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For those of you not ‘in the know,’ The Awl is a blog run by former Gawkerers Choire Sicha and Alex Balk. Now, I read The Awl every day, and usually like it. But I was offended — unironically, actually offended — by an Awl post this morning titled “What Were Black People Talking About On Twitter Last Night?” At the risk of getting randomly harshed on by Tumblr: it was kind of racist.

Blackface has somehow worked its way into the headlines twice over the past week. The October edition of French Vogue features a model with her face and body painted black. Harry Connick, Jr. called international attention to Australia when he protested a blackfaced skit on a variety show. Coincidence, or part of a larger trend?