Exclusive: Video shows Trudeau in blackface in 3rd instance of racist makeup

[brooklynite]

Source: Global News

Global News has obtained video showing Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau in blackface, the third instance of racist dress to come to light in 12 hours.

The video was shot in the early 1990s, however, it’s not clear where it takes place.

The video, obtained exclusively by Global News, shows Trudeau covered in what appears to be dark makeup and raising his hands in the air while laughing, sticking his tongue out and making faces. He’s wearing a white T-shirt, and his jeans are ripped at the knees. It appears as though his arms and legs are covered in makeup as well. It does not appear the video was shot at the same time and place of the other photos of Trudeau in racist make-up that have emerged in the past 24 hours.

Global News initially obtained the video from a source earlier this week but had been attempting to verify it before publishing. A senior member of the Liberal campaign confirmed it was Trudeau early Thursday morning but would not comment further, simply referring Global News back to Trudeau’s comments on the matter from Wednesday evening. The source did not shoot the video but Global News subsequently reached the person believed to have shot the video. That person would not confirm or deny that it was Trudeau in the video or the time and place of the video.



Read more: https://globalnews.ca/news/5922861/justin-trudeau-brownface-video/

---

How hard is it to decide NOT to do something like this?

[True Dough]

1. Trudeau has been running neck and neck with the Conservative leader

Hard to say how many Liberal voters this will turn away. If the SNC Lavalin scandal didn't make a big dent (which it should have), it's hard to imagine these dated incidents will drive off many supporters.

[OnlinePoker]

2. SNC is yesterday's news. This is fresh meat for the media election circus. n/t

[True Dough]

4. SNC is only yesterday's news because

Trudeau is dodging the candidate forums. He's attempting to minimize the opportunities for his opponents to further grill him about SNC.

[alp227]

21. Nice user name, too! nt

[True Dough]

27. Yeah, I was once inspired

now I'm hugely disappointed. As another DUer suggested, I can always claim I'm a fan of Garry Trudeau and Doonesbury.

[Bidenator]

44. maybe he will pick up some conservative votes?? could be a planned release of photos n/t

[JonLP24]

51. That scandal is why they are neck and neck

https://m.

[democratisphere]

3. It is a damn costume and doesn't deserve the obsessive focus by some.

The world is falling apart and THIS is what gets some people's attention.
Let's make ceratain another conservative leader is installed over another ridiculous smear campaign.

[OnlinePoker]

5. This is a new incident, not related to the Aladdin costume.

This is full blackface.

[democratisphere]

6. So what! It is a damn costume!

[FBaggins]

8. There are no offensive costumes? nt

[democratisphere]

11. Really?!

Have we become so PC and overly sensitive that you would prefer a conservative to be installed as the leader of Canada?

[FBaggins]

13. That's really the position you want to take?

You do realize that you're saying that we need to adjust our interpretation of right and wrong based on whether it will harm electoral chances?

That's flat ridiculous. Nobody said "and therefore he should not be reelected"

He admitted that it was a stupid thing to do... why can't you?

[Tiggeroshii]

15. It seems like the utilitarian position anyways

This was done 30 years ago and somehow didnt change how he governed. Installing a consservative would hurt a ton more people than it's worth. So yeah, accepting it for electoral purposes is the logical and moral thing to do.

[Jedi Guy]

17. Whatever your reasoning, that's a double standard. N/T

[Tiggeroshii]

28. How so?

We are not talking about child molesters and rapists here...

[mr_lebowski]

19. +1 & exactly why I defended Northam ...

Not only that, but the early 90's were a very different time, people didn't universally regard blackface costumes as offensive like they do now. That's a more recent realization.

[Jedi Guy]

20. So it was okay when Kay Ivey did it, right?

After all, it was even longer ago than the 90s, since she did it in the 60s.

[mr_lebowski]

24. Taken in and of itself, probably yes (nt)

[Tiggeroshii]

37. I am reminded of the old saying when David Duke ran for governor against the Democratic governor

who was an alleged crook. "Vote for the crook! It's important!"

If our personal conduct is an inherent disqualifier against all other options, for office, David Duke would have been elected governor.

[JonLP24]

49. That isn't a great example for me since David Duke is a well known racist

Purity & racism is why I never would consider voting for the Republicans no matter much Democrats move to the right.

[Tiggeroshii]

52. Thats pretty much my point.

If we allowed ourselves to reject our candidates because of these missteps, no matter what we almost always get somebody worse.

[JonLP24]

53. I'm not a Canadian voter so it doesn't matter

I won't defend blackface though because I knew that was racist before DU existed.

[Tiggeroshii]

54. Definitely not defending blackface

Just defending society's right to not get destroyed by right wingers because of blackface.

[qazplm135]

32. have we become so partisan and devoid of ethics

that our only criteria for a public leader is "he's better than a conservative?"

[Tiggeroshii]

34. I think the criteria for public office should aways be whether more people would suffer or not with

that person. The conservative would clearly create more suffering. This is a far more sophisticated moral argument in my opinion than "this person did something that is considered wrong now (not then), so we should punish him and the millions who will suffer from an alternative candidate as a result."

[qazplm135]

35. So basically

Ethics and principles be damned, our side right or wrong.

I mean it's a way to go, but sorry can't join you.

It's the same argument Republicans use to support Trump.

[Tiggeroshii]

36. Not really. They forgive his evils so that more evil can continue, knowing it is wrong.

This is forgiving a misguided action in order to continue to advocate for stronger morality in our laws. Ethics and principles are not being sacrificed, but protected in our case.

[Afromania]

9. To you it is.

Thanks for the help.......

[Jedi Guy]

10. And you'd say that if it were a conservative politician, right? N/T

[End Of The Road]

18. +1,000

[brooklynite]

7. So the Black Peter characters in the Netherlands are OK?

After years of debate and at times violent protest, this year’s Christmas-season Saint Nicholas parade in the Netherlands will not feature white people in blackface makeup, the public broadcaster that organises the event has said.

The Zwarte Pieten, or Black Petes, who accompany Sinterklaas in the annual televised parade, which this year takes place in Apeldoorn on 16 November, will instead have sooty faces, the broadcaster said, in what it called “a logical next step”.

Last year, in response to growing protests by anti-racism campaigners, NTR introduced a mix of sooty and blackfacePieten for the parade, saying it “respected both tradition and change” but felt it had to “reflect changes in society”.


https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/18/netherlands-ban-blackface-makeup-zwarte-piet-black-pete-christmas-parade

[Jose Garcia]

12. No they are not.

[EllieBC]

14. Did you feel this way about Republicans

doing blackface in the 60s, 70s, and 80s? Was it just a costume or does Trudeau get a pass for being on the correct side?

[a kennedy]

16. It must be horrible as faux noise is hammering on him......

[luvtheGWN]

22. He was in a high school talent show

and was singing "Dayo, dayo". Would have been kind of stupid to sing it as a white guy.

Now a bit of Canadian history: When I was a young girl, my father belonged to the local Lions' Club. In those days, the Lions put on a Minstrel Show each year (this is in Ontario, BTW, in the 50's). The chorus was all in blackface, there were 5 gentlemen dressed in different plaid suits -- also in blackface, and they had speaking parts, and then there was the white "Interlocutor", or emcee, who exchanged lines with the 5 men.

As I recall (since I had also seen the scripts of some of these shows), the only person who was made to look stupid was the Interlocutor. The 5 guys had the best lines, the funniest lines, and always had a smart retort for the Interlocutor.

Did we think this was racist? Did the 5 guys come across and stupid? No way to either of those questions.

So......when you're performing for an audience, the terms of conduct are different. Shakespeare wrote "Othello" as a black man, and it wasn't until maybe over the last 10 years that actual black actors have had the leading role.

And remember this: Trudeau has welcomed people of all colours (including well over 25,000 Syrian refugees) to Canada and has said, many times, that "Diversity is our strength". Compare that to the horrendous racist epithets Dolt45 had spouted for several years.

[Jose Garcia]

33. Changes to asylum rules in federal budget bill leave refugee advocates in 'shock and dismay'

OTTAWA — Lawyers and advocates who work directly with refugees say they are dismayed by proposed changes to asylum laws included in the Liberals’ new budget bill, calling them a devastating attack on refugee rights in Canada.

The Trudeau government is proposing to prevent asylum seekers from making refugee claims in Canada if they have made similar claims in certain other countries, including the United States.

Border Security Minister Bill Blair says the measure aims to prevent “asylum-shopping.”

“I can tell you we’ve been working very hard over the past several months to significantly reduce the number of people who are crossing our borders irregularly,” Blair told reporters Tuesday. “There’s a right way to come to the country to seek asylum and/or to seek to immigrate to this country, and we’re trying to encourage people to use the appropriate channels and to disincentivize people from doing it improperly.”

More: https://www.google.com/amp/s/nationalpost.com/news/politics/refugee-advocates-shocked-and-dismayed-over-asylum-changes-in-budget-bill/amp

Now, if the Trump administration adopted the same policy, would we say "gosh, that seems like a fair and reasonable policy?" Or would we decry it as heartless and xenophobic?

[muriel_volestrangler]

38. "Would have been kind of stupid to sing it as a white guy" ???

WTF?

I never thought I'd see that kind of excuse-making on DU.

" it wasn't until maybe over the last 10 years that actual black actors have had the leading role"

Well, no. I don't know how old you are (I'm guessing 20?), but take, for instance, Paul Robeson in 1930: https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2003/sep/03/theatre

You really thought no black actor played him until well into the 21 century?

[luvtheGWN]

41. Gee Muriel, your outrage shouts!

I've attended a few stage productions of Othello and it's been nearly always played by a white man. Sorry I didn't know about Robeson -- how remiss of me.

And I'm not making "excuses" for Trudeau singing a song written by black man FOR a black man to sing, unless it is to suggest that he should have picked another song. I guess only songs written by people of a certain race can only be sung by those of the same race? And was he mocking African-Americans by attempting to look like one, so that the song would have more meaning? I'm pretty sure NOT.

He was in a high school talent show, in Montreal. Please don't equate what might/probably wasn't racially charged in Montreal to what it has been (and sadly, still is) in the US. Remember, your black slaves escaped to Canada. And Montreal now has a huge population of Haitian refugees.

I'm so, so tired of the opposition bringing up stuff that happened so many years ago, just to score points. Trudeau's main opponent is an anti-abortion, demonstrably homophobic, anti-green deal, pro-oil sands conservative politician. And his team have taken pages and pages out of the GOP/Trump playbook.

At this rate, we won't have any decent, caring people with maybe a few embarrassing incidents in their past to actually run for political office. Sad.

[muriel_volestrangler]

42. You are making excuses for him *using blackface*

That's what's wrong.

"And was he mocking African-Americans by attempting to look like one"? Well, yes, that is the effect.

And the last time he did it was in 2001. When he was a 29 year old teacher. Fuck.

"Remember, your black slaves escaped to Canada ... I'm so, so tired of the opposition bringing up stuff that happened so many years ago, just to score points."

I'd laugh if this wasn't so painful to see a DUer trying to argue *for blackface*. For the record, I'm British, so no, they weren't "my slaves".

[luvtheGWN]

43. Okay Muriel, I give up.

I can't continue to argue with your "holier-than-thou" attitude.

He's my Prime Minister and I will vote for my Liberal candidate, because I forgive any youthful indiscretions, which you obviously do not.

And by the way, when you're in costume and performing does not mean you're mocking anyone. Surely you've seen enough plays in the West End to know that.

[cabot]

23. As a Canadian, I will still vote Liberal

I usually vote NDP, but this election is too important. Scheer is worse than Harper. Yes, Trudeau did horrible things in the past....but Scheer will do horrible things in the future. Look what Ford is doing to Ontario....that is what Scheer has planned for the country.

[LisaM]

26. Scheer is terrible. I listen to CBC news a lot on the radio.

As far as I can tell, he's hellbent on ramping up oil production. No matter what else he talks about (and I don't like his other policies), he keeps coming back to oil production.

Someone's poor judgement 30 years ago versus someone whose sole interest seems to be oil - no contest.

[cabot]

29. Exactly!

In Alberta, Jason Kenney has set up a phone number so people can report others who “slander “ oil and gas.

[healthnut7]

25. I will vote Liberal as well.

The Conservatives are just like the Republicans!! Give to the rich and take from everyone else. If it was up to them they would remove healthcare and bring in private only.
We have enough Conservative Premiers than to give them the PM as well. I hope Canadians are smart enough to not put them in.
You notice we hear nothing from Ford, that's because they asked him to lay low and keep his mouth shut until the election is over. Tells you a lot!!.

[cabot]

31. Most people I talk to will vote liberal

If anything, I want the liberals in charge rather than Scheer. I’m happy that Bernier will be in the debate on Oct. 7. I’m hoping it splits the conservative vote.

I’m not a fan of Trudeau, but he’s definitely better than Scheer. I wish I could vote my usual NDP....but it isn’t the right choice this election.

[Greybnk48]

30. Don't care. n/t

[muriel_volestrangler]

39. Canada's Justin Trudeau cannot say how often he wore blackface

Canada's PM Justin Trudeau says he cannot remember how often he wore blackface, as a row deepens ahead of an election in October.

He was speaking after more images of him wearing black make-up when he was younger emerged.

"I am wary of being definitive about this because the recent pictures that came out, I had not remembered," he told reporters in Winnipeg.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-49763805

This is really bad.

[Fan of Da Bearse]

40. Let he who is without sin . . .

[MicaelS]

45. How long should our sins be remembered?

So, he did something stupid nearly 30 years ago. How is this relevant to today?

Here, we still have those outraged over the treatment of Anita Hill, despite the fact it was 35 years ago. How many adults under 40 even know who she is?

How long should other people's fuckups be remembered?

[rpannier]

47. 18 was the most recent, I have heard

Though there may be others, since he cannot seem to be certain

[LudwigPastorius]

46. Three separate instances of this offensive behavior?

He's done.

[rwsanders]

48. OK, I could be wrong, but just for discussion, maybe we should start trying to make a distinction

between racism and acts that are "racially insensitive". So there is a distinction between what Trudeau did, i.e. he didn't realize (yes he should have), but he didn't realize how offensive it was. As opposed to those who would do it to degrade or mock others they consider lesser.

So in that light, I think a distinction could be made between the actions of Al Franken (foolish, but forgivable) and those of Trump (intentional and prosecutable).

I think we need something better than binary thinking. Great Star Trek TNG episode about this and I believe it was called "Binars".

[truthisfreedom]

50. Any of these done as an insult to people of color?

[luvtheGWN]

55. No.

And there lies the difference.

[ripcord]

56. And this thread shows the reason conservatives vote for Trump and raicists

In their view it is better than the alternative, excusing this behavior is disgusting.