Name Rachel Becker
CMM 240 A – Spring ‘22
Date Due: March 29th, 2022
QCQ is short for “Quotation-Comment-Question.” It begins with a Quotation of 1-3 sentences. It then has a Comment. And it then asks a Question that encourages engagement from others. A good QCQ gives you something to bring to the table and offers something worth discussing in class. Earn full credit (1000 points) for a QCQ that touches all 3 bases – and is in on time.
QCQ for _(name the article) – Blackfishing on Instagram… – W. Stevens
Quotation (with page number or paragraph number or time-stamp if video/audio)
“Blackfishing operates within a lengthier history of Black audiences and consumers being captured through appropriative means..” (paragraph 2)
Comment (250-500 words)
It’s a given that there is a long and horrifying history behind blackfishing, but it’s much deeper than people assume. Blackfishing is deeply connected to the occurrence of blackface which has been a present disturbance for decades. Men used to dress up in ridiculous outfits and paint their faces with black paint, putting on a performance making fun of Black people for entertainment. This sickening act allowed these individuals to profit off others in the form of entertainment.
Blackfishing is an adjacent offense that is occurring very prevalently today on social media. This journal essay examines real-life examples of this offense, providing photos of blashfished photos that were posted to Instagram.
As a teenager/young adult who has grown up with a phone since I was 12 and social media since then as well, I have seen multiple examples of blackfishing online. Tanning too dark for their race, wearing a shade of foundation that is way too dark, editing photos darker, and even appropriating culture through attire influenced by Black culture are all ways I have seen blackfishing prevalent online.
I think this article does a great job of explaining blackfishing on the internet. It provides multiple examples and takes the time to explain many aspects of the act, making sure to emphasize that the reason this is done is because our society still has underlying systemic racism that allows for cultural appropriation such as this fly by without much hate.
I think that we have progressed way too far to continue to allow this behavior to slide. It is not only offensive to BIPOC, but it is also just another way that white people can steal culture from another race and use it for their own gain.
Question
Do you know anyone you are relatively close with or know outside of social media who you have called out for blackfishing, cultural appropriation, etc? If not, would you?
