Never expected this thread to snowball when I originally just posted the picture to fish for reactions from Barca fans lel

Not that I agree with the Twitter backlash on this necessarily but I will say there is nothing that gets GL citizens more outraged than Twitter outrage.

Don't get me wrong, a lot of times it's pretty dumb, in my opinion (it's contextual, sometimes it's warranted). I hate the outrage culture that exists on Twitter, it's a thing. But man do some people here get REALLY triggered on here by it. In an eerily similar way.

How are those who are seemingly this upset that Iniesta apologized for something that could have caused offense to fans he has worldwide (he surely has many black fans in the US alone) any better than those who were upset that the picture was posted in the first place?

Thank you M99, Clutch and McLewis for offering your thoughts, I appreciated those posts.

The other thing I have to say is...and it's really more of an earnest question: is it really not racist to paint yourself a black person (you are white) in Spain? I'm not trying to make a point, I'm just asking because I'm unaware. This thread seems to indicate no.

CBarca wrote:
The other thing I have to say is...and it's really more of an earnest question: is it really not racist to paint yourself a black person (you are white) in Spain? I'm not trying to make a point, I'm just asking because I'm unaware. This thread seems to indicate no.

Don't think it's possible to say that it is simply 'not racist', generally speaking. Racism is a part of Spain's culture as it is anywhere in Europe, and therefore these instances of representation and image making are always infused.
It's surely always problematic.

I just don't feel that it's always enough for someone, like @McLewis did here, to say they're offended and then what happened is offensive.
Not when things are so complicated and different histories, cultural practices, nationalities, contexts are involved.

I'm not saying the practice of Catholics to dress up as a black Wise Man, or 'moor', on 6th of January, is innocent and removed from racist implications, but honestly I'd be interested to hear what EXACTLY about it, that is very common in Europe and a common part of Christmas plays and celebration, is offensive.
Don't get me wrong, I'm sure there's something to be said, but it's not the same as other practices of 'blackface' like in the US in context of Jim Crow and later, which is the concept of 'blackfacing' that is at this very moment driving the debate, for good reason.
I just don't feel that we help ourselves by lumping everything together into one Twitter twirl of short and instant judgement.

This representation of a black Wise Man among the three has been around for many centuries, it is on the surface surely not derogatory, there's no indication the black Wise Man is not equal to the other two, i.e. one could as much argue that is a representation of a coming together of different skin colours as one, in the face of Jesus being born. Couldn't you?
And then, what exactly would be wrong with playacting this scene involving face paint, just like involving costumes, props, false beards?

Now, it would be interesting to find out why exactly that one Wise Man becomes more and more black and 'moorish' in the Western European image tradition, as it seems happening from 1500 onwards. Surely there's link to the rise of colonialism there, but it's surely a complicated one.

Also, as an anti-Catholic, and knowing the history of Christianity and it's implication into atrocities towards people of colour, I could argue any instance of Christian practice is offensive, but I don't see people complaining about Christmas or Easter celebrations per se.

CBarca wrote:

The other thing I have to say is...and it's really more of an earnest question: is it really not racist to paint yourself a black person (you are white) in Spain? I'm not trying to make a point, I'm just asking because I'm unaware. This thread seems to indicate no.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with a traditional Christmas celebration! The man being portrailed was a King, a wise man.

It’s about time the Americans stopped with their portrayal that everything normal in the USA should be the standard for the rest of the world. You aren’t the ruler of the world.

I say if reaction like this are the new norm, under Trump, then start recognizing that you are becoming a simple isolated nation, soon to be cut off from rest of world!

Heard mentality in social media, were even the worst people have voice and followers is one of the dangers for humanity.