Have you ever used a GIF or a meme as a fun way to convey a certain kind of response or emotion?
Well, according to a CNN article, if you are white and have shared a meme or GIF of a Black person, you could be guilty of using a form of blackface.
In an analysis article published on Sunday, CNN’s John Blake wrote, “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!’”
“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,” he continued, adding, “You may be wearing ‘digital blackface.’”
"If you're White and you've posted a GIF or meme of a Black person to express a strong emotion, you may be guilty of wearing 'digital blackface,'" writes John Blake | Analysis https://t.co/KlHkWWHq6x
— CNN (@CNN) March 26, 2023
He explained “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.”
Blake pointed to a Teen Vogue essay by author Lauren Michele Jackson, who wrote, “We are your sass, your nonchalance, your fury, your delight, your annoyance, your happy dance, your diva, your shade, your ‘yaas’ moments.”
“The weight of reaction GIFing, period, rests on our shoulders,” she added.
Blake continued, “Some may say posting a video of Sweet Brown saying, ‘Oh Lord Jesus, it’s a fire’ is just for laughs. Why overthink it? Why give people yet another excuse for labeling White people racists for the most innocuous behaviors?”
“But critics say digital blackface is wrong because it’s a modern-day repackaging of minstrel shows, a racist form of entertainment popular in the 19th century. That’s when White actors, faces darkened with burnt cork, entertained audiences by playing Black characters as bumbling, happy-go-lucky simpletons,” he added.
He declared, “Put simply: digital blackface is 21st-century minstrelsy.”
The premise of this article seems like something you would see in The Babylon Bee. And it ignores the fact white people use GIFs and memes of white people in just the same ways as they use GIFs of Black people.
It did not take long for Twitter users to catch wind of the article and respond.
Comedian Tim Young tweeted, “Next they’ll say you’re guilty of audio blackface for singing along to hits by black people…”
Next they'll say you're guilty of audio blackface for singing along to hits by black people…
— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) March 26, 2023
“I am once again asking [Elon Musk] to give us a parody or real button,” wrote journalist Tatjana Pasalic.
https://twitter.com/Tattytats/status/1639989079663169537
Columnist Shukri Wrights chimed in, “Congratulations CNN on the most idiotic column and tweet of the day.”
Congratulations @CNN on the most idiotic column and tweet of the day https://t.co/IOcOTpBsT4 pic.twitter.com/iZsFKBi7Th
— Shukri Wrights (@ShukriWrights) March 26, 2023
Former Republican presidential hopeful Joe Walsh wrote, “Stop it.”
Stop it. https://t.co/SQQnnyL406
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) March 26, 2023
Columnist Cathy Young asked, “Why is CNN peddling this bullsh*t.”
Why is CNN peddling this bullshit https://t.co/yHxTiWhkAh
— Cathy Young 🇺🇸🇺🇦🇮🇱🇬🇪 (@CathyYoung63) March 26, 2023
“The rest of the country: Banks are failing, inflation is out of control, the social fabric is crumbling. CNN senior writer: White people who use GIFs of black people are ‘[perpetuating] one of the most insidious forms of contemporary racism,'” tweeted columnist Rikki Schlott.
The rest of the country: Banks are failing, inflation is out of control, the social fabric is crumbling.
— Rikki Schlott (@RIKKISCHLOTT) March 26, 2023
CNN senior writer: White people who use GIFs of black people are “[perpetuating] one of the most insidious forms of contemporary racism.” https://t.co/c7bCExYkxe
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) shared a GIF of a Black person with the caption, “JUST STOP.”
https://t.co/vxN7Iaj1MP pic.twitter.com/qGgpirYYv8
— Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 (@mtgreenee) March 26, 2023
You may recall NPR tried its hand at something similar just around a year ago. In February 2022, it published an article asserting that if white people do not use white emojis, it could be a sign of their “lack of awareness about white privilege.”
Emojis, GIFs, and memes are just fun ways for people to express themselves online – or convey other emotions.
Stop overthinking everything. Not every part of society has to be dragged into the debates about racism and social justice. Please, for sake of preserving some joy in this world, let’s leave some things to enjoy and have fun with.
