Digital Blackface: An Argument That Exists

In her divisive article, Lauren Michele Jackson argues that a new form of digital blackface has emerged in today’s popular culture– in the form of non-black individuals sending gifs featuring Black people. The article argues that sending these gifs perpetuates negative and exaggerated stereotypes of Black people that exist in non-white mentality, and the act of sending these gifs belittles and appropriates Black culture. The article concludes not with a call to discourage non-white individuals from using these images, but just to be mindful about their use.

I believe there is a counterargument to be made about the flaws in the article’s argument. The use of the term “digital blackface” itself minimizes the horrific past of actual blackface, and trivializes actual racism currently happening. The article also fails to note the countless non-black popular gifs used by people of all ethnicities and races, gifs like:

 

It also veils the nature of the postmodern meme culture of young online users today. Traditional blackface is racist in that it specifically exists to belittle Black people, whereas modern internet culture’s intent is to make jokes at all types of people, a product of this nihilistic generation.

Finally, what gets me most about this argument is that it is one of those that presents a problem, and not only doesn’t provide solutions, argues that you should feel free to continue using this “digital blackface.”

This article objectively makes some fair points about the commodification of Black bodies in the media in general. But the sending of a gif of Donald Glover from one friend to another, or as a reaction on the internet is not akin to the racist blackface black individuals and performers were subject to.

I for one will go on and continue to send gifs of Blacks, Latinos, LGBT, and all other spectrums of humanity.