On Monday, August 24th, Target released a statement to the public apologizing for their participation in selling a kids costume that resembled Blackface and a minstrel show where actors in the 19th and the early 20th centuries would perform in black face makeup to mock and stereotype African American people.
The Halloween costume was listed as Kids’ Glows Under Blacklight Circus Clown Halloween Costume. The child is seen in the image posing the same as the racist caricature that was the cover of an 1832 edition of the sheet music of Jump Jim Crow.
Target released a statement saying,
“As a company, we know we got this wrong, and we are deeply sorry. The costume is offensive and should never have been part of our assortment. It is no longer available for sale.”
Following Target’s statement, Emmy award-winning actress Viola Davis responded, via Instagram, to Target and ultimately rejected their apology and emphasized their inability to understand the impact of their participation with selling the Blackface costume.
Viola Davis responds to Target saying,
“Target, I do not accept your apology, and I do not believe that you understand the impact… the pain… the dehumanization of the above.
These images laid the foundation and the ideology for every atrocity that has been committed against my people.
We MATTER!!
You have shown us that you are not on OUR side.”
Target has not yet responded.
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