Jason Praham discusses digital blackface in his article TikTok and the Evolution of Digital

Blackface. Digital blackface is an “ongoing form of content production that suggests a twisted
love of Black culture through caricature.” Digital blackface is very common in TikTok but it's
also present in other social media sites including Facebook and Twitter. In Facebook and
Twitter, cases of digital blackface are either text-based (copying Black vernacular) or image-
based (reciting memes or GIFs of Black celebrities). Non-black creators copy Black rhythms,
gestures, affect, slang. Blackness is something some content creators attempt to adopt.
Blackness gets people's attention and its appropriation is racist.

There is a trend on TikTok called Hot Cheeto Girl. A “Hot Cheeto Girl” is a loud, defiant, low
income girl. White girls on TikTok participate in this racist trend. They wear hoops, slick their
edges and draw their eyebrows. A Hot Cheeto girl is basically another less offensive term to
refer to a “Hood rat” or “ghetto girl”. Racial stereotypes are commonly seen in TikTok. Many
non-black creators are vaguely aware of digital blackface and its consequences. Many young
white women and gay white men engage in digital blackface. Users steal and exploit black
culture to try to be in the spotlight.

Awkwafina is an American actress, rapper, and comedian. She has received some backlash by
the black community for having a blaccent and appropriating black culture. She has been
referred to as a culture vulture. She has issued a non-apology addressing criticism for using a
blaccent and black culture. Her apology was not well received by the black community.
She is half Korean and half Japanese, yet she has used AAVE (African American Vernacular
English) to a great extent to advance her career. It is not fair for a non black person to steal, and
exploit black culture. She has played characters in movies that use AAVE for comedic
purposes, she makes music (hip hop) and she also uses AAVE as herself. Awkwafina is a part
of celebs that are involved in digital blackface. Some people think AAVE is just TikTok slang
but it's not and content creators should acknowledge that. It is wrong to adopt and embody
blackness only when it's convenient and beneficial. Creators like Awkwafina, who engage in
digital blakface do not only steal black culture, they also do not face black struggles. Blackness
is not a show.

One example of digital blackface can be seen in the film "Crazy Rich Asians" starring
Awkwafina. In the film, Awkwafina plays the character Peik Lin, a Singaporean woman who is
the best friend of the main character, Rachel. Her character is seen as the embodiment black
stereotypes and mannerisms. Asian-americans co-opt black culture, not white people only.
Awkwafina perfectly exemplifies this appropriation. Parham claims that “blackness—or what is
perceived as Black identity—thrives outside of context. It's diluted and remixed to a dizzying
degree. Black people lose control over how their humanity is presented.” A lot of times black
actors, artists and content creators do not get their due credit and recognition. Non black artists
tend to portray a “black identity” and get to experience success. Awkwafina is no exception, she
is known for stealing black culture for economic gain. He states that “videos like Guarino's are
among a disturbing and ongoing form of content production that suggests a twisted love of
Black culture through caricature”. Awkwafina loves black culture because she imitates it and
this has greatly helped advance her career as an actress, rapper and comedian.

Parham asserts that “other creators, the majority of them white, have figured that out, too. In
fact, they've come to learn that the quickest route to success on TikTok is right through the
bountiful fields of Black expression.”Awkwafina’s success is derived from appropriation and
exploitation of black culture. She uses black culture for benefits in her career and for comedic
purposes. While some minorities and black people get marginalized and ridiculed for having
particular style choices, cultural expressions, people like Awkwafina get rewarded with
opportunities, success and notoriety. Parham argues that “the common denominator of many of
its viral moments is an unspoken partiality to Black cultural expression. It works like an
accelerant.” The film "Crazy Rich Asians" was very successful and part of that is due to the fact
that Awkwafina’s character, Peik Lin, appropriates black gestures, affect, accent and slang.
Awkwafina engages in digital blackface and in blackface when it comes to doing music, acting
and doing comedy.

Overall, digital blackface is content that caricatures black culture and is very common in many
social media platforms, specially TikTok. Digital blackface consists of memes or GIFs, using
black people’s audios, slan and mannerisms. Digital blackface perpetuates racial stereotypes
about black people. Some non black people use blackness as a mask and benefit from it while
actual black people get ostracized when they show cultural expressions. The actor/rapper
Awkwafina exemplifies digital blackface, she benefits from black culture and does not
experience its struggles and marginalization. Awkwafina has had significant success in the
Hollywood and music industry due to her engagement in digital blackface, cultural
appropriation and exploitation.
References

Parham, J. (2020, August 4). TikTok and the Evolution of Digital Blackface. WIRED.
https://www.wired.com/story/tiktok-evolution-digital-blackface/