Mummers Parade group booted for blackface

PHILADELPHIA (CNN Newsource) — City leaders are condemning one of the groups that took part in Philadelphia's traditional New Year's Day parade.

The reason: Two members of the group wore blackface during the Mummers Parade, which involves thousands of people dressed in costumes.

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But as Matt Petrillo reports, the two parade participants argue that their costumes are not racist.

"We're celebrating Gritty,” says mummer Jim Martin. “The theme is 'frogs getting Gritty with it.'"

The inflatable Gritty hangs outside the Froggy Carr club on 2 Street in south Philadelphia.

Martin explained that the group's theme is based on Gritty.

"I couldn't tell you why Gritty, but it’s a traditional mummer uniform with the dress," Martin said.

But at least two mummers affiliated with Froggy Carr wore blackface as part of their costumes, which some people viewed as racist.

"All the blackface, it ain't about that," says another participant, Mike Tomaszwski.

This man denies that his blackface is racist, as does Kevin Kinkel.

"Black and orange, getting Gritty with it," Kinkel said.

So why the blackface?

“Cause I like it,” said Tomaszwski. “Yeah, why not? I know it’s a shame to be white in Philly right now. It’s a shame, yeah.”

But the history of the Mummers Parade is steeped in controversy because of other instances of racism, including mummers wearing blackface.

Last year, one skit showed a man dressed as Jay-Z appearing to wear blackface as he treated Mayor Jim Kenney like his dog.

It prompted city leaders to condemn the group because of the blackface.

But it turned out that the man portraying Jay-Z was black.

But this year, with two white men wearing blackface, city leaders are swiftly responding.

Mayor Jim Kenney tweeted that "the use of blackface by someone affiliated with Froggy Carr today was abhorrent and unacceptable. This selfish, hateful behavior has no place in the mummers, or the city itself. We must be better than this. The group was disqualified and we will be exploring additional penalties."

The group was kicked out of the competition portion of the event, which took place Wednesday night.

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