Erm, what is wrong with this picture?
I bought this album at Phonopolis because I am a slave to the rhythm and the samba was just too good to resist, but when I brought the record home I noticed something a little… funny about the images of the musicians on the cover. Is it just me or do they look a little caricature-y? Not sure how I feel about having blackface in my record collection, kids.
Tragically Unhip Staff
Genevieve D. Markle
Marianne Perron
Kimberly Senf
Laurin McNiff
David Fiore
Celeste Parr
Poppa John
Tess Hart
Brooke D.
Elli S.
Meagan Burbidge
Mr. Flint
George Blottttt
Little Evie
Check out Kara Walker. She knows what’s up.
You have to understand that Brazil has a radically different racial history than North America. What you see as blackface could be simply a caricature in Brazil. A lot of popular art in Brazil focuses on exaggerations, whether it’s facial features, regional dress, or gender (cartoons of women often have massive butts and tiny waists).
Racial relations in Brazil aren’t as prickly as they are here, and Brazilians don’t probe everything for traces of racism.
So enjoy your samba.