Blackfishing

What is blackfishing?

Pretending to be ethnically Black

Blackfishing is when a person pretends to be Black. The person may adjust his appearance, modify his mannerisms, or flat-out lie about his ethnic background to appear Black.

Due to the heightened awareness of cultural appropriation in the late-2010s, people have quickly called out individuals who are using Blackness to appear cooler. Some people may also blackfish to gain sympathy or a competitive edge over others in the job market.

Blackfishing is especially common on social media, where influencers may adjust their skin tone in photos and exploit Black fashion and cultural trends. Some influencers even go under the knife to acquire ethnically Black physical features.

Amelia Hamlin, Emma Hallberg, Ariana Grande, Kim Kardashian, and Aga Brzostowska are all celebrities that have been accused of blackfishing on social media.

Example

She's definitely blackfishing with her photoshopped hips and big gold hoop earrings

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Updated February 26, 2021

Blackfishing definition by Slang.net

This page explains what the slang term "Blackfishing" means. The definition, example, and related terms listed above have been written and compiled by the Slang.net team.

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