What’s ‘digital blackface?’ And why is it wrong when White people use it?

CNN ^ | March 26, 2023 | John Blake

[artichokegrower]

Maybe you shared that viral video of Kimberly “Sweet Brown” Wilkins telling a reporter after narrowly escaping an apartment fire, “Ain’t nobody got time for that!”

Perhaps you posted that meme of supermodel Tyra Banks exploding in anger on “America’s Next Top Model” (“I was rooting for you! We were all rooting for you!”). Or maybe you’ve simply posted popular GIFs, such as the one of NBA great Michael Jordan crying, or of drag queen RuPaul declaring, “Guuuurl…”

If you’re Black and you’ve shared such images online, you get a pass. But if you’re White, you may have inadvertently perpetuated one of the most insidious forms of contemporary racism.

You may be wearing “digital blackface

[artichokegrower]

So a black man in drag is not offensive to women?

[BenLurkin]

[ifinnegan]

These writers are first and foremost idiots.

[alternatives?]

Second picture in article is a black woman wearing a red wig. Why isn’t she racist?

[dfwgator]

[artichokegrower]

And then a black man dresses as a woman wearing a blonde wig. Double whammy

[TangoLimaSierra]

When I steal a meme I'm not looking at the race. I'm looking at the message. I suspect most here do the same.

The problem is these idiots who are trying their best to deepen any racial divide.

[frank ballenger]

Redd Foxx wouldn’t mind.
James Bond in Diamonds Are Forever on Jill St.John’s different hair color from a few minutes ago: “No problem for me if collar and cuffs match.”

[seowulf]

Is it OK to post that stuff if you're a wigger?

[dfwgator]

Analysis by John Blake, CNN

[FreeperCell]

Radio big division!!!

[Honest Nigerian]

The only reason You (or I) are racist: Because someone else said that we are.
Now if it were a capital offense to say that someone else is a racist….

[A_perfect_lady]

Hm. I’m torn between doubling down and using those memes constantly, or vowing to operate from this moment forward as if black people do not exist, so as not to offend their delicate sensibilities. Eeny, meenie, miny moe... Ooo, I better not use that...! =)

[tlozo]

most insidious forms of contemporary racism.

Well if that's the current worse case "most insidious forms of contemporary racism", our nation is doing quite well.

[freespirit2012]

It sure was nice of her, to allow black people a free pass..

[rockrr]

I'm willing to ignore and "cancel" black people if that's really what they want us to do. Heck, I'll even "do it for the children" like the lefties exhort us to do.

[Da Coyote]

CNN makes my day when I realize that it is almost the bottom of the IQ range. They should give thanks that there’s MSNBC right below them.

[x]

Nonsense. Blacktalk is the new American vernacular. Enjoy it.

[bagster]

You may be wearing “digital blackface".

Or maybe...just maybe, we are laughing at black people. Could that be it?

[gitmo]