A pathetic condition/policy where there's only room for one Black person to shine in (at least the mainstream of) a given industry or scene, even when there are many other talented and worthy Black people to give work or accolades to. Unfortunately usually those other Black persons (as well as Asian, Latino, etc.) are snubbed or overlooked in favor of the anointed Black talent and/or a whole bunch of mediocre whites.
Oftentimes even that particular one Black will see to it no one else benefits from the perks they get, out of feeling those others are a threat to take their position.
Not to necessarily be related to affirmative action, though it kinda can be. And while not necessarily tokenism, one nigga syndrome is also in effect when whites will bring aboard one Black person into the group and cap it there so that in case he gets out of hand, he won't have backup when they collude against him.
Oftentimes even that particular one Black will see to it no one else benefits from the perks they get, out of feeling those others are a threat to take their position.
Not to necessarily be related to affirmative action, though it kinda can be. And while not necessarily tokenism, one nigga syndrome is also in effect when whites will bring aboard one Black person into the group and cap it there so that in case he gets out of hand, he won't have backup when they collude against him.
Tyra Banks tended to be a victim of one nigga syndrome when Naomi Campbell was the go-to Black supermodel at the time.
One nigga syndrome was in effect on all but two seasons of The Real World. Notice how the token Black also tends to be gay.
One nigga syndrome was in effect on all but two seasons of The Real World. Notice how the token Black also tends to be gay.
by Kuahmel December 20, 2009