OldFriends4Sale said:

1725topp said:

*

If that makes your racism or self-hatred feel better, then so be it. I'm just glad that I was raised by parents who taught me to love my wooly African hair and the wooly hair of other Africans. Including myself, I know people who only wash and comb their hair because we know it's beautiful despite living in a world that tries to tell us differently. Now, if somebody wants to do something different or unique to their hair, that's their business. Even if one decides to erase parts or aspects of their Africanness because they view Africanness as being less stylish/beautiful than a Euro-centric style, that's their business--self-hating as it is. But, again, I find it strange that whenever Prince's aesthetic moves toward a more African or Afro-centric style, there are problems. So, y'all just continue to celebrate African people straightening their hair, lightening their skin, and reducing their lips and noses while acting like that celebration has nothing to do with racism and self-hate.

I love the fro, I just think the picture isn't so good

technically Prince isn't 'African' not even genetically, he is AfriEuro genetically (I'm not defining him here) But I think he just needs someone to style his fro

I think he has been doing his hair for a while now

*

So, let's say that Prince is an African descendant whose bloodline was forcibly miscegenated to AfriEuro. That is--more than likely he's part of the West African bloodline that was forced to America through slavery, miscegenated along the way, and, then, possibly, there was additional DNA exchange by choice. (not by Prince's parents because they are both, technically, black, but by others earlier in their bloodline.) With that said, the issue remains that many people on this site have issues when Prince embraces an Afrocentric aesthetic: hair, women, bandmates, lyrical subject matter, etc.

*

We can agree to disagree about the fro needing styling. Maybe because I'm familiar with African Americans (Some of whom choose to call ourselves Africans because culture and sensibilities can have deeper roots and remain unbroken even if the DNA becomes fragmented.) normally wearing their hair asymmetrical, it seems "styled" perfectly fine to me. Now, of course, that's an aesthetic taste or sensibility, but it says something that so many threads are created to denounce the wearing of his natural style/texture and now to denounce that it isn't symmetrical.

*

Now, I'm cool with the fro being asymmetrical or symmetrical, but the bigness of it enhances how skinny he is, making him look like a human lollipop. However, if looking like a human lollipop doesn't bother him, it certainly isn't going to bother me enough to create a thread about it or continue to complain about it for over a year now. This constant complaining about Prince's naturally styled hair reflects that many on this site have issues whenever Prince embraces an Afrocentric aesthetic.

OldFriends4Sale said:

1725topp said:

*

If that makes your racism or self-hatred feel better, then so be it. I'm just glad that I was raised by parents who taught me to love my wooly African hair and the wooly hair of other Africans. Including myself, I know people who only wash and comb their hair because we know it's beautiful despite living in a world that tries to tell us differently. Now, if somebody wants to do something different or unique to their hair, that's their business. Even if one decides to erase parts or aspects of their Africanness because they view Africanness as being less stylish/beautiful than a Euro-centric style, that's their business--self-hating as it is. But, again, I find it strange that whenever Prince's aesthetic moves toward a more African or Afro-centric style, there are problems. So, y'all just continue to celebrate African people straightening their hair, lightening their skin, and reducing their lips and noses while acting like that celebration has nothing to do with racism and self-hate.

I love the fro, I just think the picture isn't so good

technically Prince isn't 'African' not even genetically, he is AfriEuro genetically (I'm not defining him here) But I think he just needs someone to style his fro

I think he has been doing his hair for a while now

1725topp said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

I love the fro, I just think the picture isn't so good

technically Prince isn't 'African' not even genetically, he is AfriEuro genetically (I'm not defining him here) But I think he just needs someone to style his fro

I think he has been doing his hair for a while now

*

So, let's say that Prince is an African descendant whose bloodline was forcibly miscegenated to AfriEuro. That is--more than likely he's part of the West African bloodline that was forced to America through slavery, miscegenated along the way, and, then, possibly, there was additional DNA exchange by choice. (not by Prince's parents because they are both, technically, black, but by others earlier in their bloodline.) With that said, the issue remains that many people on this site have issues when Prince embraces an Afrocentric aesthetic: hair, women, bandmates, lyrical subject matter, etc.

*

We can agree to disagree about the fro needing styling. Maybe because I'm familiar with African Americans (Some of whom choose to call ourselves Africans because culture and sensibilities can have deeper roots and remain unbroken even if the DNA becomes fragmented.) normally wearing their hair asymmetrical, it seems "styled" perfectly fine to me. Now, of course, that's an aesthetic taste or sensibility, but it says something that so many threads are created to denounce the wearing of his natural style/texture and now to denounce that it isn't symmetrical.

*

Now, I'm cool with the fro being asymmetrical or symmetrical, but the bigness of it enhances how skinny he is, making him look like a human lollipop. However, if looking like a human lollipop doesn't bother him, it certainly isn't going to bother me enough to create a thread about it or continue to complain about it for over a year now. This constant complaining about Prince's naturally styled hair reflects that many on this site have issues whenever Prince embraces an Afrocentric aesthetic.

Variations of the untrimmed fro aren't even unusual anymore....it's actually quite common these days. Nevertheless I lost count of all the threads generated and how many people had to be talked down from the ledge.


[img:$uid]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y240/delivertheword/brandy_zps5e725ad3.png[/img:$uid]


[img:$uid]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y240/delivertheword/lenny-kravitz-aloe-vera-afro-curly_zps818be033.jpg[/img:$uid]


[img:$uid]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y240/delivertheword/andyallo_zpsf3ed7d78.jpg[/img:$uid]


[img:$uid]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y240/delivertheword/corny_zps2ed21d96.jpg[/img:$uid]


[img:$uid]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y240/delivertheword/Andre3000afro1_zpsa304eca4.jpg[/img:$uid]

Prince is sooo fine, I love his hair then and now

what is this thread about anyway?

[Edited 12/4/14 17:14pm]

Prince should bring back the soul glo! That'd be the shit...

[Edited 12/4/14 17:19pm]

Moderators : please move this thread under "Prince : Hair and More".

babynoz said:

1725topp said:

*

So, let's say that Prince is an African descendant whose bloodline was forcibly miscegenated to AfriEuro. That is--more than likely he's part of the West African bloodline that was forced to America through slavery, miscegenated along the way, and, then, possibly, there was additional DNA exchange by choice. (not by Prince's parents because they are both, technically, black, but by others earlier in their bloodline.) With that said, the issue remains that many people on this site have issues when Prince embraces an Afrocentric aesthetic: hair, women, bandmates, lyrical subject matter, etc.

*

We can agree to disagree about the fro needing styling. Maybe because I'm familiar with African Americans (Some of whom choose to call ourselves Africans because culture and sensibilities can have deeper roots and remain unbroken even if the DNA becomes fragmented.) normally wearing their hair asymmetrical, it seems "styled" perfectly fine to me. Now, of course, that's an aesthetic taste or sensibility, but it says something that so many threads are created to denounce the wearing of his natural style/texture and now to denounce that it isn't symmetrical.

*

Now, I'm cool with the fro being asymmetrical or symmetrical, but the bigness of it enhances how skinny he is, making him look like a human lollipop. However, if looking like a human lollipop doesn't bother him, it certainly isn't going to bother me enough to create a thread about it or continue to complain about it for over a year now. This constant complaining about Prince's naturally styled hair reflects that many on this site have issues whenever Prince embraces an Afrocentric aesthetic.

Variations of the untrimmed fro aren't even unusual anymore....it's actually quite common these days. Nevertheless I lost count of all the threads generated and how many people had to be talked down from the ledge.


[img:$uid]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y240/delivertheword/brandy_zps5e725ad3.png[/img:$uid]


[img:$uid]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y240/delivertheword/lenny-kravitz-aloe-vera-afro-curly_zps818be033.jpg[/img:$uid]


[img:$uid]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y240/delivertheword/andyallo_zpsf3ed7d78.jpg[/img:$uid]


[img:$uid]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y240/delivertheword/corny_zps2ed21d96.jpg[/img:$uid]


[img:$uid]http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y240/delivertheword/Andre3000afro1_zpsa304eca4.jpg[/img:$uid]

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

I love the fro, I just think the picture isn't so good

technically Prince isn't 'African' not even genetically, he is AfriEuro genetically (I'm not defining him here) But I think he just needs someone to style his fro

I think he has been doing his hair for a while now

U have got to learn to form an opinion lol

nothing I said is so hard to understand when dealing with biology. Step outside of social political idealogy for a minute

That's how big I want Prince to take it

1725topp said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

I love the fro, I just think the picture isn't so good

technically Prince isn't 'African' not even genetically, he is AfriEuro genetically (I'm not defining him here) But I think he just needs someone to style his fro

I think he has been doing his hair for a while now

*

So, let's say that Prince is an African descendant whose bloodline was forcibly miscegenated to AfriEuro. That is--more than likely he's part of the West African bloodline that was forced to America through slavery, miscegenated along the way, and, then, possibly, there was additional DNA exchange by choice. (not by Prince's parents because they are both, technically, black, but by others earlier in their bloodline.) With that said, the issue remains that many people on this site have issues when Prince embraces an Afrocentric aesthetic: hair, women, bandmates, lyrical subject matter, etc.

*

We can agree to disagree about the fro needing styling. Maybe because I'm familiar with African Americans (Some of whom choose to call ourselves Africans because culture and sensibilities can have deeper roots and remain unbroken even if the DNA becomes fragmented.) normally wearing their hair asymmetrical, it seems "styled" perfectly fine to me. Now, of course, that's an aesthetic taste or sensibility, but it says something that so many threads are created to denounce the wearing of his natural style/texture and now to denounce that it isn't symmetrical.

*

Now, I'm cool with the fro being asymmetrical or symmetrical, but the bigness of it enhances how skinny he is, making him look like a human lollipop. However, if looking like a human lollipop doesn't bother him, it certainly isn't going to bother me enough to create a thread about it or continue to complain about it for over a year now. This constant complaining about Prince's naturally styled hair reflects that many on this site have issues whenever Prince embraces an Afrocentric aesthetic.

Prince talked about it in a few 1997/98 interviews that his mother was possible part Black part something else. I like they way you elongated African - American. nicely put

.

here is another with a head piece, I thought of you and your dislike of the UTCM gold head piece he wore

OldFriends4Sale said:

That's how big I want Prince to take it

How about this BIG?

[Edited 12/5/14 15:21pm]

OldFriends4Sale said:

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

U have got to learn to form an opinion lol

nothing I said is so hard to understand when dealing with biology. Step outside of social political idealogy for a minute

Ok, Go ahead make anything U want him 2 b in your mind, But eye know what he has been since he entered this world.

Bob was a greater artist than Prince. FACT! Imagine the album covers he could have done for Prince. I feel we lost out.

[Edited 12/5/14 16:55pm]

OldFriends4Sale said:

1725topp said:

*

So, let's say that Prince is an African descendant whose bloodline was forcibly miscegenated to AfriEuro. That is--more than likely he's part of the West African bloodline that was forced to America through slavery, miscegenated along the way, and, then, possibly, there was additional DNA exchange by choice. (not by Prince's parents because they are both, technically, black, but by others earlier in their bloodline.) With that said, the issue remains that many people on this site have issues when Prince embraces an Afrocentric aesthetic: hair, women, bandmates, lyrical subject matter, etc.

*

We can agree to disagree about the fro needing styling. Maybe because I'm familiar with African Americans (Some of whom choose to call ourselves Africans because culture and sensibilities can have deeper roots and remain unbroken even if the DNA becomes fragmented.) normally wearing their hair asymmetrical, it seems "styled" perfectly fine to me. Now, of course, that's an aesthetic taste or sensibility, but it says something that so many threads are created to denounce the wearing of his natural style/texture and now to denounce that it isn't symmetrical.

*

Now, I'm cool with the fro being asymmetrical or symmetrical, but the bigness of it enhances how skinny he is, making him look like a human lollipop. However, if looking like a human lollipop doesn't bother him, it certainly isn't going to bother me enough to create a thread about it or continue to complain about it for over a year now. This constant complaining about Prince's naturally styled hair reflects that many on this site have issues whenever Prince embraces an Afrocentric aesthetic.

Prince talked about it in a few 1997/98 interviews that his mother was possible part Black part something else. I like they way you elongated African - American. nicely put

.

here is another with a head piece, I thought of you and your dislike of the UTCM gold head piece he wore

*

Admitting that there is subjectivity in all of this, what's funny is that I actually like this photo even though the head dress is similar to UTCM. But, this one doesn't cover his head as much, and the head dress and the 'fro seem to combine in some "interesting" consummation.

*

I think you first posted the Bob Ross pic. I love Ross. My father and I spent a many Saturday afternoons watching him paint, teach, and pontificate on PBS. God, I love PBS. My mother and father exposed me to so much wonderful art, but those Saturday evenings watching my father--a Vietnam Vet and Civil Rights activist--"gush" over Ross' creative process still has a special place for me. My father still says, "Now, son, maybe there's a tree that lives right back here...can't you see it?" Returning to our conversation, Ross' 'fro is definitely an example of cultural exchange. And, of course, there is nothing wrong with cultural exchange as long as one party isn't embracing something from another party because they view themselves as inferior. That's what always bothered me about celebrating Madam CJ Walker's financial success because all she really did was earn a fortune by pimping African people's self-hatred. I'm not saying she wasn't a smart business woman, but, more than anything, she understand that African people, especially African Americans, would do anything to erase as much of their African heritage as possible to be accepted by/into the white power structure.

*

I remember Prince discussing his mother's heritage, but in 1980 in three different articles of February, March, and April, Prince couldn't even keep the lie straight of his parents' heritage, and the so-called journalist couldn't be bothered to challenge the manner in which he kept changing his parents' heritage. Based on Dave Hill's book and C. Liegh McInnis' additional interviews, most people seem to identify both his parents, comfortably, as African American, but I'll admit that I wouldn't be shocked if either, especially his mother, was quarter this or one/eight that.

bonatoc said:

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

U have got to learn to form an opinion lol

nothing I said is so hard to understand when dealing with biology. Step outside of social political idealogy for a minute

Ok, Go ahead make anything U want him 2 b in your mind, But eye know what he has been since he entered this world.

I'm not making him anything. I'm not defining any 'racial' identification.

I'm talking about biology. I'm talking about nature.

1725topp said:

So, let's say that Prince is an African descendant whose bloodline was forcibly miscegenated to AfriEuro. That is--more than likely he's part of the West African bloodline that was forced to America through slavery, miscegenated along the way, and, then, possibly, there was additional DNA exchange by choice. (not by Prince's parents because they are both, technically, black, but by others earlier in their bloodline.) With that said, the issue remains that many people on this site have issues when Prince embraces an Afrocentric aesthetic: hair, women, bandmates, lyrical subject matter, etc.

*

We can agree to disagree about the fro needing styling. Maybe because I'm familiar with African Americans (Some of whom choose to call ourselves Africans because culture and sensibilities can have deeper roots and remain unbroken even if the DNA becomes fragmented.) normally wearing their hair asymmetrical, it seems "styled" perfectly fine to me.

I hate to break it to you, but your DNA is no better or worse than that of any other race. I also hate to be there bearer of fairy-tale-ruining news, but 'culture' and 'sensibilities' have nothing to do with DNA and everything to do with upbringing and environment. You can believe in all the magic you want as that is certainly your right, but let's leave the racial superiority/purity bullshit to the KKK, shall we?

steakfinger said:

1725topp said:

So, let's say that Prince is an African descendant whose bloodline was forcibly miscegenated to AfriEuro. That is--more than likely he's part of the West African bloodline that was forced to America through slavery, miscegenated along the way, and, then, possibly, there was additional DNA exchange by choice. (not by Prince's parents because they are both, technically, black, but by others earlier in their bloodline.) With that said, the issue remains that many people on this site have issues when Prince embraces an Afrocentric aesthetic: hair, women, bandmates, lyrical subject matter, etc.

*

We can agree to disagree about the fro needing styling. Maybe because I'm familiar with African Americans (Some of whom choose to call ourselves Africans because culture and sensibilities can have deeper roots and remain unbroken even if the DNA becomes fragmented.) normally wearing their hair asymmetrical, it seems "styled" perfectly fine to me.

I hate to break it to you, but your DNA is no better or worse than that of any other race. I also hate to be there bearer of fairy-tale-ruining news, but 'culture' and 'sensibilities' have nothing to do with DNA and everything to do with upbringing and environment. You can believe in all the magic you want as that is certainly your right, but let's leave the racial superiority/purity bullshit to the KKK, shall we?

*

Excuse me, but can your dumbass read? I never one time said Negroid or African or African American people are superior to anyone. Also, I've said nothing about DNA other than how DNA defines a person or group's physical/biological make-up or construct. As such, while forced miscegenation has changed the physical/biological make-up or construct of African/Negroid people, many African/Negroid people, especially African Americans, have continued to embrace "culture and sensibilities" that originated in West Africa and that "culture and sensibilities" have been maintained in various ways in America. Thus, are you so effin' stupid that you don't understand the cultural history of African Americans? Now, what relates DNA and culture to this discussion is that Prince wearing his hair in its natural/biological, asymmetrical style seems to bother so many people who would rather that Prince continue to adhere to a Eurocentric style, and, if that bothers you, then you need to deal with your racism rather than trying to fabricate racism in anything that I've said.

*

Now, let's engage history 101. African/Negroid DNA has been changed due to intermingling with Greek, Asian, and other groups during the Egyptian period and by forced miscegenation by white colonizers/enslavers after the Roman conquest of Africa. Do you refute the history of this? Along with this historical occurrence of physical oppression, African/Negroid people, through American slavery and Jim Crow, suffered psychological oppression that attempted to force them to view themselves as inferior to Caucasian people--especially to view their skin color, noses, lips, hips, hair, and culture (art/rituals) as all inferior to Caucasians. Do you refute the history of this? As a response to this, part of the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements was to refute the developed self-hated in African/Negroid/African Americans by celebrating African/Negroid physical features as well as culture and sensibilities original to the continent of Africa. Do you refute the history of this? Or, do you consider James Brown's "Say It Loud (I'm Black and I'm Proud)" as racist also? So, based on all of this history, it seems strange to me when fans of Prince have an issue with him embracing and celebrating the beauty of his natural hair. So, again, not one time have I indicated that my DNA or the DNA of African/Negroid/African American people is better than the DNA of anyone else. As such, your overly angry reaction can only mean that you are the type of person who cannot stand or fathom why an African/Negroid/African American would find beauty in and embrace something connected to African/Negroid culture rather than trying to assimilate into or embrace a European aesthetic. And, that says what about you??? I think your white sheet is showing...Nice try with the reverse racism angle, but truth will always stand on its own.

iZsaZsa said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

That's how big I want Prince to take it

Who is that?

1725topp said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

Prince talked about it in a few 1997/98 interviews that his mother was possible part Black part something else. I like they way you elongated African - American. nicely put

.

here is another with a head piece, I thought of you and your dislike of the UTCM gold head piece he wore

*

Admitting that there is subjectivity in all of this, what's funny is that I actually like this photo even though the head dress is similar to UTCM. But, this one doesn't cover his head as much, and the head dress and the 'fro seem to combine in some "interesting" consummation.

*

I think you first posted the Bob Ross pic. I love Ross. My father and I spent a many Saturday afternoons watching him paint, teach, and pontificate on PBS. God, I love PBS. My mother and father exposed me to so much wonderful art, but those Saturday evenings watching my father--a Vietnam Vet and Civil Rights activist--"gush" over Ross' creative process still has a special place for me. My father still says, "Now, son, maybe there's a tree that lives right back here...can't you see it?" Returning to our conversation, Ross' 'fro is definitely an example of cultural exchange. And, of course, there is nothing wrong with cultural exchange as long as one party isn't embracing something from another party because they view themselves as inferior. That's what always bothered me about celebrating Madam CJ Walker's financial success because all she really did was earn a fortune by pimping African people's self-hatred. I'm not saying she wasn't a smart business woman, but, more than anything, she understand that African people, especially African Americans, would do anything to erase as much of their African heritage as possible to be accepted by/into the white power structure.

*

I remember Prince discussing his mother's heritage, but in 1980 in three different articles of February, March, and April, Prince couldn't even keep the lie straight of his parents' heritage, and the so-called journalist couldn't be bothered to challenge the manner in which he kept changing his parents' heritage. Based on Dave Hill's book and C. Liegh McInnis' additional interviews, most people seem to identify both his parents, comfortably, as African American, but I'll admit that I wouldn't be shocked if either, especially his mother, was quarter this or one/eight that.

Yeah looking back, it did fit his head in an overbearing way. One of my favorite suite though

the Pretty trees, dude was calm and skilled.
I believe and know there are many European(descendant) people who growing an afro is nothing. It's natural. The afro in it's hugeness as far as I know definately seems to be a thing of the American diaspora. I never really saw many African ethnic groups wearing big afros. Some New guineaians were their hair out big.

But I'm a big 1970s fan and seeing Italians, Puerto Ricans, Jews/Hebrews and others with afro was nothing. the 1960s and into the 70s especially people were going 'natural' in all kinds of ways especially hair. I saw Welcome Back Kotter for the first time in a long time a few weeks ago.

.

the short period in the 1980s when Prince would do interviews 1982-1986 followed by the 1997-1998 years are when Prince gave the best interviews.

OldFriends4Sale said:

1725topp said:

*

Admitting that there is subjectivity in all of this, what's funny is that I actually like this photo even though the head dress is similar to UTCM. But, this one doesn't cover his head as much, and the head dress and the 'fro seem to combine in some "interesting" consummation.

*

I think you first posted the Bob Ross pic. I love Ross. My father and I spent a many Saturday afternoons watching him paint, teach, and pontificate on PBS. God, I love PBS. My mother and father exposed me to so much wonderful art, but those Saturday evenings watching my father--a Vietnam Vet and Civil Rights activist--"gush" over Ross' creative process still has a special place for me. My father still says, "Now, son, maybe there's a tree that lives right back here...can't you see it?" Returning to our conversation, Ross' 'fro is definitely an example of cultural exchange. And, of course, there is nothing wrong with cultural exchange as long as one party isn't embracing something from another party because they view themselves as inferior. That's what always bothered me about celebrating Madam CJ Walker's financial success because all she really did was earn a fortune by pimping African people's self-hatred. I'm not saying she wasn't a smart business woman, but, more than anything, she understand that African people, especially African Americans, would do anything to erase as much of their African heritage as possible to be accepted by/into the white power structure.

*

I remember Prince discussing his mother's heritage, but in 1980 in three different articles of February, March, and April, Prince couldn't even keep the lie straight of his parents' heritage, and the so-called journalist couldn't be bothered to challenge the manner in which he kept changing his parents' heritage. Based on Dave Hill's book and C. Liegh McInnis' additional interviews, most people seem to identify both his parents, comfortably, as African American, but I'll admit that I wouldn't be shocked if either, especially his mother, was quarter this or one/eight that.

Yeah looking back, it did fit his head in an overbearing way. One of my favorite suite though

the Pretty trees, dude was calm and skilled.
I believe and know there are many European(descendant) people who growing an afro is nothing. It's natural. The afro in it's hugeness as far as I know definately seems to be a thing of the American diaspora. I never really saw many African ethnic groups wearing big afros. Some New guineaians were their hair out big.

But I'm a big 1970s fan and seeing Italians, Puerto Ricans, Jews/Hebrews and others with afro was nothing. the 1960s and into the 70s especially people were going 'natural' in all kinds of ways especially hair. I saw Welcome Back Kotter for the first time in a long time a few weeks ago.

.

the short period in the 1980s when Prince would do interviews 1982-1986 followed by the 1997-1998 years are when Prince gave the best interviews.

*

Wow...that's not a head wrap; that's a lampshade. :^) But, Prince is still rocking it though he looks as if he'd be right at home with my grandmother and her church group. :^)

*

Remember that the afro is an outgrowth of the "natural," of the late Fifties and early Sixties, when African Americans were simply removing the chemicals from their hair to reject the desire to look more European and embrace that "black is beautiful". As the song states, "How you gon' get respect when you ain't cut yo' process yet?" And for the other folks on this site--not you--I must add that African American embracing Negroid/African features as being beautiful is not tantamount to asserting that white is not. The Afro was merely a stylistic exaggeration of "the natural"--a moment/movement of African Americans to do something grand that would make it clear that they were rejecting the notion that African/Negroid features were inferior. Of course, the Afro or "natural" wooly hair is not exclusive to African Americans, as people of color all over the globe with naturally wooly hair, be they Jewish, Italian, Puerto Rican, or whatever, have had some aspect of a 'fro. But it was the Black Power Movement that made the Afro a cultural icon/statement in the same way that African American culture has always been a major driving force in American and global culture/style. Bo Derrek wasn't a Ten until she wore braids; yet, sisters had been wearing braids for years and were never considered a perfect ten by Hollywood.

*

I've never had a problem with Prince's interviews, per se, but moreso that so few journalists have had the skill and courage to interview him in a way to get him to discuss music and race in a complex manner consistently. (Even if one is worried about upsetting or offending an icon, one should have the skills to get the man to talk in-depth about music and culture. But, most pop magazines don't want that anyway.) The 1983 interview with Carol Cooper, "Prince: Someday your Prince Will Come" in The Face comes closest to what I'd like to see. I've also heard that in the two chapters that Prince completed with C. Liegh McInnis for that book that Prince was planning to write Prince really said some interesting things about fatherhood and racial independence. Too bad that project was scrapped.

We don't have to speculate. We had a thread a while back where an expert traced Prince's family tree but hardly anybody wanted to talk about the actual facts of his lineage and the thread died out quickly.

It seems people would rather fantasize some exotical background for Prince than deal with reality. The reality is that his background is no different than most Black Americans.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/megan-smolenyak-smolenyak/prince-geneology_b_2638616.html

Hey, Prince, Your Roots Are Showing
Posted: 02/08/2013 11:00 pm EST Updated: 04/10/2013 5:12 am EDT


Prince Rogers Nelson, better known simply as Prince, has the music world intrigued with the series of singles he's been releasing -- most recently, Breakfast Can Wait. Will a full-fledged album be far behind? We can only hope. But while we're in wait-and-see mode, I thought I'd take a peek into his past -- and by that, I mean his pre-Minnesota, pre-purple, ancestral past. Here are a few of the
discoveries I found scattered in the branches of his family tree:

Among the surnames that appear in Prince's family tree are Bonnell, Brooks, Hardy, Head, Jenkins, Nelson, Phillips and Shaw, so those sharing these names could be related.

As with other gifted musicians such as Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Prince has a concentration of Louisiana roots. In fact, all four of his grandparents were born there, though Minnesota, Georgia, and Arkansas can also claim a piece of his heritage.

Twins run on both sides of Prince's family. His mother was one, and there were also twins in the Nelson branch on his father's side.

Due to the Great Migration, his once mostly Louisiana-based family dispersed to Arkansas, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey and Tennessee.

His maternal grandfather, a Pullman porter named Frank Shaw, went north to Minnesota by way of Iowa. Though this might sound like a peculiar route, this same pattern can be seen in the family tree of Cory Booker, whose ancestors were drawn from the South to Iowa for mining jobs. And as a result of all this meandering, one of Prince's great-uncles is buried at Burr Oak on the outskirts of Chicago, the same notorious cemetery where one of Michelle Obama's uncles is buried.

Prince's paternal grandfather had 11 children by two wives over a 36-year period. This grandfather's parents also had 11 children, but in a more concentrated 14-year period. 22 offspring from just these two generations means that Prince undoubtedly has dozens, if not hundreds, of Nelson cousins in both Arkansas and Minnesota.

Six of Prince's eight great-grandparents were born into slavery, and as was unfortunately so common, one of his great-grandmothers was apparently the daughter of her one-time owner.

Within Louisiana, Prince has roots in Claiborne, Webster, Bienville and Lincoln Parishes. More specifically, the towns of Homer, Cotton Valley, Arcadia and Vienna, are all ancestral hometowns for the Purple One.

One of his great-great-grandmothers could be considered a 19th century version of a cougar. After her first marriage, she took a second husband less than half her age. Her new, teen-aged husband was only five years older than his eldest stepchild. Even so, she managed to outlive him.

No wonder he stays in Europe so much. Imagine all those relatives come ringing his doorbell.

morningsong said:

No wonder he stays in Europe so much. Imagine all those relatives come ringing his doorbell.

Brotha P has a huge family if everybody was running around having 11 children back in the day.

babynoz said:

We don't have to speculate. We had a thread a while back where an expert traced Prince's family tree but hardly anybody wanted to talk about the actual facts of his lineage and the thread died out quickly.

It seems people would rather fantasize some exotical background for Prince than deal with reality. The reality is that his background is no different than most Black Americans.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/megan-smolenyak-smolenyak/prince-geneology_b_2638616.html

Hey, Prince, Your Roots Are Showing
Posted: 02/08/2013 11:00 pm EST Updated: 04/10/2013 5:12 am EDT


Prince Rogers Nelson, better known simply as Prince, has the music world intrigued with the series of singles he's been releasing -- most recently, Breakfast Can Wait. Will a full-fledged album be far behind? We can only hope. But while we're in wait-and-see mode, I thought I'd take a peek into his past -- and by that, I mean his pre-Minnesota, pre-purple, ancestral past. Here are a few of the
discoveries I found scattered in the branches of his family tree:

Among the surnames that appear in Prince's family tree are Bonnell, Brooks, Hardy, Head, Jenkins, Nelson, Phillips and Shaw, so those sharing these names could be related.

As with other gifted musicians such as Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Prince has a concentration of Louisiana roots. In fact, all four of his grandparents were born there, though Minnesota, Georgia, and Arkansas can also claim a piece of his heritage.

Twins run on both sides of Prince's family. His mother was one, and there were also twins in the Nelson branch on his father's side.

Due to the Great Migration, his once mostly Louisiana-based family dispersed to Arkansas, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey and Tennessee.

His maternal grandfather, a Pullman porter named Frank Shaw, went north to Minnesota by way of Iowa. Though this might sound like a peculiar route, this same pattern can be seen in the family tree of Cory Booker, whose ancestors were drawn from the South to Iowa for mining jobs. And as a result of all this meandering, one of Prince's great-uncles is buried at Burr Oak on the outskirts of Chicago, the same notorious cemetery where one of Michelle Obama's uncles is buried.

Prince's paternal grandfather had 11 children by two wives over a 36-year period. This grandfather's parents also had 11 children, but in a more concentrated 14-year period. 22 offspring from just these two generations means that Prince undoubtedly has dozens, if not hundreds, of Nelson cousins in both Arkansas and Minnesota.

Six of Prince's eight great-grandparents were born into slavery, and as was unfortunately so common, one of his great-grandmothers was apparently the daughter of her one-time owner.

Within Louisiana, Prince has roots in Claiborne, Webster, Bienville and Lincoln Parishes. More specifically, the towns of Homer, Cotton Valley, Arcadia and Vienna, are all ancestral hometowns for the Purple One.

One of his great-great-grandmothers could be considered a 19th century version of a cougar. After her first marriage, she took a second husband less than half her age. Her new, teen-aged husband was only five years older than his eldest stepchild. Even so, she managed to outlive him.

*

Yep, this type of information destroys the myth that so many desire to have that Prince is "different" than the "common" Negro and should, therefore, act as much unlike what they consider the "common" Negro to be...whatever that is. What's sad is that for some Prince can't be a rebel individual and African American; For them, Prince being "black/African American" and embracing issues common to a great deal of African Americans limits or minimizes his ability to be a creative individual/rebel.

OldFriends4Sale said:

I love the fro, I just think the picture isn't so good

technically Prince isn't 'African' not even genetically, he is AfriEuro genetically (I'm not defining him here) But I think he just needs someone to style his fro

I think he has been doing his hair for a while now

WTF? Are you serious?

babynoz said:

1725topp said:

babynoz said:

We don't have to speculate. We had a thread a while back where an expert traced Prince's family tree but hardly anybody wanted to talk about the actual facts of his lineage and the thread died out quickly.

It seems people would rather fantasize some exotical background for Prince than deal with reality. The reality is that his background is no different than most Black Americans.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/megan-smolenyak-smolenyak/prince-geneology_b_2638616.html

Hey, Prince, Your Roots Are Showing
Posted: 02/08/2013 11:00 pm EST Updated: 04/10/2013 5:12 am EDT


Prince Rogers Nelson, better known simply as Prince, has the music world intrigued with the series of singles he's been releasing -- most recently, Breakfast Can Wait. Will a full-fledged album be far behind? We can only hope. But while we're in wait-and-see mode, I thought I'd take a peek into his past -- and by that, I mean his pre-Minnesota, pre-purple, ancestral past. Here are a few of the
discoveries I found scattered in the branches of his family tree:

Among the surnames that appear in Prince's family tree are Bonnell, Brooks, Hardy, Head, Jenkins, Nelson, Phillips and Shaw, so those sharing these names could be related.

As with other gifted musicians such as Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Prince has a concentration of Louisiana roots. In fact, all four of his grandparents were born there, though Minnesota, Georgia, and Arkansas can also claim a piece of his heritage.

Twins run on both sides of Prince's family. His mother was one, and there were also twins in the Nelson branch on his father's side.

Due to the Great Migration, his once mostly Louisiana-based family dispersed to Arkansas, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey and Tennessee.

His maternal grandfather, a Pullman porter named Frank Shaw, went north to Minnesota by way of Iowa. Though this might sound like a peculiar route, this same pattern can be seen in the family tree of Cory Booker, whose ancestors were drawn from the South to Iowa for mining jobs. And as a result of all this meandering, one of Prince's great-uncles is buried at Burr Oak on the outskirts of Chicago, the same notorious cemetery where one of Michelle Obama's uncles is buried.

Prince's paternal grandfather had 11 children by two wives over a 36-year period. This grandfather's parents also had 11 children, but in a more concentrated 14-year period. 22 offspring from just these two generations means that Prince undoubtedly has dozens, if not hundreds, of Nelson cousins in both Arkansas and Minnesota.

Six of Prince's eight great-grandparents were born into slavery, and as was unfortunately so common, one of his great-grandmothers was apparently the daughter of her one-time owner.

Within Louisiana, Prince has roots in Claiborne, Webster, Bienville and Lincoln Parishes. More specifically, the towns of Homer, Cotton Valley, Arcadia and Vienna, are all ancestral hometowns for the Purple One.

One of his great-great-grandmothers could be considered a 19th century version of a cougar. After her first marriage, she took a second husband less than half her age. Her new, teen-aged husband was only five years older than his eldest stepchild. Even so, she managed to outlive him.

*

Yep, this type of information destroys the myth that so many desire to have that Prince is "different" than the "common" Negro and should, therefore, act as much unlike what they consider the "common" Negro to be...whatever that is. What's sad is that for some Prince can't be a rebel individual and African American; For them, Prince being "black/African American" and embracing issues common to a great deal of African Americans limits or minimizes his ability to be a creative individual/rebel.

I remember when comedian Eddie Griffin revealed he was 's cousin. That lasted a few seconds in the press. But if Jerry Seinfield or even George Lopez would have revealed that. It would have been the top story on every news channel. .

[Edited 12/9/14 7:28am]