digital blackface
noun
: 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
In 2016, the company released a Bob Marley selfie filter as part of "4/20 day" celebrations that darkened users' skin in a caricature of the reggae icon, prompting backlash from users who pointed out the lens was digital blackface.—
Suhauna Hussain
Suhauna HussainWhile reaction GIFs can be hilarious, when white people use GIFs of black people, it can be a form of digital blackface.—Megan Bigelow
Megan BigelowExamples of digital blackface in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Put simply: digital blackface is 21st-century minstrelsy.
—John Blake, CNN, 26 Mar. 2023
In fact, Black feminists, Shafiqah Hudson and I’Nasah Crockett, created the hashtag #YourSlipIsShowing in 2014 to bring attention to people in digital blackface and those who create disinformation campaigns targeting Black women.
—Tiwa Omolade, refinery29.com, 13 Oct. 2021
Also read his September 2020 cover story about TikTok and the evolution of digital blackface.
—Wired Staff, Wired, 6 Aug. 2021
Is Sweet Brown the victim of digital blackface?
—John Blake, CNN, 26 Mar. 2023
What is digital blackface?
—John Blake, CNN, 26 Mar. 2023
There’s even been a concerning increase in emoji-digital blackface.
—Jennifer Jolly, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2023
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John Blake, CNN, 26 Mar. 2023
In fact, Black feminists, Shafiqah Hudson and I’Nasah Crockett, created the hashtag #YourSlipIsShowing in 2014 to bring attention to people in digital blackface and those who create disinformation campaigns targeting Black women.
—Tiwa Omolade, refinery29.com, 13 Oct. 2021
Also read his September 2020 cover story about TikTok and the evolution of digital blackface.
—Wired Staff, Wired, 6 Aug. 2021
Is Sweet Brown the victim of digital blackface?
—John Blake, CNN, 26 Mar. 2023
What is digital blackface?
—John Blake, CNN, 26 Mar. 2023
There’s even been a concerning increase in emoji-digital blackface.
—Jennifer Jolly, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2023
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Dictionary Entries Near digital blackface
Cite this Entry
“Digital blackface.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/digital%20blackface. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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