If you’re white and like to share memes on social media, you’re probably guilty of “digital blackface,” according to CNN.
There are countless memes out there shared by people from all walks of life. But only certain people get to share the meme of Kayode Ewumi grinning and pointing to his temple, or the “Ain’t nobody got time for that!” lady, or GIFs of Stanley from The Office rolling his eyes.
“If you’re Black and you’ve shared such images online, you get a pass,” writes CNN’s John Blake. “But if you’re White, you may have inadvertently perpetuated one of the most insidious forms of contemporary racism.”
According to Blake, “you may be wearing ‘digital blackface.’”
It is easy to discount this absurd accusation as satire, but I assure you it’s not. “Digital blackface is a practice where White people co-opt online expressions of Black imagery, slang, catchphrases or culture to convey comic relief or express emotions,” write Blake, no doubt genuinely believing what he says. Read more…
