ENGLISH
REFERENCE

blackface

n.
C1 Advanced UK //blˈækfeɪs// black·face

n. the act of a person with light skin wearing makeup to look like a person with dark skin. It is a very offensive and racist act that makes fun of Black people.

n. the practice of applying makeup to one's face to appear to be a member of a racial group with dark skin, typically for comedic effect. Highly offensive and historically associated with systemic racism.


SIMPLE

The performance was criticized for using blackface.

CONTEXTUAL

Many modern theater productions have stopped using blackface to avoid hurting the feelings of the audience.

COMPLEX

The use of blackface in early twentieth-century cinema is now widely regarded as a deeply offensive representation of Black culture, reflecting the era's pervasive racial stereotypes.

Origin

From black + face.

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