Recently India Arie popped off on her Twitter, she mentioned that the video “Telephone” by Lady Ga Ga and Beyonce was socially irresponsible and the bloggers went off. “Who is she?” “Her and her divattitude.” “It’s JUST a video.” Yadda, Yadda, Yadda. FYI It’s NOT JUST A VIDEO at least not for the black community.
I must admit I haven’t seen the video in its entirety (it’s one long ass video), but what I did see didn’t impress me. Sure the fashion was hot or should I say haute, but the lyrics were blah, beat eh, performance raunchy, presentation glitzy and that’s it; for me at least. I’m a grown woman who KNOWS that it is JUST entertainment. Here is the issue, some people take TV, music, movies, and videos as entertainment because we know that other images exist, we have opportunities, and someone loved us enough to teach us our history or to value ourselves. Some people, mainly young people with no direction, no structure and no real role models take this “art” as life and how it’s supposed to be. Too many young people see these media images as role models and watching TV is a way for these disenfranchised youth to participate in a society that tells them who they are.
We KNOW what the media thinks of black women; vindictive baby mommas, hyper sexualized, herpes ridden, uneducated, fat, gold-diggers, never gonna get married, attitudinal, mean spirited, undesirable, big assed (cause you gotta have a BIG ass), psychological nut cases (thank you Precious). So if the only people I resemble even remotely in the media are for example, Nicki Minaj or Amber Rose who present themselves as gold-diggers, hyper sexual, uneducated women, then what does that mean? I think It’s especially hard for the rarely seen dark skinned girl who, if she is seen it’s for fleeting moment and it’s more than likely an ass shot.
We rarely see ourselves portrayed as something to be valued like a wife or the girlfriend he walks the red carpet with, and that goes for black women light and dark. When some celebs get that mainstream money they join the “No Black Girls Allowed Club.” Yes, John Legend, Michael Jordan, sadly Mario, Reggie Bush, the list goes on I talking about you, but back to my point (I do have one).
As a celebrity you KNOW the weight and responsibilities as a celebrity. Excuse me you know the POWER of celebrity and it is your decision to use that power for good or evil and the public has a right to criticize you. BEYONCE, if you take your power and gladly take on the role of ‘role model’ (especially to the first lady’s babies) then you DO have the responsibility of being socially responsible.
To another point celebs of color or other underrepresented groups (i.e. gay, lesbian, disabled) have a greater burden to be socially responsible and that’s just the way it is. It’s that way for one reason mainly, because that person/representative is one of very few of that kind seen by the masses. That person essentially, well superficially represents the entire group. Am I making this up? It’s not the way it’s supposed to be, it’s just the way it is.
Beyonce little girls, black girls included, look up to you. It would be great if you gave them something good to admire we already have too much of the bad.
In closing, I’ll take the words from India Arie:
“Don't be offended this is all my opinion
ain't nothing that I'm sayin law
This is a true confession of a life learned lesson I was sent here to share with y'all
So get in where you fit in go on and shine
Clear your mind, now's the time
Put your salt on the shelf
Go on and love yourself”
-010604.jpg)
