Children's blackface and whiteface costumes spark debate
Australian mother criticised for painting son brown to honour his Aussie rules football idol Nic Naitanui

A debate over blackface and whiteface has erupted in Australia after photos of children with painted faces were published on the internet.
The controversy began when a mother in Perth painted her son brown for a school event in honour of his Aussie Rules football idol Nic Naitanui.
She posted the image on Facebook, describing it as a "parenting win".
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
She wrote: "I NEED to share my absolute QUEENING moment. My son had book week parade today. He wanted to go as his idol Nic Naitanui from the west coast Eagles. I was a little worried about painting him. (So many politically correct extremists these days) he is pastey White and if I just sent him in a wig and footy gear, no one would tell who he was. So I grew a set of balls and painted my boy brown and he looked fanf***ingtastic."
She finished: "Parenting win! I’m celebrating by having a wine before 12pm..."
The message was later removed, reports The Guardian
Naitanui commented on the post after it had been shared by writer and blogger Constance Hall, saying: "It's a shame racism coexists in an environment where our children should be nurtured not tortured because they are unaware of the painful historical significance of 'blackface' has had previously on the oppressed."
Naitanui, who is of Fijian descent, suggested educating others of the origins of blackface.
The furore has led Australians to share their own views on the practice.
Bec Bee, who is of Aboriginal descent, shared a picture of her daughter dressed as a Dr Seuss character in a red wig and white face paint for a similar school event three years ago, saying there were "double standards" inflaming racial debates in the country.
"I didn't see blackface," she told the BBC. "I saw a young fella who was proud to emulate his idol. There was no intent of racism."
She added: "Not once did anyone say anything when I painted my black daughter white three years ago. We need to stop the double standards, a hero is a hero.
"I showed my daughter the article about the young boy… She said, 'I'm proud that he wants to be the same colour as me.'"
But Bee's Facebook post has also drawn criticism, with one Facebook user, Aliera French, saying: "Just because it doesn't offend you, doesn't mean it's not offensive."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
June 1 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Sunday's political cartoons include Donald Trump's golden comb-over, brain drain in America, and a new TACO presidential seal.
-
5 cartoons about the TACO trade
Cartoons Political cartoonists take on America's tariffs, Vladimir Putin waiting for taco Tuesday, and a new presidential seal
-
A city of culture in the high Andes
The Week Recommends Cuenca is a must-visit for those keen to see the 'real Ecuador'
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designation
The Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago
-
Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across Syria
THE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations
-
'Like a sound from hell': Serbia and sonic weapons
The Explainer Half a million people sign petition alleging Serbian police used an illegal 'sound cannon' to disrupt anti-government protests
-
The arrest of the Philippines' former president leaves the country's drug war in disarray
In the Spotlight Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC earlier this month
-
Ukrainian election: who could replace Zelenskyy?
The Explainer Donald Trump's 'dictator' jibe raises pressure on Ukraine to the polls while the country is under martial law
-
Why Serbian protesters set off smoke bombs in parliament
THE EXPLAINER Ongoing anti-corruption protests erupted into full view this week as Serbian protesters threw the country's legislature into chaos
-
Who is the Hat Man? 'Shadow people' and sleep paralysis
In Depth 'Sleep demons' have plagued our dreams throughout the centuries, but the explanation could be medical