To be shocked Ariana Grande is White

[IslandGyal]

I’ve just discovered the new trend of ‘blackfishing’ whereby white celebrities and models try and appear racially ambiguous.

I think it’s more common in the states. However one of the most common examples is Ariana Grande who seems to have almost changed races.

See the picture in this article: medium.com/@abbs664/ariana-grande-blackfishing-d42a8cb726ea

Is anyone else kinda shocked that Grande is a white Italian.

I always assumed she was Latin American or mixed race black. It’s also quite problematic that she appears to tone down her look when it suits by appearing lighter on vogue.

Aibu

What is to be gained by black-fishing?

Yes you are being unreasonable to be shocked that she is a white Italian.

White people come in all different shades of skintone, and sometimes white people have darker skin than some mixed race people.

@FreekStar

What is to be gained by black-fishing?

Jessica Krug and Rachel Dolezal

I’ve always thought she was south Mediterranean / Latin American background

@purplemunkey

I think this says more about the people making assumptions than it does about Ariana Grande or Rita Ora.

Totally agree with this.

My niece is mixed race (blonde European Mum, black American dad) living in Europe and always asked is she Italian! So the reverse of Ariane Grande, in a way. To make matters even more confusing, her little boy is blonde and blue eyed so people never think she’s his actual mum. Colour and race is a strange one.

Aloethere I was speaking in terms of 'blackfishing' and cultural appropriation, two other examples would be using hair relaxer and getting locks weaved in to white hair.

I use fake tan myself. I don't think there's anything wrong with it in general. It doesn't make me look culturally ambiguous.

I think you're trying to create a problem where there isn't one. She's got a tan at different times in different pictures. What's wrong with that?

Never thought she was black.

@ComeOnBabyHauntMyBubble

What race are these women OP? Where are they from?

Meant in reference to your agreement r.e Cani's comment about on black musicians for example bleaching their skin, wearing blonde wigs/weaves and blue contact lenses. In other words that it 'works both ways'.

OP, I haven't looked though all the comments yet but YANBU. She definitely does try to present herself as Latin and exploits black culture.

afropunk.com/2019/01/ariana-grande-found-her-new-era-in-a-culture-she-knows-nothing-about/

ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/113256962.html

I'm a bit lost on the simultaneous claims that having dark skin equals oppression yet white girls want to appear black to achieve more favourable treatment

Black girls straighten hair if they like the way it looks, white girls wear fake tan. Neither is trying to trick anyone they're just girls playing with their appearance.

Not all cultures are obsessed with skin tone. Brazilians for example come in all shades. I agree this is a yuck American perspective on race and identity that we're better off without

@FreekStar

What is to be gained by black-fishing?

For singers in some genres, black artists might appeal more to their target audience. I'm not sure how well that argument holds up in reality (Eminem, Iggy Azalea etc), but I believe that's the theory.

Cis woman? No idea why the writer couldn’t just use woman, maybe AG doesn’t want to Id with the word.

As for appropriating the fuck you song attitude or even the way she dances. Has the author never seen a Madonna video 🤣

Artists who don’t give other artists credit for the parts they have ripped should be held accountable regardless of their background. However, in the music industry they all rip each other and have done so for decades without giving credit.

Those photos are famously photoshopped. This thread has done before.

I'd be seriously surprised if we see OP here again.

Or even Yellowman Zoe.

@TheHoneyBadger

I'm a bit lost on the simultaneous claims that having dark skin equals oppression yet white girls want to appear black to achieve more favourable treatment

Black girls straighten hair if they like the way it looks, white girls wear fake tan. Neither is trying to trick anyone they're just girls playing with their appearance.

Not all cultures are obsessed with skin tone. Brazilians for example come in all shades. I agree this is a yuck American perspective on race and identity that we're better off without

It's a tricky topic. So I can understand why you don't understand it. There are times when I don't understand it myself, but I'm also aware of seeing the difference, a racially ambiguous person will get, within a certain environment over and a bove an obviously black person. It's not appearing black like viola davis, it's appearing black closer to Zoe Saldana.

Btw do you know any Black brazilians? Black people come in all shades everywhere, there are a couple of brazilian documentaries that may (or not) change your mind as to it's importance in that area
Preto e Blanco / Black and White being one.

@IslandGyal

Also she has a song called 7 rings where she talks about buying her hair.

Whilst white woman buy hair extensions, buying hair is much more associated with black women (weave).

Not to mention the hip hop trap style of that song which comes from Southern hip hop an almost
Exclusively black genre.

That’s because her hair was ruined by constantly dying it red for a tv show. She wears extensions because of that. It’s well documented.

Never thought she was black. She looks white.

Why would I be shocked?
Why would anyone be shocked about skin colour?
Sorry, I just don't get it.

This thread is weird. Whether you agree with it or not blackfishing is a thing & something the Kardashian's & AG have been accused of.

I'd always assumed she was Latina, that article is pretty shocking, she's completely transformed herself, all very odd.

It is odd in America that "hispanic/latinx" is seen as POC (and often discriminated against, I suppose because of the history of North and South America). However, actually people in South America are extemely mixed and whilst many have an indigigeonous or African background, others can be descended from/have all the characteristics of Spanish. So it isnt that suprising that Ariana, also from South European ancestry, could look "hispanic". (Im not saying that Italian and Spanish people always look the same, or even are always white, but they can often look similar). In fact there is quite a lot of North African ancestry in a lot of Italian and Spanish people due to the history.

The “appropriating” hair lyrics

You like my hair. Gee thanks I just bought it.
I see it, I like it, I want it, I got it.

Can we not pretend that Ariana Grande couldn't pass for mixed race, which in the American black world at least means black
Of course she could. But so could a lot of people. That doesn't mean they have done anything at all, its how they look!