World
An Australian aboriginal woman posted her daughter’s “whiteface” pictures on Facebook to hit back at what she called “double standards” in the country’s race debates. A furious social media discussion kicked off last week after a young boy in Perth attended a school event with his skin painted black, to pay tribute to his idol, Australian Rules player Nic Naitanui.
Bec Bee, from Far North Queensland, said that the young boy’s mother dressed him “black” so as to show innocent admiration for a sports star and not to offend or mock indigenous culture, writes the BBC. Bee questioned why there were no objections when she painted her black daughter white three years ago.
In the lengthy statement posted on Facebook, Bee said that the painful history of aboriginal people should be brought to light but without “divisive double standards,” reports Yahoo News. Bee’s gesture was rebutted by many social media users, with one of them commenting, “Just because it doesn't offend you, doesn't mean it's not offensive.”
Sports star Naitanui tweeted that the “blackface” act wasn’t an “intentional offence,” adding that the mother could choose an “alternate” method next time.
