US

‘Whiteface’ Performance Artist Stirs Race Controversy in Harlem: ‘You Still a Ni**er’

Nate Hill dresses up in whiteface

Nate HIll dresses up in "whiteface" for a performance art project on race in Harlem.

You might have to labor through the first minute or so of the video below, but trust me, the rest is worth it.

What’s the video?, you might ask. It features performance artist Nate Hill (who’s biracial) dressed up in “whiteface,” walking around Harlem talking about how white people don’t stink.  Your next question is probably, Why? According to a website with his name on it, “Black people are racist too. They need to deal with that.”

But is that really what he’s trying to do? If you watch the video, maybe not.

First, Animalnewyork.com explains some of the background:

NYC’s Nate Hill takes Harlem with his new piece The White Ambassador. What’s with the white face, you ask? Earlier this year, Hill has set up a WhiteSmellBot on Twitter that is now retweeting about 80 “white people smell like” stereotypes a day. As a biracial performance artist, he’s headed out to confront these bytes of cyber racism. See the video for some tense discourse.

[...]

So he walked the streets with a clipboard, a bag of white person’s hair for sampling and an umbrella, presumably to protect his delicate ahem ahem complexion. He chanted “We are white. We smell alright” and loudly proclaimed that unlike the stereotypes curated by his Twitter bot, white people do not smell like Cheetos or hot dog water or other things more offending to the senses/your feelings, white people.

Gawker notes what happened during a recent “performance:”

In the video [below,] watch as absurd performance art turns into an earnest and heartfelt conversation with a man on the street. This is what talking about race in America looks like. I mean… it doesn’t necessarily look like this, exactly. But progress takes many forms. This [s**t] is awesome.

Animalnewyork.com expounds:

This video gets particularly tense when Nate is forced to “break character” and explain his project and his biracial background to the passerby who seem, at first, unamused with the performance. The discourse transpires next is more interesting than oh so many things you hear at Chelsea gallery openings.

The tension mentioned above is especially apparent when several passersby, who are black, work hard to convince Hill that he is, in fact, a “ni**er” and he should embrace that. He doesn’t, and it leads to a general conversation on racism.

But even though Hill’s website seems to want to point out reverse discrimination, and the video generally does that in an absurd way, it’s still worth pointing out something very curious that Hill says near the end of his dialogue.

“The reason I tried to do it this way,” Hill says, talking about his methods, “is because I couldn’t get white people to pay attention to racism in general.  I‘m trying to get it to where I’m defending them [whites], and they’ll be like, ‘Oh yeah, racism.’”

Shortly after he adds, “I want them [whites] to recognize racism.”

That all leads to the question: Is this whole thing really about reverse discrimination, or is it about Hill making a generalization that whites don’t care about racism? And if so, is that racist?

Watch the video yourself and see what you think:

Comments (125)

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  • lukerw
    Posted on November 28, 2011 at 6:41pm

    If… you hate yourself, this much… just go and end it!

    Report Post » lukerw  
    • ShyLow
      Posted on November 28, 2011 at 6:53pm

      His mom is a white-hoodrat that disobeyed the 5th commandment…White-hoodrats gave us the obama nation…Please teach your children the ten commandments

      ShyLow  
    • Swordmaster2552
      Posted on November 28, 2011 at 7:21pm

      The 5th commandment: Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

      How does that apply at all?

      Both of you are obviously ignorant and probably racist. We don’t need people like you on our side. Go join the Klan.

      Report Post »  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on November 28, 2011 at 7:37pm

      That’s Obama on LSD.

      Report Post » The-Monk  
    • ShyLow
      Posted on November 28, 2011 at 7:43pm

      God gave Native Americans this land…they started mixing with whites became all PC and became out-#ed and lost their land…white-women crapping out non-white children will have the exact same result…Teach and obey the 5th commandment and all others for that matter…or lose the land God gave you…If you wouldn’t give your house or car to a black-man don’t give him your daughter…because in the end you will have given him all three…I don’t know how you interpret the 5th commandment…but I believe my interpretation makes perfect since

      ShyLow  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on November 28, 2011 at 7:53pm

      That’s Obama on LSD after losing the 2012 election; Michele in filming the video. He sounds different because of the lack of teleprompters to read from. Love the umbrella protection Barack or are you hiding from satellites?

      Report Post » The-Monk  
    • V-MAN MACE
      Posted on November 28, 2011 at 8:46pm

      I get the point of his performance, and I agree with him. White people don’t (necessarily) stink.

      And black people do brush their teeth and bathe.

      Report Post » V-MAN MACE  
    • snidley-whiplash
      Posted on November 28, 2011 at 11:59pm

      Here I’ll fill in the blanks “**gg**

      Report Post » snidley-whiplash  
    • mocon
      Posted on November 29, 2011 at 8:32am

      @Shylow:

      Exo 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

      Explain your position to me. How does a mixed marriage violate the fifth commandment? Is that what you’re saying?

      Report Post » mocon  
    • Black Manta
      Posted on November 29, 2011 at 3:52pm

      @ Shylow…please don’t speak about commandments when you know nothing of them…& I know your ignorant of the ten commandments from the way you typed…

      Report Post » Black Manta  
  • B-Neil
    Posted on November 28, 2011 at 6:33pm

    This is a good situation outlook vidio. Blacks are constantly refering to the color of there skin. Such as; Black women would’nt do that. This is a black man thing. Black women would’nt say something like that. You hear it all over the place. Black entertainers are really good at refering to Black this or Black that. Referencing themselves as a color, runs rampent throughout the entire class structure of the Black community. Its starting to become a joke. Other races ar laughing, not understanding why the Black community can’t exept the reality thet they are Free, They are as good if not better then any other human. The only thing thats keeping a lage number of Blacks down; are the Blacks themselves by listening to and believing all the race baiters constently screaming RACISM. Stop creating excuses. Stop blaming other races for your failures. Stand up and be counted, not just a color. Blacks have all the skill and abilities necessary to be equil to or better then any other Human being. CARRY ON McDUFF

    Report Post »  
    • sWampy
      Posted on November 28, 2011 at 6:49pm

      As good or better, blacks have lived on some of the richest land in the world, and never developed a written language, never learned to tan leather, never really progressed above hunter gather, have been given preferential treatment in this nation since the civil war when they were all given 40 acres of land an a mule, and since the 60′s have been worshiped, yet they still remain last. Before any advancement at all can be made, we must be willing to admit, that if they want to do as well, they need to step and do the work, and stop blaming the white people for their short comings.

      Report Post »  
    • neocon1
      Posted on November 28, 2011 at 6:53pm

      “Blacks have all the skill and abilities necessary to be equil to or better then any other Human being. ”

      Hoh?
      WTF???????

      WHERE on the face of the earth are they???

      Report Post »  
    • Free2speakRN
      Posted on November 29, 2011 at 2:14am

      The Progresive Gang is their puppeteer.

      Herman Cain said he thought ‘he could convince a third to a half of black Americans that they don’t need the Democratic Party to take care of them, that they can think for themselves’.

      Cain said, “How does a black man get ahead in America? …….You out-perform.

      I hope Cain at least gets some office to help this country.

      Report Post »  
    • yancie
      Posted on November 29, 2011 at 8:49am

      I was watching Atlanta housewives and the black women were all saying “ YOU can’t say dat to a black woman. Because one of the housewives is white and she has a black woman working for her. They were trying to say that the white woman treats the black woman like a slave. And she can not talk to a black woman like she talks to her. I don’t know where blacks get off on thinking they can’t be talked to in a certain way. And the black guy in this video said, Those crackers will eat yo ass up down south. And then says whites are racist. IF you call whites crackers YOU ARE RACIST!

      Report Post » yancie  
  • Zcat
    Posted on November 28, 2011 at 6:32pm

    I’m so sick of these race baiting freaks! I’ve read and heard on several tv shows, todat fox being one, Obama will be reelected! Prepared people because i’m thinking the same thing. Four more years of Obama and America is done, not to mention the American people. Look at the GOP feild for president…we have been set up by the GOP…

    Report Post »  
    • sndrman
      Posted on November 28, 2011 at 7:41pm

      DUH of course we’ve been set up. what do you think the high five on the golf course was about? the rino’s in our party sell us out every election. to win the white house 1st we need to defeat the republicans in the congress and then we can go from there.

      Report Post »  
  • MinutemanOnTheBorder
    Posted on November 28, 2011 at 6:29pm

    Border operations organizing now!! We need your help! http://www.amercianborder.blogspot.com for info!!

    Report Post » MinutemanOnTheBorder  
  • lel2007
    Posted on November 28, 2011 at 6:27pm

    The fact remains; Blacks are Black worst enemy.

    Report Post » lel2007  
    • pamela kay
      Posted on November 29, 2011 at 1:39am

      You may be right, and it is a shame. I hate that they are being used and brainwashed by the progressives to push their agenda. Just as all the union sheeples are. What they do not understand is that they will be no better off if the progressives have their way. The union workers won’t get their benenfits or right to negotiate their wages, and the blacks will no longer get government assistance. The latinos and the low income whites will not receive assistance either. The brainwashed percentage of Americans who support Obama will suffer as well.. As a matter of fact, we will all be in the same boat…….with NOTHING and no hope for success. You need only to look at Europe to see what is coming our way.

      Report Post » pamela kay  
  • JESUS-IS-LORD
    Posted on November 28, 2011 at 6:27pm

    How quaint. Racism is so 60′s.

    Report Post » JESUS-IS-LORD  
  • BriPhi
    Posted on November 28, 2011 at 6:14pm

    Black racism is accepted in the black community, and white racism is not accepted anywhere. But they (blacks, and the media) will call a white man a racist just because he woke up that morning. It doesn’t matter what you do, if you’re white, your a racist. So I don’t give it no mind. Call me what you want, you know it’s a lie, and I know it’s a lie. Get a life. It only makes those that invest in such rhetoric that much less credible. I won’t be shamed into thinking I have to change my behavior. They can’t, and won’t cow me.
    Don’t Tread On Me!

    Report Post » BriPhi  
    • My Two Cents
      Posted on November 28, 2011 at 7:16pm

      I am a US citizen who was born in Africa and had never been exposed to racism until I moved stateside with my parents at the age of 13.

      I was wearing a St. Louis Cardinals t shirt in a local hardware store in West Texas and the guy behind the counter asked me if I was from Missouri. Being naive about race relations in the states I answered truthfully and said no I moved here from Africa. The guy became so irate with my answer that he started yelling and came out from behind the counter.

      That is about the last time this white individual has ever willingly spoken to a black person in the US. I quickly learned that blacks in the US would judge me only by the color of my skin.

      Report Post »  
    • ChiefGeorge
      Posted on November 28, 2011 at 8:02pm

      I‘m White and have been the victim of Black Racism just because I’m White and for no other reason because I have not given them a reason to use against me. If I say we all should adhere to the standards and I expect that if you work hard you will be deserving of a greater mark on your performance eval, its like…someone needs to tell this ******* the way it really is….we show up and you will give us the top grade we deserve because we are better than you who grades us. No sir! Their always amazed that their stereotype and racist sentiment narrative does not jive when they realize I married biracially and have biracial kids. What the F, I could have sworn this guy was a racist White pig. My Chiefs anchors were passed along to me from two other White men who inturn I passed them along to a Black Female up for the rank. She made it a couple years later.

      Report Post » ChiefGeorge  
  • Slaynfire
    Posted on November 28, 2011 at 6:00pm

    Hey! Stop using the phrase reverse discrimination or reverse racism. It’s so very racist. It implies that one race is Superior to the other. It also says that racism is only one way and we know its not. Trying just using the term racism. If its racist its racist. Stop segregating the people based on color . Remember we are all equal under the law. Thank you.

    Report Post »  
    • P C BE DAMNED
      Posted on November 28, 2011 at 6:16pm

      Hell its always racist or racism. One of these day the truth is coming out and a large segment of the population is going to get their pay day for calling people with so called white skin so many awful and untrue things for so long.We are sick of your bitchin. Now shut the ***** up.

      Report Post » P C BE DAMNED  
    • sWampy
      Posted on November 28, 2011 at 6:53pm

      May be equal under the law, aren’t born equal, nothing will be accomplished until we admit what the problem really is.

      Report Post »  
    • million
      Posted on November 28, 2011 at 8:11pm

      Not under Eric Holder or Obama’s law.

      Report Post » million  
  • CatB
    Posted on November 28, 2011 at 5:58pm

    The difference in a black racist and a white racist .. it is accepted in the black community.

    Report Post »  
  • LeadNotFollow
    Posted on November 28, 2011 at 5:58pm

    In my opinion, black people are the most racist folks in America. If you don’t believe it, look at the black on white crime statistics. Their racism should no longer be tolerated.

    Report Post »  
    • psage7
      Posted on November 28, 2011 at 6:12pm

      Amen, it is time to stop the Hiding on this subject. Blacks, hispanics, and Asians are just as racist as anyone. If they dont stand up in their communities and stop or shout down the Racistism. Then there is not use in working on it in the white community. Just like in Isreal if you dont have a willing partner that truely wants peace there is nothing to talk about. I say stop making Whites feel ashamed for being White. Everyone should be able to be proud of what they are. I say stand up for being white without taking away from anyone else being what they are and respect all equally. If they are a dirt bag then they are a dirt bag. If they are good upstanding people then they are deserving of respect.

      Report Post »  
    • Bakko Bomma
      Posted on November 28, 2011 at 6:37pm

      yep

      Report Post » Bakko Bomma  
  • jungle J
    Posted on November 28, 2011 at 5:53pm

    another hate the white hustle…even if he trys to closet it.

    Report Post »  
  • AOL_REFUGEE
    Posted on November 28, 2011 at 5:49pm

    I think he doesn‘t know wtf he’s doing.

    Report Post » AOL_REFUGEE  
  • 1casawizard
    Posted on November 28, 2011 at 5:47pm

    I’ve gotta take a shower. I smell like a wet dog.

    Report Post » 1casawizard  
  • takemout
    Posted on November 28, 2011 at 5:47pm

    What a waste of The Blaze’s time.

    Report Post »  
  • HumbleCitizen
    Posted on November 28, 2011 at 5:45pm

    If he had a message, whatever it was, it got lost.
    Racism is a human condition. If you’re human, you got it. Two wrongs don’t make a right, it makes it revenge. Not all darker pigmented people automatically come from slaves. Not all white people were slave owners.
    Stop looking at the color of my skin and start looking at the content of my character.

    Report Post » HumbleCitizen  
    • ChiefGeorge
      Posted on November 28, 2011 at 8:08pm

      It will not happen! You have a higher and more enlightened view of the words MLK uttered which I happen to believe are true. So you may have noticed that character is no longer a requirement in this society as we are not even allowed to judge what is a good character and what is a bad character traits. There are bad actors on both sides and worse now for whites than in years past because they have been brought low by the social gurus who single out everyone elses heritage as superior both morally and ethically….but history does not bare out their claims but only the reverse.

      Report Post » ChiefGeorge  
  • rationallyurs
    Posted on November 28, 2011 at 5:39pm

    just another obamanation hoodrat

    Report Post »  
  • mcpbob
    Posted on November 28, 2011 at 5:38pm

    I’ve said it before, and i’ll say it again, if you see color or race in general and need to comment on it, then your a racist… and if you bring up race as an arguement then you see life through that racist prism…

    Report Post » mcpbob  
    • robert
      Posted on November 28, 2011 at 5:52pm

      “Shortly after he adds, “I want them [whites] to recognize racism.”

      This is no more than nonsense. Do these people EVER think about anything but race? That’s all that comes out of their mouths.

      Over the last several weeks I‘ve read news stories where blacks declare that Devil’s Food Cake and Angel Food Cake are items that are racist. Others said a black hole in space: is racist. This is racist; that is racist; everything involves race with them, and what do they complain about? They complain that whites concentrate too much on race.

      It‘s like dealing with a group of children who can’t take care of themselves and are too inept to really understand much of anything.

      Report Post »  
    • DavidZion
      Posted on November 28, 2011 at 6:32pm

      @ MCPBOB You said if you see color or race in general and need to comment on it, then your a racist

      Sorry I gotta disagree – I am Cherokee/Scott/Irish/English/German and I’m married to a Aztec/Spanish/French Mexican in our family we notice the differences in our races all the time; mostly its our cultures that provide the contrast. We don’t see one as superior but comment on it yes.

      Defined:
      Racism a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race

      Noticing the difference or commenting on those differences is NOT racism

      Report Post » DavidZion  
    • ChiefGeorge
      Posted on November 28, 2011 at 8:15pm

      Its all that come sout of their mouths for a reason and now I hear it more and more from Whites beginning to get the message that they are the only people in this country whos heritage does not mean squat, because they have no culture except the American one which is the first people to rise up without being known as a race to themselves. Mexican Americans, African Americans and just plain old Whites. Generic, watered down and toothless beings who smell funny and who cannot function in society without minorities to help them along. This is what I am seeing and its been a growing theme on TV commercials for years. Watch carefully and ask yourself what would happen if a minority was put in that role and or said what the White person said. Whites are now the laughing stock of every commercial, its like we are SNL characters for the masses. If you do not stay in this stereo type then you did not get the memo.

      Report Post » ChiefGeorge  
  • LoisLane1951
    Posted on November 28, 2011 at 5:31pm

    I hope he didn’t get a government grant for this so-called performance art.

    Report Post » LoisLane1951  
  • Youarehere
    Posted on November 28, 2011 at 5:30pm

    It was fun to watch but I think he needed a Groucho Marx mustache and eyebrows. “If I get any closer, I’ll be behind you!”

    Report Post »  
  • schroeder123
    Posted on November 28, 2011 at 5:29pm

    What happen to the Mime show ???? Geeeze !

    Report Post » schroeder123  
  • thegreatcarnac
    Posted on November 28, 2011 at 5:28pm

    Most blacks have their brains inundated and soaked in the matter of race and most of racist in their own right. The black guy above has a strange way of talking about reverse discrimination. I know that there IS reverse discrimination and it is prevalent but walking around in white-face and insulting blacks is a weird way of fighting it. He is off-handedly making fun of whites also.The very idea that whites ‘not caring’ about racism ‘is racist’ is a bunch of bullcrap. This is just a publicity stunt.

    Report Post »  
    • robertgraham
      Posted on November 28, 2011 at 6:28pm

      RACISM is prejudice and the power to impose that prejudice. Black Americans most assuredly are not brainwashed in their majority. I believe the 2010 census indicated about 13% of our population is black.or black only as the question was asked. Out of 308 million people about 8 million were mixed like President Obama.Almost 69% were white. Every allegedly intelligent person I know will dispute all those facts. I once believed that the talk of blacks and whites WAS racism in itself. I also believed as you do that white and blacks are both full of racist and racism overtones. Well, I no longer believe that. WHITES, myself included are racist. Even if President Obama is half black, he is still also white. He basically does not make it an issue because he is intelligent enough and he is of a different generation. He and I are peers in that regard.
      The truth be told our very white generations before us created unintentionally this atmosphere that further divides white and black Americans. Even Civil Rights is ridiculous because as long as YOU are born in America, your rights are indeed sovereign and equal. This has been true actually always. However of course few would try to show and explain that. All I know is that Gov. George Wallace once had an idea of simply sending all black Americans elsewhere if they were not satisfied with our country and the Democrats almost gave him the nomination for President. You have an entire generation of good folks who have been lied to by Democ

      Report Post » robertgraham  
    • P C BE DAMNED
      Posted on November 28, 2011 at 7:06pm

      Robertgraham
      You are a fool and everything you say is absurd. More of that same old 1980s sh.t. I have lived in the deep south for over half a century and I live down here with the common folk and I have never met a white racist in all that time. But I have met a lot of black racists. For what its worth judging according to skin color is just stupid. Somebody is rolling in stupid. When I think of all the lies and allegations made toward little white children and the damage it has done and all the lives ruined in the name of blaming others for your own inadequacies. Well its more than criminal. Somebody is going to hell and I pray there is one for nasty destroyers of innocents. You sir are an ass.

      Report Post » P C BE DAMNED  
    • million
      Posted on November 28, 2011 at 7:32pm

      Hey Robert G. If you dropped a white man off in an all black neighborhood & dropped a black man off in an all white neighborhood which one would you rather be. Jerk!

      Report Post » million  
    • ChiefGeorge
      Posted on November 28, 2011 at 8:25pm

      20 years of military service only revealed to me directly one white racist but many black ones. I ignored it because its safer always to stay on the high ground. Stick to the facts, make no assumptions, have no theories but only the facts. Treat others the way you want to be treated will only carry you so far when racists abound and can make decisons behind your back to derail you and your career. I never did that as a White on any minority and was expected by my White superiors to give a hand up to any and all persons. This was done to help dispel the White racism of the time and to show the system to be fair and just as it should be. I could only cross my fingers when I worked for minorities that they would treat me fairly. But blacks in this country have not been in real positions of power as a collective until recently. The spot light is now on them to demonstrate how they will be just and fair when it comes to hiring whites, promoting whites and yes lending help to whites. We’ll see!

      Report Post » ChiefGeorge  
  • ProudTeaPartyMember
    Posted on November 28, 2011 at 5:26pm

    When you protest something, aren’t you supposed to have a point? I don’t get his point.

    Report Post » ProudTeaPartyMember  
  • grayling646
    Posted on November 28, 2011 at 5:22pm

    I haven‘t heard this story and I’m assuming it just broke (I may be wrong) but if it just broke maybe The Blaze is doing silly and unnecessary things like investigating it to make sure some reporter didn’t just publish a story he found on the internet. You know, maybe they‘re making sure it isn’t bogus.

    Report Post »  
  • Tri-ox
    Posted on November 28, 2011 at 5:19pm

    He looks just like Michael Jackson – without the long greasy hair and tacky clothes.

    Report Post » Tri-ox  
    • LeadNotFollow
      Posted on November 28, 2011 at 6:08pm

      TRI-OX, I noticed that too. Bad Michael Jackson impersonation. Why else would he have the white face and umbrella?

      If I was his mother, I would move away, and not give him my address. He’s a nut.
      He sure didn’t do the white race any favors, just made white folks look bad.

      Report Post »  
  • garyM
    Posted on November 28, 2011 at 5:16pm

    I had an idea The Blaze had a new policy on putting out Stories about GOP candidates, since they haven;t posted the story about Herman Cain’s 13 year alleged affair with the women in Atlanta yet, that pretty well explains it. Herman is history, true or not. He may as well drop out, he may be single as well, African American women is very jealous in with just accusations!

    Report Post »  
    • grayling646
      Posted on November 28, 2011 at 5:25pm

      I haven‘t heard this story and I’m assuming it just broke (I may be wrong) but if it just broke maybe The Blaze is doing silly and unnecessary things like investigating it to make sure some reporter didn’t just publish a story he found on the internet. You know, maybe they‘re making sure it isn’t bogus.

      Report Post »  
    • grayling646
      Posted on November 28, 2011 at 5:32pm

      Ummmm….have you seen the front page, Gary?

      Report Post »  
    • woodyb
      Posted on November 28, 2011 at 5:37pm

      You might try getting your facts straight — there is just a SLIGHT difference between something which was ALLEGED to have taken place 13 years ago and something which was ALLEGED to have taken place over 13 years!!!!!!!!!

      But, as usual, the liberals just do not want to be bothered by the FACTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Report Post »  
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