yellowface

noun

yel·​low·​face ˈye-lō-ˌfās 

: makeup or clothing worn to mimic the appearance of a person of East Asian descent and especially to mock or ridicule such people

specifically : such makeup or clothing worn by a white performer playing the role of a person of East Asian descent

[Jeff] Chang notes that Asian American characters were mostly limited to the cartoonishly polite Charlie Chan or the cartoonishly evil Fu Man Chu, played by white actors in yellowface.

—Jennifer Szalai

… social media users accused her of being racist, dressing in yellowface, and mixing up Asian cultures …

—Carly Stern

Note: The wearing of yellowface is considered deeply offensive.

compare blackface, brownface

Word History

Etymology

yellow entry 1 + face entry 1, after blackface

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above