Journalist Megyn Kelly criticized for blackface comments

American TV journalist Megyn Kelly is being slammed on social media for blackface is racist.

The former lawyer asked, "What is racist?" Halloween costumes during a Tuesday morning episode of NBC's "Megyn Kelly Today".

"Back when I was a kid, that was okay," she said, referring to white people painting their faces black for Halloween.

Blackface has a history of perpetuating offensive and racist stereotypes of African Americans dating back more than 200 years in the United States.

"Dr. Kehinde Andrews, Associate Professor in Sociology at Birmingham City University, told the BBC in June," It's a tradition rooted in racism that is very much about the fear of black people and the laughing at black people. "

Many on Twitter is in the dark.

"Open up a history book." White people used to paint their faces and act out ridiculous black characters during the Jim Crow era, " wrote Annabel Lee.

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Many people thought that they would be happy when they were in the 1950s, and asked about it when Kelly was a child.

Others questioned why a group of white commentators would have a discussion on blackface at all with the perspectives of African-American commentators.

"I just do not think it's white people's place to tell us whether we've been dehumanizing and systematically oppressing them," wrote Bella Goth.

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However, others suggest that it should be known that the practice is inappropriate.

NBC for a person on the panel, but honestly, minstrel shows and blackface were a popular form of extremely racist mass media in America through the early 20th century. know that, "wrote journalist Jamelle Bouie.

Some called me to the Megyn Kelly show, writing "This is not only deaf tone, it's flat out racist." I was not raised to think blackface was OK and I'm 46, from small town Pennsylvania, "wrote @Seanbaby.

Others recalled when Kelly made headlines in 2013 for stating it is "historical fact" that Jesus Christ, a man born in the Middle East, was white, adding that Father Christmas is too.

Kelly has not commented on the controversy.

By Georgina Rannard, BBC UGC & Social News