Digital Blackface: A Synopsis
Digital blackface is when non-Black people use the images and voices (online) of Black individuals to explain emotions or phenomena.” Jardin Dogan, M.Ed., Ed.S., of Black Folx Therapy (@blkfolxtherapy).
The roots of #digitalblackface date back to the 19th century and it continues to be harmful today. It has been historically linked to "minstrel shows." These were a form of racist entertainment dating back to the 19th century, where white actors "dressed up" their skin and clothes to mimic Black people.
Image: Billy Van, the monologue comedian, 1900. This image is available from the United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs division under the digital ID var.1831
"Digital blackface is also a form of cultural appropriation because non-Black people are adopting a Blackness that can be shed and taken on as they please, while actual Black people are forced to confront the consequences of their race on a daily basis, without the privilege of letting it go when it’s no longer “cool” or convenient," Dogan says.
Image: Essence Magazine
More importantly, digital Blackface occurs while Black content creators, like the ones on Tik Tok, experience racism, discrimination, and harassment, with their work either being stolen or devalued. This matter was recently flagged in Essence Magazine.
So, where does #digitalblackface show up in health-related spaces? Here you’ll see just a few problematic examples...
Image: Bleuler Psychotherapy Center, Inc
It seems as though clip art of interlocked diverse skin-toned hands never end. But if we had this many hands "in" against racism we probably would have gotten rid of it by now! (real talk). Using images like these can come across as performative.
And of course, there are public health memes. While the intention may be good, the execution, especially when done by non-Black people, can be entirely offensive and misplaced.
Image: Brian Stauffer
There's also a growing trend of featuring images of Black individuals in flyers or social media posts to imply diversity or create the appearance of an equitable space. But is it truly inclusive?
For instance, why is the Black patient being highlighted here surrounded solely by white, male doctors?
Image: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
If we're truly progressing toward a more equitable and conscious health system, why do we still see the same systems labeling "race" as a risk factor for health inequities, rather than addressing racism itself?
These examples show we still have a long way to go for true #healthcommunication. Mislabeling race as a risk factor instead of directly addressing racism in health outcomes, or using tokenized Black faces to feign diversity in health and healthcare, highlight digital blackface.
If we’re serious about health equity, we need to tackle these practices.
Should we create a toolkit, infographic, or host another workshop on digital blackface in health communication?
Let us know at info@cfhj.org.