It looks as if every week there is a recent revelation that a white politician has worn blackface previously.

A photo of a British Columbia city councilor dressed as Grammy winner 50 Cent for a Halloween party in 2007 is now circulating on social media.

The photo of Colwood councilor Ian Ward was first published on a private family blog run by his ex-wife got here to light September 13. In addition to his black painted hands and face, Ward appears to have gold teeth and is wearing a Washington Bullets basketball jersey, a gold chain and a wig.

The costume took 45 minutes to finish, in response to a November 2007 blog post that has since been deleted. Archived on the nonprofit Wayback Machine.

“Wednesday was Halloween, so after spending 45 minutes that morning transforming Ian right into a black man with stage paint and giving him a ride to work (it was funny as hell, but scared the shit out of Liam, who cried each time Ian said something to him) , I met up with a bunch of mothers for cookies and coffee, and then all of us dressed up our little ones in costumes and headed to the park to take some cute photos. Liam acted like a monkey and looked absolutely cute…” his ex-wife wrote within the post.

If the photo is not bad enough, Ward’s long apology on his now-deleted account, X attempted to shift the blame elsewhere, portraying himself as a victim of “cowardly anonymous trolls” and citing “cancel culture.” He believes the photo was sent out as a “political” attack after his family blog was hacked and “made public.” It is unclear whether the blog was ever private, and CTV Vancouver News said it was only made public in August 2024.

Ward has openly advocated for Israel for the reason that Hamas attack on October 7 last 12 months, and in a single deleted apology he pointed the finger at “anti-Semitic, anti-law enforcement, left-wing extremists” led by a “local failed musician.” After saying he had reported the alleged burglary to police, he began apologizing, admitting the photo was “embarrassing.”

“I have no defense other than to say that times are changing and people are changing,” he wrote in his statement.

But for the reason that story broke, Ward has kicked his damage control into high gear and is talking to news outlets to clear his name. In an announcement emailed to Black Press Mediawrote: “In the meantime, youars, I have grown significantly as a person, and this episode is not representative of who I am today and how I approach systemic racism and racial issues.”

“While I can honestly say that I had no malice or overt prejudice in my heart at the time, this is still painful for many and I admit my error,” Ward continued. “It’s offensive and shameful. “I apologize to everyone who was directly or indirectly affected by this event,” he said, before promising to “work to be a better person.”

Although blackface still exists, this type of mocking caricature faded throughout the civil rights era, and by 2000 it actually seemed that almost all people understood that it was fallacious. When Time revealed that one other Canadian politician, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, he wore blackface several times within the Nineties and early 2000s, when the case got here to light five years ago, a storm broke out.

Ward was elected to Colwood council in 2022, and this just isn’t his first brush with controversy.

The politician has been criticized previously for his inflammatory language against Gaza and Islam. In one, now deleted Post X in December 2023 he wrote: “Islamaphobia = a weak term to defend against legitimate criticism of a backward ideology.”

Municipal spokeswoman Sandra Russell provided an announcement to CTV News Vancouver regarding Ward’s recent blackface incident.

“The City of Colwood does not support City officials making public statements or actions that may be perceived by some as divisive or offensive,” she wrote, adding: “Our Code of Ethics directs us to be respectful in all interactions and to guard personal dignity, self-esteem and the great of others.”

However, she confirmed to the news website that no punitive measures can be taken against the councilor since the photo “was taken in Coun.” Ward’s personal capability, not his communal capability.”

MSNBC intends to proceed a very important conversation specializing in the influence of black women in American politics in an upcoming special, Hosted by Symone Sanders-Townsend, MSNBC co-host, and Melissa Murray, MSNBC legal analyst and constitutional law expert, this special details the critical role that Black women, with their wealthy history of political activism, will play in shaping the 2024 elections.

Through in-depth interviews, Sanders-Townsend and Murray explore how Black women across the country are mobilizing, strategizing, and preparing to solid votes that could have a major impact on the election. Hosts travel from coast to coast, talking to key voices like actress Kerry Washington, Donna Brazile, Leah Daughtry and Minyon Moore about what’s at stake in November and what it should take for candidates to realize the support of Black women voters.

The special premieres just weeks after Vice President Kamala Harris made history as the primary Black woman to secure the presidential nomination of a significant political party.

A moving moment from the special event was presented by Caroline Wanga, CEO of ESSENCE Ventures, who captured the tremendous weight that Black women carry in their personal and political lives. Wanga powerfully reflects on the unique role of black women in their communities, describing their historical position as problem solvers, caregivers, and central figures. However, as Wanga explains, a deep exhaustion sets in.

“We know that the Black woman has always had a different energy to carry the burden of solving problems… She is the mother, she is the center, she is always fixing… The most disturbing thing is that now she has doubts whether she can help this time,” Wanga shared through the interview. “It’s not because I don’t desire to. She’s unsure she’ll have the option to do it, and she’s disillusioned in herself… It’s heartbreaking. “I’m testing solutions left and right to give her optimism about influencing the future she wants because she worries whether that 21st brick in her bag will be the one that breaks her,” she added.

The special also contextualizes these reflections inside a broader narrative concerning the systemic challenges that Black women proceed to face. Whether in the political arena or in our personal lives, the fight for equality and recognition continues. It’s a battle Sanders-Townsend has experienced firsthand in her profession as a political strategist, particularly in her previous role as a senior adviser and spokesperson for Vice President Kamala Harris.

The event is a continuation of a February 2024 MSNBC program that focused on the role of Black men in shaping the election. This time the main focus is on the backbone of political movements in America: black women.

In an upcoming special, we’ll examine Black women’s political engagement, examining the emotional and cultural work they undertake in this significant arena. This narrative positions them not only as voters, but additionally as key architects shaping the longer term of American democracy. This is undoubtedly timely, with only a couple of month left until Election Day.

Sunday, September 29 at 9 p.m. ET and might be streamed on .