

Jennifer McIntosh, executive officer for the President’s Office for Social Justice at West Virginia University, confirmed the incident occurred at a "fun, team event" for Halloween.

"They were not in blackface. I mean, as we consider blackface," McIntosh said.

Blackface is the stereotypical portrayal of African Americans by caucasians covering themselves in black makeup.

"This was not done in any kind of derogatory manner whatsoever," McIntosh added.

Historically, blackface is a derogatory stereotype against African Americans, said Marjorie Fuller, director of WVU’s Center for Black Culture and Research.

Fuller didn’t believe the incident had any intentional racial connotations but highlighted the need for further education on the matter at WVU.

Athletic director Ed Pastilong said the matter would be discussed privately.

"It’s a situation that the ladies, among themselves, were dressing up among themselves, and that’s about it," he said.

McIntosh said players sought approval from their teammates before the event.

"The white women asked the black women, the black women asked the white women," McIntosh said. "The black women didn’t go as the white women because they had already picked out their outfits."

McIntosh spoke with the black players from the team afterward and found no offense had been taken from the incident.

"They didn’t wear any funny clothes; they wore University gear," she said. "They weren’t wearing anything inappropriate."

Women’s soccer head coach Nikki Izzo-Brown had no comment on the matter.

Similar incidents have occurred on other campuses recently.

Two students at Northwestern University, Ill. are at the center of controversy after photos taken of them in blackface during Halloween were posted online.

As a result, Northwestern is now holding a forum to discuss racial issues on campus.

So far, there are no plans for WVU to address racial issues on campus.

Brian Gawthrop contributed to this report.
 

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26 comments

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Your name
Sat Dec 12 2009 21:11
"The reason you are struggling isn't because you're black, it's because you have the writing skills of a 3rd grader. Proper grammar and spelling matter in the work place today."

What klan do you belong to?

Carolyn
Wed Dec 9 2009 10:26
This Anthony person sure likes to take quotes out of context. What an uneducated thing to do. Perhaps he should be investigated because it seems that being uneducated about an issue is enough to condemn someone, when teaching them would be far more effective. Anthony should take this as a lesson that he sounds like a moron when quotes are so clearly twisted to make them say what you want them to say and not what the speaker meant. He did it in Letter to the Editor and now here... looking more dumb my the minute Anthony.
Anthony
Wed Dec 2 2009 14:17
So far, there are no plans for WVU to address racial issues on campus.
So far, there are no plans for WVU to address racial issues on campus.
So far, there are no plans for WVU to address racial issues on campus.
So far, there are no plans for WVU to address racial issues on campus.
So far, there are no plans for WVU to address racial issues on campus.

...in case you missed that.

Cindy Teeman
Wed Dec 2 2009 10:37
Does this mean we shouldn't dress up as Indian chiefs so we don't offend American Indians or put on a gray wig and pretend we are little old ladies because we are making fun of the elderly? It's Halloween. Stop being so overly sensitive. If political correctness continues like this no one can make a move without offending someone and we will all just stand still and be silent little drones. Merry Christmas.
WVU 04
Wed Nov 11 2009 10:17
Well put. Some people simply cannot accept that times and racial relations are changing...and changing for the better. If you cannot put the past behind you then you cannot advance. People need to stop making excuses and realize that their future is in their own hands. Don't blame race. Don't blame hatred. Accept responsibility. Put your best foot forward each day and move on.

If you stop looking for racism, stop talking about, and instead just treat everyone as a HUMAN, racism will die.

Your name
Tue Nov 10 2009 23:30
Being one of the girls on the team to be portrayed in a halloween costume, I wanted to address the "issue" people find from this story. When approached by my friends about an idea for the team halloween costumes as dressing up as whites and them as blacks there was no hesitation that it wasnt a controversial idea. The three black girls including myself already had a costumes with other teammates and couldnt partake in the group costume. If there are people who want to bring up african american history, dont be so bias to ignore the fact that it evolves! Raised to not place pity upon myself or to think I'm less of what I am due to my race, I have thought of myself as an equal and that will always be my mentality. Shame on you if you are not strong enough to think differently and always think someone, more specifically whites, continually have the advantage. You create your own advantages and success...obama. So many blacks especially 35 yrs + claim that they are so proactive for equality in races but when things improve, theyre somewhat shocked and I think personally find it hard to swallow that things change. You want change so accept it! Know that throughout generations elements will change...for the better. It happens to be so that in my generation things have changed and that is why all of us felt comfortable and had no second thoughts of the costumes. And if you dont agree then you should take blame because it was your generation that didnt stress the past history and had no influence on us growing up. We should also think about the girls who dressed up because they "overlooked" the thought as well and dont want to be put on display as racist because believe me THEYRE NOT. Stop holding onto the past as anger and accept what has molded you because if few blacks dwell on this for too long you hold all of us blacks back, so make a sacrifice and acknowledge the thought that it is not about you but for the next generations.
Not Offended
Tue Nov 10 2009 22:29
Doesn't it say something good about the younger generation that these girls actually get on well enough that they can dress up as each other and to them race isn't even an issue? It seems to me that the majority of complaints are by people over 30, and those under 25 think that this is much ado about nothing. I find that somewhat comforting. The girls dressed up as each other. Some were of different races. Not one of them was apparently offended in any way. Why on Earth does anyone else care, given those circumstances? It was nothing to do with the rest of us. Yes, it's an indictment of our educational system that these girls don't know the history of "blackface" and it's role in a horrible part of the USA's past, but they live in a world where an African-American was elected President, and it wasn't a big deal to them. I find that a genuine advancement.
WVU 04
Tue Nov 10 2009 13:07
"ARE YOU CRAZY? equality in this country????? yeah okay! yes the number (quantity) of poor people in this country are white, but the percentage of the black population who is poor is substantially higher than whites, get your facts right and call me when you gain some perspective....so get out of here with that crap...equality my...... "

The reason you are struggling isn't because you're black, it's because you have the writing skills of a 3rd grader. Proper grammar and spelling matter in the work place today.

WVU 04
Tue Nov 10 2009 13:05
"If you think that this isn't racist, you're seeking to excuse your own racism."

So what you're saying, is the black teammates who knew they were doing this, and in fact were supposed to dress up as white girls, are racists?

"simply unacceptable! these are supposedly educated college students and would not like it if it was done to them. "

Their black teammates were supposed to dress up as white girls. READ. Please put your comments in context of the subject article. Obviously, the white girls wouldn't have minded if it was done to them as that was the plan all along.

Your name
Tue Nov 10 2009 11:35
At least they're pulling an Elizabeth Lambert and punching girls in the face or tearing them to the ground by their ponytail on the field. Pick and choose your battles people, pick and choose.
billy joe bob
Mon Nov 9 2009 23:26
If you think that this isn't racist, you're seeking to excuse your own racism.
Your name
Mon Nov 9 2009 21:11
ARE YOU CRAZY? equality in this country????? yeah okay! yes the number (quantity) of poor people in this country are white, but the percentage of the black population who is poor is substantially higher than whites, get your facts right and call me when you gain some perspective....so get out of here with that crap...equality my......
Your name
Mon Nov 9 2009 18:27
This is a complete double standard and its actually quite annoying. Obviously, you did not read the article because it states the white girls asked the black girls if they wanted to dress up as them,so obviously the people that matter (the players on the team) did not find it an issue so neither should anyone else.. I think as outsiders no one should be judging the women's soccer team. This is not a big issue blacks really need to stop being over sensitive, it really does cause a greater rift in society and just bring attention to the fact there are different races. A joke is a joke. And blacks have equal opportunities as whites. The majority of people below the poverty line in the United States are actually white and we have a black president. Stop turning a harmless joke between close teammates into a racial issue.
Your name
Mon Nov 9 2009 15:57
simply unacceptable! these are supposedly educated college students and would not like it if it was done to them.
Your name
Mon Nov 9 2009 15:13
There is a double standard because the majority of blacks in our society are not given the same opportunities as whites. And if you think everyone has equal opportunities in this country, you are sorely mistaken.....Race is a big issue...because it is a big issue....inner city schools, employment opportunities, health care are worse for the majority of blacks in this country. And having privileged individuals, no matter the race making fun of minorities in general, and in a forum where others can see this outwardly racial degradation, keeps the power lines in place....so shame on wvu women's soccer...
Your name
Mon Nov 9 2009 11:44
Why is there such a double standard? This would have never been an issue had the black girls on the team dressed up as the white ones? I think colored people need to stop feeling as if they are getting attacked and that the world is out to get them. Yes, this is a slight generalization but based on some of the earlier comments on this post it is actually an accurate description. By this incident being brought to the light it just furthers the rift between whites and blacks. Seriously, it was obviously a joke between teammates who feel they are like family and close enough to one another to dress up as eachother. People off the team turned this into a racial issue, when those on the team obviously did not care, so why is it anything more? Seriously if youre offended by this when blacks imitate whites quite often in comedy shows you have issues and really should stop being so sensitive. And please what exactly was the impact of this behavior? This was in no way a hate crime.. the impact is now no one in the athletic program will ever dress up as a person of color ever again. Students need to just get over it, it was good hearted fun.
Sonic
Sun Nov 8 2009 23:16
I love how people like J. McIntosh get to decide what racism is or isn't. As long as she and the office don't think the blackface was racist and offensive, why, we should just blindly go by their definitions.

Even if I didn't mean to hurt someone's feelings and it was a" joke" and I call you an a--hole, it doesn't matter what my INTENTION is because the result is still the same - I hurt someone's feelings. Why's it so hard to just say "we screwed up"? At least they're doing the racial forums. But those are worthless since the people who NEED to go wouldn't dream of doing it.

I love incidents like these - it brings out the inner racist in most people. "Y'all need to just be less sensitive!" or "Why do we keep bringing race into this???" That's right - let's blame it on the black people for being "too sensitive".

Your name
Sun Nov 8 2009 21:34
The first two questions that come to my mind are 'why did these girls pick the black girls to dress up as? In considering this, how is this not racial, even if not intentionally malicious? Sadly, the US is a race focused society. It seems everything is about race. Even the news is reported with a slant toward race whether it is irrelevant to mention it or not. It is unfortunate these girls, without thinking of the consequences, thought it would be "fun" to dress up as their team mates by darkening their skin and padding their backsides- I truly don't believe there was anything malicious in the hearts of the girls who did the dressing up. But it's hard to me to understand how could they not realize their actions might be considered offensive by some. I would love to see our society move past race being at the foundation of nearly everything, but for now, that's the way it is. We're growing, but we're not quite there yet and until we are, some understanding is still needed.
WVU '04
Sun Nov 8 2009 21:15
Who cares? Black people act white and it's funny. Dave Chappelle did it on his show all the time. Get over it and quit being so sensitive.
Brandon
Sun Nov 8 2009 19:28
If they weren't doing blackface, then what the hell _were_ they doing? Whether they intended to cause offence or do something racist doesn't matter. What matters is the result, and the result is a racist depiction of black people.

"They weren't wearing anything inappropriate" -- except for the blackface.

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