blackface

[ blak-feys ]

noun

1. Theater.
   1. an entertainer, especially in a minstrel or vaudeville show, made up in the role of a Black person. By the mid-20th century, these entertainers had declined in popularity because their comic portrayal of negative racial stereotypes was considered offensive.
   2. facial makeup, as burnt cork, used in this role:

      They appeared in blackface.

   3. imitation of Black skin tone, speech, traditional dress, etc., by a person who is not Black:

      White rappers are performing vocal blackface when they rap in a dialect they appropriated from the African American community.

2. Printing. a heavy-faced type, usually darker than boldface.

blackface

/ ˈblækˌfeɪs /

noun

1. 1. a performer made up to imitate a Black person
   2. the make-up used by such a performer, usually consisting of burnt cork
2. a breed of sheep having a dark face

Word History and Origins

Origin of blackface¹

First recorded in 1695–1705; black + face

Example Sentences

England women captain Heather Knight has admitted a charge over a social media post in 2012 when she was pictured in blackface.

From BBC

Eight years later, “30 Rock” producers pulled the episode from streaming and syndication for its use of blackface.

From Los Angeles Times

Two former students of a Mountain View high school were awarded $1 million and tuition reimbursement after they were expelled for wearing acne face masks, which were interpreted as “blackface,” and sued.

From Los Angeles Times

The author, Karen Valby, skillfully maps the ugliness of a segregated art form in which too recently, blackface was still defended.

From New York Times

Billy Dee Williams gave fellow actors the green light to “do anything you want to do” for their work — including using blackface.

From Los Angeles Times