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

You know the Kardashians are half Armenian right? And the Jenners are predominantly white? Do you feel as offended by their “shade”?

I'm not sure I understand why it actually matters if you aren't sure what race someone is?

I think the trend for fake tans has just got darker and darker over time, but that doesn't mean she's 'pretending to be black'.

Why do you feel the need to label someone and make a thing of it, anyway? The only reason you would feel the need to do this is if you were for some reason making a judgement on them based on their race. If you're not, then surely it doesn't matter.

If you enjoy her music, listen to it. If you don't, don't. You don't have to know someone's racial origins to appreciate what they do. You should just see them for who they are and how they present themselves and suck it up - because it's none of your business to do anything else!

What the hell does it matter?

Why are people pretending they have never heard the AAVE accent or noticed black culture at all in the US?

Can you point out where someone is pretending they haven't notice american black culture? Cos I don't see it anywhere.

I can kinda understand why White British people don’t understand the African American Vernacular English stuff.

The black community in the US does have different linguistic traits to white Americans it’s not just slang.

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.

I'm so surprised by the replies on this thread. I don't think the OP is racist, I think the OP is pointing out institutionalised racism in society.

No, I'm not aware AG has 'claimed' to be any race in particular, and course it's ok for people to be any race they are or look to be.

The problem is that black people (and mixed race people) are oppressed and subject to discrimination, but white people have taken on parts of black culture and suddenly it's 'cool'. This is not dissimilar to cultural appropriation.

It's a white person getting ahead and succeeding while taking superficial, aesthetic elements of black culture to do so. And I don't mean AG is necessarily actively racist (I don't know enough about her), but what she's doing and is able to do is due to society being institutionally racist.

Most recently, the star appeared on a Black Lives Matter and Black History Month playlist and made no comment to Spotify on their inclusion of her to the playlist. To listeners, Ariana’s name stood out like a sore thumb because Ariana is not black. She’s not hispanic either. She is an Italian American.

So is this a problem or not? Should she have removed herself from the playlist? is it her fault if it was assumed she was black?

(I have only looked at the article, and not done any other research on the validity of the claims above)

I said it’s problematic to me that a white person is appearing (at least to many people) as a POC

It's problematic that people are desperate to work out who is black and who isn't and get upset when they get it wrong.

OP, you are absolutely right. Black-fishing to appear racially ambiguous / Black is pervasive and frankly disgraceful. It's rife among instagram models/influencers and Ariana, the Kardashians et al who've continued to profit from choosing when to be ethnic and not would be laughable were it not so abhorrent.

She should not be the same shade as Nicki Minaj who is black. I don’t get how people cannot see this
Eh?

@LindaEllen

It matters because I as a black women may want to support another black womens product.

Say I buy clothes designed from an Instagram influencer who is pretending to be black buy using heavy fake tan and hairstyles who is actually white this deprives me of the right to support a real black designer.

@IslandGyal She should not be the same shade as Nicki Minaj who is black

The only thing I have a problem with here is my 2nd (or possibly 3rd) cousin, looks like Shirley Temple, only cuter. Her Grandmother is the shade of Wesley Snipes and her mother is the shade of Nicki Minaj.

I do think it's a bit weird we had a thread a week or so ago about someone trying to 'pass' then another thread this week about someone possibly 'blackfishing'.

My answer does not mean that I do not see 'blackfishing' as a problem of course it is.

It's never crossed my mind that she was black. Her name sounds European and some Europeans are quite dark skinned. She clearly uses a lot of fake tan too but assuming she has never claimed to be black why on earth would anyone think she was? Tans have been popular since the 60s. It's just easier now that you can buy it in a bottle.

So just to add that Ariana come from a part of Italy that has a history of strong Arabic ancestry.
My ex husband is part Maltese which also has strong Sicilian ancestry like Ariana. In normal conditions he is as pale as anything put him in the sun and he looks completely different.

I've never thought she was black/mixed race. To me she looks like a white woman with dark hair and a tan.

I feel a bit uncomfortable sometimes when people from Southern European backgrounds are accused of blackfishing or cultural appropriation when they are just being themselves...you can be (obviously) be white without having pale skin/blue eyes etc.

I'm Italian and both my DM and DBro are darker skinned than my 2 mixed race DC (Italian/Filipino). DC must have inherited my pale colouring.

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

No, not at all. I never thought she was black for a moment.

The black community in the US does have different linguistic traits to white Americans it’s not just slang.

Can you hear those linguistic traits in the clips? I can't.

Kylie Jenner is another celeb who is blackfishing.

www.newstatesman.com/science-tech/social-media/2018/11/white-women-are-posing-black-instagram-are-kardashians-blame

People just want a bloody whine so intentionally misunderstand the OP. They know what the issue is. If this was somebody exacting this way in their normal everyday life they would find it as absurd.

It matters because I as a black women may want to support another black womens product.

Then its your responsibility to find out who is black and who isn't, ebfore you spend your money. You're the one assuming. Ariana Grande does not look at all black. Have you been to Sicily? She looks Sicilian.

Being Italian means absolutely nothing in terms of race or skin colour.
I know plenty of people from the south of France that will say they are ‘white’ but will get extremely dark when going in the sun.

I hink this policing about skin colour should stop. We shouodnt be living in world when some people will be afraid to go in the sun because they will look too dark for their race. Or too light or too whatever.

In the same way a good friend of mine is white, very pale skin. She also has very dark curly hair that really would be better with braid. Much easier to look after. But the same rules, she would be seen as awful for doing so.
Except her grandfather is black. This is where she gets her hair. She also has always been clear that she could actually have a black baby too. But who wouod have been able to say from just looking at her? And who can pose themselves as a judge of what is or isn’t ok?

@GoJoe2020

It matters because I as a black women may want to support another black womens product.

Then its your responsibility to find out who is black and who isn't, ebfore you spend your money. You're the one assuming. Ariana Grande does not look at all black. Have you been to Sicily? She looks Sicilian.

Can we not pretend that Ariana Grande couldn't pass for mixed race, which in the American black world at least means black.

Not saying you, but I do think some people are being a bit obtuse (on purpose).

Yes, she is white but tanning till you're several shades darker is all the rage now isn't it? Ariana, J Lo, Kim K, Jessica Alba etc they're all at it, looking racially ambiguous. It's a fad like any other and will have its day and be gone in a few years.

Im referring to people disingenously pretending to be amazed that somebody has noticed that there are certain accents associated with black people in the US, gojoe, along with cultural traits, music styles and looks