Female rapper, Bhad Baby recently showed Instagram her new appearance and many people expressed feelings of hatred and disrespect. Her new look features brown skin, plump lips and a weave. Unfortunately, this trend of “black fishing” is not new. Two years ago social media exposed Instagram models for posing as Black women.
The term “black fishing” is used to describe (typically white women) the act of attempting to appear as a Black woman and perpetrating Black culture by extreme tanning, altering hair patterns, and, in some cases, surgery. Some people even consider the trend to be a modern-day version of Blackface because these individuals are capitalizing off the “exotic” look of historically oppressed minorities.
In 2018, Instagram model, Emma Hallberg’s old photos surfaced showing that the model is actually a white woman. Many critics accused Hallberg of cultural appropriating. Ariana Grande has also been accused of appropriating as a woman of color. Then of course the infamous Kardiashions and Jenners.
(Emma Hallberg pictured below)
My issue, and many others on social media, lies with the fact that these posers are capitalizing off physical traits Black women naturally have, yet have been ridiculed for. Since the beginning of history, Black people have been attacked for their dark skin, yet now, non-Black women are extreme tanning to appear as melanated as their Black counterparts. Black people have been made fun of because of their plump limps and then influencers began getting lip fillers. Now, not only are they gaining traction on social media, but brands are also eating this up. These appropriators are receiving endorsements from naturally curly hair product companies meant for Black women based on the “aesthetic” they're portraying. This issue is problematic because many Black infuencers and Youtubers have spoken up about being overlooked by big brands.
Growing up as a Black girl is hard enough. I went to a suburban school so I realized early on no matter how many times I straightened my hair, I would always be seen as a Black girl. Society constantly pushed this unobtainable eurocentric standard of beauty resulting in many women of color this feeling of self hate. Then one day, white women decide to profit from another race. “Everyone wants to be Black but no one wants to be Black” is the idea that people want to appropriate Black culture, but won’t speak up or be at the forefront of issues that affect Black people. These black fishers are allowed to financially profit from this persona while still maintaining their white privilege.
* Completed for “Introduction to Public Relations”. This is an opinion piece catered towards those who may not know what Black fishing is and/or how it makes black people feel. This is an individual writing piece where I was able to educate others on the topic as well as voice my opinion.
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