Impassioned and talented young hip hop artist from WA 'Ziggy', has just released a new single, 'Black Face' and it's his hope that it will be a conversation sparker around the unfortunately still very relevant topic of the practice of blackface costume.
The track opens with a newsreader discussing an incident which took place earlier in the year, where a young boy wore a wig and was painted in blackface to attend his school's book parade as his favourite AFL idol, Nic Naitanui. The incident caused a lot of heated debate with many condemning the mother of the child, who at the time posted to Facebook that it was a 'parenting win' and that "After being told by everyone on Facebook not to do it and it's a horrible idea etc, my son won the f---ing parade!"
Ziggy is quick to point out that he in no way intends the inclusion of the incident in the single to be an attack on the child, but purely a way to continue the discussion and education around the history of blackface.
“This single is more about the fact that we as a country still accept racism as just a joke,” He said.
“The historical context of Blackface in Australia needs to be talked about, and it’s something that isn’t funny. We shouldn’t always be the butt of the joke.”
The historical context of Blackface in Australia needs to be talked about, and it’s something that isn’t funny. We shouldn’t always be the butt of the joke.
Ironically, yesterday on social media, another incident of blackface came to light thanks to fellow hip hop artist Briggs. Check out the response on Instagram from Ziggy.
The single release is accompanied by a powerful video, using archival footage and engaging straight down the camera delivery from Ziggy, his opening rhyme Our black skin is not a costume for you to assume / Damn right I ain't got room to be amused opening the way for more pleas for understanding around the damaging effects around this insensitive practice.
“I am only talking about my own personal experience; I want people to come to their own understanding about these issues. I am just a catalyst for conversation.” He said.
