Montclair State students protested performances of ‘Aida’ on campus last weekend claiming that the actors in the play were using blackface.
MONTCLAIR, NJ 10/20/17: Dania Felix holds up a sign in protest of Aida outside of Memorial Auditorium. Photo by Emma Cimo.
At the helm of the protest was student Dania Felix. Felix, who was formerly a part of the show, claimed that the actors were at one point wearing mops on their heads to emulate black people, but they had since changed that. However, she still believed that the cast was using make-up in order to portray a different skin color. “This is not about stage makeup,” Felix said, “this is about darkening yourself for a person of color role.”
However, the university denies an accusations of blackface. Chairperson of the theater and dance department, Randy Mugleston, released a statement on Thursday which included, “the use of base makeup is to create the sense of individuals who are out in the sun for most of their lives. It is in no way meant to represent a specific skin color or race of people.”
MONTCLAIR, NJ 10/20/17: A student files into Memorial Auditorium to see the Thursday night performance of ‘Aida.’ Photo by Emma Cimo.
MONTCLAIR, NJ 10/20/17: Three police cars were on site to monitor the peaceful protest. Photo by Emma Cimo.
MONTCLAIR, NJ 10/27/16: Students wait in line to see Aida amid the protest.
MONTCLAIR, NJ 10/20/17: Students began to meet in the designated protesting area, blocked off by barricades. Photo by Emma Cimo.
MONTCLAIR, NJ 10/20/17: Students hold up signs in protest of blackface. Photo by Emma Cimo.
MONTCLAIR, NJ 10/20/17: One protestor hides holds up a sign that reads ‘watered down racism is still racism.’ Photo by Emma Cimo.
MONTCLAIR, NJ 10/20/17: One protestor hides his face from the camera as he holds up his sign in protest. Photo by Emma Cimo.
MONTCLAIR, NJ 10/20/17: Protestors hold up their signs in front of Memorial Auditorium. Photo by Emma Cimo.
MONTCLAIR, NJ 10/20/17: The protest did not keep students from seeing the play, as students wait on line to enter. Photo by Emma Cimo.
