Comments on: What’s With the Theme Parties? http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/whats-with-the-theme-parties/ "A tiny act can have profound effects." Wed, 06 Oct 2010 00:09:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: las5545 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/whats-with-the-theme-parties/comment-page-5/#comment-27604 las5545 Tue, 06 Apr 2010 15:36:26 +0000 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/?p=1906#comment-27604 I have to say i disagree what this female is saying about theme parties. I do not agree at all they are racist. Most of the theme parties are done by different generations such as togas - anicent greece, hippies- the 60's, punk rock- the 80's. I feel that theme parties are similar to halloween where people are bored being themselves and want to slip into a different role for a little bit. Any of the themes I just mentioned do not exclude black people one bit. The only "racist" party theme can be gangasta and hip hop but that should not be racist. If hip hop artists want to be successful and make alot of money then they have to be willing to accept that other people will want to dress and act like them. I agree that more white people hold theme parties, especially at Penn State but that is often because for greek life frats and sororities are forced to have themed week longs instead of plain parties. The theme party is about pretending you are somebody else for a night and I think that white and black people all like to do that once in a while. Feb.26 I have to say i disagree what this female is saying about theme parties. I do not agree at all they are racist. Most of the theme parties are done by different generations such as togas – anicent greece, hippies- the 60's, punk rock- the 80's. I feel that theme parties are similar to halloween where people are bored being themselves and want to slip into a different role for a little bit. Any of the themes I just mentioned do not exclude black people one bit. The only "racist" party theme can be gangasta and hip hop but that should not be racist. If hip hop artists want to be successful and make alot of money then they have to be willing to accept that other people will want to dress and act like them. I agree that more white people hold theme parties, especially at Penn State but that is often because for greek life frats and sororities are forced to have themed week longs instead of plain parties. The theme party is about pretending you are somebody else for a night and I think that white and black people all like to do that once in a while. Feb.26

]]> By: ajb81 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/whats-with-the-theme-parties/comment-page-5/#comment-26258 ajb81 Sat, 27 Mar 2010 02:25:27 +0000 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/?p=1906#comment-26258 I do not really like the idea of theme parties, but I can understand why people do it so that they can make their party a little different and make it stand out. But with all the theme parties that I have been to or heard of, I have not of many that would be considered racist. Most of them are making fun of TV shows and others are just random jobs where people just like to dress up like a business person or army guy or whatever. These parties would not be considered racist; if anything, they would be considered sexist since the women who attend these parties are usually expected to dress in a slutty manner. I do not really like the idea of theme parties, but I can understand why people do it so that they can make their party a little different and make it stand out. But with all the theme parties that I have been to or heard of, I have not of many that would be considered racist. Most of them are making fun of TV shows and others are just random jobs where people just like to dress up like a business person or army guy or whatever. These parties would not be considered racist; if anything, they would be considered sexist since the women who attend these parties are usually expected to dress in a slutty manner.

]]> By: axg5068 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/whats-with-the-theme-parties/comment-page-5/#comment-25491 axg5068 Thu, 25 Mar 2010 02:11:08 +0000 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/?p=1906#comment-25491 You pose an interesting question about how some hosts of parties attempt to take advantage of some racial stereotypes by using them as a theme. However, I don’t really see a connection between theme parties and racial stereotyping to the extent that you are making it seem like. For example, the parties that I have gone to previously are beach parties, toga parties, Jersey shore parties, Saint Patrick’s/State Patty’s day parties, and Christmas parties. Most of them were not geared toward any racist theme. However, I can see how the Jersey shore parties might somewhat offend Italian-Americans by making generalizations about their culture which does not necessarily reflect all Italian-Americans. I can understand the whole hoes and CEOs party might be somewhat degrading to women in that they would have to dress as “hoes” and be considered as such for a night which is not something that every woman wants to be called. On the other hand, guys would probably enjoy such a party because I’m sure most men would not mind the benefits of being a CEO. If you recall Halloween in the Fall of 2007, two Penn State students dressed as Virginia Tech shooting victims. This is an instance in which these students way overstepped a border of sensitivity and just plain common decency. Not only were the costumes offensive and disgusting in taste, they reflect badly on Penn State students and the university as a whole. I was not a student at Penn State until the Fall of 2007 several months after the original shooting took place. However, from what I have heard and the older students that I have talked to, Penn State stood behind Virginia Tech in a time when they needed support and needed to heal within their community. There was even a t-shirt that I saw that read “Me and 42,000 of my friends got your back VT.” When I first saw that shirt, that really hit home about the decency and kindness of Penn State students and how we showed support and empathy for the events that took place at Virginia Tech. However, those students dressed in the shooting victims’ costumes should be ashamed of themselves for even being Penn State students. I can’t imagine how heartbroken and betrayed students at Virginia Tech must have felt when they read this article. My only hope is that people who read this article do not make a negative generalization about Penn State students because of what two insensitive students said. Moving back to your main point, I feel that people have overstepped some boundaries when it comes to dressing and/or theming parties but they have mainly targeted specific groups of people, not necessarily black people. I always keep in mind that since we are the number one party school in the country, students here will often overstep the bounds of decency, and I have sadly come to accept that. You pose an interesting question about how some hosts of parties attempt to take advantage of some racial stereotypes by using them as a theme. However, I don’t really see a connection between theme parties and racial stereotyping to the extent that you are making it seem like. For example, the parties that I have gone to previously are beach parties, toga parties, Jersey shore parties, Saint Patrick’s/State Patty’s day parties, and Christmas parties. Most of them were not geared toward any racist theme. However, I can see how the Jersey shore parties might somewhat offend Italian-Americans by making generalizations about their culture which does not necessarily reflect all Italian-Americans. I can understand the whole hoes and CEOs party might be somewhat degrading to women in that they would have to dress as “hoes” and be considered as such for a night which is not something that every woman wants to be called. On the other hand, guys would probably enjoy such a party because I’m sure most men would not mind the benefits of being a CEO.

If you recall Halloween in the Fall of 2007, two Penn State students dressed as Virginia Tech shooting victims. This is an instance in which these students way overstepped a border of sensitivity and just plain common decency. Not only were the costumes offensive and disgusting in taste, they reflect badly on Penn State students and the university as a whole. I was not a student at Penn State until the Fall of 2007 several months after the original shooting took place. However, from what I have heard and the older students that I have talked to, Penn State stood behind Virginia Tech in a time when they needed support and needed to heal within their community. There was even a t-shirt that I saw that read “Me and 42,000 of my friends got your back VT.” When I first saw that shirt, that really hit home about the decency and kindness of Penn State students and how we showed support and empathy for the events that took place at Virginia Tech. However, those students dressed in the shooting victims’ costumes should be ashamed of themselves for even being Penn State students. I can’t imagine how heartbroken and betrayed students at Virginia Tech must have felt when they read this article. My only hope is that people who read this article do not make a negative generalization about Penn State students because of what two insensitive students said.

Moving back to your main point, I feel that people have overstepped some boundaries when it comes to dressing and/or theming parties but they have mainly targeted specific groups of people, not necessarily black people. I always keep in mind that since we are the number one party school in the country, students here will often overstep the bounds of decency, and I have sadly come to accept that.

]]> By: MashedPotato http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/whats-with-the-theme-parties/comment-page-5/#comment-25201 MashedPotato Tue, 23 Mar 2010 02:48:17 +0000 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/?p=1906#comment-25201 I already commented on this but when I saw it again on the website i just had to say once again... INGORANT I already commented on this but when I saw it again on the website i just had to say once again… INGORANT

]]> By: clj5090 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/whats-with-the-theme-parties/comment-page-5/#comment-24776 clj5090 Fri, 19 Mar 2010 23:11:22 +0000 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/?p=1906#comment-24776 I disagree with this statement 100%. Just because people have themed parties does not mean that they are gearing towards a specific race or making fun of them. At Penn State and most other schools, I believe it just a way to have fun and change up the party scene for once. Sometimes it may even be because it's easier to get dressed for the night and it doesn't really matter what you look like since everyone else will look the same. If themed parties seriously do come off to people of color as a way of making fun of them, then how are white people supposed to feel when all you see or hear about are "black" parties. Honestly, I have been to a party where I am the only white girl besides my friend I went with and I felt like everyone was looking at me like I didn't belong or fit in. Themed parties may sometimes come off as "Racial" but I feel like they are not mean't in a derogatory way or even in a racist way. Some people may have them to make fun of another race or group of people but to say that most themed parties are towards black people or another race is too broad of an accusation. In my perspective a themed party gives people chances to feel and dress like other groups of people that maybe they necessarily would not associate themselves with. I do not have the most firsthand point of view about themed parties because I have only attended a few but from an outside point of view and from listening to what friends have to say or even people I do not know they never seem to be "racist." If it is true that most white people have parties and they are racist then why do white people have "white trash" parties. Like I had said before there are people in the world and here at Penn State that are racist and do go to those parties and those parties such as "Jersey Shore" or gangsta parties but to generalize all white people is extreme. I also find it hard to believe that no black or colored people here in Penn State have not ever had a themed party or gone to a themed party. If they were your friends then would you be ok with it since you know it isn't mean't in a racist kind of way? As I have said in the beginning themed parties are mainly to get away from the regular party scene such as bars, house parties, frats, clubs, etc. I don't think a majority of people go out to a themed party with the intention of being racist towards other groups of people. I disagree with this statement 100%. Just because people have themed parties does not mean that they are gearing towards a specific race or making fun of them. At Penn State and most other schools, I believe it just a way to have fun and change up the party scene for once. Sometimes it may even be because it's easier to get dressed for the night and it doesn't really matter what you look like since everyone else will look the same. If themed parties seriously do come off to people of color as a way of making fun of them, then how are white people supposed to feel when all you see or hear about are "black" parties. Honestly, I have been to a party where I am the only white girl besides my friend I went with and I felt like everyone was looking at me like I didn't belong or fit in. Themed parties may sometimes come off as "Racial" but I feel like they are not mean't in a derogatory way or even in a racist way. Some people may have them to make fun of another race or group of people but to say that most themed parties are towards black people or another race is too broad of an accusation. In my perspective a themed party gives people chances to feel and dress like other groups of people that maybe they necessarily would not associate themselves with. I do not have the most firsthand point of view about themed parties because I have only attended a few but from an outside point of view and from listening to what friends have to say or even people I do not know they never seem to be "racist." If it is true that most white people have parties and they are racist then why do white people have "white trash" parties. Like I had said before there are people in the world and here at Penn State that are racist and do go to those parties and those parties such as "Jersey Shore" or gangsta parties but to generalize all white people is extreme. I also find it hard to believe that no black or colored people here in Penn State have not ever had a themed party or gone to a themed party. If they were your friends then would you be ok with it since you know it isn't mean't in a racist kind of way? As I have said in the beginning themed parties are mainly to get away from the regular party scene such as bars, house parties, frats, clubs, etc. I don't think a majority of people go out to a themed party with the intention of being racist towards other groups of people.

]]> By: MashedPotato http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/whats-with-the-theme-parties/comment-page-5/#comment-24555 MashedPotato Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:29:39 +0000 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/?p=1906#comment-24555 this is probably the most ignorant comment i have seen on this website this is probably the most ignorant comment i have seen on this website

]]> By: emb5240 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/whats-with-the-theme-parties/comment-page-5/#comment-24333 emb5240 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 04:39:32 +0000 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/?p=1906#comment-24333 I completely disagree wit this comment. Themed parties are simply for fun. There is no real reason why it is themed …it just makes life more interesting and fun. I am personally a huge theme party fan. I have been to many this year and they have not been targeted toward black people … if they were targeted toward anyone it was white people. Some of the ones I have been to this year were jersey shore …which was based off the show and if it made fun of anyone it was people who are Italian ( a am part Italian ) and from new jersey ! 80’s and 70’s …which no racial group was targeted but if we were making fun of anyone it was our parents and what they wore in college Holiday. No racial groups. If I made fun of anyone it was Christians.. I wore a Christmas tree dress and I am a very strong catholic… twin… no racial group aging…beach no racial groups jock jams ..no racial groups ..preppy no racial groups ..jungle. no racial groups reasons to celebrate ..no racial group .but I managed to make fun of myself a preppy white girl ..and did a sale at j crew …and many other ppl made jokes about themselves.. Olympics. No racial group high school. Again no racial group. ..and CMT vs BET.. Which could be argued that it was targeted at black people but I think if you are arguing that you are looking for something to pick a fight about… most of the ppl who dressed “ BET” were people of color and white people defiantly made fun of white people my self included … I wore overalls a pregnant belly had fake tattoos pigtails fake cigarettes and other touches that completely made fun of poor white people. I understand that there have been a few parties that have “ crossed the line “ but I do not think the generalization is crazy. Today our ta told us about a Compton cookout that I can honestly say that if I was a woman of color I would be offended by this. And I am offended even as a white girl. However I think that 99% of people who have themed parties have all good intentions. They just want to have a good time and mix up your typical weekend. I think people who get upset over these things are part of the reason why racism is still a problem in our country and why white people often “ come to the race table” so intimated. I think it is safe to say that most people do not want to be racist and do not have bad intentions so I think that we should not be so quick to judge people and accuse people of having bad intentions. I completely disagree wit this comment. Themed parties are simply for fun. There is no real reason why it is themed …it just makes life more interesting and fun. I am personally a huge theme party fan. I have been to many this year and they have not been targeted toward black people … if they were targeted toward anyone it was white people. Some of the ones I have been to this year were jersey shore …which was based off the show and if it made fun of anyone it was people who are Italian ( a am part Italian ) and from new jersey ! 80’s and 70’s …which no racial group was targeted but if we were making fun of anyone it was our parents and what they wore in college Holiday. No racial groups. If I made fun of anyone it was Christians.. I wore a Christmas tree dress and I am a very strong catholic… twin… no racial group aging…beach no racial groups jock jams ..no racial groups ..preppy no racial groups ..jungle. no racial groups reasons to celebrate ..no racial group .but I managed to make fun of myself a preppy white girl ..and did a sale at j crew …and many other ppl made jokes about themselves.. Olympics. No racial group high school. Again no racial group. ..and CMT vs BET.. Which could be argued that it was targeted at black people but I think if you are arguing that you are looking for something to pick a fight about… most of the ppl who dressed “ BET” were people of color and white people defiantly made fun of white people my self included … I wore overalls a pregnant belly had fake tattoos pigtails fake cigarettes and other touches that completely made fun of poor white people.
I understand that there have been a few parties that have “ crossed the line “ but I do not think the generalization is crazy. Today our ta told us about a Compton cookout that I can honestly say that if I was a woman of color I would be offended by this. And I am offended even as a white girl. However I think that 99% of people who have themed parties have all good intentions. They just want to have a good time and mix up your typical weekend. I think people who get upset over these things are part of the reason why racism is still a problem in our country and why white people often “ come to the race table” so intimated. I think it is safe to say that most people do not want to be racist and do not have bad intentions so I think that we should not be so quick to judge people and accuse people of having bad intentions.

]]> By: Jharred_Tulloch http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/whats-with-the-theme-parties/comment-page-5/#comment-24053 Jharred_Tulloch Sun, 14 Mar 2010 07:30:05 +0000 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/?p=1906#comment-24053 So after watching the video and listening to the question posed more than twice, I still continued to smirk each time. Not because what she’s saying is funny, but at the hypocrisy of what she was saying. I have always said that Penn State is its own world. And within this “world” that we attend, there is different “countries” and each country will celebrate and party in their specific ways. Obviously the school is, and will continue to be a predominantly white school. So when she says that majority of white people have “themed” party that make fun of black people, I can’t help to wonder, aren’t the majority of parties at Penn State thrown white people anyway? Another question that came to mind after hearing her question was, why do you automatically believe that these themed parties are “generated towards black people”. I am a black person, and I have been to countless “themed” parties during my time here at State, and yes some were “Hip Hop” themed, or “Coming to America” themed, but I have never considered these parties to be negative towards my race. If anything I always found these themes to be comical and somewhat poking fun at how “white” the people throwing the party were, than how “black” the actual theme of the party was. I actually believe that white people at State poke more fun at themselves when setting these themes, than they do black people. “Jersey Shore” parties, “Red Neck” parties, these are all themes that are geared towards the embarrassing things that white people may do or act, not blacks. And the main reason why I found her statement to be somewhat funny, and hypocritical, was the blacks at Penn State throw themed parties on a weekly basis. From “Caribbean” night to “Biggie Small v. Tupac” themed parties, blacks, just as often as whites, throw themed parties, and majority of the time, they are geared towards “black themes”. So after watching the video and listening to the question posed more than twice, I still continued to smirk each time. Not because what she’s saying is funny, but at the hypocrisy of what she was saying. I have always said that Penn State is its own world. And within this “world” that we attend, there is different “countries” and each country will celebrate and party in their specific ways. Obviously the school is, and will continue to be a predominantly white school. So when she says that majority of white people have “themed” party that make fun of black people, I can’t help to wonder, aren’t the majority of parties at Penn State thrown white people anyway? Another question that came to mind after hearing her question was, why do you automatically believe that these themed parties are “generated towards black people”. I am a black person, and I have been to countless “themed” parties during my time here at State, and yes some were “Hip Hop” themed, or “Coming to America” themed, but I have never considered these parties to be negative towards my race. If anything I always found these themes to be comical and somewhat poking fun at how “white” the people throwing the party were, than how “black” the actual theme of the party was. I actually believe that white people at State poke more fun at themselves when setting these themes, than they do black people. “Jersey Shore” parties, “Red Neck” parties, these are all themes that are geared towards the embarrassing things that white people may do or act, not blacks. And the main reason why I found her statement to be somewhat funny, and hypocritical, was the blacks at Penn State throw themed parties on a weekly basis. From “Caribbean” night to “Biggie Small v. Tupac” themed parties, blacks, just as often as whites, throw themed parties, and majority of the time, they are geared towards “black themes”.

]]> By: niatDC http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/whats-with-the-theme-parties/comment-page-5/#comment-24044 niatDC Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:33:03 +0000 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/?p=1906#comment-24044 I don’t think this is racist thing. They also have themed parties such as “Jersey shore”, but they aren’t making fun of Italians, they have “sports” themed parties and that doesn’t mean they’ making fun of athletes. The parties this girl is talking about are “ghetto” themed parties. It just so happens that a majority of the people that live in the ghetto are black. It’s only when the two people being compared are white and black that racism enters the human mind. Another thing isn’t it true that people from “ghetto” neighborhoods do dress differently than those from different areas. Those people being either black, white, Asian, or Hispanic, they dress differently because of their environment. If anything it is wrong to have “ghetto” themed parties because they are making fun of those who are poor. It’s not like everybody who sags their pants, wears fitted caps, and lives in the ghetto is black, other races all do the same thing. So this issue is only racist if you make it racist in your head. I don’t think this is racist thing. They also have themed parties such as “Jersey shore”, but they aren’t making fun of Italians, they have “sports” themed parties and that doesn’t mean they’ making fun of athletes. The parties this girl is talking about are “ghetto” themed parties. It just so happens that a majority of the people that live in the ghetto are black. It’s only when the two people being compared are white and black that racism enters the human mind.
Another thing isn’t it true that people from “ghetto” neighborhoods do dress differently than those from different areas. Those people being either black, white, Asian, or Hispanic, they dress differently because of their environment. If anything it is wrong to have “ghetto” themed parties because they are making fun of those who are poor. It’s not like everybody who sags their pants, wears fitted caps, and lives in the ghetto is black, other races all do the same thing. So this issue is only racist if you make it racist in your head.

]]> By: goldenboybrodie http://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/whats-with-the-theme-parties/comment-page-5/#comment-24012 goldenboybrodie Sat, 13 Mar 2010 04:29:41 +0000 http://www.racerelationsproject.org/?p=1906#comment-24012 This was a very good thing to point as I look at those parties I sometimes ask myself who come up with these themes but I never really sit back and really took a look into how crazy and racists the themes can be. As I look at those themes I don’t really see the themes taking a shot at black people like a theme to me is to bring in a different type of crowd and to come up with something new so that people can show up and have a great time and doing something different but on the other hand I may see it a little. One thing I would like to point out when Blacks tend to have theme parties why don’t they get bashed about theme parties because to me black and white are doing it. But in some people eyes the whites are making joke towards blacks well with me being an African American I think whites know black themes and party get people to come out I don’t think they do it to make jokes towards us but we know how to put them together and putting a good theme together make people want to come out and try something different its gives a party life and something new to the table instead of the same boring regular party so if you take a party with some type of theme it’s would spark it so with me being black I really do not think it’s nothing wrong with white people adding a them to their party and I really don’t think they try to offend us blacks because the main thing is coming together and party. This was a very good thing to point as I look at those parties I sometimes ask myself who come up with these themes but I never really sit back and really took a look into how crazy and racists the themes can be. As I look at those themes I don’t really see the themes taking a shot at black people like a theme to me is to bring in a different type of crowd and to come up with something new so that people can show up and have a great time and doing something different but on the other hand I may see it a little. One thing I would like to point out when Blacks tend to have theme parties why don’t they get bashed about theme parties because to me black and white are doing it. But in some people eyes the whites are making joke towards blacks well with me being an African American I think whites know black themes and party get people to come out I don’t think they do it to make jokes towards us but we know how to put them together and putting a good theme together make people want to come out and try something different its gives a party life and something new to the table instead of the same boring regular party so if you take a party with some type of theme it’s would spark it so with me being black I really do not think it’s nothing wrong with white people adding a them to their party and I really don’t think they try to offend us blacks because the main thing is coming together and party.

]]>