The Blaccent & Blackfishing in Music

The subject of the cultural appropriation of black culture by non-black people has been a particularly prevalent narrative in recent years.

• Blackfishing is a term used to define when an individual modifies their appearance through makeup, tanning methods, fillers or appropriating cultural clothes or hairstyles in order to appear black.
• Many celebrities have been accused of blackfishing: the Kardashian family, who triggered the global “Brazilian Butt Lift” trend and celebrities like Rita Ora and Jesy Nelson have come under fire.
• The latest facet of blackfishing that has drawn controversy is the “blaccent”. Blaccent is used to refer to a non-black person imitating black English or African-American Vernacular English.
• Celebrities such as Billie Eilish, Miley Cyrus and most recently actress Nora Lum, who goes by the name of Awkwafina, have all come under fire for adopting a blaccent.
• It has been suggested that celebrities use the blaccent to further their career, taking the elements from black culture which suit them.
• Conversely, linguist John McWhorter argues that for centuries certain languages have taken words and turns of phrase from other languages. He argues English is a living and evolving language.