Given that-sometimes embracing blackness is a daily effort and important act of self-love. In brief, being black (or Afro-descendant) in Latinx communities has historically been (and continues to be) considered ugly, undesirable, and shameful, and a source of social, economic, and political inequality. The long response is outside of the points I’m making about everyday conversation and anti-Blackness. It is also an effort that leaves somebody stumped ( why ever would anyone do this?), which brought him to his question in the first place. To take pride in blackness is to actually do something, rather than to simply be and love oneself. In his view, to celebrate blackness is an effort, and apparently an annoying and unnecessary one. I doubt Young Hollywood has ever questioned other Latina artists in this way about why they might make curly hair (or weaves or wigs) straight. No one needs to point to or question the pride that people have in fair skin and straight hair. But still, taking pride in whiteness is not noteworthy in the way that taking pride in blackness is. Being white (or light) is to have unquestioned value so people do not need to actively take pride in it, though of course people do anyway by applauding straight hair and fair skin. Pride in whiteness and lightness is always already assumed. Young Hollywood uncovers a double standard: celebrating whiteness is a taken for granted norm whereas celebrating Blackness is not. More importantly, his attitude shows that he finds this annoying and unnecessary. What his words do:They point to the idea that to take pride in blackness is something that people do and is made (read invented), rather than it being an emotional state people simply exist in. What Young Hollywood says: “What made this whole Amara ‘black and proud Afro’ thing?” “Yeah, I guess so,” Young Hollywood answers. “Oh, so you saying I can’t have an Afro and be elegant?” Amara La Negra asks. A simple Afro has made the Dominican singer’s look eccentric and undesirable because, we can assume from the conversation, proudly rocking Blackness when Latina is certainly not in style. It is deviant and undesirable, like Macy Gray’s and Amara La Negra’s style. He implies that Blackness shown otherwise is not sensual, elegant, or beautiful. That there is a more acceptable black woman’s appearance, and like Beyoncé’s it is mostly long straight/wavy-blonde-haired, sensual, and embraces Eurocentricity, if not light-complexioned. What can we understand from this binary Young Hollywood makes and his equating Amara La Negra’s look with Macy Gray’s? That her effort to fully put forth an image of proud blackness by wearing her hair in an Afro is not appealing or pretty. On the other hand, Macy Gray is not known for her beauty, but rather her eccentric style. We must note that Beyoncé is also widely considered beautiful, and desirable. She is a more ideal representation of a black woman. Beyoncé, stands in as an example of a woman with a preferred, and notably Eurocentric, appearance. Macy Gray, who often sported an Afro in her height of fame, stands in as an example of Afro-centricity. What his words do:They position Macy Gray and Beyoncé as polar opposites, with one pole (Beyoncé) being visually appealing and the other (Macy Gray) not. Amara La Negra’s fashion otherwise can be described as more similar to Beyoncé’s than Macy Gray’s anyway. You know, you gotta be a little bit more sensual.” His comments refer to her Afro hairstyle as being in need of change. What Young Hollywood says: Amara La Negra’s look needs to be “a little bit more Beyoncé, a little less Macy Gray. She does not fit a desired prototype that will ensure her success. What his words do: They imply that Amara La Negra, as she is and markets herself (an Afro-wearing and proud woman who brings attention to herself being Latina and black), is not what people want to see. What Young Hollywood says: “In the music industry, they’re looking for cookie cutter poster childs.”
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