Token Black
Meaning
A Black person included in a group, organization, or media primarily for the sake of appearing diverse, without genuine commitment to diversity or their meaningful inclusion.
Origin
In the wake of the American Civil Rights Movement, as demands for racial equality and representation intensified, institutions faced growing pressure to diversify. Many, however, resisted genuine systemic change, instead opting for superficial gestures. They would strategically include a single Black person, or a minimal number, in a prominent position or within a group, not for their merit or for a commitment to true diversity, but purely to create an illusion of inclusivity. This practice, often derided as 'tokenism,' gave rise to the pointed phrase 'Token Black,' exposing the performative and often demeaning nature of such appointments, where one's race became the primary qualification for a symbolic role.
Examples
- The company hired a Token Black employee just before the diversity audit, raising suspicions about their true intentions.
- Critics argued that casting only one Black actor in a large ensemble was a classic example of a Token Black gesture.