In light of the controversial Drag Queen story hour scheduled for this weekend at the Atheneum Library in St. Johnsbury, a St. Johnsbury resident asked in the letters column of the daily Caledonian-Record:
“Could someone please explain to me the difference between drag and blackface? I’ve been contemplating this question and doing research to help me examine all of its facets, and can’t see a difference. Is the Athenaeum going to host a blackface story hour next?”
The letter resulted in an email to VDC from DQSH supporter Jacq Posley. Referring to the Cal-Rec letter writer as one of the “Pitch Fork Mafia members,” Posley said “She is certainly entitled to her opinion….. This is absolutely unacceptable behavior AND not germane to the topic. She literally just wanted to add racism to her homophobia.”
It’s not the first time the black face – drag queen comparison has been raised in the media. In 2015, Mary Cheney – the gay, married daughter of former VP Dick Cheney – asked on Twitter:
“Why is it socially acceptable – as a form of entertainment – for men to put on dresses, make up and high heels and act out every offensive stereotype of women (bitchy, catty, dumb, slutty, etc.) – but it is not socially acceptable – as a form of entertainment – for a white person to put on blackface and act out offensive stereotypes of African Americans?”
“Shouldn’t both be ok or neither? Why does society treat these activities so differently?
“And just so we’re clear. I’m talking only about activities intended for entertainment. I am not talking about transgendered individuals who transition from one gender to another.”
Neither are okay because they both represent one class of people denigrating a class of people, a West Texas A&M college president said in his explaining why he cancelled a 2024 DQSH:
“I would not support ‘blackface’ performances on our campus, even if told the performance is a form of free speech or intended as humor. It is wrong,” Walter Wendler wrote. “I do not support any show, performance or artistic expression which denigrates others—in this case, women—for any reason.”
VDC invited Posley to further answer the question asked in the Caledonian-Record letter. Her response appears in today’s VDC. – Editor