The Internet gives us plenty of opportunities to pretend to be somebody we are not. Most people live relatively unremarkable, generic lives, consisting of everyday human events — studies, work, maybe some time with family and friends. There is nothing shameful in it; however, a wish of fulfillment causes people to put on masks. For them, social media provides a chance to show that they are something special and their lives are not boring. The masks may vary, from posting the pictures of exotic food and luxury items as “evidence” of a successful life to partaking in discussions as some sort of arrogant expert who knows everything better.
The Digital Blackface is a modern example of wearing the mask on the Internet. Imitating the behavior and culture of black people was a thing even in the 20th century. In their song Pretty Fly (For a White Guy), the punk-rock band The Offspring mocked white youth who acted like stereotypical black people in an attempt to look cool instead of being themselves. The modern TikTok creators described by Jason Parham follow the same pattern, except they are trying to attract the audience and make money. I have not met the “digital blackface”; however, I can see where it comes from and why black people are offended.
I would describe this interest in “Blackness” and blackface minstrelsy as a popular fashion, which will probably pass by as the black culture becomes less mainstream. The embodiment of black culture by TikTok creators probably makes blacks think that the whites are stealing their culture. However, I doubt that white TikTok creators even think in these categories. They are simply exploiting stereotypical Blackness to become famous, and the video-first platform allows the creation of more vivid and successful masks. Black people can find it offensive, but that is the price of Blackness becoming a popular discourse in recent years.