index pointing at the viewer: medium-dark skin tone
Unicode: 1FAF5 1F3FE
Description
A dark-skinned fist raised in the air, symbolizing power, unity, or protest.
Group:
People & Body > hand-single-finger
Status:
fully-qualified
Emotion:
Represents strength, solidarity, determination, or empowerment. Can be used in contexts of protest, support for social movements, or personal achievement.
Backstory
This emoji, along with other fist symbols, was introduced with Unicode 6.0 (2010), representing various forms of punches, and was later expanded with skin tone modifiers in Unicode 8.0 (2015) to allow for more diverse representation. The raised fist gesture itself has a long history as a symbol of defiance and solidarity, notably in movements like Black Power.
Usage Examples
- Showing support for a cause: 'Stand up for what's right! ✊🏾'
- Celebrating a victory: 'We did it! ✊🏾'
- Expressing determination: 'Ready to tackle this challenge! ✊🏾'
- Acknowledging unity: 'Together we are strong. ✊🏾'
Cultural Differences
Western culture:
Widely recognized as a symbol of Black Power, civil rights, and various protest movements. Also used to express personal strength or determination.
East Asian culture:
May be less directly associated with specific protest movements but still understood as a general symbol of strength, perseverance, or 'fighting spirit' (e.g., in sports or challenges).