Editing Blackface (section)

=== Germany ===
Examples of theatrical productions include the many productions of the play ''Unschuld'' ("Innocence") by the German writer [[Dea Loher]]. The play features two black African immigrants, but the use of black-face is not part of the stage directions or instructions.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.jenkenordalm.de/index.php?id=10 |title=Unschuld [Innocence] |language=de |work=Jenke Nordalm|access-date=October 25, 2012}} Webpage of the director of the production at the Theater Freiburg with pictures</ref> The staging of the play at the Deutsches Theater in Berlin in 2012 was subject of protest.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://etberlin.de/program-mainmenu-32/372-colorblind |title=Colorblind? |work=etberlin.de |access-date=October 25, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021212250/http://www.etberlin.de/program-mainmenu-32/372-colorblind |archive-date=October 21, 2012}}</ref> The activist group "Bühnenwatch" (stage watch) performed a stunt in one of the stagings: 42 activists, posing as spectators, left the audience without a word and later distributed leaflets to the audience. Fundamental of the criticism was that the use of black-face solidifies stereotypes regardless of any good intentions and supports racist structures. The critics were invited to a discussion with the director, actors, theatre manager and other artists of the Deutsches Theater. As a result of the discussion, Deutsches Theater changed the design of actor make-up. Ulrich Khuon, the theatre manager, later admitted to being surprised by the protest and is now in a process of reflection.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.arte.tv/de/6593686,CmC=6588478.html |title=Aktuell: Das Deutsche Theater sieht weiß und/oder Schwarz? &#124; Theaterensemble 'Label Noir' &#124; Metropolis, Samstag ab 16.45 Uhr &#124; Kultur entdecken |work=arte.tv |year=2012 |access-date=October 25, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202195810/http://www.arte.tv/de/6593686%2CCmC%3D6588478.html |archive-date=February 2, 2014}}</ref>

German productions of [[Herb Gardner]]'s ''[[I'm Not Rappaport]]'' almost always cast the role of Midge Carter, the black character, famously portrayed in the U.S. by [[Ossie Davis]], with a white actor in black makeup. The 2012 production of the play at the Berlin Schlosspark-Theater was the subject of protest.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16492222 |title=Germany's Schlosspark Theatre defends 'blackface' actor |work=bbc.co.uk |date=January 10, 2012 |access-date=October 25, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= https://huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/10/german-play-im-not-a-rapp_n_1197160.html |title=German Play, 'I'm Not Rappaport', Angers Critics With Blackface Actor |work=huffingtonpost.com |access-date=October 25, 2012 |first=Danielle |last=Cadet |date=January 10, 2012}}</ref> The director, Thomas Schendel, in his response to critics, argued that the classical and common plays would not offer enough roles that would justify a repertoire position for a black actor in a German theatre company. The protest grew considerably and was followed by media reports. While advocates of the theatre indicated that in principle it should be possible for any actor to play any character and that the play itself has an anti-racist message, the critics noted that the letter unwittingly disclosed the general, unexpressed policy of German theatres, i.e., that white actors are accounted to be qualified for all roles, even black ones, while black actors are suitable only for black roles.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.vice.com/en/article/blackface-is-the-new-black/ |title=Blackface Is the New Black|first=Stefan |last=Lauer |work=vice.com |access-date=October 25, 2012|date=March 22, 2012}}</ref> Other authors said that this problem in Germany generally exists for citizens with an immigrant background.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nachtkritik.de/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6740:die-blackfacing-debatte-iii-man-muss-kein-neonazi-sein-um-rassistisch-zu-handeln&catid=101:debatte&Itemid=84 |title=Die Blackfacing-Debatte III&nbsp;– Man muss kein Neonazi sein, um rassistisch zu handeln |first=Lara-Sophie |last=Milagro |date=March 28, 2012 |work=nachtkritik.de |access-date=October 25, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103072524/http://www.nachtkritik.de/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6740%3Adie-blackfacing-debatte-iii-man-muss-kein-neonazi-sein-um-rassistisch-zu-handeln&catid=101%3Adebatte&Itemid=84 |archive-date=November 3, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://nachtkritik.de/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5600:kommentar--migranten-spielen-auf-den-sprechbuehnen-keine-rolle&catid=101:debatte&Itemid=84 |title=Kommentar&nbsp;– Migranten spielen auf den Sprechbühnen keine Rolle |first=Özgür |last=Uludag |work=nachtkritik.de |date=May 2011 |access-date=October 25, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103080415/http://nachtkritik.de/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5600%3Akommentar--migranten-spielen-auf-den-sprechbuehnen-keine-rolle&catid=101%3Adebatte&Itemid=84 |archive-date=November 3, 2012}}</ref> The debate also received foreign media attention. The Schlosspark-Theater announced plans to continue the performances, and the German publishing company of ''Rappaport'' stated it will continue to grant permits for such performances.

German dramatists commented on the debate:

{{blockquote|Unfortunately, I do not believe that our society has come to accept a black Faust in the theatre.|Christian Tombeil, theater manager of Schauspiel Essen, 2012<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.derwesten.de/nrz/staedte/essen/kultur/rassismusdebatte-um-schwarze-auf-schauspielbuehnen-id6361236.html |title=Rassismusdebatte um Schwarze auf Schauspielbühnen |first=Nikolaos |last=Georgakis |work=derwesten.de |year=2012<!-- [last update] --> |access-date=September 12, 2012 |archive-date=October 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028023817/http://www.derwesten.de/nrz/staedte/essen/kultur/rassismusdebatte-um-schwarze-auf-schauspielbuehnen-id6361236.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>}}

{{blockquote|We too have a problem to deal with issues of racism. We try to work it out by promoting tolerance, but tolerance is not a solution to racism. Why not? Because it does not matter whether our best friends are immigrants if, at the same time, we cannot cast a Black man for the part of Hamlet because then nobody could truly understand the "real" essence of that part. Issues of racism are primarily issues of representation, especially in the theatre.|René Pollesch, director, 2012<ref>{{cite web |url= http://sz-magazin.sueddeutsche.de/texte/anzeigen/37453/%20SZ-Magazin.de |title=Interview mit René Pollesch über Liebe und Rücksicht.&nbsp;– Aus dem Magazin |first=Tobias |last= Haberl |work=sz-magazin.sueddeutsche.de |year=2012<!-- [last update] --> |access-date=September 12, 2012}}</ref>}}

In 2012, the American dramatist [[Bruce Norris (playwright)|Bruce Norris]] cancelled a German production of his play ''Clybourne Park'' when it was disclosed that a white actress would portray the African-American "Francine". A subsequent production using black German actors was successfully staged.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.staatstheater-mainz.com/index.php?id=1471 |title='Clybourne Park' at Staatstheater Mainz|work=staatstheater-mainz.com |year=2012<!-- [last update] --> |access-date=September 12, 2012}}</ref>