While the beauty community can be a fun place we retreat to for escapism and creativity purposes, we all know there's a super dark side which involves racism and trolling. Some beauty influencers, like Jackie Aina, split their time between fawning over cosmetics and exposing that dark side. One of those activities is way less fun than the other for obvious reasons.
With a screenshot of a hateful comment left on Jackie Aina's YouTube channel, the influencer revealed exactly what the worst parts of the beauty community really look like. The hateful comment(s) lead Aina to question why exactly it's her on the receiving in of such racially driven hate.
And sadly, she and I (and maybe you) already know the answer to that inquiry.
Let's get to it. This is the racist comment Jackie Aina received on YouTube.
"100 shades is 'gimmicky' but 20 shades isn’t inclusive," a commenter wrote in response to Aina's review of the PUR foundation launch. "This black [redacted] can go straight to HELL. All her ancestors are already there. Dirty [redacted]."
So yeah, that comment went from zero to flaming racist real quick. This person's comments were way too hateful to even be about Aina's opinions about foundation. Jumping from calling her racist names like "black [redacted] to saying such disgusting things about her ancestors (um, my ancestors…) is a bright neon sign pointing towards a person who just hates black folks.
Still, we can't write this person off as a mere racist hiding behind lettered keys.
That's only one comment out of the many hateful comments Jackie Aina and other black influencers receive from day to day. And they do hurt.
"So this is usually the types of comments I get on videos after something *controversial* happens, aka I share an unpopular opinion about a brand people like," Aina wrote on Twitter.
This is terrible. Imagine receiving messages filled with racially fueled hate on a regular basis. Imagine how difficult it is to continue addressing racism on your public platform knowing you'll suffer this kind of online abuse.
Aina just can't win with the naysayers.
"The moment I keep things light and try to balance the weight by keeping it fun it’s 'You’re a hypocrite black [redacted]. Why didn’t you talk about XYZ?' The moment I keep it consistent, it’s 'you race-baiting black [redacted].' OK, SO I guess I’m just a black [redacted] regardless. Damn."
Can the woman get a break? She's actually addressed her feelings about being "required" to speak on certain content on multiple occasions.
Aina's just doing what she's always done with her beauty platform.
"IDK really what else to say. The community that I’ve built is deeper than just makeup. We talk about things that matter and brands that are making a difference (or a disservice) to the community. It’s always been this way but there’s always a professional way I try to go about it," she explained.
The influencer also shared that she believes she gets lobbed with such hateful racist comments due to stereotyping.
"I’m in NO way saying I want my friends to be judged harsher because I don’t," she explained further. "But it feels like no matter how poised or professional I’ve been for disassociating with brands I don’t feel comfortable with I can’t EVER shake the 'angry, loud, black, bitter, rat' labels."
Although Aina mentioned stereotyping, it goes even deeper than that. Many black women who follower her recognize it as such.
It's COLORISM specifically. Yep, that buzzword that isn't a buzzword when you have to survive it every day.
Jackie Aina isn't just a beauty influencer or even a black beauty influencer. She is a black beauty influencer who is also dark skinned. She also has a loud mouth, a sometimes sarcastic and/or jovial tone, and an overall large personality. She also dares to do so unapologetically. It's adorable and relatable and even hilarious to many, including me, but to racists who stereotype black people and hate the loud ones the most — these details make Aina everything they cannot stand.
It gets under a racist's skin to see someone with so much influence be everything they hate in black people and unafraid to be it. People also tend to take liberalist thinking much easier when it comes from a person who looks more acceptable to them. Us dark-skinned women with large personalities aren't palatable for them and it sucks. This explanation also doesn't make the hate any less hurtful or exhausting.
People are going to have to accept a few things about how black people call out systematic racism in whatever field they're in.
Black people do not have to look a certain way, sound a certain way, or act a certain way to speak up about the racism they see. They also don't have to speak up about some racial issues while letting go of the ones you find too hard to think about. Want to feel confused even more? Black folks can also choose to NOT speak up about certain racial issues that they prefer not to deal with on their platform. We're allowed to take the day or the conversation off. The bottom line is, black people do not have to address racism in ways that make the world feel comfortable hearing it. If you want to feel comfortable, watch SNL.
Meanwhile, we'll be pulling the covers back on the foolery we see in this industry when, where, and how we see fit. Let's all send love and light Aina's way as she continues to use her platform for the good of the beauty industry and for black women specifically.
