Investigation after carnival goers ‘blacked up’ for float
FOUR carnival revellers who “blacked up” to look like the bobsleigh team in the film Cool Runnings are being investigated by police.
The four men covered themselves in black bodypaint and Lycra bodysuits to dress up as the Jamaican characters from the hit comedy.
But the men – who used a bobsleigh made of wood – sparked a police investigation after the complaints their outfits in the street parade were racist.
Their float was one of around 20 that joined in the parade in the seaside town of Aberaeron, west Wales.
The men wore dreadlock wigs, Rasta hats, and waved Jamaican flags as their bobsleigh-float was carried on a JCB.
But Dinah Mulholland – a Labour candidate in the general election – said their fancy dress was “unacceptable”.
She said: “Utterly horrified to see this from Aberaeron Carnival today. How could this have been considered acceptable, or even legal, by organisers? There may have been no conscious agenda or racist intent towards involved people of African or Caribbean heritage in the Cool Runnings float.
“But there is no doubt that offence has been caused and that there is a danger that, unchallenged, such behaviour makes casual racism seem OK.”
She said that “blacking up … continues to be used today to belittle and mock people of colour”.
A police spokesman said: “Dyfedpowys Police received a report of a perceived hate incident which occurred at Aberaeron Carnival on Aug 28. An entry to the carnival parade was considered racist. Enquiries are being made.”
Cool Runnings tells the story of four athletes who dream of becoming Jamaica’s first ever bobsleigh team to compete in the 1988 Winter Olympics in Japan.