Digital blackface

Digital blackface is a term used to describe the phenomenon of non-Black individuals mimicking or appropriating Black culture online. It has been particularly prevalent in the use of images of Black people, especially women and femme gay men, in memes and gifs. The popularity of these images has sparked controversy, with questions raised about the dissemination of racist stereotypes and the authenticity of online identities. Digital blackface has been described as "one of the most insidious forms of contemporary racism" and as "21st-century minstrelsy".

Definition

While the definition of digital blackface can vary, it has been used to describe to describe the phenomenon of non-Black individuals mimicking or appropriating Black culture online. Digital blackface has been defined by Merriam-Webster as "the use by white people of digital depictions of Black or brown people or skin tones especially for the purpose of self-representation or self-expression". According to Aaron Nyerges, a Senior Lecturer in American Studies at the United States Studies Centre, digital blackfaces "describes the act of producing, posting or circulating ‘black reaction gifs’ online and especially on social media threads." Writer John Blake suggests that if a White person shares an image online that perpetuates stereotypes of Black people as loud, dumb, hyperviolent, or hypersexual, they’ve "entered digital blackface territory".

Writer Vann Newkirk explained to NPR in 2017 that identifying instances of digital blackface can be challenging. He noted that one key indicator is when individuals attempt to mimic what they believe is Black speech in a cartoonish manner, reflecting a superficial understanding of Black culture. One of the defining features of digital blackface is the adoption of exaggerated racialized reactions, which are popular in social media platforms like Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram. These reactions often reinforce stereotypes of Black people as overly expressive or dramatic. Culture critic Lauren Michele Jackson describes digital blackface as White individuals portraying Black stereotypes, such as being excessively happy, sassy, loud, or "ghetto" without understanding the cultural context behind these expressions, noting that Black characters are seldom portrayed with subtle traits or feelings.

History

Culture critic Lauren Michele Jackson has been credited with popularizing the term "digital blackface" in a 2017 essay for Teen Vogue, although the concept had been in circulation prior to this.

In 2014, Vice News described popular food blog Thug Kitchen as t "latest iteration of digital blackface" after it sparked controversy for using African American Vernacular English in their recipes while being run by two white individuals from California.

In 2023, it was reported that generative AI's use in creating BIPOC-presenting models had sparked controversy, with critics labeling it as digital blackface.

In his 2023 CNN analysis piece on digital blackface, writer John Blake highlights instances where "White" individuals share content like the "Ain't Nobody Got Time for That" video, Crying Jordan and Tyra Banks memes, and a popular GIF of drag queen RuPaul. He suggests that such actions could constitute the unintentional perpetuation of "one he most insidious forms of contemporary racism."

Criticism

According to educator Jardin Dogan, digital blackface not only perpetuates stereotypes but also constitutes a form of cultural appropriation with significant consequences. Dogan explained to Women's Health that through GIFs and reaction images, non-Black individuals can adopt Black cultural expressions to convey emotions that Black individuals may not always feel safe expressing in real life.

Comparaisons to minstrelsy

Main article: Minstrel show

Critics argue that digital blackface is problematic because it stems from a history of minstrelsy, a form of entertainment in the 19th and early 20th centuries where White performers would portray Black characters in a demeaning and stereotypical manner. This form of entertainment perpetuated racist ideas and contributed to the marginalization of Black people. It has also been argued that digital blackface is controversial because it reinforces stereotypes of Black Americans as overly comedic figures or, particularly for women, as excessively sassy.

Criticism of the concept of digital blackface

Turning Point USA, an American nonprofit organization that advocates for conservative politics in secondary and higher education, has called the concept of digital blackface "virtue signaling nonsense" and a "cancel culture attack". A 2023 article by British online magazine UnHerd argued against the concept of "digital blackface," suggesting that it "reads like an attempt to meme more racism into existence by claiming that it’s already everywhere". The author criticized it as an overblown and divisive issue perpetuated by the media and contended that attempts to segregate cultural expressions along racial lines were regressive. In response to a CNN article on digital blackface, political scientist Wilfred Reilly tweeted that "as actual racism continues to decline, new varieties will simply be invented/’promoted’ and used to make us fight one another," referring to the article as "stupid".

Further reading

• Digital Blackface and the Troubling Intimacies of TikTok Dance Challenges