Colorism, best defined as “prejudice against people of a certain skin tone, especially from members of the same race,” remains a hot topic among many races – especially people of African or Latin descent. As the fire surrounding debates on the issue rage on, music mogul/manager Matthew Knowles adds his two cents to the conversation with his latest book, ‘Racism: From the Eyes of a Child.’
Dropping some jaw-dropping quotable moments throughout the text, Knowles took to our friends at Ebony recently in promotion of the set in an interview that not only highlighted moments of colorism throughout his life, but specifically weighed in on the issue in his own family – namely with ex-wife Tina Knowles and daughter Beyonce.
Admitting that he at one time he only dated White women or women who looked White, he was also sure to emphasize his idea that pop icon daughter’s light skin directly contributes to her fame:
E: I’m sure you noticed similar patterns of colorism once you joined the music industry.
MK: Oh, of course! I challenge my students at Texas Southern to think about this. 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 [Beyonce and Solange], and what do they all have in common?
E: They’re all lighter skinned.
MK: Do you think that’s an accident?
E: Of course not!
Read more by clicking here.
(Photo credit: Chris Polk/FilmMagic)
Your thoughts?
AT LEAST HE WAS HONEST ABOUT THIS
Well there’s some truth he should know he’s worked in the industry
Her fans will cry but facts are facts. He created her (as a person and artist) and was more than happy to exploit this fact by putting her in blonde wigs so she would stand out next to the other girls. I’m sure she’s aware of it too.
She well aware! ALL 2016, she was pro black, had braids and kinky weave, tried to push the “strong BLACK woman” image, tried to be a political artist for black people, cried “Freedom” at the BET awards and “Formation” at the SB, her first single was supposed to make a pro black statement. BUT NOT ONCE DID SHE EVER LOOK BLACK! SHE LOOKED LIKE A WHITE WOMAN. She never had black hair, rarely let her real hair down and even in trying to push that pro black image she still made sure she was commercial enough to crossover to pop and major media. She understands the business and knows her advantages.
it is true that lighter tone black girls are more successful in entertainment than darker toned black girls because white people and mixed people(Latina/Creoles/Muslims/Asians) can identify with their physical complex more than a darker toned women, making the image of lighter skin in the media more valued because the wealthy people are investing in their images. Darker toned people not just in America but in the world are more suppressed and it’s designed that way. That’s why most successful black men marry white or mixed women. Beyonce going blonde made her stand out more because a lot of wealthy women have blonde hair. The cost of her being a celebrity puts the weight on her because she’s Queen but everyone use lighter imaging to appeal to a wealthier audience. Mary J Blige Tina Turner Jlo Whitney Houston Mariah Carey Janet Jackson Chris Brown Ciara Rihanna Keyshia Cole even white stars with darker hair bleach their locs. Look at the most expensive art in the world, if it has any depictions of dark individuals they’re most likely slaves. They even white wash the Ancient Aboriginal civilizations and achievements. It’s deeper than beyonce wearing blonde hair she is just a symbol that makes people unconsciously aware of the powers in the world that be. Beyonce is bold and unapologetically black with her blonde kinky Afros, nappy root lace fronts, twist outs, braids to her straight hair styles. Black skin and black hair is the most diverse and versatile exotic beauty on this planet there is not just one black. If that was common sense and we could see economics and spending, dark people images would increase in value in the realm of culture and wealth in the media.
Just shutcho REAL STUPID ass up! STFU! OMG U SOUND SO FREAKIN STUPID!! ????
@Tori
Farrah was lighter than Beyonce and she said along with Latavia they used to make them tan so Beyonce would be the lightest
I wonder how Kelly Rowland was treated in that household.
and that is why I can’t help but give him the side eye. he gon blast the entire world before owning up to the fact he played a dark-skinned girl under his guardianship when he had the chance.
He slept with a dark-skinned woman and broke up his family with a dark-skinned woman
But honestly this is true so let’s not play dumb ppl! This doesn’t take away from Bey’s talent cause at the end of the day… Tinashe didn’t blow neither did Cassie, Christina Milian and a whole bunch of other almost coulda,shoulda,wouldas ??♂️
They didn’t blow up but they were given many many chances to do so.
Thank you Jay well said
“the female rapper” hahaha
Beyonce, Rihanna and Nicki would be nothing if it wasn’t for their light skin.
So who’s the most successful dark skin female performer? Janet Jackson?
Oh shut up she’s not even that dark think more Patti or Diana before the recent bleaching, but let’s face it Matthews right all the girls are bleaching Nicki, Rihanna had moments(she’s carribean)Nicki has no melanin left(she’s also carribean)?and as far as B I just wish she would dump the blond hair already, it’s been overdue..but Matthew efed her head up smh
Janet Jackson and Diana are considered dark skin? Where? Up north?
I’m not even mad
We been knew sis but we still love the b****.
Colorism is rampant in the movie business though
He’s after the money. When it was his cash cow he ain’t give a damn.
True.
What check does he get from this interview? “When it was his cash cow” he made sure both of them had a bag. He understood that people would her the most because of her lighter tone due to her mothers family background and he capitalized on it, ain’t nothing wrong with that.
Did he capitalize on it or did he believe these ideas himself? Maybe letoya or latavia knows…
Exactly. It’s clear that he has a financial motive.
Exactly and she’s a vocal BEAST!! She sounds good her color might have contributed but her voice is amazing with KeKe Wyatt as well but I’m not sure why.
Yall do realise if any female artist had to be dark skin they all wouldve flopped
Lauryn Hill
This comment is a lie
Beyoncé is a thief copycat. . That is what contributes to her success
Mariah looks white. She is also latino. What she gotta do with black folks that look visibly black! Mariah has benefited from being visibly mixed with european. Beyonce nor Rihanna has been able to grace Latino, Vibe, and Cosmo.. all three different demographics of races that MC benefits from. The others have had to try to look like Mariah and othet white women to win.. not the same as having yellow black skim vs mixed white skim.. he need to stop including mariah not speak for her!
You are very wrong
All brown skin ladies are legends!
Not light skinned! Thats why this era is messed up!!
Lauryn Hill
Patti
Tina
Diana
Aretha
Gladys
Missy Elliot
Janet Jackon
Whitney Houston
Its ok to have variety but the pushing out of deepered skin ladies have hurt our music!!!
Beyoncé has never looked that light skinned to me, at least not as people make her out to be, not until recent years at least, her skin tone is in between, there are definitely more racially ambiguous girls out there, they just don’t have a good team behind them or they simply lack Beyonce’s charisma.
Lol, check out her Instagram page. She looks like a white women. The last time she looked black was on the cover of Crazy In Love CD, after Baby boy came out, she looked Latina until she elevated it when 4 came out. She’s been looking proper white since the album ‘4’
I’m always joking about Beyoncé but no, she doesn’t look like a white woman, at least not to a white person.
The “4” photo shoot is where the media tore her ass to pieces because she looked entirely like a white woman.
Even in my country Philippines, almost half of our celebrities are mixed race or Western-looking. Its even encouraged by the cosmetic industry that skin bleaching makes you beautiful.
In my country too.
Well he worked in the industry so he knows what’s he talking bout and people always had that debate she fair better due to her light skin and let’s not forget that ad where they literally had her look Caucasian smh ??♂️
This two-timing demon is doing his utmost to stay relevant. Last time I checked, there were successful chocolate- and caramel-skinned sisters aplenty in the entertainment industry. I just hope our darker-skinned beauties aren’t discouraged by lies like these and do their own research to reveal the truth.
Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia?
Well we know Fantasia will never be successful or kelly
Fantasia is a good example. She has the talent and the “it” factor. But of course she won’t be as popular as a Beyonce or Rihanna.
? TRUE!!!! End of next….(file acrylic nails) ??
I disagree Bey is light skin she didn’t not sit on on her light skin she worker harder than than other as a fan I love her for her talente
Toni Braxton was mega successful in the 90’s-early 2000’s
Stating the obvious. It’s nothing but THE TRUTH. Colorism sis very much a real thing. The lighter you are – the more prioritized, privileged, sought after and catered to you will be in the industry. #SAD
Nobody is on top forever her legacy is trash all her children (eg tinashe ciara etc are trash) bring back talented black women thank u SZA for creating a new lane