*bitter sarcasm alert*

This Just In!

Today Negroes must be careful. One never knows when we risk overwhelming our Caucasian counterparts. :-p Thank goodness for individuals such as Beyonce. Somehow they help the race remain palatable.

[/sarcasm]

I found the following in Rolling Stone:

"Beyonce has become a crossover sex symbol a la Halle Berry, a black girl who's not so overwhelmingly Nubian that white people don't appreciate her beauty." (emphasis added)


That RS quote is wrong on so many levels. I don't know what's more grating: What was said, or what was implied. Here are my few fleeting thoughts:

The author, Toure, (accent on the last “e”) may have meant his words in a matter-of-fact manner. Perhaps he wanted to express how like Halle, B has found favour among the masses.

Well. As Archie Bunker would say, “Whoop-dee-do, whoop-dee-do….”

Behind it all, the author’s words reveal a disturbing insinuation. By default as per his logic, apparently there are black girls/women who are overwhelmingly Nubian. So much so that white people do not appreciate their beauty.

So…

*shrug*

Again, cue Archie.

I mean, really. Should we be watching ourselves, poised to curb any hint of "blackness", lest we offend….?

Consider Alek Wek, and Lauryn Hill (in her days of Miseducation). Both of these women have been referred to as “beautiful”. I’m sure they have their own hordes of lovers and haters.

Just as there are people who think Ms. Knowles is a beauty, there are those who find her unattractive. I don’t hate the player. It’s the game.

And what a game it is...

If Beyonce is so bloody pleasing, why? Is it because she has light skin and eyes, and straight, light hair? Her appearance is what that statement from RS alluded to. These stereotypical notions about her appearance are ridiculous. Consider the image that we know as B’s polar opposite—a black woman with dark skin and kinky hair. How would RS refer to her? Would she be *The Unappealing Nubian*?

Folks, there’s a lot of contempt here. I’m gonna leave it alone. For now.