The Rise of Digital Misogynoir-Face: Exploitation of Stereotypes for Entertainment and Profit

Abstract

Digital Blackface is a type of rebranding of the minstrel Blackface. Revisiting the same stereotypes and demeaning nature, digital Blackface has evolved through the usage of memes, GIFs and videos. Through this evolution, Black men have joined the fray and isolated the Black woman to become the target of stereotyped humor. This paper will provide an analysis of how Black men using Blackface have now evolved to what can now be referred to as digital misogynoir-face. Highlighting the ways that misogynoir through comedy has reified the harmful ways in which the Black woman is depicted. This paper examines the contemporary Black male-parodying Black-women performances of digital Blackface. Thus leading to the creation and circulation of memes through digital networks such as TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. This paper will discuss Black male comedians Martin Lawrence’s character of Sheneneh in his sitcom Martin (1992-1997 ) and Tyler Perry’s character of Madea in his films (2005-present).