In what has been characterized as the “digital equivalent of blackface,” social media app Snapchat issued a Bob Marley filter. The filter allows users to merge their faces with the likeness of the reggae icon Bob Marley. The filter, which includes dreadlocks and a rasta hat, launched on 4/20, the day celebrating marijuana culture. Critics question the way Marley’s legacy is being used, with a writer for Daily Vox in South Africa, Aaisha Dadi Patel, calling it “a form of blackface, cultural appropriation, and totally problematic.” Patel went on to say it was a “caricature of a black person.” A representative of Snapchat defended the filter and said that it had been created in partnership with the Marley estate as a way to honor the singer’s life and achievements. Previously, the Marley family launched a product line comprising four types of Cannabis branded as “Marley Natural.” This branded product line was developed with private equity funding by a firm that negotiated a licensing arrangement with the Marleys.

Poll
You may also like

Jamaica Magazine
WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL: The Crucifixion of Jesus

Jamaica Magazine
Jamaican-Born Millionaire, Trisha Bailey, Inducted into UConn Business Hall of Fame

Jamaica Magazine
WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL: Pursuing Peace and Holiness

Jamaica Magazine
New Nike Air Max Plus Has Jamaican Flag Vibes

Jamaica Magazine
Jamaican Filmmaker Earns Multiple Nominations at Film Festival in Canada

Jamaica Magazine
Turning Tragedy into Triumph: Jamaican Andrea Hall Wins JWOF Woman of the Year

Jamaica Magazine
Which U.S. States Have the Most Jamaicans? The Answer May Surprise You!

Jamaica Magazine
WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL: Putting God First