Is WhiteFace a thing?
Hearing about blackface is, unfortunately, something we're used to. But "whiteface" on the other hand, have you ever thought about that? Believe it or not, there's a book that highlights "white-facing."
In 1920s America, there were all sorts of regulations and laws that prevented black people from experiencing the same privileges as their white peers. In her novel Passing, Nella Larsen explores the lives of light-skinned black women who "passed" as white in order to be afforded privileges and skirt discrimination.
Before reading this story, I had no idea this happened. Of course, it makes sense that individuals used their light skin to their advantage. But I never thought about to what degree or that it was a common, well-known practice; that there was an entire network of light-skinned people working together, "in on it." Maybe I didn't think about its extent before because now there aren't "concrete laws" allowing color-based discrimination. Maybe because in school I didn't learn about what black Americans were doing between the Emancipation Proclamation and the Civil Rights Movement.
I appreciated that Passing, which was written by a black woman living through the 1920s, gave me some historical context. On top of having an intriguing premise, the plot of Passing is actually really great! The story centers around two old friends, Clare and Irene. Clare is "passing" as white with a racist caucasian husband who has no idea that she's actually black. Of course, tension, drama, and tragedy ensue.
While blackface is understandably taken much more seriously today, I found it interesting to think about what being "white-washed" or "white-adjacent" looked like 100 years ago. For those women, "talking" and "acting" white had very tangible benefits. However, for one of the characters in the story, it had irreversible consequences as well. I would definitely recommend this novel if you enjoy books with historical context or are interested in American race relations.
For some other insights, check out these links:
•On Apr. 7, Bhad Bhabie (the "cashh me ousside girl") received criticism for "blackfishing."
•Light Skinned Privilege: (There are lots of other articles/information about this topic.)
MTV's Decoded video and Refinery29's "3 Black Women Get Honest About Light-Skin Privilege"
•An article published in Electric Literature, "In Nella Larsen’s ‘Passing,’ Whiteness Isn’t Just About Race."
What do you think? How is colorism manifested today?