In the scheme of tea gossipers and hip hop enthusiasts that crowd the social media terrain targeting the Black community, YouTuber Tee Noir has one of the most profound channels on YouTube. With over 500,000 subscribers, Tee Noir eloquently examines societal taboos and controversies stemmed in pop culture, such as colorism, cultural appropriation, and Black media marginalization.
In one particular video released Oct. 25, Tee tackles the topic of “Blackfishing,” a term interpreted many ways to define the act of appropriating “Blackness” or racial ambiguity for personal benefit, but has been coined as “a racial masquerade that operates as a form of racial fetishism” by Leslie Bow, an Asian American studies professor at the University of Wisconsin.
On the social media circuit, words such as “jealousy” and “insecurity” have been tossed around to describe those who have voiced their opinions about people who have exploited Black features and traits to gain attention. In her signature fashion, Tee Noir analyzes the roots of the disdain and why Blackfishing is an issue in the first place.
“Whiteness knows no other position than being at the forefront of what is considered beautiful,” said Tee Noir in the YouTube video. “First, it was the Marilyn Monroe. Then, it was the Twiggy. Then, it was Kate Moss. Then, it was Britney Spears — and then, it was Beyonce.”
Tee continues, “Most Western beauty standards have been spearheaded by whiteness. But, now we have progressed to a time where inclusivity is in. Diversity is in. The elitism of White standards is no longer what’s leading pop culture. However, even though we’re in a place where it’s the creations of people of color that are renovating pop culture — I mean, it’s always been that way, but it’s publicized for the first time now, right — White people still lead beauty standards because whiteness still has the structural power and resources to maintain being the face of it.”
Tee’s case study goes even further to actually include honest feedback from Black and White women on the topic of Blackfishing and jealousy. At the end of the day, the exploitation of power appears to be the underlying culprit, while the accusation of jealousy is a tactic to be dismissive.
“It’s our s–t, their reward,” said Tee. “It’s a power imbalance and that’s what’s being exploited in all of this, right. The Blackfishing itself, cultural appropriation, people automatically positioning Black women as jealous of White women no matter what, and people’s inability to add nuance to the conversation. It’s all about exploiting the power and balance.”
In providing a platform for honest discourse, Tee Noir is hoping that the conversation continues while we’re in the midst of dealing with the nuances instead of waiting for future generations to examine “racial phenomenons.”
Watch Tee Noir’s Video Below:
