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Blackfamous

Blackfamous

Part of a series on Black Twitter. [View Related Entries]

Updated Dec 17, 2019 at 05:47AM EST by andcallmeshirley.

Added Dec 16, 2019 at 12:26PM EST by Adam.

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About

Blackfamous is a slang term for a person or piece of media that is mostly popular among black people while remaining relatively anonymous among white people. The term was popularized by a tweet from The Root writer Michael Harriot and inspired a trend on Twitter in which people offered things which would fit the description.

Origin

On December 13th, 2019 Twitter user and writer Michael Harriot[1] posted a tweet that read, "“Blackfamous” is the gap between black stardom and white anonymity. For instance: The highest possible rating on the “blackfamous” scale would be someone EVERY black person knew but was unknown by EVERY white person. So I ask: Who is the most “blackfamous” person of all time?" The tweet gained over 6,500 retweets and 28,000 likes (shown below).


michaelharriot @michaelharriot "Blackfamous" is the gap between black stardom and white anonymity. For instance: The highest possible rating on the "blackfamous" scale would be someone EVERY black person knew but was unknown by EVERY white person. Sol ask: Who is the most "blackfamous" person of all time? 10:47 PM · Dec 13, 2019 · Twitterrific for iOS

Spread

The tweet inspired users to tweet celebrities who fit the criteria. Some popular tweets include a tweet by @kidnoble[2] who tweeted Robert Townsend. Leon. Clifton Powell. Jason Weaver. Keith David. I could do this all day," gaining over 720 retweets and 3,700 points (shown below, left). Rapper Black Milk[3] tweeted, "John P. Kee," gaining over 200 retweets and 1,600 likes (shown below, right).


Spinninnanight O @kidnoble Robert Townsend. Leon. Clifton Powell. Jason Weaver. Keith David. I could do this all day. @michaelharriot · Dec 13 michaelharriot "Blackfamous" is the gap between black stardom and white anonymity. For instance: The highest possible rating on the "blackfamous" scale would be someone EVERY black person knew but was unknown by EVERY white person. So l ask: Who is the most "blackfamous" person of all time? 12:48 AM Dec 14, 2019 Twitter for iPhone Black Milk @black_milk - John P. Kee @michaelharriot · Dec 13 michaelharriot "Blackfamous" is the gap between black stardom and white anonymity. For instance: The highest possible rating on the "blackfamous" scale would be someone EVERY black person knew but was unknown EVERY white person. So l ask: Who is the most "blackfamous" person of all time? 12:11 AM · Dec 14, 2019 · Twitter for iPhone

R&B singer John Legend[4] joined in on the thread to add that he discovered the Stevie Wonder song "Ribbon In The Sky" would be considered "blackfamous" after Wonder played the song at his wedding (shown below, left). One of the most popular celebrities mentioned was singer Frankie Beverly. For example, Twitter user @jamilarobinson[5] told a story about a white DJ not knowing the singer, gaining over 150 retweets and 900 likes (shown below, right). The moment was covered by Twitter Events[6] and Buzzfeed.[7]


John Legend @johnlegend Replying to @johnlegend and @michaelharriot Btw this reminds me of my wedding. We had a lot of black guests, including my family. But plenty of non black guests as well. Stevie Wonder did an impromptu performance of "Ribbon in the Sky.". I did not know til then that that song was blackfamous. But it definitely was. 11:03 PM · Dec 13, 2019 · Twitter for Android Jamila Robinson @JamilaRobinson Scene: Party with a *lot* of black people. I ask the white DJ to play "Before I Let Go." DJ: Blank stare. I double down with Frankie Beverly. DJ: Never heard of him. Me: He'd been a DJ – in America – for 20 years yet that was the 1st time he'd played Frankie Beverly. michaelharriot O @michaelharriot · Dec 13 "Blackfamous" is the gap between black stardom and white anonymity. For instance: The highest possible rating on the "blackfamous" scale would be someone EVERY black person knew but was unknown by EVERY white person. So l ask: Who is the most "blackfamous" person of all time? 6:54 AM · Dec 14, 2019 · Twitter for iPhone

Various Examples


Tiffany Cross @TiffanyDCross WEB DuBois? James Baldwin? Curtis Mayfield? Robin Harris? And yes, Frankie Beverly. If you want to go with the obvious @michaelharriot · Dec 13 michaelharriot c "Blackfamous" is the gap between black stardom and white anonymity. For instance: The highest possible rating on the "blackfamous" scale would be someone EVERY black person knew but was unknown by EVERY white person. So l ask: Who is the most "blackfamous" person of all time? 8:32 AM · Dec 14, 2019 · Twitter for iPad Jolly St. Niggalaus @CyCl4ne Keenan Ivory Wayans has been loudly doing his thang in Hollywood for over 30 years with his entire family, and no one but Black people ever talk about it... BLALKIMAU TUME GIF "Message." @michaelharriot · Dec 13 michaelharriot "Blackfamous" is the gap between black stardom and white anonymity. For instance: The highest possible rating on the "blackfamous" scale would be someone EVERY black person knew but was unknown by EVERY white person. So l ask: Who is the most "blackfamous" person of all time? 7:58 AM · Dec 14, 2019 · Twitter for Android Amy DuBois Barnett @amydbarnett LisaRaye McCoy @michaelharriot · Dec 13 michaelharriot "Blackfamous" is the gap between black stardom and white anonymity. For instance: The highest possible rating on the "blackfamous" scale would be someone EVERY black person knew but was unknown by EVERY white person. So l ask: Who is the most "blackfamous" person of all time? 12:13 AM · Dec 14, 2019 · Twitter for iPhone Chass @chassity_maxx So since y'all don't know who Frankie Beverly is... does this mean y'all thought Beyoncé's cover was an origin- GIF 3:22 AM · Dec 14, 2019 · Twitter for iPhone Wolves Of Saturn @avantgardeblues I had no idea Frankie Beverly was black folk best kept secret until this thread. Now we can't be mad if we go in Starbucks and hear Joy and Pain playing. @michaelharriot · Dec 13 michaelharriot "Blackfamous" is the gap between black stardom and white anonymity. For instance: The highest possible rating on the "blackfamous" scale would be someone EVERY black person knew but was unknown by EVERY white person. So l ask: Who is the most "blackfamous" person of all time? 8:28 AM · Dec 14, 2019 · Twitter for iPhone sweetmeat @sugartraffic It never even occured to me that white folks don't know who so many of these people are... THIS THREAD IS SO IMPORTANT! michaelharriot O @michaelharriot · Dec 13 "Blackfamous" is the gap between black stardom and white anonymity. For instance: The highest possible rating on the "blackfamous" scale would be someone EVERY black person knew but was unknown by EVERY white person. So l ask: Who is the most "blackfamous" person of all time? 8:06 AM · Dec 14, 2019 · Twitter for iPhone

Search Interest

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External References

[1] Twitter – @michaelharriot

[2] Twitter – kidnoble

[3] Twitter – Black_Milk

[4] Twitter – Johnlegend

[5] Twitter – JamilaRobinson

[6] Twitter – If you don't know who Frankie Beverly is, it's probably because he's 'Blackfamous'

[7] Buzzfeed – People Are Naming Celebrities Who Are Only Famous To Black People, And It’s Spot On

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Top Comments

Lone K. (Echoid)
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Lone K. (Echoid)

I don't know shit about French celebrities.

I don't know shit about Korean celebrities.

I don't know shit about Filipino celebrities.

Yet I can do the French and am Korean-Filipino. It's about culture. If you don't partake in a culture sphere to any extent, you won't know what's going on in it. That means trends, knowing significant people, activities, etc. That's just how it works. I don't know a lot of country artists. I do know a lot of EDM artists. Guess which genre's culture I would know more? Likewise, I don't know a lot of white celebs outside of film or music culture. I don't know a lot of black people outside of film or music culture. I don't know a lot of Asian people outside of film or music or local culture. It's just how the flow of information works.

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