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Discussion: If Beyonce was dark skinned...
Member Since: 3/30/2011
Posts: 9,692
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If Beyonce was dark skinned...
This thread is a lot more than just the title...
My final paper from Pop Culture in the New Millennium is supposed to deal with hot button issues in pop culture today. It's a June class so I have a few weeks to write about it and for the most part I have a general idea of where to go with it and I see first hand some crazy stuff happen or not happen at Music world gospel because of skin color. This has always been in issue in the black community, since the slave days...
So basically I'm just wondering if you guys think Beyonce would have been afforded the same opportunities leaving Destiny's Child is she were as dark as Kelly Rowland?
How do you feel about instances where her skin was obviously lightened on Magazine covers.
Do you think rap music perpetuates esteem issues for dark skinned girls.
What if Britney Spears or Lady Gaga were black?
Do you think the music industry gives more attention to artist like Rita Ora or Rihanna when there are other dark skinned artist that are ignored by labels and magazines?
Do men face the same.issues?
Questions like that. I'm open to any comments.
I'll be quoting you guys directly and there is no shade intended. Beyonce is just a great example and I personally think that if she held the same work ethic there would be little difference.
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Member Since: 11/17/2011
Posts: 52,363
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interesting question
Let me think about this
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Member Since: 6/1/2010
Posts: 65,177
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I'd have been harder for her to break through as well as she did, despite her massive talent. Most black pop stars are light-skinned or not really dark.
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Member Since: 3/30/2011
Posts: 9,692
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Quote:
Originally posted by Cap10Planet
I'd have been harder for her to break through as well as she did, despite her massive talent. Most black pop stars are light-skinned or not really dark.
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Where is the line drawn between light and dark skinned? Is like Amerie considered dark? LeToya Luckett or Tierra Mari/
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Member Since: 2/16/2012
Posts: 10,807
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Quote:
Originally posted by Cap10Planet
I'd have been harder for her to break through as well as she did, despite her massive talent. Most black pop stars are light-skinned or not really dark.
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+1. She did great, but its hard to say. She'd have more obstacles, it depends on radio, would they hammer her as they did in the day? Also I don't think she'd have legions of white girls clamouring to be like her lol but her black fanbase would be as ardent as ever.
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Member Since: 10/30/2011
Posts: 219
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I think we're reading into that too far.
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Member Since: 12/1/2011
Posts: 24,324
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i think she still wouldve been, considering her father wouldve still been there, making sure she was THE bitch. Being darker doesnt take away from her talent or from her being the leader of the 3; Little girls would still want to be beyonce, not kelly or the other one (two?) So yea it'd be the same IMO
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Member Since: 4/22/2012
Posts: 5,740
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This is hard. She would of had a harder time. But no matter her skin, she has the 'it' factor.
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Member Since: 3/30/2011
Posts: 9,692
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Quote:
Originally posted by kyquanzo
I think we're reading into that too far.
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That's kind of the point of the paper...
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Member Since: 6/1/2010
Posts: 65,177
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Quote:
Originally posted by Mister Martian
Where is the line drawn between light and dark skinned? Is like Amerie considered dark? LeToya Luckett or Tierra Mari/
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No, Amerie isn't dark. She's light-skinned, thanks to her Korean heritage. LeToya and Teairra Mari aren't light-skinned in the same way Beyonce or Alicia Keys (who's biracial) is, but they wouldn't be considered dark-sinned either. They're just brown-skinned, I guess you can say.
Aren't you black, Mister?
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Member Since: 2/16/2012
Posts: 10,807
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Quote:
Originally posted by Mister Martian
Where is the line drawn between light and dark skinned? Is like Amerie considered dark? LeToya Luckett or Tierra Mari/
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Google beyonce, cheryl cole and alexandra burke. (All as one) that's the difference. And guess who sticks out? It's not Bey. You can tell, but if you only see light skinned stars you'll think that is black (ie leona lewis, rebecca ferguson as we do in the uk...it's annoying).
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Member Since: 11/17/2011
Posts: 52,363
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I think she would have had a harder time
I mean her face was on like evey magazine cover there was and all over commercials
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Member Since: 3/30/2011
Posts: 9,692
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Quote:
Originally posted by King B
This is hard. She would of had a harder time. But no matter her skin, she has the 'it' factor.
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Well that's undeniable. She's an amazing performer but honostly Kelly has always been a great performer too... her songs just aren't as ... good. As she sometimes overshoots her abilities, but Kelly could probably put on a show and wow the masses just like Bey if sshe used mostly backing vocals.
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Member Since: 8/31/2011
Posts: 18,529
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Darkskinned is like Kelly Rowland, brown-caramel skin is more Michelle Williams, light skin was Beyonce
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Member Since: 3/30/2011
Posts: 9,692
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Quote:
Originally posted by Cap10Planet
No, Amerie isn't dark. She's light-skinned, thanks to her Korean heritage. LeToya and Teairra Mari aren't light-skinned in the same way Beyonce or Alicia Keys (who's biracial) is, but they wouldn't be considered dark-sinned either. They're just brown-skinned, I guess you can say.
Aren't you black, Mister?
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Yup I'm dark skinned. I was darker in my youth and struggled with it, but now that I've matured and have seen that there are people out there that will love NY skin as much as my mother and father I have no issue.
Quote:
Originally posted by Sláy
Google beyonce, cheryl cole and alexandra burke. (All as one) that's the difference. And guess who sticks out? It's not Bey. You can tell, but if you only see light skinned stars you'll think that is black (ie leona lewis, rebecca ferguson as we do in the uk...it's annoying).
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Great example. I need this.
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Member Since: 8/16/2011
Posts: 19,718
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Let's see.
If her music were the same, but she were darker like Kelly Rowland, I have no doubt she'd be as successful musically. In fact, she played on that when she used to bronze herself to appear darker. And also, DIL is her best selling solo album to date and she looks darker on the cover than she's ever looked. People are used to seeing black artists in music, that'd be nothing new.
The thing I'd be concerned about is her commercial appeal. I don't think she'd have near the number of endorsements, movie roles, and magazine covers she has now had she been darker -- especially in Asian and European nations. But I regress. I have no proof how any of this could happen. It's purely speculative.
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Member Since: 6/22/2011
Posts: 20,940
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Yes,I Think She would because at that time they did not focus on her skin color,They seen that she has talent and drive.
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Member Since: 7/13/2010
Posts: 4,992
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Halle berry is the darkest female besides Whitney to truly crossover and be widely accepted in white America. The world is about relateability, other ethnicities can gravitate towards a light skinned or fair skinned black person more than a dark skinned one.
In Beyonce's case, she was born to be a star, she was a pageant kid, had she been dark she wouldn't have been offered the same opportunities. The difference with Bey is that she has so much talent and determination that you cant really see her not being famous in some capacity.
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Member Since: 3/19/2012
Posts: 830
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I mean she can't help that she's light skinned. Her sister is light but she doesn't have a major career so where are you going at? Monica is light skinned her career isn't like it use to be. Nicole (from pussycat dolls) isn't white or black BUT career isn't where she want it to be. What about Amerie? Christina Milian?
At first Columbia didn't believe in Beyonce, they thought she would fail as a solo artist. Columbia didn't want her to release Crazy In Love BUT she proved them wrong. Her second album B'day was excellent but her father and record label didn't like that she didn't tell them about recording on her vacation. BUT that was her best album to date (to me). Beyonce has so much talent, it wouldn't matter if she was dark.
Kelly Rowland, Brandy all dark skin but they have major careers.
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Member Since: 2/16/2012
Posts: 10,807
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Quote:
Originally posted by Mister Martian
Great example. I need this.
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Thanks. Try and google it and put it up so folks can see. I'm mobile and my blackberry....
But being dark skinned brings personality connotations ie confidence v arrogance.
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