White Gaze

Mar 13, 2023

When I was little, I remember my mother would turn on the local morning news before taking me to school. After I hurriedly got dressed and ready, I remember I would sit and watch the segments as I ate my Poptarts, waiting on my mother and brother. Those early mornings, I remember my mother listening to crime reports and groaning if the perpetrator in the mugshot was Black. I can’t remember if I actually asked, but eventually I learned we don’t want the criminal to be Black, because we don’t want White people to view all Black people as criminals.

We’re all aware of the pervasive stereotypes surrounding Black criminality, violence, intelligence, sexuality and more. And when Black people enter predominantly White spaces, these stereotypes lead, making the acquaintance of co-workers, fellow students and the like before Black people are able to properly introduce themselves. The fear of being stereotyped is something many psychologists have studied and documented as it has a deleterious effect on the social-emotional well-being of African Americans. It's a fear of White gaze, or how the actions and behaviors of Black people may look to White people watching and in turn could potentially support harmful stereotypes. However, a curious side effect of this fear is the victim-blaming and criticism African Americans aim toward other African Americans. Those that do not feel White gaze is something to cower away from or are oblivious to the consequences of their actions.

A popular culture example of this came in Chris Rock’s newly released stand-up, Selective Outrage. In one section of Rock’s comedy, Rock discusses ‘the slap’, criticizing Smith stating

“You know what my parents told me? Don’t fight in front of white people.”

Another comes from my favorite rapper, J. Cole, in his 2018 song “1985 (The Fall Off)”,

“And plus, you havin' fun and I respect that

But have you ever thought about your impact?

These white kids love that you don't give a f***

'Cause that's exactly what's expected when your skin black”

Another more poignant example comes from the Netflix series Self Made that documented the rise of Madam C.J. Walker. Early in the series, Walker, formerly known as Sarah Breedlove, attempts to pitch her miracle hair product to millionaire businesswoman Annie Turnbo. Turnbo insults Walker, telling her no one will ever buy her products because of her appearance as a brown complected Black woman in the early 1900s. Beauty standards at the time favored light skinned Black people and many reinforced racist troupes out of a desire to appear closer to Whiteness.

Perception is everything. And as Black people have worked to carve out opportunities to pursue happiness in a nation built on such a promise, Black organizations and those in positions of power have often fallen into the practice of degrading those that do not fit how they wish to be viewed. This fear impedes progress, as racial stereotypes are then turned on African Americans in less privileged positions. In recent history alone Black elites and Black organizations have been able to decide whose deaths are unjust and who’s aren’t, what shades of Black skin are desirable, and what actions and emotions are can be shown in front of mixed audiences. In the end these constraints reinforce a rejection of Black humanity. And it is only right to reject that rejection. Black people are allowed to feel, to cry, to make mistakes, to be angry, to even be enraged. Black people are allowed to be repentant, to be brilliant and broken simultaneously. And we will do all of it in front of anyone we please. We no longer have a need for the policing of Black humanity from those in power and instead, need Black leaders to let go of their own fear of White gaze to allow Black people to enter every room unapologetically as their full self.

The Talented Tenth

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