Selling “Black”?

karen says:

So what are we gonna do? tell them they can’t “act” black? We don’t know their backgrounds to say that they’re selling black. Maybe they grew up around blacks or maybe they listned to black music and that has influenced their lives. i remember fergie wehn she started out in a group called Orchid or something, and she’s always had that soulful flavor. To be quite honest, Black Eyed Peas aren’t all that “black” their music is essentric and they sample all kinds of different genres of music and I think Fergie fits in well with. I agree with Mona (except for the ghetto part) what do we say about ppl like Lenny Kravits and other black entertainers who appeal to the white audience? Are they selling white? We’ve always emulated them, its nice to know that they want to be like us in some ways as well. Afterall its always been cool to be “black”.

I say let people be themselves and express themselves.

Bianca says:

Wonderful article, and yet so true. The image that Fergie represents could have never happened to a Black female artist without being called “ghetto”. I do not believe this article was intended as offensive, just observation…..critical thinking if you will. The writer of this article clearly states that Fergie’s background is unbeknownst to them…so re-read the article before attacking.

Taj says:

Interesting analysis. I hadn’t noticed this (consciously) with Fergie. But, I recently peeped game in Beyonce’s new Video Phone. She uses slang like “shawty what`cho name is” and wears urban clothing (headscarf, gold, long nails, toothpick). As Kid Fury said, “I think Sasha Fierce is on food stamps” (LOL!) Its an interesting duality. The pop stars want to appeal to the urban audience, but don’t want to be labeled urban (i.e. they want to make crossover music). I think they want to keep one foot in, one foot out. Beyonce’s whole image relies on her being able to tap into the urban radio stations, without her being tainted by that urban image. Interesting isn’t it? Nice article.

Ranada says:

I get the point, but where is the line when it comes to analyzing and overanalyzing? I’m not sure that the fact that Fergie has various styles strengthens the observation. Since when is it not okay for people to dress differently for different occasions? And why is it that when she’s dressed as a “lady,” it’s considered returning to her white roots (from reading comments)? I dress one way for work, another way on the weekend during the day, another way on weekend nights, and a totally different way when I need to get glam. I don’t think any of these ways makes me any less black, so why does it define Fergie’s whiteness or otherwise? Women, in general, are a versatile species.

Now, don’t get me wrong–I can get with the analysis of her choice of jewelry at times or even specific lyrics that were borderline offensive to me. But I have a slight problem with viewing her ability and choice to change up her style based on the venue a valid point. (When is it ok for anyone, beyond color and creed, to step on the red carpet under par??)

Cookilicious says:

This issue raised in this article points to a more complex issue. This article indirectly discusses the issue of race and race perceptions in terms of standards of beauty for African-Americans and standards of beauty from a European (white) perspective, yet questions the validity of the blackness of black women entertainers. For example, Beyonce has for several years been the epitamy of African-American women’s ideal view of beauty (wanna be white syndrome). This is one of the many systemic issues of Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome. Since her inception into the entertainment world, the more whiter the crossover the more African-American’s questioned her ethnicity. One only has to look at the issues that the DC group was experiencing and how the management sought to keep the issues quiet. The history behind the groups issues in terms of a homogenous relationship to the other members of the group is a prime example. Her family has always placed her in the forefront of the group making it seem that she is the reason behind their success, because she is almost seemingly white and portortedly the most talented of the group members. Fergie represents the pathology of white priviledge in that she is the epitimy of the view of what it means to be black, and other white women like her (Josh Stone, Tina Turner, Robin Thicke, etc.) These entertainers are always been accepted, because of the invisible vail of white priviledge. This has long been a debate regarding black/white entertainer crossing to each others genre.

Media has long played up on the issue of white priviledge in entertainment. African-Americans embrace without question the white artist interpretation of soulful sounds with the exception of white rappers, including Emenem, which ironically if it were not for Dr. Dre cosigning him Emenem would have not gotten excepted into the Hip Hop culture, the same for Asher Roth.

It is not a question of who is selling black, but of who is more blacker. However, I say that to ask is Beyonce black plays into the psychological mind games of the whites. In fact many of the more dark skinned singers are not getting as much play than the more lighter black singers, if one really sat back and watched. Especially, when you look at the former members of DC3. So, when we look at the context of whether or not Beyonce is black or is Fergie black. Well, the answer is obvious, Beyonce is an African-American woman and Fergie is a European-American woman. Both are talented. Beyonce is playing the one-way assimilation into white culture, because that is what African-American’s do to get accepted into white mainstream entertainment. On the otherhand Fergie, really does not have to assimilate into African-American culture, she is carried by the invisible vail of white priviledge. She doesn’t necessarily have to crossover to be accepted into the African-American community for blacks to like her. She is already viewed by black women as the accepted standard of beauty. She takes the black culture and style of what black women would be called ‘ghetto’ and she made it beautiful and it is accepted as the norm. If Beyonce dressed like Fergie, she would be called ‘ghetto’ and would more than likely not found the success she had looking ‘ghetto’ as she does now looking like a lady, isn’t that ironic. Therefore Beyonce will always be questioned of her blackness, because of it. Once Beyonce crossed over, we subconsciously feel that she has abandoned her “roots”, because of her one-way assimilation into white mainstream entertainment. However, we will never question Fergie, because of her invisible vail of white priviledge and our one-way assimilation into white mainstream culture.

Smith says:

If only Martin Luther was still alive to denounce you all as the low life racist hypocrites you all are. If you don’t want “ghetto” to be a descriptor for your media then stop rapping about 40′s, blunts and bitches.