A city councillor in British Columbia says an online mob of “extremists” and “politically motivated hackers” is responsible for uncovering and publicizing a photo of him wearing a blackface costume to a Halloween party in 2007.
Colwood Coun. Ian Ward on Monday addressed the photo in a statement on his X account after the picture, which was originally published on a personal family blog, surfaced on social media in recent days.
Ward acknowledged he posed for the photo wearing a Washington Bullets basketball jersey, a gold chain and a wig, with his teeth coloured gold and his hands and face painted black.
I don’t remember it too well, but I highly doubt it was handled well at all. On another occasion, I went as an Indian for Halloween one year*, but my parents were working that day, so I went to Awanas (a sort of church thing if you’re not familiar) for a few hours before trick or treating. Turns out, Awanas doesn’t allow costumes, but let me stay. As the only kid in costume. While the rest of them were super smug about not being in costume, and the main church dude spent the whole time talking about how Halloween is evil. No one even mentioned the racist ass costume I was in.
*Yes. With dark make up. I was 9. That was also the last year I ever dressed up for Halloween. My dad still doesn’t fully get why that wasn’t an okay costume. My mom didn’t understand at the time, but does now.
I was also a hobo one year. Maybe we should start vetting kids Halloween costumes. Or at least mine.