Unwilling to pretend that colorism doesn’t play a part in the way black women are treated in their day to day lives?
Mathew Knowles.
Rising to fame as the brains behind Destiny’s Child, Knowles’ once heavily guarded private life now finds itself up for public discussion now that the revered industry power player has revealed how internalised racism caused him to pursue Beyonce‘s mother.
That’s not all.
For, he also revealed why it’s time for all of us to listen to African-American artists who believe that their inability (or unwillingness) to lighten their hair and skin has blocked their path to levels reached by Nicki Minaj, Rihanna and Beyonce herself.
Read below…
When I was growing up, my mother used to say, ‘Don’t ever bring no nappy-head black girl to my house.'”
In the deep South in the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s, the shade of your blackness was considered important. So I, unfortunately grew up hearing that message.
He then went onto reveal that he faced the same self-hatred when he joined the historically black campus Fisk.
They had a colourism issue there.I was in the last class where they’d take out a brown paper bag and if you were darker than the bag, you could not get into Fisk. One day I had a breakthrough. I used to date mainly white women or very high-complexion black women that looked white… I had been conditioned from childhood. Within eroticised rage, there was actual rage in me as a black man, and I saw the white female as a way, subconsciously, of getting even or getting back.
I actually thought when I met Tina that she was white. Later, I found out that she wasn’t, and she was actually very much in-tune with her blackness.
He added…
When it comes to black females, who are the people who get their music played on pop radio? Mariah Carey, Rihanna, the female rapper Nicki Minaj, my kids, and what do they all have in common?
Fascinating.
What do you make of Mathew’s accurate estimation?
Very enlightening I never thought about colourism like this before.
I was actually thinking something of this sort about Bianca and CardiB and mainstream.
Let’s face it most artist lightened their skin and go Hollywood to remain mainstream otherwise no fat chance. Unlike the 80s and 90s, times are hard for especially dark/pure black female to become mainstream in music.
Poor Mathew…..??
I’m not the best person to speak on these matters but I don’t understand why they hate on dark-skinned women, Lupita is gorgeous to me, Naomi is WOW, Why would a parent say that to their children, as if you fall in love with colors instead of humans, I personally think that a dark skinned woman like Naomi is more beautiful and enigmatic than a biracial like Tinashe, but that’s just me, btw, where on earth would Tina pass as white, not even in Haiti, I love y’all ❤️?
You’re right…you aren’t the best person to speak on these matters.
S****** get lost racist trash.
Why go in on S****** when he said something so sweet and encouraging? Black ppl save the bitterness for the racists for God’s sake.
Oh Matthew…..Wendy will be all over this in Hot topics ?
Even with Whitney,if you notice on the “Bodyguard” her make up made her look lighter
Yes Matthew! I keep asking how blacks expect other races to respect them when they do their own so terrible. I mean we’re not even talking about another race, we’re talking about simply just being a different shade.
I used to hear about black colleges back in the day doing the paper bag test, I didn’t know it was true. Wow! Yet a radio host, who bleached his skin and claims it was skin cleaning has the nerve to tell a dark afro Latina that she’s just imagining her issues. This was a good read.
But he really didn’t share anything enlightening. We already knew older generations were screwed in the head on many issues. He really just shared his (past… or still present) ignorance and revealed a horrible colorism issue that HE’s HAD. Folks with ideologies and perspectives like him were responsible for colorism! It didn’t appear out of thin air. And I’m sick of older generations making excuses for their horrible choices and warped thinking, while trying to assign blame for the trickle-down effects of their traditions on younger generations. Solange is probably somewhere shaking her head. Notice how he named Mariah, Rihanna, and Nicki but conveniently omitted his own light-skinned daughter from the conversation. I didn’t really take this as him admitting anything or imparting any wisdom. He’s black as hell and didn’t address the patriarchy and misogyny of this issue on his part. If he, as a dark-skinned man, was subjected to the same dating requirements that he had for women, he’d be a different person with a different perspective on the issue. Admitting that he only used to date white women and thought Tina Knowles was white is ridiculous and he should be ashamed.
Hey definitely stated “my kids” he only has 3. And one isn’t a singer yet…
A lot of truth in his words. However I do feel that colorism is shifting on the music industry. It’s cool again to be black and authentic like it was when Lauren Hill and Erikah Badu was in their prime.
I think what you are seeing is the industry changing to say “it’s cool to be a light skin or a white person who makes black sounding music”, “if you rap sure be as dark as you want, but if you want to sing. Lighten it up sir/ma’am”
No I said what I meant. There are plenty dark/brown skin popping singers. The hottest new female singer is a melonin sister. It’s more about the talent than it is about having the “it look” as it was during Beyonce and Ashanti hay days. Ashanti “just being light skin” and zero talent could never make it in today’s Music climate. The industry is indeed shifting. You don’t get a pass for just being light skin anymore.
HIs mother was a very smart lady. We love you nana Knowles now we can see where Queen Beyonce gets her brains from. I wish there was more people like nana Knowles around the world would be a better place.
Yes, Bey is extremely smart and AWARE — because of her upbringing. It starts at home.
You clearly didn’t understand what “Jasmine” aka Latina chick was saying if you agree with this ridiculous and IGNORANT comment…smdh
Your just as ignorant for not understanding the post you respond to.
@Meme…I understand everything stated in this post and I responded appropriately to a misguided comment. And it’s “you’re” not “your.” At least come with the correct grammar if you’re going I try to check me…
@hmm my response was to @Stephy not you. I was saying that Stephy misunderstood what jasmine was saying. In other words I was agreeing with you.
@Meme…sorry my bad.
I totally misread and misunderstood the post. I agree, I’m dumb as hell for not seeing it. mess.
STFU “Latina chick” aka S******….who do you think you’re fooling? I already told you your comments don’t count and that we don’t want IGNORANT racist trash like you on this website. Kick rocks hater…
But you still find the time to reply looooool, next time address me as Miss Jasmine.
Yup…I will ALWAYS make the time to call out uneducated, low-class, IGNORANT, racist trash like you…doesnt mean I’m dignifying your absurd comments. Get some help b I t c h….you got issues.
@Hmm
You clearly have an agenda, you say the same thing in every post that troll person comment, we all know that’s not Jasmine, and that Latina chick is suspicious, so are you, I ask TGJ for the 172882 time to expose these trolls, I’ve been commenting on this site for years and has never resorted to this kind of things, do better mate.
I’ll stop commenting when you disgusting racists disappear. That is my agenda.
S****** STOP impersonating me you racist t***** F A G G O T. B|tch I’m coming for you. You think I am going to let you get away with impersonating me trash? NO. Be advised that you better get lost or you will pay the consequences b|tch!
BUT
All this applies only to the music industy (artists) only
Dark skin women excel in academia
Acting basicaly everything merit based to somw degreee modelling as well
So the music industry female artist is the last frontier and with SZA’s recent success this may be the beginning of a turning tide
Being pretty wont get you a doctorate or an oscar best believe
Exactly!
SZA is hardly dark skin, let’s be real.
Sza isn’t the darkest but she’s full of melanin. She’s def far from light skin. I would consider her dark before light.
Yeah its so true
Think of all the big awards u can win nobel peace prize etc
Its all merit based music artists much like p*** stars are their to be fetishise upon and sell s** men want women who uplift their ego and turn them on… females slyly wanna fancy the artists too or be them other than adele how many fat successful white female artists are poppin’ mainstream singing & p*** very similar so papa knowles definitely was deluded coz when its time to sit an exam to get into law school or become a doctor being light skin wont help u & relying on your looks will only hold u back in life
White supremacy system. One of the major effects from slavery that has lingered on through generations. I, myself, am light skin. And I come from a family full of high yellow black folks. I was raised with the same mentality. I legit, thought you were ugly if you were dark skin. But, weirdly, I thought white pale pasty ppl were ugly as well. I only thought light skinned/mixed race folks were pretty/attractive. Thank GOD, I grew up and changed that ugly thinking. Now, all I date is dark/brown skin guys. I don’t even find light skin dudes attractive tbh. But that’s not to hate on them (us). We’re all beautiful in our own ways 🙂
I’m with you girl. I like them dark, I might see a light skin guy here and here that gets my attention but it not my preference. Sadly I don’t really think the whole colorism thing apply to black males as it do dark females. Notice how most male entertainers and singers are dark skin. Men don’t have the same struggles when it comes to image in show biz.
Genuine question here to both of you @Stephy and @ Meme
Does that means that you guys are not attracted to white guys or you guys are only speaking about light skin black guys?
@s****** I am attracted to white guys oddly. I only date black or white men. I’ve never really bothered with anything in between (mix race, Latinos etc)
Ok, thanks for answering ?
White men are cool… I guess.
S****** STOP impersonating me you racist t***** F A G G O T. B|tch I’m coming for you. You think I am going to let you get away with impersonating me trash? NO. Be advised that you better get lost or you will pay the consequences
So Beyoncé bleaches her skin to rebel against Daddy Matthew?
So, you’re stupid because….???
How did we go backwards though?
Dionne Warwick was the first black crossover artist
Diana Ross is darker skin and was the biggest crossover star of the 60’s and 70’s
Whitney was a brown girl
Janet had extra tanned brown skin for the Janet era and it was her biggest selling area
Lauryn Hill one of the few women to ever win album of the year
Lil Kim/Foxy were the biggest female rappers
The lead of most r and b groups was dark skin, SWV, XSCAPE, 702
But now u have to be light bright to even get noticed.
I said this exact same thing to a friend. And don’t forget Mary J Blige, brandy and Monica. All the biggest names where dark sisters. It wasn’t until the early 2000, during the Beyonce, Ashanti introduction that the image started to shift. I think when labels saw the success of Beyonce, LJo and Ashanti…they wanted to recreate their success with replicas, and started signing only light skin girls. And that became the “look”.
Monica??
I don’t think they only signed lightskinned singers but they were definitely not left out. I think they started looking for Beyoncé clones and found them in Rih and Nicki cant leave out Alicia Keys. Cardi would be the Nicki Minaj clone they look for and Tinashe was suppose to be another Bey..that hasn’t happened! Ciara is poppin on the gram along with Russel lol Kelly Rowland is doing ok regardless Thank God for her and SZA at the moment. Justine Skye is pretty but I’m not sure she has the x factor just yet.
You better say it. When I read his comments, I immediate thought of Diana Ross, Donna Summer, and Whitney Houston, who were topping the charts in the 60s-90s.
He’s darker than a brown paper bag. So, how’d he get into Fisk if they were checking for that?
But overall, colorism was a huge issue in the black community during his formative years, so I am glad he is sharing his experiences.
@Casual: my question exactly and i am a graduate of Fisk. But people say that about Fisk all the time…i was in an airport and an older TSA agent frowned and “gave me a speech” on how i would not have gotten in because i was brown. I just shook my head…
Because now artists very close to p o r n industry looking for a s e x kitten type look beyonce n rihanna r to blame they were first black female artists to really sell s e x the same way a white woman could and make so much money for their labels if u can sell s e x with your look then u will pop easier talent is harder to sell in an instagram image obsessed world of today
I think it all started with the success of Beyoncé. They wanted to find more Beyoncé,s, This colorism thing i didn’t even think about until social media and twitter kept and keeps on bringing it up. I really think no one will reach the success of Bey Rih and Nicki..Cardi B might oops forgot about her even though shes a rapper. The bigger and younger your fan base the more likely you are to succeed They are the ones who stream and view music. They kinda hogging up the fans because no one else light or darl skinned is getting that kind of love and support as if they are the only black women in todays music. And its white artist who have the chance at obtaining those hudge fan bases So i think that’s why white singers who sing RnB are more of a threat then any of my lightskinned sisters coming up. Black singers aren’t even winning singing competiton shows anymore .. Scary
He told the whole truth!
He isn’t the right person to speak on this issue. He mad the other girls of DC go tanning to appear darker than his daughter, and Beyonce bleached/bleaches her along, bleached her hair blonde and had her wider nose narrowed. GTFOH
Did you not read th article? He clearly shared about his mother planting “race, dark skinned women, nappy hair as bad when he was a child”. He also talked about his college years and all the racism/colorism he experienced. Not saying what he did was right but, he is speaking his truth and the entire black community is affected by generations of wide spread hatred. Matthew was no exception!
I can name a dozen light skin women that didn’t make it or a darker peer were more successful. Brandy was more successful than Monica, Mary J Blige is a legend while Faith Even is a flop. And before Mariah Carey, it was almost rare to find a successful lightskin female in black music.
Mark if Brandy was more successful then Monica, why was Monica placed at #22 on Billboards top 50 R&B artist of the last 25 yrs, while Brandy came in at #45?
I think it’s because Monica has had a more consistent career overall. Brandy certainly seemed bigger in the 90s, but Monica had more success in the 2010s.
I thought this dialogue was going to follow with an apology to the 5 members of Destiny’s Child that he sacrificed for his daughter to be the high light, golden haired woman we know today.
We know this exsists Matthew, the difference is you were in the position to do something about it where most of us are not.
lmao hes right, except mariah doesn’t get played on the radio unless its christmas lmfaoo.
Mariah actually still gets major airplay globally. On the older channels tho
She gets the same airplay a Beyonce gets at this point hun. Her classics get played around the world. Does any beyonce song from the last 10 years really get any airplay worldwide in 2018? 🙂
I’ve gotten the sense in recent years that the Knowles family is starting to feel guilty about how they treated the other girls in the group and that Bey completely understands how her skin and her decision to wear blonde wigs played into colorism. Having kids with beautiful African features has changed her for the better. Sadly I think she doesn’t like herself with her natural hair color which is why we never see it. It’s dark brown.
Yes, it’s wonderful how in time she is with her blackness but the endless display of blonde wigs and weaves, some of them quite rubbish and how her nose is slimmer and how she even seemed to have plumped up her lips once as if that was necessary is a tad disconcerting. Personally I love how the light sister is more black power than any of the other female singers out there and I blame her record company bosses. They are hiding behind our huge stars forcing them to bleach, it’s a damn conspiracy and one that has to be brought to light. Why do our biggest black champions get lighter and why do our rap gods say the n-word in every sentence knowing that it encourages other races to say the same word with a semi credible excuse?
I’m light skin, and I prefer dark to brown skin guys only, I just don’t find light skin men attractive at all, and the same with white men. It is was it is I guess.
I’m dark brown but I’ve always been attracted to very light skinned men. Even white men before a dark black men. To each their own (eels scare the crap out of me!)
Did Whitney Houston have to lighten anything? Because none of these girls including those 3 he mentioned have reached her success. Maybe it´s just that their talent is not universally appealing to all ages, countries and races like some true greats´ were? 🙂
Ikr We had Whitney and Donna Summer too..i think people are just forgetting history and need to check themselves if they only think people who buy records do so based on whether or not a black girl is light skinned or not smh
THIS IS THE TRUTH!!!!!!!!!!!! So glad he spoke up on this. Wow. The smartest thing he has ever said.
So glad to hear him talking about this. Just wondering if he cheated on a fox like Tina, even going so far as to have a secret family with a dark skinned girl to get back at mommy. Secret children? That’s spite right there, what did Tina do wrong?
I told y’all this in one of my comments. The darker you are, the less you’re successful in the music industry.
I Don’t Agree With That Racist Remark By Mathew Knowels. Diana Ross Nor Whitney Houston Where “Light Skinned” Diana Went To England To Gain Her Fame. Clive Davis’ Reputation “MADE” Whitney Who She Was. These Were 2 Fierce Divas & It Had Nothing To Do With The Their Skin Color.