Politics with Nolan: Paint it black

Trudeau’s blackface scandal prompts discussions on race

By: Nolan Cleary

Staff writer

Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau was once again shown doing blackface in a 2001 photo from West Point Grey Academy’s “Arabian Nights” themed party. 

The controversy, which comes just one month before Canada’s Prime Minister election, adds to the number of politicians being caught doing blackface in 2019. 

Virginia’s Governor, Ralph Northam, was shown doing blackface in a yearbook photo while Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring also admitted to doing blackface. The two politicians refused to leave their positions in spite of calls to resign.

Since then, Alabama’s Governor Kay Ivey also found herself in hot water as old audio from the 1960s resurfaced, featuring her imitating stereotypical African-American speech. Ivey apologized for the incident, but declined to resign. 

Political experts see little sign of Trudeau resigning before the October election.

At Hudson Valley Community College, students have some thoughts on Trudeau’s next step.  

Elliot Ankomah, a business administration major, said Trudeau should still run if he has good intentions for Canada.

“Everybody’s human,” Ankomah said. “You make mistakes [and] you live and you learn,” he continued. “He asked for forgiveness, he learned from his mistake and he just wants that position [of forgiveness].” 

Javar Burks, an architectural studies major, emphasized the different sides to the controversy. 

“It’s a debate,” Burks said. “It depends on how you see it.”

Some students don’t feel the same way.

 Business administration major, Joshua Nails, said Trudeau should step aside. 

“It’s unacceptable to me,” Nails said. “I don’t know why it’s coming out now, but it’s insane.” 

According to Nails, he’s unsure why there have been so many blackface scandals this year, but he thinks the information should have come out ages ago.

However, the incident may only be the tip of the iceberg for Trudeau. A third incident has surfaced, featuring him dancing in blackface while wearing an afro wig.

“In my mind, if he’s a good enough Prime Minister, he should continue running Canada, but what makes it difficult is whether or not the people of Canada would allow that,” said an anonymous fine arts major.

They continued, “The people should have the right to decide because as a society and Canada itself as a country, they’re the ones who entrust someone to guide them, someone to lead them [and] they need someone to lead them otherwise they could could be lost.”

Iyana Garcia, a criminal justice student, tied the controversy to Canada’s race relations. 

“If people are still doing blackface, the equality between the races is not equal,” Garcia said. “They’re taking it as a joke.” 

Political science professor Robert Whitaker said the recent controversies could indicate changing times. 

“I think today, as a society, we’re becoming much more aware of the hurt and the harm that blackface and other types of acts and symbols and displays cause for people,” Whitaker said.

According to Whitaker, more incidents like Trudeau’s are likely to be revealed to the general population.

Canada’s federal election is scheduled for Oct. 21.