Don Hikind Wears Black Face to Holiday Party As Prince Harry learned a few years ago when he wore a Nazi armband to a friend's "Colonial and Native" themed event, a costume party is no excuse for ignoring good taste and generally acting idiotic. The prince eventually apologized, but the lessons of his faux pas apparently never reached New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind in Brooklyn. Last weekend, the Democratic legislator dressed up in blackface for a party celebrating the Jewish holiday of Purim. He wore a basketball jersey and a curly black wig. And it was supposed to be a hilarious joke, just "innocent" fun. Assemblyman Hikind at first seemed bewildered by the fuss. "I can't imagine anyone getting offended," he told Politiker early Monday morning. The Assemblyman also insisted that he is "intrigued that anyone who understands Purim - or for that matter understands me - would have a problem with this. This is political correctness to the absurd. There is not a prejudiced bone in my body. Assemblywoman Deborah Glick, one of Mr. Hikind's colleagues in Albany, spoke for many who find the Al Jolsen routine demeaning to African Americans or even racist. Mr. Hikind's actions were "beyond offensive," she said. "A Purim party shouldn't be cover for insensitivity. He is an ass. Assembly speaker Sheldon Silver, an Orthodox Jew like Mr. Hikind, said the costume was "inappropriate and offensive." As the demand for an apology grew, Mr. Hikind finally held a press conference to say that he is "sorry people were offended." He said for the Purim holiday some people dressed as Arabs; his wife came as the devil. The last thing in my mind or heart is anything that's racial. But we have a right to expect our public officials to have more sense than that, even when it's Purim.