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And a thinly veiled disguise at that. Spotted this posted on the storefront window of Lush Cosmetics in Calle Tetuan whilst out for a hobble…
Pintarse la cara de negro no es tradición. Es racismo maquillado.
La ONU reconoce el blackface como una práctica racista que perpetúa estereotipos coloniales.
#StopBlackfaceInSpainPainting your face black is not a tradition. It’s racism in disguise.
The UN recognises blackface as a racist practice that perpetuates colonial stereotypes.
Well done Lush! And WTF is wrong with you Spain, that you still think this sort of “casual racism” is just a “harmless custom” meant to bring joy to children? Yes, the practice has come under debate and received much criticism over the past few years, but I mean what is there to debate? Spain, I love you but just stop fucking doing this already. I could say a LOT more about racism in Spain but I’m just too overwhelmed by THE WORLD right now. Some other time perhaps. I was just glad to see this today, though sorry it still needs to be said.
casa azahar 
I’m… baffled? Fill me in. After knowing you online for nearly 20 years I don’t remember any mention of this as a common practice in Spain (maybe I’ve forgotten something). It’s become considered taboo enough in the US that a governor of our state had to answer some hard questions about costuming himself in blackface at a fraternity party decades in the past. Is it something people do at holiday pantos or what?
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There are Three Kings: Melchor, Caspar and Balthazar… apparently Balthazar is supposed to be a Moorish black king (whatever, they’re all made up anyhow). And it’s been accepted custom here that in order to present an imagined king “properly” during the parade the people pretending to be him should be BLACK. I mean…
No doubt this started because back when the Three Kings Parade began here as a custom (mid-1800s),there were basically no black people living here. Even when I arrived in 1992 one of my first reactions when being out and about was… where is everybody?? Because everyone was white. It was weird. It’s been changing, but for me the worst part of the “casual racism” I witness here constantly is that almost everyone pretends not to see it. And of course, as a guiri I am being oversensitive and don’t understand “their culture”. Fuck that. This is my home, flaws and all I love it. But there is much room for improvement.
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