its pathetic.

people have no lives.

the channel BET says it all anyways...

wow this is what its come down to on hockeybuzz??? a study of racism....you see this NHL and PA....this is what you've done....these poor bloggers are going crazy in here without their hockey to write about!! lol

seriously, he didnt just put on black face....its a celebrity...the end

Would it be racist if Bozak dressed up like Brashear or Simmonds??
- Arctic_AARDVARK

it would definetly be questioned...simply because no one would know who he's dressed as so they might just assume he's dressed as a black person...or black face so thats a risk on his part

but the real risk is the next time the leafs play the Flyers LOL

cuz he'd get dropped by Simmonds

it would definetly be questioned...simply because no one would know who he's dressed as so they might just assume he's dressed as a black person...or black face so thats a risk on his part

but the real risk is the next time the leafs play the Flyers LOL

cuz he'd get dropped by Simmonds
- Habitants98

wayne isnt exactly tough, nor is Bozak.

but im sure Brown would enjoy stepping in

What a non story. Bozak did nothing wrong. Christ, people are dumb. Only people who care are white anyways.

What a non story. Bozak did nothing wrong. Christ, people are dumb. Only people who care are white anyways.
- Jimmy_Tea

by supporting him, it makes you racist.

It's not really black face and it doesn't make him a racist, but it is pretty culturally insensitive to paint your face darker since it is so reminiscent of a not long abandon racist activity. There is a very dark history of slavery in the US; it's bad form to recall elements of it, regardless of how innocuous they are claimed to be.

How about this one? Kids at a mostly white high school putting on a skit about Chris Brown beating Rhianna with their faces painted black. This was a couple of weeks ago. Does that not seem pretty racist? And if this kind of thing still happens, how can we claim to be in a post racial society where everybody is to understand racism isn't real anymore?

http://news.yahoo.com/ny-...criticized-214423493.html

wayne isnt exactly tough, nor is Bozak.

but im sure Brown would enjoy stepping in
- big_dion

i'd say Wayne is pretty tough based on his 10 fights last year lol....Brown also had 10 i think as for Bozak...no fighting....so no he doesnt compare with Simmonds but its a lil ridiculous to claim Wayne isnt tough lol

Here's a National Post article on it. I think it's a pretty fair summary.

http://sports.nationalpos...ic-test-halloween-taboos/

It's not really black face and it doesn't make him a racist, but it is pretty culturally insensitive to paint your face darker since it is so reminiscent of a not long abandon racist activity. There is a very dark history of slavery in the US; it's bad form to recall elements of it, regardless of how innocuous they are claimed to be.

How about this one? Kids at a mostly white high school putting on a skit about Chris Brown beating Rhianna with their faces painted black. This was a couple of weeks ago. Does that not seem pretty racist? And if this kind of thing still happens, how can we claim to be in a post racial society where everybody is to understand racism isn't real anymore?

http://news.yahoo.com/ny-...criticized-214423493.html
- micah555

You compare Bozak on his MJ costume and a group of kids doing a play based on a real assault?

Get Real. They are no where near comparable, you know better than this Micah.

Here's a National Post article on it. I think it's a pretty fair summary.

http://sports.nationalpos...ic-test-halloween-taboos/
- micah555

A historian will see the travesties from history if they look hard enough.

I bet if anyone asked Bozak about "black-face" or "minstrel-ing" he would have had a blank face. Racism is something in someones heart. Bozak was not being racist, nor was he, IMO, being insensitive.

Again, to a historian, the early 1900's are not that long ago. To many others, they are older than grandparents. Not a fair comparison.

Had he gone as late 90's early 2000's Michael Jackson he would of looked more like this




Thus avoiding this whole ridiculous is it racist is it not racist debate......

Would of been a win win. He gets to go as his pop hero and we get spared pointless drama.

You compare Bozak on his MJ costume and a group of kids doing a play based on a real assault?

Get Real. They are no where near comparable, you know better than this Micah.
- OilHorse

So were the kids being racist or were they being ignorant? It's easy to claim either way, but it's neither smart or irrelevant in either their situation or Bozak's. And they are very comparable incidents where people act in an insensitive way about race for the purpose of entertainment and amusement. I doubt in either case that the participants meant harm or malice and yet both are totally inappropriate to anyone with an understanding of racial politics.

A historian will see the travesties from history if they look hard enough.

I bet if anyone asked Bozak about "black-face" or "minstrel-ing" he would have had a blank face. Racism is something in someones heart. Bozak was not being racist, nor was he, IMO, being insensitive.

Again, to a historian, the early 1900's are not that long ago. To many others, they are older than grandparents. Not a fair comparison.
- OilHorse

As the historian says: "...the problem is, when you’re not aware of the not-so-long ago past of minstrelsy … you can’t escape history that easily."

Bozak knew what Torres did the year before was controversial. Rather than look into why people found it objectionable, he decided to follow Torres's lead and do the same thing. Maybe he doesn't see what the problem is or maybe he doesn't really care. To me, that speaks to his insensitivity to racial issues and it doesn't speak well for his character.

If people want to give him a pass, that's fine. But there is a reason that black face in any form is objected to and it is based on a very real and very recent past which is not long gone history. It's still not all good when it comes to race in Western culture. Pretending racism doesn't exist doesn't make it disappear.

As the historian says: "...the problem is, when you’re not aware of the not-so-long ago past of minstrelsy … you can’t escape history that easily."

Bozak knew what Torres did the year before was controversial. Rather than look into why people found it objectionable, he decided to follow Torres's lead and do the same thing. Maybe he doesn't see what the problem is or maybe he doesn't really care. To me, that speaks to his insensitivity to racial issues and it doesn't speak well for his character.

If people want to give him a pass, that's fine. But there is a reason that black face in any form is objected to and it is based on a very real and very recent past which is not long gone history. It's still not all good when it comes to race in Western culture. Pretending racism doesn't exist doesn't make it disappear.
- micah555

In the collective mind of the average person, 100 years ago is a long time ago.

Bozak know about the controversy from the previous year, sure. As was shown through the repost of his twitter, he thought there was little to get worked up over.

I am not racially insensitive, I am in a mixed marriage and thus my kids are of mixed racial decent. I also think that this was a form of worship of an icon, not smarmy way to act superior to a person of a different racial stock.

Too often in the modern day people get worked up over relatively small details. This was one. The play you linked was not a minor detail. Like I said before, a true racist would never dress like a black man. In doing so Bozak proves he is not one. Calling him insensitive is as unjust as you see what he did for you do not know his social circle and who me may and may not have as close friends, including people of any race and colour.

This was not a "black-face" simply on the fact that those are degrading, and are meant to be such. This was not meant to degrade, though some will feel as such. This is where the disconnect is coming from...intent is not being factored.

If an Asian did this would we be having this discussion? Not likely.

And unless you are completely ignorant you know there is racism in the world, but pulling out the race card on instances like this lessens its ability to draw appropriate reactions when there is an act that needs the attention.

So were the kids being racist or were they being ignorant? It's easy to claim either way, but it's neither smart or irrelevant in either their situation or Bozak's. And they are very comparable incidents where people act in an insensitive way about race for the purpose of entertainment and amusement. I doubt in either case that the participants meant harm or malice and yet both are totally inappropriate to anyone with an understanding of racial politics.
- micah555

Intent. this is how they are not comparable.

I sure don't see his intent to degrade MJ or any black person. It was idolization.

The kids while not looking to degrade, are trying to get cheap laughs from someone's misfortune. They were ignorant.

See the intent? Bozak was setting MJ on a pedestal and imitating him for flattery. The kids were imitating for a parody of an unfunny parody. If the parody was about 2 white people in an assault case this is only about the assault...add the fact that it is 2 black people and it ramps up the headshake factor.

I am not sure they were being racist...I am very confidant that Bozak was not.

So if Bozak dressed up as the most recent memory of MJ when MJ was white, is that still racist? How in the hell dressing up like someone regardless of skin color is racist. Doesn't usually mean when you dress up like someone, you like that person or want to be him/her? I am sure Bozak loved MJ and liked his music and wanted to be him for a day. But in this day and age, it sickens me when media would put a spin on anything just to franking sell a story. Media should be ashamed of themselves. They are racist!!!
- hooligoon

they are racist.... they are simply dumb... for producing years of drivel.

Is calling the media "dumb" technically bullying?

love the avatar btw.

I guess we should also go after everyone who dressed up as someone of the opposite sex this Halloween, surely they are homophobic!

And what about impersonators? Certainly some defamation of character going on there.

I can't imagine all of the goblins, aliens, princesses, superheroes, Disney characters, movie stars etc etc are too happy with all those people who dressed up like them.

SHARPEN THE PITCHFORKS AND LIGHT THE TORCHES!!!

I guess we should also go after everyone who dressed up as someone of the opposite sex this Halloween, surely they are homophobic!

And what about impersonators? Certainly some defamation of character going on there.

I can't imagine all of the goblins, aliens, princesses, superheroes, Disney characters, movie stars etc etc are too happy with all those people who dressed up like them.

SHARPEN THE PITCHFORKS AND LIGHT THE TORCHES!!!
- As_I_See_It

My son went as a monkey, does that make me racist?

My son went as a monkey, does that make me racist?
- Scooby_Doo

No, but your son is a different story

Then again, it's said that "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree"

No, but your son is a different story

Then again, it's said that "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree"
- As_I_See_It