Blackface Photo Shakes Up Toss-Up House District in NY
New York Republican Congressman Michael Lawler is embroiled in controversy over a 2006 Halloween costume, when he dressed in blackface as Michael Jackson. The photos, taken while Lawler was a sophomore at Manhattan College, have surfaced and are causing a stir in the tight race for his seat in the 2024 election.
Lawler, a first-term Republican, has acknowledged the photos and apologized to anyone who has taken offense. He stated that his costume was intended as a sincere homage to one of his childhood idols, Michael Jackson. The photos show Lawler dressed in a red jacket, black shirt, and jeans, with bronzer used to darken his face.
The controversy has highlighted concerns about racism and the appropriateness of blackface, even when intended as an homage. Lawler is running against Democratic former Rep. Mondaire Jones, a Black man, in the 17th Congressional District, which includes parts of the Hudson River Valley. The race is one of several in New York that could determine which party controls the House of Representatives next year.
