Art
This black artist, known for his vibrant and politically charged paintings depicting the struggles of black Americans, faced criticism from some art critics who attempted to whitewash the radical messages in his work.
Who is Jean-Michel Basquiat?
This novel by Alice Walker, celebrated for its exploration of black womanhood and identity, was adapted into a film that faced controversy for its portrayal of black characters with lighter skin tones, perpetuating whitewashing in cinema.
What is "The Color Purple"?
This traditional black hairstyle, originating from African American communities, has faced whitewashing and appropriation when worn by white celebrities and fashion icons, sparking debates about cultural ownership and respect.
What are cornrows or braids?
This traditional African garment, typically made from brightly colored fabric and worn by women, has faced appropriation and whitewashing in Western fashion, with designers often replicating its designs without giving credit to its cultural significance.
What is the dashiki?
Despite her groundbreaking contributions to computer science and mathematics, this black woman's achievements were largely ignored until recent years, illustrating the historical whitewashing of her legacy.
Who is Katherine Johnson?
This influential black filmmaker, known for his thought-provoking and visually stunning films, faced challenges in the industry due to attempts at whitewashing his narratives and diluting their cultural authenticity.
Who is Spike Lee?
This acclaimed novel by Toni Morrison, exploring themes of slavery and identity, faced accusations of whitewashing in its adaptation for the stage, with some critics arguing that the production failed to capture the novel's powerful portrayal of black experiences.
What is "Beloved"?
This traditional African hairstyle, characterized by tightly coiled or twisted hair, has faced cultural appropriation and whitewashing when worn by individuals outside of the black community, often without acknowledgment of its origins.
What are dreadlocks?
This renowned fashion magazine came under fire for digitally altering the skin tone of a black model on its cover, sparking discussions about the prevalence of whitewashing in the fashion industry.
What is Vogue?
This traditional African language, spoken by millions across the continent, has faced marginalization and neglect in Western language education, with its importance often undervalued compared to European languages.
What is Swahili, Yoruba, or Zulu? (Highkey any significant African language)
This black artist, famous for her sculptures and installations addressing issues of race and identity, faced criticism from art critics who attempted to whitewash the political messages in her work, undermining its impact.
Who is Kara Walker?
This influential literary movement, characterized by its celebration of black culture and identity, faced whitewashing and marginalization in Western literary history, with its contributions often overlooked or attributed to white authors.
What is the Harlem Renaissance
This traditional African religion, characterized by its worship of deities and spirits, has faced cultural appropriation and whitewashing in Western occult movements, with practices being commercialized and divorced from their cultural context.
What is Vodou or Voodoo?
This form of discrimination in the fashion industry privileges lighter skin tones over darker ones, contributing to the denial of black identity and reinforcing harmful beauty standards.
What is colorism in the fashion industry?
This traditional African event or period, marked by significant cultural, social, or political developments, has faced whitewashing and misrepresentation in Western history textbooks, with its complexity often simplified or distorted.
What is the Scramble for Africa, the Transatlantic Slave Trade, or Decolonization?
This black photographer, recognized for his poignant images documenting the civil rights movement, faced attempts at whitewashing his photographs in media coverage, with some outlets cropping or altering his work to fit narrow narratives.
Who is Gordon Parks?
This classic literary character, created by Mark Twain, perpetuated harmful stereotypes about black identity with its depiction of a "superstitious" and subservient black man.
Who is Jim from "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn"?
This traditional African martial art, characterized by its fluid movements and emphasis on self-defense, has faced cultural appropriation and whitewashing in Western martial arts schools, with techniques being taught without acknowledgment of their African origins.
What is Capoeira?
This practice involves the deliberate removal or distortion of black fashion history and achievements from mainstream narratives, contributing to the denial of black identity in the fashion industry.
What is fashion erasure?
This influential report, commissioned by the US government in 1967, highlighted educational disparities faced by black students, but its recommendations have often been overlooked or diluted, exemplifying what phenomenon?
What is the Kerner Commission Report?
This traditional African dish, made from ground cassava or maize, has faced appropriation and whitewashing in Western cuisines, with its cultural origins often overlooked or misrepresented in international culinary trends.
What is fufu?
This infamous 1857 Supreme Court case denied citizenship to black people and upheld the legality of slavery in the United States, reflecting a systemic denial of black identity and rights.
What is the Dred Scott v. Sandford case?