Medium: Stop Sending Reaction GIFs of Black People If You’re Not Black

[Deleted member 23850]

https://onezero.medium.com/stop-sen...-black-people-if-youre-not-black-b1b200244924

The internet is a portal to intercultural awareness. When discussing ramen versus pho, for example, all I have to do is pull out my phone and a quick Google search lets me know the noodle's country of origin, the differences in their broths, and their evolution over time. Now I know what I'm talking about in future discussions about either, and I'm less likely to make potentially harmful assumptions around the cultures from which these foods come.

On the other hand, technology also makes it much easier to borrow elements of other cultures. When we all live behind the relatively anonymous wall of the internet, we have near-absolute power to display ourselves in whatever manner we like. I can pretend to be an Asian American man living in Wyoming if I want. (I'm not: I'm a Black woman living on the East Coast.)

One prominent problematic example of this is the use of digital blackface in GIFs. While using GIFs is not nearly as extreme as taking on a whole fake online identity, it represents a much more subversive way that cross-cultural blending from the internet can reinforce negative stereotypes and make us less empathetic when it comes to other races.

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[Vic Damone Jr.]

I remember we had a thread about this before.

 

[nsilvias]

i dont use reaction gifs because the person is black or asian or whatever. i use them because they're relevant to the situation im using them in.

 

[dark_prinny]

I dunno but I think this is just too much

 

[Yoshimitsu126]

 

[Magic-Man]

Bruh. Who the hell cares? This is just to sensitive IMO.

 

[tiebreaker]

I don't insert myself into the gif/meme. It's not digital black face.

 

[kurahador]

"Digital blackface"

Uhhh....

 

[Seaman]

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😂

I don't understand what the big deal is. I'm hispanic with dark skin. OP is this also your opinion?

 

[Snagret]

You gotta be kidding me

 

[Shelbyville Milhouse]

One prominent problematic example of this is the use of digital blackface in GIFs. While using GIFs is not nearly as extreme as taking on a whole fake online identity

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"Not nearly as extreme" or "has absolutely nothing to do with it"?

 

[Infinity Times Two]

I mean, GIFs are inherently flattening the stories behind them.

 

[TaySan]

i dont use reaction gifs because the person is black or asian or whatever. i use them because they're relevant to the situation im using them in.

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Yup. It just happens the most popular gifs/memes have black people in it. I would use them regardless of race or gender.

 

[Phoenix Down]

I'm black, so does that mean I can only use black GIFs ?

 

[kvetcha]

How about nah.

 

[Bleu]

my eyes rolled so hard they did not move while my whole body rolled around them.

 

[Ziltoidia 9]

As to everything in life, discretion is advised. Cross check your beliefs with the topic you are using them on.

 

[siteseer]

i just want to make sure everyone knows i am not tom cruise.

 

[blue_phazon]

This article is clearly written by someone who goes on the internet too much

 

[Neece]

 

[Doggg]

 

[Ayato_Kanzaki]

I generally don't use memes, but if I did, I wouldn't give a rat ass about the skin color of whoever appear on it.

What you make skin color a variable in your decision-making process, this is racism, period. Medium may be unvolontary contributing to it by making it a factor.

 

[dark_prinny]

i just want to make sure everyone knows i am not tom cruise.

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That's clearly something only Tom Cruise will say

 

[StrangerDanger]

I wouldn't mind if anime gifs were banned.
For.....everyone. ;)

 

[blame space]

 

[Deleted member 2809]

 

[Defect]

Use any gifs you want.

 

[FILE_ID.DIZ]

Oh look, more fake wokeness.

 

[Acidote]

I disagree with the article. And I'm here for the reaction gifs in this very thread.

 

[dark_prinny]

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You're a cat you're only allowed to use cat gifs

 

[Deleted member 5359]

 

[Bakercat]

Wat?

 

[reKon]

I think there are in general really popular reaction gifs in all sorts of contexts. I think more of the time these days, I see actually see a funny reaction using a gif of a white person..

 

[Infinity Times Two]

It is a problem if other people assume that the GIF-poster is in the actual GIF.

That is also a truly insane assumption to have.

 

[RBH]

This is a fucking dumb article

 

[Wilsongt]

I wouldn't mind if anime gifs were banned.
For.....everyone. ;)

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[Tagg]

Does this mean I can't use gifs with Asians in them either?

 

[Wyman Manderly]

 

[Mars89]

Ah yes medium, the mouthpiece of all black people

 

[siteseer]

That's clearly something only Tom Cruise will say

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[Acidote]

Does this mean I can't use gifs with Asians in them either?

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You can't use gifs unless they're made from your own selfie videos.

 

[Linkura]

 

[Deleted member 2809]

You're a cat you're only allowed to use cat gifs

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[Blue Sky Noise]

 

[Vex]

I'm just here so I don't get fined.

 

[Antrax]

I'm black, so does that mean I can only use black GIFs ?

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No blinking guy meme for you

 

[Deleted member 61531]

Yup. It just happens the most popular gifs/memes have black people in it.

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Ever wonder why that is?

 

[Deleted member 52442]

LMAO

 

[Wamapoke]

 

[orava]