[Livia]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

The slave trade (especially sex slavery) is very much alive and well, that much is sadly very true, however I think the fact that black people were enslaved specifically by white Europeans is what makes it especially inappropriate for white people to "black up", in comparison to vice-versa, or other costumes.

Honestly, the rule of thumb should be, if the majority of a group of people find something offensive (and I think this DOES apply to blackface) then other people should respect that and stop doing it. It should really be as simple as that. No matter what group that is.

Frankly I've only ever heard white people complain about it.

The slave trade is rife and it's happening all over the world. How many times have you heard about slaves in this country, kept to work in dreadful conditions, no access to medicine... and that's in one of the most developed countries in the world. Trouble is that we don't hear that much about modern slavery. I don't know why anyone should suppose slavery is any better for the slave now.