Outrage at Bob Marley Snapchat Filter - Emily Rosuck 4th

On April 20th, snapchat got creative for the celebration of "weed day" or "Bob Marley day" by introducing a new snapchat filter that turns your face into that of Bob Marley's. The filters have become a popular way for people to alter their image on snapchat, but this filter that only lasted a day caused severe outrage from users. The filter sports dreadlocks, a crocheted slouch cap, alters the eyes and nose, and darkens the skin. This lens caused a flood on twitter of accusations that snapchat had created a blackface filter. To the accusations, snapchat replies "millions of snapchatters have enjoyed Bob Marley's music, and we respect his life and achievements...the lens gives people a new way to share their appreciation for Bob Marley and his music."
While the snapchat lens was new and featured only for a short period of time, the issue of blackface has been a longstanding problem in America. Beginning in the 20's, when white actors would darken their faces with burnt coal or charcoal to play a black person, often with the intent of mocking their culture or behavior, blackface became popular in film and entertainment. While the use of blackface has exponentially diminished as our country has progressed socially, the issue of blackface in film still stands. Recently, Zoe Saldana has been put under fire for allegedly using "blackface" to play Nina Simone in the upcoming movie, "Nina." Though Saldana is African American, her skin appears to be significantly darker in her role as Nina. In any case, while the lens was not meant to spark outrage or be racist, there are undertones of racism everywhere in our daily lives, and we need to be aware of them so we can see it and stop it.


http://money.cnn.com/2016/04/20/technology/snapchat-blackface/index.html?iid=ob_homepage_tech_pool