Off The Wall: Sometimes It is Just Soot

 

 

Sean Long‎ writes…”I see in the “news” that “Mary Poppins” is racist because in the chimney sweep scene, she dusts her face with chimney dust as if it was makeup. I always interpreted this as an expression of pride in doing a dirty job with enthusiasm, however apparently, it’s being tied to blackface. I can’t help but wonder if it’s because those raising the racism charges are so opposed to the idea that anyone could possibly have any pride in doing a dirty job competently and with enthusiasm? It’s as if any pride displayed while doing a dirty job must therefore be merely a hateful mockery of something or other? Are chimney sweeps (and by extension any other job where your face gets dirty) now so inherently racist that they’re off limits entirely?” Feb 4, 2019, 9:15am.

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