peterfalconer said:

With all due respect, these are some of the most ignorant comments that I have read on the org - and that is saying a lot.

Prince is a BLACK MAN! I know that is a revelation for some of you, but it is an undeniable fact. He does not have to "try" to be a "specifically black artist."

It amazes me how some Prince fans need to see Prince surrounded by white people in order for them to feel comfortable or to accept him. It is as if he is only fully palatable when his blackness rests in the background, reduced to a mere afterthought. Opinions that spring forth from this mindset have been regurgitated on this board so often that it makes my head spin - The Revolution was his best band, Wendy and Lisa are geniuses and Prince is nothing without them, Prince was threatened by the emergence of W&L, Prince is catering to the BET crowd, the lyrical content of The Rainbow Children is racist, Prince's 3121 lineup lacks diversity, Kim Bassinger was his hottest woman, Susannah was the love of his life, Susannah could have "kept him in that place." Please give it a rest!!!

Why does a black artist have to ingratiate himself to white people for mainstream acceptance(Jimi Hendrix, Michael Jackson)? Prince is a black man who has evolved over the years and obtained knowledge of himself and history. There is NOTHING wrong with him embracing that. He has never distanced himself from the black community or shown preference for the black community over any other community. He has simply expressed who he is - an extremely gifted artist! His art is influenced by his knowledge and experiences, parts of which come from living life as a black man.

Like all human beings he has gone through different phases in his journey where his circle of friends and associates has changed. However, as we age, we get closer to ourselves and form relationships with people with whom we share common interests, knowledge and experiences. If other people feel left out as a result, we cannot help that. The journey of life is a journey to self. Whether folks want to admit it or not, race and identity are inextricably linked in the world - not just America. Prince’s evolution is not unlike that of most people.

So, I don’t think any woman/person could have kept his head in any place. Ask yourself if you are in the “same place” that you were in 23 years ago. The speculation about his relationship with Susannah will be endless. However, let’s keep it in its proper perspective. They were both very young in a relationship at a surreal moment in both of their lives. Our feelings about love and relationships change over time as a result of our knowledge, expereinces and where we are in our lives as well. Prince's love for the different leading ladies in his life mostly likely reflects that. At the end of the day, as the most intelligent posts on this thread have stated…only Prince knows.

bellanoche said:

Yeah, I was waiting for that. I think you've missed the point, and I'd be wasting my breath trying to explain myself to you, with you all the way up there on that high horse of yours...

peterfalconer said:

I'm not on a horse of any kind. You were probably waiting for it because in the recesses of your mind you know that it is well deserved. What kind of comment is "trying to be a specifically black artist?" Better yet, what is a "specifically black artist?" Can you provide some examples to illustrate your point?

That comment is as foolish as when white people think they are complimenting me by telling me that I am "not that black." Or the people who tell me I am cool because I listen to Zeppelin, Sabbath, Joni or Tori, then ask me if I am getting in touch with my blackness when they hear me listen to Teddy, Pendergrass, Miki Howard, Frankie Beverly or Patti Labelle. What does any of that mean? I've heard comments like this my entire life and at 31 I have yet to understand them.

I have always loved Prince, because I felt that he was similar to me in so many ways in terms of his racial experience, his views and his musical tastes/influences. I relate to these aspects of Prince's journey on a personal level. So, I am bothered by statements that insinuate that he is pandering to his black fans.

Ultimately, I would really like to understand the logic behind statements like yours and others made on this board. The people who make them are usually unable to explain themselves without further revealing their myopic, often stereotypical definition of "blackness."

I am honestly not trying to offend or belittle you. I am not on my high horse looking down on anyone. Rather, I am scratching my head trying to figure out the genesis of comments like this in 2006.

bellanoche said:

so many women, and people say hes gay!?!!?!!