[user104658]

Originally Posted by Livia

What makes you think that? The slave trade is alive and well my friend...

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.