Page 14 - IAV Digital Magazine #466

iAV - Antelope Valley Digital Magazine
WATCH | Social Media Divided: Is The New #charcoalchallenge... Racist?
By Iavan Pijoos
Social media users are divid- ed over the recent challenge where partici- pants cover their heads with bags of charcoal.
Bizarre videos of the #char- coalchallenge took Facebook by storm. Several videos have been uploaded online since December 30 2018.
In the videos, shirtless men take near-empty charcoal bags, cover their heads, and wig- gle around until their faces are pitch black.
Some social media users have dubbed the challenge "The Bobjan Challenge" after the Afrikaans
singer Robbie Wessel's song "Bobjan" was used as a soundtrack in the background.
The song is about a man who believed that he was a baboon.
Despite many seeing the funny side of the
videos, others were divided.
"That challenge as an insult to my african skin (sic)," one com- ment read.
"Me and my African brothers cannot partici- pate in this chal- lenge due to camouflage rea- sons," a second
comment read.
A third comment read: "Sorry gents... Still not gonna get you in on those BEE deals."
The festive sea- son was marked by several other bizarre chal- lenges.
The #IdibalaChalleng
e went viral after people took to social media to give their best version of the King Monada hit Malwede.
A challenge where social media users put their faces in flour also made the headlines last year.
Netflix recently issued a "don't do this" warning to fans of its Birdbox thriller, cautioning them that trying to do tasks blindfold- ed could lead to injury.
Why have we become so physical in emu- lating odd behavior?
Click here for Video: https://www.facebook.com/UNCUTSA/videos/795096810882874/
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