You canโt defend blackface for cosplay.
I canโt talk for characters that are literally ink black in a fantasy setting, such as dark Link from Legend of Zelda or Snowman from Homestuck. I canโt talk about if thatโs okay because I am very white. Iโd appreciate some input from others on that subject later.ย
But what Iโm talking about is characters that are obviously coded as not white. Like the Gerudo from Legend of Zelda or Atsuko ย from Michiko to Hachin. Who could pass as real people in our world with modern clothing.
At the end of that day you can wash that off and never deal with the racism that comes with it. Real life peopleโs skin tones is not a costume.
I do not care if you say โwell itโs only for accuracyโ or you try to defend 'real blackfaceโ as being โa product of itโs time.โ It was wrong then, it was wrong now, and you donโt have to paint your skin to portray the character if you get the key characteristics of their costume right (look at Homestuck again).
Blackface is never okay.
