A white South Dakota man paints his face brown, puts on an Afro wig, kneels, and hangs a sign around his neck saying, “Will stand for money.” Next thing you know, he’s on KSFY, that Sioux Falls paper, AP, Teen Vogue, and Black Sports Online.
Let’s get clear: Cole Paulson of Brookings included SDSU in his Twitter profile tagline before he locked it down, but according to SDSU, he is not a current student at my alma mater, and SDSU hasn’t yet stated for sure whether he ever has been a Jackrabbit.
That’s encouraging, because I’d like to believe anyone smart enough to attend South Dakota’s best university is also sufficiently culturally with it to recognize that white people don’t do blackface. Let’s turn to Vox‘s 2014 essay on the topic, consulting professor of culture, gender, and race studies David Leonard:
…today, blackface reinforces the idea that black people are appropriate targets of ridicule and mockery and reminds us of stereotypes about black criminality, and danger. This, says Leonard, can serve to support implicit bias and discriminatory treatment and in areas from law enforcement to employment [Jenée Desmond-Harris, “Don’t Get What’s Wrong with Blackface? Here’s Why It’s So Offensive,” Vox, 2014.10.29]
Reinforcing implicit bias and discriminatory treatment while mocking Colin Kaepernick for protesting the deadly impacts of such bias and discrimination—Paulson piles insult upon insult.
Yet Paulson professes ignorance of the generally recognized cultural impact of white guys in blackface and apologized via KSFY:
I was ignorant to the fact I was being racist and did not know the implications as to what I was doing. I had zero racist intentions and I deeply apologize to anyone I offended [Cole Paulson, statement to KSFY, 2017.10.28].
He repeated his lack of knowledge and ill intent to that Sioux Falls paper:
I will be completely honest and tell you I was ignorant to the fact as to painting my face like that was racist,” Paulson said. “It was in no way my intention to offend the African American community, and I have read many articles and documents since to educate myself on why it was wrong of me to do what I did. I also never left the confines of my home with that paint on my face. I was contacted almost immediately about how it was wrong and proceeded to wash it off before I went anywhere. I wholeheartedly apologize as I feel horrible about my ignorance and offending many people I respect” [Michael Klinski, “Man Apologizes After Black Face Costume Causes Outrage; South Dakota State Responds,” that Sioux Falls paper, updated 2017.10.30].
Dr. Leonard says Paulson’s intent is irrelevant:
Your innermost thoughts don’t change the impact blackface has on the people of all races around you, or the way it reinforces stereotypes and the idea that blackness is, at best, a joke.
“In many ways, one’s intent is irrelevant,” said Leonard. “The harm, whether it’s harm in terms of eliciting anger, or sadness, or triggering various emotions or causing [black people to feel] both hyper-visible and invisible at the same time, is there. When someone says, ‘I didn’t mean it that way,’ well, their real question should be not ‘Did I mean it?’ but, ‘Am I causing harm?'” [Desmond-Harris, 2014.10.29]
…and Paulson’s ignorance is part of the problem:
“The ability to be ignorant, to be unaware of the history and consequences of racial bigotry, to simply do as one pleases, is a quintessential element of privilege. The ability to disparage, to demonize, to ridicule, and to engage in racially hurtful practices from the comfort of one’s segregated neighborhoods and racially homogeneous schools reflects both privilege and power. The ability to blame others for being oversensitive, for playing the race card, or for making much ado about nothing are privileges codified structurally and culturally.”
…The question, to ask yourself if you claim ignorance is, he said, “Why do you not know, and what have you done to make sure that you continue to not know?” [Desmond-Harris, 2014.10.29]
Don’t like Kaepernick? Go ahead, say so. But don’t do it in blackface, or you’re only proving Kaepernick has a lot of deeply ingrained racism to protest.
The links provided here show that this has become a national news story, last month it was Sturgis Brown High School and their racist “go back to the rez” that made the national news. With regularity South Dakota makes the big headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Paulson’s claim of ignorance is only partially true. Yes he is ignorant for posting a racist picture, but I doubt that he didn’t know that his picture was racist.
You would have to live in a bubble to not know what is racist and what is not.
When will South Dakota learn?
I’d love to take this little SD prick up to North Minneapolis to have a little chat with some brothas.
Y’all are a part of the problem the press included! How bout we stop with racist this and racist that and move on. Quit putting him on blast. He was drinking and didn’t something stupid. Like to see anyone who has ever drank say they have never done anything dumb. Whether it be something small or big. And Threats? Really? Grow up!
Nick, I’ve issued no threats. There is no need to stop with “racist this and racist that” when the “this” in question, a white guy in blackface, really is racist. That’s like telling the weatherman to stop making the snow worse by saying it’s snowing outside. The press reports the problem, so that no one can profess ignorance about racism and so that we can all avoid being racist.
Even Paulson agrees that blackface is racist. He only says he didn’t realize that until the attention to his post prompted him to read up on the issue. So really, his publicity did him some good.
And drinking is no excuse for racism. If you expect drinking to lead to your doing stupid things, you shouldn’t drink.
Cory, I think you’re right on the money in very many ways on this.
I tell ya though, white kids who grow up in racist families tend to do and say a lot of racist crap without truly even thinking about it at all – that is – until they one day suffer a consequence.
I question the folks closest to Paulson – if they’ve insulated him from reality in a racist buffer zone of some kind. He’s way too old to just now be learning this lesson in life. His family’s and friends’ values are questionable in my view. The kid’s behavior is indicative of having been raised in a racist buffer zone or a ‘sanctuary cities’ for racists.
Ole Cole was too busy smoking and drinking to know that mocking black people would offend anyone. We’re all supposed to believe it because he said it. Sorry. None of us are as stupid as he professes to be. I do believe he’s stupid. Just not as stupid as he says he is.
Jenny – nice stereotypification of the residents of N. Minneapolis. You’re equally clueless to this young man.
Good for him. If he wants to blacken his face and wear a sign in protest over the black racist actions of football players etc. he has every right to do so … at least the same rights as all of the brain-dead who are criticizing him. The color black is NOT a special color worthy of extra-special treatment or consideration. Who cares if black people are “offended” because of black stuff in life. Get over it!! The native-Americans have been dealing with people “disrespecting” red for centuries … and how about the colors yellow and brown, and yes, even white. The current rage among anti-American fascists and socialists and communists and terrorists and other undesirables is to pretend that black is beautiful and wonderful and special … it is NOT. Blacks all over America are proving that just the opposite is true. Blacks in Puerto Rico are proving that just the opposite is true. America should never have brought the first black to the country. Should have picked our own cotton. Look at the evil in this country because of blacks. Stand tall Mr. Paulson. You are on the correct track and you are NOT alone.
Just like we were all clueless about the Sturgis incident also, right Richard. South Dakota is clueless about racism. They have totally no idea how this looks to the rest of the nation.
I can say for a fact if this young man had been an employee of a MN business, he very well could have been fired just like that. Call it being politically correct, SD, but times have changed.
https://sports.yahoo.com/m/0111c2ff-ac9f-386a-a07d-edb355c4e584/man-mocking-colin-kaepernick.html
Found this on my NFL link today. Getting famous for the wrong reasons.
I just don’t think dressing up as Colin Kaepernick begging for money is funny, just mean-spirited and hurtful. At least he apologized, I’ll give him that much.
In the term “politically correct,” let us emphasize “correct.”
On the apology: many of Paulson’s associates haven’t picked up on his acknowledgment that what he said was wrong. I have a small flock of pseudonymous/anonymous commenters in moderation saying his blackface act was justified and that those of us calling him to task are in error. I’m waiting for those folks to acknowledge my e-mail to confirm they aren’t spoofing or sock-monkeying with us. (One of the commenters gave a bogus e-mail address, so there’s a pearl of wisdom lost to the ages.)
Blackface is wrong 100% of the time. I’d like to see how a modern mushy brained isolationist tries to defend it, so that I could have an opportunity to grab them by the pussy and bodyslam their ass.
Cole Paulson is Kevin Spacey in the exact form. Both got high and then came out one way or the other. No difference between the two, like peas and carrots. Oh and toss in some of that y’all Nick in the equation and there ya go.
Mike and Nick are the reason so many call South Dakota North Mississippi. They exemplify the deep seated institutional racism that is so evident in South Dakota.
Mike, did it ever occur to you that white people of the slavery era were cheap lazy and cruel? White people in the South weren’t willing to work to pick the cotton so they imported blacks to do the work for nothing.
Two of Trump’s campaign aides and one that has already plead guilty, were arrested and charged with one of the highest crimes, Conspiracy Against the United States of America.
Neither was handcuffed or jailed and today are walking free. By contrast NFL players are protesting the treatment of young black men when they are arrested. Many are brutalized or murdered by law enforcement officers and never see the inside of a courtroom.
Mike, this is what white privilege is like in America.
Mike is another of them privileged whiteys who had some person of color steal his lunch money. He has no clue what black and white football players are protesting. He gets his talking points from right wing blowhards and spouts their garbage verbatim. Wah, wah, wah, Mike. Cry me a river of tears and be sure to tell us how you have been passed over for a good paying job for a black, Mexican, Gay, etc. person. Maybe you were kicked out of your home so blacks could have it. Is that it?
Pick your own cotton? Actually there were sharecroppers in the old south that did pick cotton. They did it very poorly and were the reason many went to war for the south so they could live the dream of owning a slave or several. Picking cotton requires a steady and strong hand as those balls are attached very well to the plant and there are spines to try to avoid.
Have you ever seen white boys trying to pick oranges or fruit? They can, but it takes them forever to do the job. Most only last a day or two before they pack their bags and move on. How about milking cows in a CAFO? Better get some real workers to do that job, white boys cannot handle the task hour after hour, day in and day out. How about the cleaning of motel rooms? Go to Keystone or any other tourist venue and see who is doing the work there, especially when it gets busy.
Nope, wearing blackface only shows that you are incapable of any kind of work and only want to be endowed with the tools to get the job done. Just another lazy privileged person looking to be on the dole.
Mike (not Mike from Iowa) has just confirmed what we have been saying all along. The US has a racism problem – “look at the evil in this country b/c of blacks”. Take a hike, Mike, people like you are not welcome on Cory’s blog.
The SDSU Collegian reminds us that it ran an editorial last week reminding its readers that blackface, like Native American costumes, constitutes racism. With that editorial in the community, Paulson chose to post a photo of himself in blackface. In today’s editorial, the Collegian says good grief:
Dialogue. Education. I’ll keep trying.
dealing with trolls is like dealing with this kid’s parents.
Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer for UNDERGROUND RAILROAD. Was lucky to findthis in the local block mailbox library. Horrifying novel. (Search never gets me to most recent black history thread)