The Carefree Black Girl Movement
Type in the term “carefree black girl” into the search bar on Twitter and Tumblr. The results showcase an array of stunning black women and girls oozing chill vibes while being unapologetically black. The term was coined by Huffington Post writer Zeba Blay and an eponymous Tumblr page in May 2013, which sent positive shockwaves through social media. The movement of the “carefree black girl” offered black women an opportunity to unite together through another spectrum. Followers boast figures, including Solange Knowles, Janelle Monae, and the earthy and hippie women of Tumblr and Instagram, as inspirations of the movement. However, like any other movement in the social media age, the “carefree black girl” movement endures its criticisms for
…show more content…
Popular Youtube Philogynoir criticized the movement for continuing “to exclude black girls who don’t represent a specific tax bracket, who aren’t of a certain skin tone, body size, hair texture/length, and/or physical ability.” This criticism acts as a reflection of the persistent colorism issues within the black community. For example, on Twitter, one can find a short clip, which appears on timelines every so often, of a light-skinned black women dancing in front of a pink background, most definitely feeling herself. Twitter users praise this aesthetic as the embodiment of the carefree black girl. However, for Keke Palmer, the narrative changes drastically. When the actress dances in the streets in the midst of feeling herself, Twitter users are quick to throw derogatory labels, such as “crackhead”. When she posts Instagram photos of herself sans makeup in her natural carefree self that feature imperfect skin complexion, the criticisms never fail to roll through. Palmer has been outspoken about the constant criticism, letting her fans know that the only things that she is concerned with are herself and her business. Yet, it is interesting to note the differences both women face for doing the same acts but baring distinct skin tones. The contrasting reactions allude to the notion that being carefree remains true for one group, which contradicts the movement’s initial objective of social liberation for all black
Popular Youtube Philogynoir criticized the movement for continuing “to exclude black girls who don’t represent a specific tax bracket, who aren’t of a certain skin tone, body size, hair texture/length, and/or physical ability.” This criticism acts as a reflection of the persistent colorism issues within the black community. For example, on Twitter, one can find a short clip, which appears on timelines every so often, of a light-skinned black women dancing in front of a pink background, most definitely feeling herself. Twitter users praise this aesthetic as the embodiment of the carefree black girl. However, for Keke Palmer, the narrative changes drastically. When the actress dances in the streets in the midst of feeling herself, Twitter users are quick to throw derogatory labels, such as “crackhead”. When she posts Instagram photos of herself sans makeup in her natural carefree self that feature imperfect skin complexion, the criticisms never fail to roll through. Palmer has been outspoken about the constant criticism, letting her fans know that the only things that she is concerned with are herself and her business. Yet, it is interesting to note the differences both women face for doing the same acts but baring distinct skin tones. The contrasting reactions allude to the notion that being carefree remains true for one group, which contradicts the movement’s initial objective of social liberation for all black