Yes, so, in simple terms, blackfishing is a term that applies to namely white women (though, not to say people of other races and sexes can’t be blackfishing) who aggressively spray tan, use foundation and makeup that is like 4x darker than their actual skin tone, wear braids or dreads or other culturally Black hairstyles and/or speak in AAVE (African American Ventricular English)/blaccent/ebonics—whatever you want to call it.
“Everybody wants to be Black until they gotta be Black.”
Example:
This is Emma Halberg, a Swedish model influencer whatever.
Her before and after pics.
She was accused of blackfishing for, well, obvious reasons.
The issue most people have with blackfishing is that the “black aesthetic” that Black people have and are usually criticized and shunned for is something that white people can capitalize on and gain fame from. Black people experience discrimination because they’re Black, but as soon as a white person takes the “attractive” features of a Black person, suddenly they’re seen as gorgeous.
It should be noted though that most people don’t consider getting a regular tan to be blackfishing. In vague, general terms, they are usually referring to when your tan is similar to that of or darker than a brown-skinned person. Aggressive tans.
So, @Discussions, what is your opinion on blackfishing?
I have seen a lot of people on insta do this and I really hate it. Like yeah a little tan is ok but this isn’t a little tan this is getting so many shades darker to the point that you have a black skintone.
Which way?
'Cause a lot of dark-skinned people want to make their skin lighter because of colourism and the idealogy that the darker you are, the less attractive and more masculine you are. People generally view darker-skinned people as less attractive than their lighter-skinned counterparts, at least in the Black and Indian community. I know that in India there is a big skin-lightening market there, and I recall reading something that tells you to bring your own lotion when you go to India because sometimes companies will put skin-lightening products in everyday lotions. It’s prevalent in the Bollywood industry too, as you often see lighter-skinned actresses more than you see darker-skinned ones.
With whites wanting to make their skin darker… yeah, I don’t really get that either but like ok then lmao. It’s mostly just using what are considered “exotic” features to look more attractive and use this to gain fame. Idk, a white friend of mine once told me she wanted to be Black and I didn’t understand that at all (I was going to a primarily white school at the time) but evidently there is some envy in the Black features… even tho they’re the reason that Black people are discriminated for…
It’s awful when people do all of this blackfishing, whitefishing etc. I don’t care if you want to get a tan but don’t go claiming that you’re “black” or “mixed race”. I’m a medium tone colour (goldy) Asian and oh man, the hate I get from my own community because I’m not “fair” yet they do exactly the same thing…tan themselves so they can claim to be “black”. I know I don’t want to rant about colourism in this thread but it’s somehow relevant to blackfishing.
You can change religions but you can’t deny your ethnicity and natural skin tone.
I don’t either but I have heard about that. Well I’m not a fan of her or her music but let’s not go there right now.
Honestly, it’s absolutely ridiculous!! Why on earth throw shade (no pun intended) at someone for being “too light” or “too black” when you go doing the exact thing? Like in the Asian culture (talking about South Asian), they’re so obsessed with fair skin people. Like they think that being dark skinned is “ugly” yet they make themselves darker. Reminds me of the time, I put some sun screen on to protect myself from being burnt and I was insulted by my aunt because she compared me to someone lighter than me saying that she has nicer skin than me and I didn’t even know that girl. Ughh!! It makes no sense.
Idk about you but in the UK, they have these girls who make themselves have Orange faces because of the fake tan.
I don’t have an issue with paler people. I just have a huge issue when someone darker than my complexion have the audacity to insult me over the fact that I am medium tone. I’ve even see darker Asians (talking about South Asians again), put like really light foundation shade to make themselves lighter and they claim to be “white”. Dafuq!!!
Blackfishing is so stupid. You know racism is a problem as well as colorism, yet you choose to darken your skin and appropriate black culture/AAVE… that’s literally blackface.
(as for AAVE i don’t really have a problem with people using it as long as a. they’re using it correctly, and b. they’re not using it to mock or stereotype black people. Chet Hanks… is another story)
This is literally so offensive, I’m black, and whenever I see ppl doing this I get so p*ssed off.
All imma say is, kno ur place. If you were created white, embrace it. Stop tryna make your self appear ‘black’, but then be the first to call out other original black people for their race. Make it make sense.
I don’t really understand anything about this world anymore tho lmao
I know I don’t want to rant about colourism in this thread but it’s somehow relevant to blackfishing.
double standards 