Discussing African Representation With Poet, Mystic, Ahead of Kente & Silk's "By the Fireside," Mar 20
Mar 16, 2021 4:30 pm | 1 comment | 127 reads
Oftentimes, when we talk about racism and tone-deaf portrayals of other cultures – namely, Black culture – conversations focus on the long history of marginalization, dehumanization, and outright aggression well-documented in the West. And while racism is inextricably linked to systems of power and particularly white hegemonic systems of power, it’s not to say that other parts of the globe are devoid of problematic portrayals, misrepresentation, and the general mistreatment of Black folks. Case in point, 2018’s Spring Festival Gala, featuring a Chinese actress donning blackface with prosthetic buttocks and chest. After the performance was met with fierce backlash both here and abroad, many hoped that it would be the last time such an egregious display featured in “the world’s most-watched television show.” Unfortunately, however, viewers were dismayed to see yet another use of blackface in this year’s event.