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BLACK SKINNED BEAUTIES MAKE 2 COVERS( ONE A RECORD COVER!) AS THESE BLACK SKINNED BEAUTIES BREAK THE white girl/no lips/no hips/no shape/no ass/no color/glass/ceiling AGAIN!- FROM THE GRIOT.COM
FROM THEGRIOT.COM
Pharrell’s “Marilyn Monroe” cover
is visually stunning. The chocolate face against that fire engine red
was striking and super fierce. Plus, the model herself is gorgeous.
Then I saw the cover of People magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful” issue with Lupita Nyong’o, and my soul did the running man because: YES!!!
She has taken the world by storm, and she stays giving me black velvet moonlight tea for my fever. Lupita is perpetually looking like she’s unable to flaw.
So why are people upset at both Pharrell and People magazine right now? Because they feel like both parties are pandering to disgruntled dark girls, and they think it’s cheap and condescending. I understand one more than the other.
I get why people are mad at Pharrell, and I’m actually surprised that I’m not. I’ve certainly told people how many seats to occupy for less obvious things. I see all the points that people are making about the name of the song and the cover. Why didn’t he call it something else like “Eartha Kitt” or “Dorothy Dandridge?”
Also, his choice to use a woman who is chocolate is being seen as an attempt aims to get folks to shut up about the cover of his GIRL album. On some “FINE, GINA! I will marry you. Are you happy now?” thing. I see it, and I acknowledge the frustration of my sisthrens.
Even so, I’m not upset. Maybe I give Skateboard P a longer rope than others because I love the song “Happy” and the fact that he refuses to age. Does he wake up and bathe in unicorn tears and towel off with phoenix feathers? I just want him to stop being selfish and tell us about the voodoo he do (shout out to Lauryn) and share the secrets to looking 25 for 45 years.
Pharrell using this beautiful, dark model for the cover of this song doesn’t upset me, and it’s because I do want to think he’s taking a direction to fix what people spoke about in the past. I wasn’t upset at the cover of GIRL either because, in spite of it being somewhat monochromatic, I’ve never gotten “I hate dark black women” vibes from that dude in particular.
However, could this Marilyn Monroe cover seem a bit cheap? Sure. Would he have done it had he not received backlash from that first cover? Not sure.
Honestly, I see this as a can’t win for losing situation. Had he ignored critics, he’d really be showing that he had no damns to give about the feelings of those who felt shafted by his lack of mahogany. And this time, he blatantly placed a chocolate lady on the cover, and folks feel like he’s trolling. If we’re mad at the cover with the two white women and one ethnically ambiguous biracial woman, then we need to know what we want him to do to make it right.
Now, as for the folks who are throwing hateration in Lupita’s dancerie for being on the cover of People, I want them to please tuck in their salty. It boggles my mind that some people are really questioning her presence on that cover and whether it’s some sort of pity move by the magazine’s team. It reminds me of when she won the Academy Award for her role as Patsey in 12 Years a Slave and folks were upset because she won for playing a slave.
Why can’t we celebrate this moment with the purest motives and joy? I want us to be able to lay these burdens down even for a hot millisecond, because we carry this complex so close to the chest that it gives me heartburn.
Do we think we’re not good enough that when we land on a major magazine cover we need to be cynical about how we got there? I know beauty is subjective, but it is undeniable that Lupita has been shutting down red carpets for the past six months with her style, and she belongs on that list and on that cover. This isn’t some pandering move.
You don’t have to be giving Pharrell or People magazine pats on the back. However, I don’t think we should be so dismissive of the presence of these two women who happen to be dark on these mediums. I think we’re victims of the singular story, and we’re carrying that with us and questioning our own worthiness to belong.
Right now, we don’t see enough of ourselves (black people) in media (TV, magazine, radio), so we place a lot of weight on those who are (and on shows we appear on). Every artist is carrying the hopes and dreams of our tomorrows, and every misstep is placed on a mental list of how wrong they are.
So I’m gonna sit this battle out. Maybe I’ll tap in for the next one. But on this, I just want us to enjoy the small victory and say WERKKK!
Luvvie can be found ranting about all things pop culture at AwesomelyLuvvie.com. She can also be found on Twitter (@Luvvie) and Facebook.
From Lupita’s People cover to Pharrell’s ‘Marilyn Monroe’: Dark skinned beauty fad sparks backlash
Opinion
Then I saw the cover of People magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful” issue with Lupita Nyong’o, and my soul did the running man because: YES!!!
She has taken the world by storm, and she stays giving me black velvet moonlight tea for my fever. Lupita is perpetually looking like she’s unable to flaw.
So why are people upset at both Pharrell and People magazine right now? Because they feel like both parties are pandering to disgruntled dark girls, and they think it’s cheap and condescending. I understand one more than the other.
I get why people are mad at Pharrell, and I’m actually surprised that I’m not. I’ve certainly told people how many seats to occupy for less obvious things. I see all the points that people are making about the name of the song and the cover. Why didn’t he call it something else like “Eartha Kitt” or “Dorothy Dandridge?”
Also, his choice to use a woman who is chocolate is being seen as an attempt aims to get folks to shut up about the cover of his GIRL album. On some “FINE, GINA! I will marry you. Are you happy now?” thing. I see it, and I acknowledge the frustration of my sisthrens.
Even so, I’m not upset. Maybe I give Skateboard P a longer rope than others because I love the song “Happy” and the fact that he refuses to age. Does he wake up and bathe in unicorn tears and towel off with phoenix feathers? I just want him to stop being selfish and tell us about the voodoo he do (shout out to Lauryn) and share the secrets to looking 25 for 45 years.
Pharrell using this beautiful, dark model for the cover of this song doesn’t upset me, and it’s because I do want to think he’s taking a direction to fix what people spoke about in the past. I wasn’t upset at the cover of GIRL either because, in spite of it being somewhat monochromatic, I’ve never gotten “I hate dark black women” vibes from that dude in particular.
However, could this Marilyn Monroe cover seem a bit cheap? Sure. Would he have done it had he not received backlash from that first cover? Not sure.
Honestly, I see this as a can’t win for losing situation. Had he ignored critics, he’d really be showing that he had no damns to give about the feelings of those who felt shafted by his lack of mahogany. And this time, he blatantly placed a chocolate lady on the cover, and folks feel like he’s trolling. If we’re mad at the cover with the two white women and one ethnically ambiguous biracial woman, then we need to know what we want him to do to make it right.
Now, as for the folks who are throwing hateration in Lupita’s dancerie for being on the cover of People, I want them to please tuck in their salty. It boggles my mind that some people are really questioning her presence on that cover and whether it’s some sort of pity move by the magazine’s team. It reminds me of when she won the Academy Award for her role as Patsey in 12 Years a Slave and folks were upset because she won for playing a slave.
Why can’t we celebrate this moment with the purest motives and joy? I want us to be able to lay these burdens down even for a hot millisecond, because we carry this complex so close to the chest that it gives me heartburn.
Do we think we’re not good enough that when we land on a major magazine cover we need to be cynical about how we got there? I know beauty is subjective, but it is undeniable that Lupita has been shutting down red carpets for the past six months with her style, and she belongs on that list and on that cover. This isn’t some pandering move.
You don’t have to be giving Pharrell or People magazine pats on the back. However, I don’t think we should be so dismissive of the presence of these two women who happen to be dark on these mediums. I think we’re victims of the singular story, and we’re carrying that with us and questioning our own worthiness to belong.
Right now, we don’t see enough of ourselves (black people) in media (TV, magazine, radio), so we place a lot of weight on those who are (and on shows we appear on). Every artist is carrying the hopes and dreams of our tomorrows, and every misstep is placed on a mental list of how wrong they are.
So I’m gonna sit this battle out. Maybe I’ll tap in for the next one. But on this, I just want us to enjoy the small victory and say WERKKK!
Luvvie can be found ranting about all things pop culture at AwesomelyLuvvie.com. She can also be found on Twitter (@Luvvie) and Facebook.
- Mrs.Yeye Akilimali Funua Olade · Chief Librarian at African Heritage Research Library and Cultural Center, Adeyipo Vill. NigOUR BLACK SKINNED BEAUTIES ARE BREAKING THE white girl/no color/no lips/no hips/no shape/glass ceiling ati rising to the TOP AGAIN LIKE IT WAS IN THE BEGINNING!
Naomi Richardson · Top Commenter · Hampton UniversityListening to lyrics I'm glad he DIDN'T call it Dorothy Fandridge etc b/c he's basically saying he dosnt want Marilyn.. He wants a different girl
Jaime Johnson · Top Commenter · Pflugerville, TexasThank you, he doesnt want a Marilyn Monroe, Queen Cleopatre or Joan of Arc. Pharrell has openly expressed his love for ALL women in the past. What makes it see, like pandering is that he has to keep repeating himself. Leave this man alone. GIRL is a fantastic album. I love how he sings to me.
Neva Walker · Follow · Library Assistant at Forsyth County Public Library, Winston-Salem, NCI might catch hell for saying this - but if it had been Beyonce or Rihanna on the cover of People's Most Beautiful, I truly believe we wouldn't have an article like this.
Angela Watson · Top Commenter · NYIT
Lita Byerson Stanberry · Works at Self-EmployedWhy? Because people are petty and mean spirited. No matter what, someone is always "not happy" with something. Both Pharell and Lupita are talented, hip artists and are to be celebrated!!!
Erika Cole · Littlerock High SchoolThe article was interesting, but people need to stop holding these 'entertainers' to the fire for not thinking of all the reasons someone may be offended by their work. Who care who he uses on his cover. Pharrell Williams is not the authority of what is beautiful to the masses. He is an artist for crying out loud. It is time for people to stop looking for the hidden meaning behind album covers, song lyrics or whatever else to justify their insecurities. I agree with you Awesomely Luvvie...tuck in that SALTY!!!!!- Ebonite Prince· Top Commenter (signed in using Hotmail)What is it with us Black folks? Danged if you do; danged if you don't. These are two extremely beautiful women and we should be proud of them and their achievements. It is truly refreshing to see beautiful dark-skinned sistahs on the cover of magazines for a change instead of the usual emaciated White model. Perhaps if these major magazines had mixed up (color wise) covers from the get-go, we would not even have a discussion about this nonsense.
Sherrine Neely · Works at Atlanta Public SchoolsNow it begins anew. A special kind of "Black-on-Black" crime. The kind where we destroy our own if they're too beautiful, too smart, too successful, or too talented. Poor Lupita. Today,your people applaud and laud you for your achievements, for your beautiful simplicity, for your lovely lady-like qualities in the way you dress, wear your make up & your natural hair, smile, walk and speak. Tomorrow, many will want to strip you down, searching for your flaws and what they can't find, they'll create. Be ready. Nevertheless, determine that you will be everything that God has designed you to be, that NO weapon formed again you shall prosper, and every tongue that rises up against you in judgement shall be condemned.
Stacie Walker · Follow · Top Commenter · Host, Producer, Content Creator at Reach Your Next Level of Greatness Business Podcast
Chaun Smith · FollowIn the HAPPY video via 24 hours of HAPPY, Fatima (the famous choreographer) was IN the video, dressed slightly in homage to Michael Jackson in her brimmed hat, and SHE choreographed and was featured in the Marilyn Monroe video in which the girl on the cover is featured. Could it be that the video had already been finished BEFORE all of the outrage of the other cover? Did anyone see the video or hear the song? She is quite stunning. Why not celebrate her? NTways, Pharrell featured a dark-skinned girl in his Frontin video to *crickets*, and he has been pretty consistent in his love of diversity, but also in supporting women of all colors. If you've seen the IAMOTHER youtube channel, you would know the kind of dude Pharrell is. He has a right to be upset at his critics.
#doyourhomework
As far as Lupita goes, she slays. When I had seent the People cover, I wuz like, http://goo.gl/BSYbDX!
Flo McAfee · President at Summerland Studio LLCGreat article. The more covers we see with diverse people on them---from beauty to business magazines---the less time will be spent laser focusing on minimizing or picking apart the occasional appearances. Remember, they are each in the business of being a business first and making some sort of social impact second. Perhaps the new social entrepreneurs will rewrite the script.- Stacie Walker · Follow · Top Commenter · Host, Producer, Content Creator at Reach Your Next Level of Greatness Business Podcast
Nikita Haysbert · Follow · Baltimore, Maryland · 260 followersAgreed, All this proves is that what the media says abut anything is used by some of us to define us. When Lupita got the nod I was glad because not just because she is physically lovely but because she is beautiful! Anyone can be pretty, but you have to really have something on the inside to be beautiful. If you don't like what PEOPLE said, don't buy the mag. As far as Pharrell is concerned, it's called entertainment! Controversy sells more records. If you don't like the picture, don't buy the music. I am weary of some people who try to turn an award or a picture associated with a record into a NAACP incident. Trayvon Martin and the death of our young people demands a solution not a picture associated with recording or a beauty award,- Stacie Walker · Follow · Top Commenter · Host, Producer, Content Creator at Reach Your Next Level of Greatness Business Podcast
Mrs.Yeye Akilimali Funua Olade · Chief Librarian at African Heritage Research Library and Cultural Center, Adeyipo Vill. NigOUR BLACK SKINNED BEAUTIES ARE BREAKING THE white girl/no color/no lips/no hips/no shape/glass ceiling ati rising to the TOP AGAIN LIKE IT WAS IN THE BEGINNING!
Jenny Grosso · Top Commenter · Works at Nous Model Management Inc.Beauty is beauty- don't try and make it about a 'fad in skin color'. Do you realize how awful that sounds? Fads come into popularity for stupid or meaningless reasons and then they leave just as unwarranted and unexpectedly.- Stacie Walker · Follow · Top Commenter · Host, Producer, Content Creator at Reach Your Next Level of Greatness Business Podcast
E.F. Coleman · Top Commenter · LeMoyne–Owen CollegeWhite people never ruminate when white men and women are on covers of magazines or given Academy Awards, why do you . Self hatred and jealousy always in the black community. Just say good luck and congratulations and wish others well.
Carolyn Brown · Houston Community College SystemSome people are never satisfied. They complain about no blacks on magazine covers. Now you have a black person on the cover and they still complain. I think we should look at the accomplishment of the person and be happy for them and stop always having a crab mentality.These haters must live miserable lives. Pharrell and Lupita are artists and have won awards because their work was exceptional.
Hope Ferguson · Top Commenter · Senior Writer at SUNY Empire State CollegeCan we PLEASE get over skin tone? If we have African ancestors and ID as black, what else matters? I am getting so sick and tired of this nonsense! http://hopeliz57.wordpress.com/ 2014/03/24/102/
Fast Man · Follow · Top Commenter · Reading, PennsylvaniaWhat is so important about calling attention to our many hues? Could it be the internalization of racism, white supremacy? Yes ! Clearly, we have mimicked the culture of white, or lighter skin privilege, otherwise there would be no need for this dialogue. The whole of Africa is the new target for Madison Avenue's acculturation, whereby, acknowledging that which was already known, only to capitalize and corrupt it's existence. Meanwhile, the focus remains on our women because Black Men are being eased out of the picture. BTW, how many Black Men (masculine) do you see in the video "HAPPY"
Ola Agbaimoni · Follow · Owner/Managing Director at Leaders to Follow LtdIman , Grace Jones , Naomi Simms, Naomi Cambell all darker skinned models that in no way could pass the so called paper bag test. Dark black women have been taking centre stage for years, but what always happens is the more famous they get the more digitally enhanced their pictures become so they look lighter and lighter and then we forget that they were dark to start with. I'm pretty sure Beyonce was a lot darker when she started and now a lot of her pictures make her look almost like a white woman.
Nancy C'est Moi Lamers · Top CommenterPharrell can win. He has a cover photo with a black girl in it, but because she is light of skin color... people yell at him for her being too light. He gets a girl that is darker of skin color and now they are mad at him because he seemed to be taken aback by the screams he got for not having a darker girl.
Da fuq is wrong with these groups man?!
Charles Thompson · Top CommenterI wish these bloggers could write well. This is typical "Also, his choice to use a woman who is chocolate is being seen as an attempt aims to get folks to shut up about the cover of his GIRL album. On some “FINE, GINA! I will marry you. Are you happy now?” thing. I see it and I acknowledge the frustration of my sisthrens. "
Evelyn Marie · Top CommenterCharles, those of us that are more familiar with Awesomely Luvvie's style get it- she's being humorous and the style choices she's making are intentional. As to your statement "This is typical"... I'm not sure if you're referring to her writing again or the actual point she was trying to make...
Jennifer Bowman · Dartmouth
Isaac RealEyez Odusanya · Follow · Habilitation Counselor at Rutgers UniversitySo you read the entire article, and that's what you have to say about it?? Like, that's all?? You should probably be more concerned with the content matter, unless of course your an editor for the site. There are more important issues to be discussed than her style of writing.
Jessica Jean-Louis · Follow · USFStop dehumanizing dark women by calling her chocolate. If you want to use it, be fair and refer dark men as such, fair-skinned people as caramel or creamed coffee, and white people as white chocolate or coconut frosting.
Bull Winkle · Follow · Top CommenterIt's sad when blacks get happy because whites chose them as most beautiful. I'm not waiting around for their approval.
Valerie Vibrant Durham · Top Commenter · Mental / Behavioral Health at Department of Juvenile JusticeAwesome article AND on point! Congratulations to both Lupita and Pharrell and BIG S/O to People Magazine
Max Richiedei · Top Commenter · General Manager and Head Realtor at UNLIMITED DIRECTIONS Ltdtuck in their salty....LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL
Daphne Madinga KasambalaWhat a great article!!
Ronald Towns · Top Commenter · Wayne countyeven the bible talks about the beauty of a black woman the prophet moses married his black queen when he was closest to God numbers chapter 12 israels king david killed poor uriah the hitite 2 samuel vs.11 so that he could hide the fact that he gotten uriah's wife pregnant while uriah was off fighting in one of israels war's king david married bathsheba a black hitite woman and after the lord God took their first born batheshba was the mother of king solomon who was black because his mother was black and even the bible says in the songs of solomon low i am black but comely.then king solomon fell in love and got pregnant ethiopias queen of sheba first book of kings chapter 10 vs.1-10 if you check the geneology of jesus christ you;ll find that king david king solomon were relatives to jesus God made no other woman more beautiful then a all natural black woman get rid of the wigs the weave and false eyelashes sisters you can't beat what God has already given you natural beauty.
Heyward Johnson · Top Commenter · Works at RetiredThat's one thing that cannot be stolen, copied or claimed. I can attest to number of White people who have complimented me on the beauty of my dark skin. I was told as a child that some hate what they can never be and 55 yrs later that still is true.
The Golden Rhythm: Righteous and Empowered LivingWhy does one person's opinions and choices concerning beauty impact how another person feels about herself or himself? Why is what's considered beautiful in one person's eye included in another's computation of self worth? Why is it so hard to accept that God loves us just the way we are, that those worthy of our respect and attention do as well, and that the rest can offer us neither Heaven nor Hell?
Exiene Lofgren · Follow · Top Commenter · Works at Comedy · 243 followersI get the Monroe adage as she, Cleopatra and Joan Of Arc are dead women who's legends are far bigger than the actual people. The accomplishments are not what men think of, but the standards of beauty and femininity that few women could attain. Monroe and Dandridge were swallowed by their own images and Pharrell's song, SOMEWHAT, makes that clear.As for Lupita being criticized for being on the cover of people, she WAS the most beautiful person this past awards season and earned every prize she got. PLUS has the background to not fall in the same traps Monroe did and I look forward to seeing how far her career will go.- alliny02 (signed in using yahoo)Good article, Luvvie. I didn't care for Pharell's first cover but I do love the Marilyn Monroe choice. I actually didn't see anyone (in my TL) upset about it. I did see people mocking those who were upset about the original though. I'm glad Pharell listened but he gotta stop with that "new black" bullspit. Also, Pharell got flack for his cover because he has given the impression that he doesn't like dark skinned women. It didn't come out of thin air.
- Keyshawn Samuel · Top CommenterI have to say that I don't agree with the dark skinned ladies being put down. I see a lot of beautiful dark skinned women out there and yet their beauty isn't put out there by these magazines and other platforms. Some will do it but majority wont......JUST MII INTAKE ON IT.
kawaishire (signed in using AOL)" we don’t see enough of ourselves (black people) in media" I wonder what Asian's have to say - I don't see too many of them in media either. Just maybe in 2024 this will be a non issue because the world will be various hues
Gwen GeminiGee Miner · Follow · Marquette UniversityDark skin beauty fad, you say? Well I am available for weddings and bat mitzvahs... LMAO Sheesh.
Shante Kennedy · Follow · Washington, District of ColumbiaWhy can't Lupita just be beautiful? Why must we question it?
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