Just a sign of the times.

And the Wayans brothers made up to be white girls isn't a similar issue?? Not only was it "not okay" it wasn't really funny (IMHO.)

Well I did not see the whole thing, but, it did raise some issues that I am interested in.
1. The event in question was in 1984. Without revealing my age, I have clear recollections of my parents watching Al Jolson on TV (black and white!). I am not aware of them laughing or thinking that it was demeaning to blacks. Were they somehow insensitive anyway?
2. I have never heard the term "black face" until now. Am I insensitive or just ignorant?
3. Many years ago the word "nigger" was insensitive, insulting etc. Understand that. But why is it OK for a black person to call another black person "nigger". Is it now a compliment? Someone please explain.
4. Ditto with 'queer". Back then it was denigrating, but now LGBTQ is affirmed by "queers" as in "my partner is gender queer". Is this somehow now a technical term and therefore not insulting?
5. Why can't a white guy do the "moon walk"? I can't, but don't really want to, but surely this is technical question with a legitimate answer?
6. Weren't there blacks accusing Michael Jackson of trying to be white? Now he is an icon of blackness?
I can't help but think that this whole issue is raised by the leaders or elites, while the common folks think that the whole thing is overblown.
Note that my comments are NOT about alleged rape, which was a crime then and is a crime now, statute of limitations or not.
Peter.

Yeah Peter,I remember that huge box of a B+W T.V. with the 8" round screen.And al Jolson doing "Mammy".I recall my grandfather calling the upper balcony in the theatre "nigger heaven".No disrespect,just how people talked back then.And yes it is overblown. Just for example,watch the fur fly if there was a Miss White America pagaent.

Back in the day in my neck of the woods, a slingshot was a nigger shooter--both blacks and whites freely used that term. Black faced comedy--freely accepted as was blacks telling honky jokes.

In England they had THE BLACK AND WHITE MINISTREL SHOW.

It was very popular, with half the performers with painted black faces!

We had a black man in our classroom.

I called him a bloody nig nog all the time.

He called me chocolate drop!

No one took offence.

It has gon so far now it is just plain ridiculous!

Saeed, I think that is what I was driving at. It is not the word itself, it is the intention behind it. I assume you and the guy in your class were having some fun with each other, perhaps with a little bit of sting to it. The same words could also be used in a hateful, denigrating manner as well. I don't know how you can tell intention.
Peter.

Like all the flack recently about taking "Huckleberry Finn" out of the schools because of the word.Gimme a break!