Australian journalist posts 'blackface' photo
A Fox Sports journalist has come under fire for racism after she posted a picture on Instagram of herself and a friend wearing ‘blackface’ make-up.
In the photo, Briony Ingerson and a friend are painted black and posing among fern leaves. The journalist uses the hashtags “hopethiswashesoff" and "Africa" on the post.
She captioned the image with: "in honor of our bestie [Belinda Morters] running 'I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.'"
The first episode of the Morter-produced Channel 10 reality show was jungle-themed. No word yet on how Morter feels about the well-wishing tweet.
Journalism student Ahmed Yussuf drew media’s attention to the post after putting it on Twitter along with a scathing tweet about racism.
Ingerson responded by tweeting: "It was an African costume party …#notracistatall."
Yussuf quickly explained to Ingerson that it is indeed racist to dress up as a black person, even if it is for a costume party.
“As being black is a costume to put on. We are not props.”
Yussuf, who is studying at LaTrobe University and has worked as an intern at the same office as Ingerson, told Fairfax media he thought it was in the public’s interest to expose her.
Australia’s tweeters were quick to support his move and condemn Ingerson.
One commenter wrote: “Wait, this is 2015 and you didn’t realise blackface would be offensive?”
Amnesty International’s Amelia Freelander has also taken notice: “seriously?! Ignorance at the very least. How can you be that naïve?”
Ingerson is not the first white Australian to think it is okay to wear 'blackface' and be ignorant to the historical significance of donning the make-up.
Aspiring model Samantha Robinson, 18, last year posted a photo of herself next to a man in blackface posing as American rap artist Lil Wayne.
She told her critics: “If painting yourself black is racist against black people, then painting yourself blue is racist against Avatars”.
Also last year, a woman’s 21st birthday went viral and caused global outrage after she posted pictures of happy, smiling guests dressed up in ‘blackface’.
Her party was Africa themed.
At the time, she hit back at critics and said she was celebrating another “countries” culture. Africa is a continent.
