Color Me Bad: 11 Black Celebrities Who Appeared In Whiteface [PHOTOS]

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Comedians and entertainers generally expect their audiences to have thick skin and when feelings get hurt, there is always a need for a reexamination of the situation.

When Nick Cannon broke the Internet yesterday, March 24 on account of his whiteface alter-ego Connor Smallnut, the term “double standard” began to apply to a multitude of scenarios.

There were numerous white people who felt that since blackface is and always will be, considered racist, the same thing should apply for the shoe on the opposite foot. Blackface has historic context behind it, dating back to the post-slavery era where white entertainers openly mocked African-Americans.

Whiteface, (a term Cannon even questioned the authenticity of) doesn’t have the historical context to emit the same negative connotations.

Speaking of history, we over at Hip-Hop Wired found 11 Black celebrities who appeared in whiteface over the years–much to the public’s delight.

If Nick Cannon’s heeding of the racial boundary should apply to his album promo stunt, shouldn’t these instances too?

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Photo: Columbia Pictures

Photo: Columbia Pictures

Marlon & Shawn Wayans – White Chicks

This movie made $113M worldwide. And you had the nerve to give Nick Cannon lip?

Ice Cube – Black. White.

FX gave Cube and R. J. Cutler an entire show to turn white families to African-Americans and vice versa. It only lasted one season, though.

Chris Rock

Everybody hated Chris for this one.

Photo: Columbia Pictures

Godfrey Cambridge – Jeff Gerber

Melvin Van Peebles directed this forward-thinking flick in 1970. Consider it the biracial father to everything on this list.

Martin Lawrence – Bob From Marketing

He just wanted to party. Dude.

Tyra Banks – Cindy Crawford

The longtime supermodel unveiled “Tyra Banks Presents: 15” in September 2013 where she reenacted the poses of her famous peers. Totally not creepy at all.

Chamillionaire – Bob O’Wildy

The Texas rapper makes a living in a world where Black cops work closely with the conservative media. Eh, Bill?

Photo: Hollywood Pictures

Whoopi Goldberg – Mr. Cutty

Whoopi used her peachy melanin to show corporate America’s racist (and sexist) side in 1996’s The Associate.

Photo: Touchstone Pictures

Lenny Henry – Miles Pope

This movie sucked. No matter what color your television was in.

Eddie Murphy – Mr. White

Before he pretended to be Richard Simmons in The Nutty Professor or even blended in perfectly in Coming to America, Eddie conducted an infamous social experiment on SNL.