From Blackface To Blackfishing

The 'Code Switch' podcast episode 'From Blackface To Blackfishing' hosted by Gene Demby tackles the enduring and morphing presence of blackface in American culture. Initially, the podcast sets the context by acknowledging recent controversies involving blackface, such as the Gucci sweater and Katy Perry shoes that evoked blackface imagery, and politicians like Virginia Governor Ralph Northam and Attorney General Mark Herring admitting to wearing blackface in the past. The episode then delves into the history of blackface, tracing its roots back to the late 18th or early 19th century when white people would blacken their faces to act in ways they deemed improper for themselves. This practice evolved into blackface minstrelsy, the most popular form of entertainment in the United States by the mid-1800s, where characters often portrayed enslaved people as dumb, lazy, and scheming.

As the episode progresses, it discusses how blackface minstrelsy became ingrained in American entertainment, influencing vaudeville, advertisements, product packaging, and eventually animation. Nicholas Sammond, a cinema studies professor, explains how early animated characters like Mickey Mouse were inspired by minstrelsy, with markers such as white gloves and certain mannerisms. The discussion highlights how these early animations were understood as minstrel shows by contemporary audiences. With the rise of jazz and the advent of television, blackface began to evolve. Shows like 'Amos and Andy' transitioned from radio to television with a black cast but were eventually canceled due to pressure from civil rights groups.

The episode also explores the modern phenomenon of 'blackfishing' on social media, particularly Instagram, where influencers are accused of appropriating black aesthetics without acknowledging the cultural origins. Lauren Michelle Jackson, a PhD candidate and author, explains that these influencers are not explicitly engaging in blackface but are indulging in a form of racial ambiguity that benefits from black culture without the associated struggles. The podcast concludes by examining the complexities of cultural appropriation and the global impact of American media, highlighting the blurred lines of racial signifiers in today's interconnected world.