U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler said he was sorry Thursday after the New York Times obtained photos of him wearing blackface about two decades ago at a college Halloween costume party where he dressed as Michael Jackson.
The images emerged as Lawler, a first-term Republican, is locked in a competitive reelection fight for his congressional seat in New York’s Hudson Valley.
In a statement provided to The Associated Press, Lawler described himself as a lifelong Jackson superfan who was attempting to pay homage to the pop star.
The Times reported that the photo was taken in 2006 when Lawler was 20. In an image posted by the newspaper, Lawler can be seen wearing a red jacket and posing with an outstretched arm in one of Jackson’s signature dance moves. He used bronzer to darken his face.
I don’t ever remember seeing any blackface in college. Did I see bigoted stereotypical bullshit regarding Mexicans and Indigenous Americans? Absolutely. But even in Indiana, I didn’t see blackface.
Also, I used to emcee comedy nights at a local club back then, so I saw a lot of college students in Halloween costumes. I don’t ever remember blackface. I do remember seeing a group of girls dressed as all the main characters from The Dukes of Hazzard get up and sing Jesse’s Girl at the karaoke night that came after the comedy night ended. That was fun.
Back in the 70s my mom went to a Halloween party as Aunt Jemima. It was in poor taste even back THEN.
College was awesome without widespread internet use or camera phones. Feel bad for the kids now.
Regarding Mexicans, my Mexican stepmother sent me this video lol
https://youtu.be/IT2UH74ksJ4?si=0AWfK11mfI1IPoKF