discussion Asian woman recreates Kobe Bryant with makeup. Blatant blackface or harmless homage?

[Space Cowboy]

It seems like the discussion is divided between those who see this as blackface hence racist, and the ones who think that the girls’ intention was to honor him, not to mock or defame him, so it’s ok.

 

What do you think about it?

[Beyonceist]

You should check out Chinese Tik Tok if you can. Racism, blackface, extreme sexism, and misogyny, everything is on there and they are sort of proud to be racist.

[Devin]

She not Black, therefore its inappropriate.

[byzantium]

If the question is: “is this racist”? Then The answer will depend a little on where she is from.  Racism is an institutionalized phenomenon and assuming her intent was non-malicious, and thus the “offense” can only be attached if it is enforcing a racist institution.  I don’t know where she is from though to go any further.  
 

Now something important to note though, is even if this is not “per se” racist because of the unique culture she is from, it would be racist to continue to do this or defend this type of action once becoming aware of the connotations.  

[BOOMBAYAH]

I find it weird viscerally because the context I usually see blackface in is from the western racist lens, but chances are she’s just doing a makeup look and since the blackface “racist” history doesn’t exist in her culture (as it does in the West) it’s not something I would be violently offended at personally because she probably doesn’t even view it as that deep/morally dubious, but I still do think it’s weird.

[Asscatchem]

you're asking the gays here who perform digital blackface via gifs and aave on a daily basis?

[LosingHimWasBlue]

She didn’t make a fun of him, so it’s harmless homage for me. 

[Big Bad Wolf]

If it was a white person. In any part of the world. It would be deemed racist. I think the same rules should apply here. She's not black so it's inappropriate. Plus I feel like if you know a US figure like Kobe Bryant you should be familiar with US politics. So it does come off ignorant or worse.

[Helios]

She was literally just showing off her artistic makeup skills which are honestly amazing. 😳 People really get mad over the dumbest things.  

[Heirloom]

31 minutes ago, Asscatchem said:

you're asking the gays here who perform digital blackface via gifs and aave on a daily basis?

 

OT : Yes

[Leppie]

honestly that was pretty amazing though

[HeavyMetalAura]

Lengthy reply for sake of debate…

 

It does not fit the criteria of any commonly accepted definitions/kinds of racism. 

 

It’s not casual/interpersonal racism as she’s performing an homage to Kobe and is not attempting to mock/ridicule him. 
 

It’s not structural or institutional racism because this act does not lead to black communities being disadvantaged (to grossly simplify those two terms). She is not attempting to trick anyone to take opportunities away that may otherwise go to a black person. 
 

It’s not internalized racism because she’s not actually black. 
 

So if you’re asking if it *is* racist — probably not. The HISTORY of blackface is certainly racist, but this single isolated incident of it does not meet the criteria. 

 

But there’s factual racism and subjective racism — and quite literally anything can be the latter if it makes people feel uncomfortable (which anyone is entitled to feel). And in recent years (what many oversimplify with the word “woke”), people have begun to not care about the difference between the two. 

 

I feel it important to make the distinction between the two because many people are so quick to say something is or isn’t racist as though their opinion on it is fact. No one is right or wrong here. 
 

My opinion is that it’s a weird thing to do in today’s sociological and political landscape and I wouldn’t blame someone for thinking it’s racist, but I can’t in good faith call this racism when in all likelihood she wanted to honor Kobe’s legacy.
 

 

Edited May 24, 2023 by HeavyMetalAura

[Armani?]

Inappropriate obviously but I don't think the intent was bad

[ToMmY]

Not impressive enough to forget how cringe it is.

[Vixen Eyes]

the video in the tweet wont load for me at all

[Marry The Gods]

not really my place to say but i think she's just showcasing her talents. she did eva green (a white woman)

 

 

 

 

[Delirious]

53 minutes ago, Marry The Gods said:

not really my place to say but i think she's just showcasing her talents. she did eva green (a white woman)

 

 

 

 

WOAH WTF.💀💀

[arceus]

Asian excellence 

 

I see no racism in the video

[cyclone]

I set trends from queens to beijing, I am not the one to do the imitating. :D

[Otter]

No, a lot of you are social media educated and it shows. This is not related to black face.

 

This is literally just a flex on her artistic skills, there is no social implication here. She isn't stealing jobs or opportunities from black talent, trying to pass of as black adjacent in her career to be cool, or mocking Black people and their features.

[Isaiah]

i understand the notion that blackface is blackface but to pretend like its a black and white issue (no pun intended) with no nuance is super reductionist, since this was obviously a display of art and is completely incomparable to the blackface done in minstrel shows.

 

[Isaiah]

5 hours ago, Big Bad Wolf said:

If it was a white person. In any part of the world. It would be deemed racist. I think the same rules should apply here. She's not black so it's inappropriate. Plus I feel like if you know a US figure like Kobe Bryant you should be familiar with US politics. So it does come off ignorant or worse.

implying that people in asia who know about one of the biggest historical athletes of all time also need to understand the history of US politics before doing makeup to pay homage to him is insane   yes, blackface has a disgustingly racist history, but to pretend like any and all instances of anyone darkening their skin for the sake of art regardless of context or intent is actually just inappropriate and racist is a super extreme counter-reaction, imo   (and no, before you ask, im not white)

[liver]

harmless homage

 

 

[TROPICUM]

People can see this as inappropriate and it’s really understandable, from the context of Kobe himself to completely changing her skin color to the one of a black man. As I see her page and she has transformed herself in various celebrities of different races, while that of course doesn’t change the awkwardness this presents itself in the western media. Not my place to say, just that if her intentions were actually just to showcase her talents then (in my opinion) it’s fine, just maybe promote different types of artists transformations on the western media, or change the appearance of an already person of color. Nothing much else to condemn here.

[Rep2000]

But does she remember her grandmother saying to her, that she doesn't care what they tell you in school? (/sacrasm, obviously).

OT: this could just be another intentional rage bait to generate buzz. Unethical, yes. But that doesn't stop other people (of colors, included) from doing it before. 

Edited May 24, 2023 by Rep2000