Identity Crisis: Behind the Music – Is Looking Black Going Out of Style?
Lola Monroec
I would usually start off by saying something like “As of late “ or “Lately” to begin talking about the current situation that’s been on my mind. But this current situation in particular has been going on for years, is something I know all of you are quite aware of.
The question of the day… Why Is it, so many black people believe in order to be attractive, they have to look less…Black? I’m light skinned, my family is light skinned (for the most part) but in no way do I feel superior or feel that any of my dark brothers and sisters need to be light skinned to be accepted.
There are many beautiful black women out there. And I must say, in being light skinned, I am a victim of the constant ”5 o’clock shadow” I notice a lot of dark skinned guys have little to no stubble… Dark Skinned 1 – Light Skinned 0
Back to what I was saying… The Foxy’s, the Kim’s and the Nicki’s all have undergone many modifications in order to be more sexy. Not to say that plastic surgery is solely a problem relevant to black women, but the issues in respects to plastic surgery involving women of color, are deeper and more complex than a New Jersey housewife wanting bigger breast to please her husband.
The three aforementioned women are all female rappers who are successful artists in the world of hip-hop. Hip-Hop creates an outlet for many young, creative and sometimes poverty stricken individuals to achieve greatness and significant social recognition. Aside from the positive nature of hip-hop, there are aspects of criminal recollection and traces of obvious masculinity, misogyny and sexism.
Because Hip-Hop is seemingly a man’s game, women who wish to partake in this industry must be highly skillful to participate. Female rappers are placed under a microscope and even then, are often overlooked due to the fact they are unable to specifically relate to the abundance of male listeners. Many fans, as well as music industry higher ups sometimes overlook skill, and instead focus on physical appearance.
“Nicki Minaj has set the bar so high that whoever the new female rappers is, and I’ve heard one or two females so far and they’re horrible and I’m real hard on female rappers, seriously. I ain’t with the bullsh*t, don’t come too hard, you gotta be sexy and look like Nicki Minaj and sh*t. She got it.” - Sha Money XL (Senior VP of A&R at Def Jam)
This is a quote from an actual music executive saying self image is VERY important if you are a female rapper and you wish to succeed…basically,you must have an ass like Nicki Minaj, dress sexy and say outlandish shit. Not my opinion, but seems to be the current formula in the music industy, and is working.
Self image or Self Perception is something that is very important to everyone, more importantly women. The media perpetuates these ideals of being attractive in order to be relevant. The reason why people, famous or not, strive to alter their appearance is because of others opinions. People see themselves, as other see them, as demonstrated in the “Looking Glass-Self theory” a concept developed by Charles Horton Cooley. In this theory, Cooley explains how people develop a sense of self, complied of the several points of views of other people. In this case, the media is the “looking glass” in which many people use to look at themselves.
As far as black female rappers are concerned, In our commuities black identity is something that can be confusing as it is. When you incorporate the desperation to look sexy with the lack of strong sense of self, you get an outcome much like Lil Kim’s.
Women in the public eye that are expected to be sex symbols go through many changes, minor and drastic in order to stay in the fantasies of men. Many changes are made on a quest for” beauty” whether its Kim’s bleached skin, blond weaves and wigs or Foxy’s blue eyes.
RIP
I often wonder what Sammy Sosa or Lil Kim was thinking when they began to undergo these drastic changes in their appearance. Didn’t they learn anything from Michael Jackson? ( may he rest in peace ) In light of his major achievements and unequivocal fame, he was still regarded as a strange individual who was constantly scrutinized by the very people who he decided to transform for.
I just hope people, including myself, will strive to alter the current opinions of an attractive self image, not just for the famous people like Nicki and Kim…but the younger people and the generations that will follow ours.
It's like they're following a format.
JAY RASEAN
![Mc Lyte Gives Nicki Minaj Props By Calling Her a “Smart Business Woman” [VIDEO]](http://www.askkissy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/nicklyte-121x85.jpg "Mc Lyte Gives Nicki Minaj Props By Calling Her a “Smart Business Woman” [VIDEO]")
2 
48 
1076
Jay–You need to sit your fat azz down and shut up. Nikki, Lil Kim and MJ all look great. They have all made more money than a ghetto Koon like you will ever make. You are just another jealous azz hating Negroe Koon. And you need to take off those cheap azz looking sun glasses. You fat fool.
Black women are outta style…….Butta Pican Ricans is what its about..long black naturaly silky hair, and light (slightly) taned skin….and snow bunnies tired of yall nappy headed neck swinging finger snappin nappy headed no education havin weave wearin fake coach bag sportin hoodrat chicken head hoes!!!
YOU HAVE GOT TO BE THE MOST IGNORANT PERSON ON EARTH! PICK UP YOUR EGO THAT OBVIOUSLY A STRONG BLACK WOMAN SPLATTERED ON THE FLOOR AND TAKE A HIKE.
You must be talking about your fat ugly crack head mother. She is a bald head hoe. You’re nothing but an ugly Negroe Koon.
black men are just more attractive to hispanic/white women. nappy is out, long hairs are in.
And what type of Hispanic women would that be? would that be ALL Hispanics (the Celiz Cruzes) or would that just be those that look like J. Lo? hay Latinas negras todos no son rubios. Have pride in your own culture and know before you speak.
It’s the weave that’s done it, Kissy. I’m so tired of looking at black women so invested in weaves.
Dark people wanna be lighter. Light people wanna be darker :/
With that straight hair U aint black; your hair is SUPER relaxed..11-29-11
Attention and hidden issues
Hollywood makes it look that way
Amen!
Colorism is a product of a sucessfully brainwashed and colonized mind. Self hate is a hell of a drug.
Most things in this world are based off of our “blackness” that will never go out of style.
It’s the illuminate
Black is black. Who cares! Idk why people worry about such things.
What! Only for the small minded people!
Black is back , all in we gonna win , check it out here we go again !!!!
Hell NO… And, Those Who Are Trying To Go Lighter Don’t Know Their History. I’ve Been In The Sun All Morning & I’m Proud To Say I’m Looking Like Tar Baby NOW.
GEENA ROMANO BEST POST HERE THANK YOU FOR SAYING ALL OF THAT I CO-SIGN.
FULLY………………..GREAT GREAT POST. I WEAR NATURAL HAIR TOO AND HUMAN WIG, TO HAIR EXTENSIONS, BUT YET HDO IT MEAN I AM BLACK OR WHITE OR DO NOT KNOW, COME ON NOW.GET A LIFE. BOTTOM LINE AS GEENA ROMANO SAY TALENT ALSO IS IN THE LYRICS NOT ONE’S ASS, OR A GUY SEXY ABS NIKKI IS A FAILURE WITH A CAPITAL F, PERIOD. NO REAL WOMAN OR REAL MAN FOLLOW HER NOR LISTEN TO HER CRAP.. BE WHO YOU ARE.AND IF YOUR WANTING NICE HAIR DO, GET IT>? BUT THE WHOLE EXTRA BUTT, TO TITS THAT IS SAD, AND PATHETIC, NOT ‘ABOUT BEING WHITE ETC. OR”SEXY”JUST PATHETIC.LIPO TO TAKE FAT “OUT THE BODY TO BE MORE HEALTHY LOOKIN”FEEL BETTER SURE, BUT TO GET ALL THE FAKE TITS, TO ASS IS REALLY SAD, IMO? HAS NOTHING TO DO WIT WANT TO BE WHITE.
just pathetic all races and sad for THEM.
GEENA ROMANO BEST POST HERE THANK YOU FOR SAYING ALL OF THAT I CO-SIGN.
FULLY………………..GREAT GREAT POST. I WEAR NATURAL HAIR TOO AND HUMAN WIG, TO HAIR EXTENSIONS, BUT YET HDO IT MEAN I AM BLACK OR WHITE OR DO NOT KNOW, COME ON NOW.GET A LIFE. BOTTOM LINE AS GEENA ROMANO SAY TALENT ALSO IS IN THE LYRICS NOT ONE’S ASS, OR A GUY SEXY ABS NIKKI IS A FAILURE WITH A CAPITAL F, PERIOD. NO REAL WOMAN OR REAL MAN FOLLOW HER NOR LISTEN TO HER CRAP.. BE WHO YOU ARE.AND IF YOUR WANTING NICE HAIR DO, GET IT>? BUT THE WHOLE EXTRA BUTT, TO TITS THAT IS SAD, AND PATHETIC, NOT ‘ABOUT BEING WHITE ETC. OR”SEXY”JUST PATHETIC.LIPO TO TAKE FAT “OUT THE BODY TO BE MORE HEALTHY LOOKIN”FEEL BETTER SURE, BUT TO GET ALL THE FAKE TITS, TO ASS IS REALLY SAD, IMO? HAS NOTHING TO DO WIT WANT TO BE WHITE.
just pathetic all races and sad for THEM.
I’m not sure how to react to this article. Yes, there are times in the pop culture where changing ones physical appearance has been encourage to look more appeasing to the masses. One wrong I don’t support, but the comments about changing voices and non-physical attributes may be statements that are unfair. Niki may have always sounded that way. She could have been molested and kept the child like voice when speaking as mental protection. It happens.
Foxy Brown is a beautiful mix of cultures, black, filipino, whose to say if those aren’t really her eyes. Further more, there’s a whole island a descendants of slaves with blue eyes and long hair and dark skin. Many people in Belize are born that way and when I see them, I don’t think “they are trying to be white”.
I like 80′ pop, I speak proper, and I don’t eat a lot of fried foods. I stick to a vegetarian diet for the most part. This in no way makes me white, acting white, or trying to be white. I am who I am. Now if I lighten my skin, when for the longest blond hair possible, you and I may wonder.
But what if, what if its just achieving what the standard of beauty is? You know that middle ground where whites tan their skin and straighten their hair with flat irons, put in extensions, make it shin with hair product, put in breast and butt implants. Blacks lighten their skin, put in extensions and straighten their hair to stick straight lengths, make their waste smaller, or add in implants to make other parts bigger. Hmmm, sounds like both sides are trying to look the same to me, like a Latina. Just a thought I have always had.
Because when foxy brown came out her eyes were a lovely shade of regular brown nice eyes.good post though Mal.
And which type of Latina would that be? The Jennifer Lopezes? The Zoe Saldanas or the Celia Cruzes?
I’m not sure how to react to this article. Yes, there are times in the pop culture where changing ones physical appearance has been encourage to look more appeasing to the masses. One wrong I don’t support, but the comments about changing voices and non-physical attributes may be statements that are unfair. Niki may have always sounded that way. She could have been molested and kept the child like voice when speaking as mental protection. It happens.
Foxy Brown is a beautiful mix of cultures, black, filipino, whose to say if those aren’t really her eyes. Further more, there’s a whole island a descendants of slaves with blue eyes and long hair and dark skin. Many people in Belize are born that way and when I see them, I don’t think “they are trying to be white”.
I like 80′ pop, I speak proper, and I don’t eat a lot of fried foods. I stick to a vegetarian diet for the most part. This in no way makes me white, acting white, or trying to be white. I am who I am. Now if I lighten my skin, when for the longest blond hair possible, you and I may wonder.
But what if, what if its just achieving what the standard of beauty is? You know that middle ground where whites tan their skin and straighten their hair with flat irons, put in extensions, make it shin with hair product, put in breast and butt implants. Blacks lighten their skin, put in extensions and straighten their hair to stick straight lengths, make their waste smaller, or add in implants to make other parts bigger. Hmmm, sounds like both sides are trying to look the same to me, like a Latina. Just a thought I have always had.
Because when foxy brown came out her eyes were a lovely shade of regular brown nice eyes.good post though Mal.
You honestly believe that Black women are getting butt implants to look like Latinas? You are a)in serious denial or b) ignorant of the history of Latino people. You did not say whether or not you are Latino.White women and Brazilian women are the ones getting the butt implants, so don’t get it twisted.
The ONLY reason that SOME Latinas have naturally big butts is because of their Black African ancestry,that you are either unaware of or completely deny.Most Latinas who have natural big butts correctly attribute it to their Black African ancestry.You, however,have been lying to yourself for so long that you believe your lie. SOME Latinas have NO BUTT AT ALL,just like some Black women.Also, Latinas come in ALL colors. Some have kinky, afro-textured hair, like me. Get your information straight before you expose your ignorance and confirm your stupidity, as you’ve done with your post.PEACE OUT!!!
My first post from March 14,2012 at 10:01 am is a response to the post from Malkia Laini Dinwiddie’s post from September 25,2100 at 1:15 pm.This chick is CLUELESS!!! The next thing you know, she’ll be claiming that non-Black Latinas age better than Black Latinas and Black women in general.LOL!!!!!
LOOKING SMART..IS THE WAY….
i agree wit DE MOBIEGIE Gofaone MoeSi..
best is being your self,we all can surely enhance beauty,i feel eye make up/contact lense at times why not.but not always.and surely i do not at all believe in lightning/bleach skin come on,but some do.to even the tone out.i get it but why go LIGHTER?do it dark brown nice shade then.if not then your tryin to be white, i think . and i am black gorgeous mom and a italian/100 percent italian father NYC,represent.lol and NJ. but i do not at all. think fox is pretty foxy brown or anything or NIKKI,i think that nikki minaj BUTT is fake,i do not think it is all hers,but she DID IT,for her own SELF LOW lowwww self esteem,SMART IS IN,AND IS JUST SO BEATUIFUL TO SEE A SMART INDEPENDENT gorgeous inside and out lady not some 1 who THINK being fake from head to toe,etc. is hot it is not.
all wear hair styles hair cut,braid afro to weave extension all racial since beginning of time so this really DONT mean we being white,that is just stupid. same as when a guy buy a car,to what?enhance who he is or ho w he wanna b portray/loook in his ride, i do agree smart is sexy very for a guy too! and should be by now less FOCUS on looks,life too short.
and i feel also the guy from XL SHA MONEY SOUND LIKE A DAMN FOOL.
I WILL TELL HIM IF I EVA SEE HIM AROUND MY CITY.WHAT A DUMMY.
He, is a idiot. saying u r goin 2 hav 2 hav butt big SLoppy nasty sure i do not THINK SO,that is a PIG butt i call it not sexy at all to me,and many,who DO looK YES I DO LOOK BETTER THAN NIKKI MINAJ,and id o nto have to have a oversize bought or airbrush photoshop butt to prove it. TALENT is not in the ass but in the LYRICS,and sadly NIKKI minaj fail there 100 percent.
real woman are smart……and beautiful INSIDE more than out.that is not NIKKI MINAJ and i can’t wait till her time is over cause she surely is not a rapper.
but a big joke.
and not pretty at all. or gorgeous.
LOOKING SMART..IS THE WAY….
i agree wit DE MOBIEGIE Gofaone MoeSi..
best is being your self,we all can surely enhance beauty,i feel eye make up/contact lense at times why not.but not always.and surely i do not at all believe in lightning/bleach skin come on,but some do.to even the tone out.i get it but why go LIGHTER?do it dark brown nice shade then.if not then your tryin to be white, i think . and i am black gorgeous mom and a italian/100 percent italian father NYC,represent.lol and NJ. but i do not at all. think fox is pretty foxy brown or anything or NIKKI,i think that nikki minaj BUTT is fake,i do not think it is all hers,but she DID IT,for her own SELF LOW lowwww self esteem,SMART IS IN,AND IS JUST SO BEATUIFUL TO SEE A SMART INDEPENDENT gorgeous inside and out lady not some 1 who THINK being fake from head to toe,etc. is hot it is not.
all wear hair styles hair cut,braid afro to weave extension all racial since beginning of time so this really DONT mean we being white,that is just stupid. same as when a guy buy a car,to what?enhance who he is or ho w he wanna b portray/loook in his ride, i do agree smart is sexy very for a guy too! and should be by now less FOCUS on looks,life too short.
and i feel also the guy from XL SHA MONEY SOUND LIKE A DAMN FOOL.
I WILL TELL HIM IF I EVA SEE HIM AROUND MY CITY.WHAT A DUMMY.
He, is a idiot. saying u r goin 2 hav 2 hav butt big SLoppy nasty sure i do not THINK SO,that is a PIG butt i call it not sexy at all to me,and many,who DO looK YES I DO LOOK BETTER THAN NIKKI MINAJ,and id o nto have to have a oversize bought or airbrush photoshop butt to prove it. TALENT is not in the ass but in the LYRICS,and sadly NIKKI minaj fail there 100 percent.
real woman are smart……and beautiful INSIDE more than out.that is not NIKKI MINAJ and i can’t wait till her time is over cause she surely is not a rapper.
but a big joke.
and not pretty at all. or gorgeous.
Tmrw is EMANCIPATION DAY here in JAMAICA which is for our black ppl bt abt amma say 45percent of the population bleach their skin nd thats bad…. We mostly have purple dragon walking the streets… The great BOB MARLEY sing “EMANCIPATE UR SELF FR MENTAL SLAVERY” bt we as black ppl try so hard to fit/adopt white ppl principle nd 4get where we coming from(slavery nd al that)
I agree with Keno, but define what is looking black I think I look black and love it.
Not with the men, i love a natural hair style…i think women are chasing the anglo look, men like whatever…just my opinion
Go to any ghetto or jail….and then ask about yourself about pride….i am just sayin…
My Black Is Beautiful…
Only to the superfical black folks.
Black is beautiful
Black is never going away. Even every black are 100 times better than the white people round where i am.
Don’t display unity as we shOuld…..*
@Prima Donna yes bt nt only kingston all ova JA dung 2 all di bby a bleach (nt literally) bt its a mental problem i guess bcuz brown ppl dweet 2
Without black how could you read my response? What about the many contributions and accomplishments…..Black is amazing and goes with anything. That’s why we adapt so well. I love my people even though we display unity as we should…..black is amazing.
@Shevi Love Purple ~ That’s A Major Problem In Kingston, JA ~ SAD