WHEN A SITTING TD is shown in blackface, it’s not only about his past mistake. It’s about the culture that allowed it, the silence of bystanders, and the responsibility of leaders to set a better example for the future.

In today’s digital age, nothing we do stays private for long. Images of Social Democrats TD Eoin Hayes in blackface as Barack Obama in 2009 have resurfaced, and what might once have been dismissed as a student prank now raises serious questions about leadership, accountability, and the example set for young people.

Hayes’ past is not just a personal mistake — it is a reminder that careless actions can leave long shadows.

Hayes has apologised, calling it a “huge mistake” and “completely inappropriate”. He has said that he did not then understand the harm of blackface, but now recognises its offence. His apology is necessary.

But is it enough to leave it there? The incident forces us to ask deeper questions about what blackface represents, why it cannot be excused, and what it means for those who hold public office in an Ireland that is increasingly multicultural.

Blackface is never just a costume. Its origins lie in 19th-century American minstrel shows, where white performers darkened their skin, exaggerated features, and ridiculed Black people as lazy, ignorant, or buffoonish.

These stereotypes helped justify slavery, segregation, and exclusion from civic life. The practice spread into European popular culture, including Britain and Ireland, where “blacking up” became part of theatre, television, and even seasonal festivities.

For Black people, seeing their skin colour mocked and caricatured has never been funny — it has been a reminder of their outsider status, a reinforcement of humiliation and exclusion. That history is why, when politicians appear in blackface,........

© TheJournal