Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun informal, often pejorative Playing the role of, or casting someone in the role of, someone of different race or ethnicity

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

race +‎ bending, following the pattern of genderbending.

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Examples

  • I started to imagine role playing a character like the one that I play GTA:SA, this immediately started to make me wonder about the idea of what one might call “race-bending”.

    In da hood 2005

  • I started to imagine role playing a character like the one that I play GTA:SA, this immediately started to make me wonder about the idea of what one might call “race-bending”.

    January 2005 2005

  • From his early appearance in a mock-trailer with Tobey Maguire to his race-bending trifecta near the end of the film, Downey Jr. is in full control of his repertoire, crafting a unique character the likes of which has never been seen.

    High-Def Digest: All High-Def Disc News 2008

  • It’s a show about fashion and modeling – makeup (whether natural or theatrical/over-the-top/race-bending) is part of the scene.

    'America's Next Top Model': Are we smized about 'blackface'? | EW.com 2009

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