Still Annoyed About Digital Blackface

Hello friends,

It was only a matter of time.

A while back I shared a story of a company creating software to make workers sound more white. In other words, they wanted Black workers but not their natural voices.

And now we have the next iteration - the digital blackface that is Meta's use of a Black AI woman (Liv, a proud Black Queer Momma) created supposedly without the input of Black people. I'm not a fan, for many reasons.

As Mervyn Kennedy Macfoy says:

"In refusing to involve Black women in the creation of Liv, Meta reinforces a colonial mindset. It's the digital equivalent of extracting resources without paying reparations. They want the rhythm but not the blues, the flair of Black culture without the accountability of Black struggle."

Truthfully, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Most people can see the problems and flaws of blackface. Well, it doesn't get any better just because it's digital. It might even be worse. This is white folx colonising Black identity and making it jump for massa. I said what I said.

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Yes, It’s Icky; Yes, It’s Blackface

Whatever your identity, imagine that being digitised and coopted and used to deceive other people who share that identity, to say things you might never say yourself, to support causes you might not want to support. Feels pretty icky, right? Now imagine that same issue for Black people, whose ancestors were enslaved and exploited to centuries, and who are still living with that legacy today. It's even ickier.

The AI admitted itself that no Black people were involved in its creation.

And sure, Meta is killing them off now, but what will the next iteration look like? On days like today, I'm glad I'm no longer on Facebook, and now I'm wondering about Instagram. Because the company has already said they plan to roll out more of these AI profiles - whether any of them will be Black is anyone's guess.

Your Next Step

I don't have an action point today other than to be aware, and I'd love my techie friends to weigh in on how to spot these fake profiles (if it's possible at all) so you don't get sucked in.

Thanks for reading,

Sharon

Note: poll feedback is private - if you’re happy to share your thoughts in public, then please also leave a comment.

I am an anti-racism educator and activist, the author of “I’m Tired of Racism”, and co-host of The Introvert Sisters podcast.

© Sharon Hurley Hall, 2025. All Rights Reserved. This newsletter is published on beehiiv (affiliate link).