A New York assemblyman who at first vigorously defended wearing blackface, an Afro wig and a basketball jersey to a costume party apologized Monday, saying he didn’t mean to hurt anyone.
Democratic Assemblyman Dov Hikind wore the basketball garb at his own party in his home to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Purim, for which costumes are commonly part of the celebration. For hours on Monday, Hikind was assailed by criticism that he initially dismissed as “political correctness to the absurd.”
At a news conference outside his Brooklyn home, however, Hikind pledged to be “a little more careful, a little more sensitive.” He added: “I repeat, it was not meant to in any way hurt anyone. And those that were? I’m sorry. That was not my intention.”
Assemblyman Karim Camara of the state Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus had called Hikind’s actions at the party “callous and repugnant.”
“It brings back the memories of African-Americans being reduced to buffoonery just to gain access to the entertainment industry,” said Camara, who is also a Brooklyn Democrat and a black leader in the New York state Legislature.
The powerful leader of the Democrat-led Assembly, Speaker Sheldon Silver, weighed in shortly after Hikind’s news conference, calling Hikind’s actions “inappropriate and offensive.” No action against Hikind was announced.
Earlier this month, Hikind criticized the fashion designer John Galliano, who was recently photographed in New York City dressing as a Hasid with a long jacket and curly sidelocks. Two years ago, Galliano was fired from Christian Dior after his anti-Semitic rant was caught on video.
Hikind demanded an explanation from Galliano for his costume.
“If it was just anyone else, I wouldn’t know what to say. But considering who this guy is, considering his background and what he’s said in the past, let him explain it to all of us: Are you mocking us?” Hikind told the New York Post.
On Jan. 31, Hikind asked the president of Brooklyn College to resign for failing to stop an event he said had a racist agenda. He wrote on his blog at the time that the “BDS Movement Against Israel” event called for a unilateral boycott against Israel and Israeli businesses.
In Albany, Hikind has championed some conservative and religion-based issues. In 2009, he opposed an early vote to legalize same-sex marriage
“It is about what I believe God wants,” Hikind said then. “God doesn’t flip-flop on an issue.”
(AP)
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14 Responses
Hikind Can’t be that stupid!
The only explanation is that he was dead drunk!
Typical wuss democrat being hounded by more democrat wusses. There was NOTHING wrong with his get up!!
So dumb why in the world is he apologizing? When they dress like jews do they apologize?
embarrassingly dumb idea
The double standard Hikind exhibits is sickening
Certainly foolish of him to be seen like that. Question is, how did this become public if the party that he wore this costume at, was in his own home? Some idiot took a picture and made sure the press got ahold of it, to make him look bad?
Aside from being amazingly dumb as so many others have already noted, there is an element of hypocricy coming from a politican who constantly rants against anti-semitic stereotypes. At least he was enough of a mensch to appologize quickly and hopefully has learned his lesson.
Shelly Silver???!!! What a walking talking Chillul Hashem! He’s the last person that should be opening his filthy mouth! Too bad the ignorant voters keep electing that bum into office!
In the words of the great Popeye the Sailor, “That’s all I can stands, ‘cuz I can’t stands no more.”
I am glad that Mr. Hikind apologized. As a person who purports to represent Jews, it is fortunate that he came to his senses and apologized. For those of you, especially commenters 2 and 3, who evidently never learned any American history, let me explain:
In the hundred or so years following the end of the Civil War, a popular form of entertainment was minstrelsy – white people made up in black face, purporting to be African Americans, who were portrayed as foolish, buffoonish, clownish, simple-minded, cowardly, lazy, shiftless, deceitful and childish. Perhaps Mr. Hikind did not intend those insults, but the use of blackface could not help but invoke that disgraceful past. No, he did not mean to make that connection, but the use of blackface cannot be separated from its past, any more than a giant hooked-nose mask could not but resurrect the caricature of Jews widely used in the last 150 – 200 years, or even further back. If a non-Jewish politician wore such a mask at a Halloween party or other public event, we Jews would rightly be offended, even if the gentile politician assured us he/she meant no harm.
So, thank you, Mr. Hikind, for recognizing the mistake you made. And for the rest of you, especially commenters 2 and 3, take some time to learn about the history of the country which has welcomed you and the rest of us Jews, a country where we can live more or less undisturbed until Moshiach takes us to Yerushalyim.
This brings back memories when Jakie mason called Mayor Dinkins a fancy shvartza. That year we had a family gathering. There was almost a war. My Chasidishe side of The family felt the word word shvartza could be used negatively but its usually used by us to refer to any black person. My left leaning, liberal aunt and her family felt the word shvartza is worse then the N word. Go try explaining to a non jew that putting on black face on purim doesnt mean your a racist. They won’t understand.
Relax everyone, he was just trying to enjoy his purim
I call for a better apology.
Mr. Hikind, no thanks to whoever leaked the picture (don’t use FACEBOOK! ;-)), came off as dumb, and THAT is to me the biggest problem here.
First off, he says he wanted to be a “black basketball player”…seriously? Someone with the most rudimentary of knowledge of what a “basketball player” looks like knows that spandex and whatever he was wearing are not a part of the uniform. If he had said he wanted to dress disco/70s, then I think it would have gotten less of a problem. For example, he wanted to dress like a specific person who happens to be African American…then ok. But to dress as a black basketball player when he is obviously clueless, adds credence to the fact he was clueless regarding being seen as racist. If I know you are lacking knowledge in one matter, migo you must not know about another.
Second, trying to hide behind Purim was to me borderline chillul Hashem. Come on. Can I as a frum person understand more about a bad costume choice (or any choice for that matter) because it was Purim? Sure. But to use that as an excuse to the general public, like well no one else seemed to care, its Purim! Whee… Ok, so Mr. Hikind, you dressed up as someone that you were clueless about and not only that hundreds of people who saw you were also clueless. Heesh.
I think Mr. Hikind is an overall fine assemblyman who instead of understanding he was stepping on a landmine of idiocy, got caught being a fool and legitimately racially insensitive (if not in the costume per se but in his postPurim comments.) Be a mentsch, Dov, write out an extensive apology, admit that it was a poor judgement etc. etc., ask for forgiveness from the African American community. Admit being a shtickle hypocritical. You are the representative of the people, and your mistake is the community’s mistake. Fix it. I know you didn’t mean to do this, but hey whatcha gonna to do about it now.
DQB
He made a mistake. He apologized. End of story.
He only sort-of apologized. He said “sorry you were offended” not “sorry I did it.”
For those of you who are saying relax, he was just enjoying purim, would it be OK if someone dressed up in a hat, dark suit, peyos, hook nose, with dollar bills and coins hanging off of him for Halloween? Would it be ok because they were just trying to enjoy Halloween?
Or would you screech about anti-Semitism? Let me guess…