Some things defy logic.

Why in the world would any person, knowing the history of why performing in blackface is so offensive to African Americans, then don the makeup, if they don’t intend to offend? Even worse, why would they do so in a church setting?

Believe it or not, this is what happened at a Pilgrim Baptist Church of Gastonia, NC. For a mother-daughter banquet the weekend before Mother’s Day, a skit was performed where some members of the church dressed like 19th-century Americans. Well, someone had the brilliant idea to have some of the people perform in blackface. That someone was the pastor’s wife, Teresa Holbrooks.

Of course, to show how clueless she is, she offers the following:

Church members were told to dress like Americans in the 19th century for the skit held at the church’s mother-daughter banquet on the weekend before Mother’s Day, said Teresa Holbrooks, the pastor’s wife. The black makeup was her idea, she said.

Performers also lip-synched to gospel music by white artists such as Loretta Lynn and Randy Travis.

“A little tiny blond woman sang Randy Travis. So I guess Randy Travis should be offended,” Teresa Holbrooks said. “My husband pantomimed playing the piano. So I guess the piano should be offended.”

No, Mrs. Holbrooks, Randy Travis or a piano player would not be offended. Blackface was used to mock black people. It was used to promulgate stereotypes that, as a whole, did not reflect who we were — stereotypes that, to this day, still live. Perhaps, if she left her her ivory tower and traveled outside the lily-white fields, she would have seen how stupid her idea really was.

Oh, was that a dig, playing on color? I guess lilies should be offended?

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