RiotPaisley said:

wizardtelly said:

I love it so far but the parts in which he lies about his nationality because of the ignorant journalist asking.. I see that it was true, he started that rumor. Lol. Not sure how to feel about that, but understandable in the grand scheme of things. (Marketability at the time) just strange that someone so proud hid that he was 100% Black, black American. African American.

This is the interview I was referring to in the other thread. He didn't do many interviews by the time I got into him. This is all I had. it wasn't the "white media" saying it or making him something he wasn't/ isn't. And it's important to talk about why he felt he needed to lie so we can teach the future to be proud of their blackness, half blackness, quarter, a drop blackness... We all come from Africa blackness. I don't think he wasn't proud of his blackness but I think he thought he could either make himself sound more "exotic" (mind you, he said Italian, not

/

He lied about both his age and ethnic background, but it's showbiz and no big deal. He was just trying to seem more interesting and also appeal more to a crossover audience, which was more difficult back then. He embraced his true age and ethnicity later on when it was easier to do. But was so thoughtful and intellgent adn yes I miss him too.

jwar said:

I've got this on CD. It's an import picture disc.

Here it is:

https://www.amazon.com/Interview-Picture-Disc-Prince/dp/B0000011QC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1464788385&sr=8-1&keywords=prince+interview+CD

.

Good find. Yes I think that's the same one I had like 30 years ago.

Oh yeah, just heard the part where he says he might be a grip on a movie set.... I remember we cracked up when we heard this back 1993 when I first heard this interview. It was on vinyl I think.

Wow. What a gem. Thank you!

FunkiestOne said:

RiotPaisley said:

wizardtelly said: This is the interview I was referring to in the other thread. He didn't do many interviews by the time I got into him. This is all I had. it wasn't the "white media" saying it or making him something he wasn't/ isn't. And it's important to talk about why he felt he needed to lie so we can teach the future to be proud of their blackness, half blackness, quarter, a drop blackness... We all come from Africa blackness. I don't think he wasn't proud of his blackness but I think he thought he could either make himself sound more "exotic" (mind you, he said Italian, not

/

He lied about both his age and ethnic background, but it's showbiz and no big deal. He was just trying to seem more interesting and also appeal more to a crossover audience, which was more difficult back then. He embraced his true age and ethnicity later on when it was easier to do. But was so thoughtful and intellgent adn yes I miss him too.

Age : pure Barnum / Greta Garbo strategy, let's have all doubting about my age. Classic.

Ethnicity : I think you're taking it the wrong way. He said it was important at the beginning of his career to insist on non-being this or that. He already had the concept of multi-gender multi-racial band in his mind. He made sure that got on the contract with Warner Bros. Sly came on better social times. Prince had to blur the lines in the Reagan years, it ain't no sixties babe.

He had to make sure his records wouldn't fall in the R'n'B section only.
Not because he was ashamed of something, or wasn't proud.
Simply because he knew he could eventually play all kinds of music.
Because all kinds of music appeal to him.

[Edited 6/1/16 15:28pm]

It's obvious just from looking at his skin colour Prince was mixed race.

Elvie said:

Love this interview. He was a wise old soul for sure.. Ironic he was talking about movies and kind of unsure about acting in one, then went on to do PR which was so big for him.

but by this time he had made the Second Coming... and several videos so he had an idea about the process

fortuneandserendipity said:

It's obvious just from looking at his skin colour Prince was mixed race.

STOP IT, please... get 5 clues, I fear 1 won't do Black people come in all shades - I have a sister much lighter than him & she's BLACK. He was BLACK - be ok w/ that, people

CalhounSq said:

fortuneandserendipity said:

It's obvious just from looking at his skin colour Prince was mixed race.

STOP IT, please... get 5 clues, I fear 1 won't do Black people come in all shades - I have a sister much lighter than him & she's BLACK. He was BLACK - be ok w/ that, people

Me and all of my siblings are light skinned and people think we are mixed but we are black. My mom was so light she could of passed for white but she was black and most of her side of the family is light skinned

He pushed away from these divisive race agendas for the same reasons ya'll are Still trying to shove it down our throats now. No one cares. No "race" owns this man, so stop trying to lay claim. Jesus.

OnlyNDaUsa said:

Elvie said:

Love this interview. He was a wise old soul for sure.. Ironic he was talking about movies and kind of unsure about acting in one, then went on to do PR which was so big for him.

but by this time he had made the Second Coming... and several videos so he had an idea about the process

This was during the "Dirty Mind" campaign. "The Second Coming" was made in '82, not long after Controversy was released.

FunkiestOne said:

jwar said:

I've got this on CD. It's an import picture disc.

Here it is:

https://www.amazon.com/Interview-Picture-Disc-Prince/dp/B0000011QC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1464788385&sr=8-1&keywords=prince+interview+CD

.

Good find. Yes I think that's the same one I had like 30 years ago.

I swear mine had a different cover though. Maybe there were a few different kinds made. Cool.

[Edited 6/1/16 16:56pm]

I've heard a few times over the years his dad was part italian and his mother part french and american indian. If true why would this be a problem to anyone? After all it's said the mongrel is always the cleverest animal in the litter.

fortuneandserendipity said:

I've heard a few times over the years his dad was part italian and his mother part french and american indian. If true why would this be a problem to anyone? After all it's said the mongrel is always the cleverest animal in the litter.

I don't think it would be a problem to anyone. His parents were Black, he is Black. The "problem" is some folks don't want him to be "JUST" Black, & it's weird. Lots of folks are mixed with stuff, but what all are you gonna claim at the end of the day? & what are the motivations for doing so? 'MURRIKKA

CalhounSq said:

fortuneandserendipity said:

I've heard a few times over the years his dad was part italian and his mother part french and american indian. If true why would this be a problem to anyone? After all it's said the mongrel is always the cleverest animal in the litter.

I don't think it would be a problem to anyone. His parents were Black, he is Black. The "problem" is some folks don't want him to be "JUST" Black, & it's weird. Lots of folks are mixed with stuff, but what all are you gonna claim at the end of the day? & what are the motivations for doing so? 'MURRIKKA

Likewise, those people who don't want him to be 'just' mixed race. But to labour the point, a while back I was watching a video of Prince performing on TOTP and my mother, catching a glimpse, remarked "He has a black nose". Indicating she didn't think he was a black guy. Maybe he has the skin colour of a north african but there's something that makes him look quite distinct from any north african I've seen, probably what my mother referred to. All said and done if his parents, or either of them, are mixed heritage that wouldn't be the most uncommon thing in the world. Many people are mixed and if anything that should be celebrated not viewed suspiciously.

fortuneandserendipity said:

CalhounSq said:

I don't think it would be a problem to anyone. His parents were Black, he is Black. The "problem" is some folks don't want him to be "JUST" Black, & it's weird. Lots of folks are mixed with stuff, but what all are you gonna claim at the end of the day? & what are the motivations for doing so? 'MURRIKKA

Likewise, those people who don't want him to be 'just' mixed race. But to labour the point, a while back I was watching a video of Prince performing on TOTP and my mother, catching a glimpse, remarked "He has a black nose". Indicating she didn't think he was a black guy. Maybe he has the skin colour of a north african but there's something that makes him look quite distinct from any north african I've seen, probably what my mother referred to. All said and done if his parents, or either of them, are mixed heritage that wouldn't be the most uncommon thing in the world. Many people are mixed and if anything that should be celebrated not viewed suspiciously.

You're kinda missing my point - I'm not looking at mixed people suspiciously, I'm frankly just tired of those who think being "just" Black isn't enough, especially for their beloved Princey ... also, I'm guessing you & your mom haven't seen a whole lotta Black folks... but whatever, people can pine for him to have been this & that & blahblahNAH - dude was Black, sorry 'bout it

CalhounSq said:

fortuneandserendipity said:

Likewise, those people who don't want him to be 'just' mixed race. But to labour the point, a while back I was watching a video of Prince performing on TOTP and my mother, catching a glimpse, remarked "He has a black nose". Indicating she didn't think he was a black guy. Maybe he has the skin colour of a north african but there's something that makes him look quite distinct from any north african I've seen, probably what my mother referred to. All said and done if his parents, or either of them, are mixed heritage that wouldn't be the most uncommon thing in the world. Many people are mixed and if anything that should be celebrated not viewed suspiciously.

You're kinda missing my point - I'm not looking at mixed people suspiciously, I'm frankly just tired of those who think being "just" Black isn't enough, especially for their beloved Princey ... also, I'm guessing you & your mom haven't seen a whole lotta Black folks... but whatever, people can pine for him to have been this & that & blahblahNAH - dude was Black, sorry 'bout it

You say you are sure he is black. But unless you know exactly who his parents are, their family tree, their geneology, then you're guessing- which means you're believing what you want to believe. I'm open-minded to the possiblity he isn't 100% black.

fortuneandserendipity said:

fortuneandserendipity said:

wizardtelly said:

fortuneandserendipity said:

You say you are sure he is black. But unless you know exactly who his parents are, their family tree, their geneology, then you're guessing- which means you're believing what you want to believe. I'm open-minded to the possiblity he isn't 100% black.

Brother, I don't know what race you are but please stop this immediately. Prince was a black man. His parents were black, even Toure and a recent panel explained why he used this tactic which was for poor distribution and marketing. That's like me saying, just because Serena Williams looks black doesn't mean she's 100% black and could be of mixed heritage. It's incredibly facetious and heading into a different direction of multiple races and ethnic groups wanting to "claim" Prince. The man was black, sorry if you do not like it. This is a discussion that goes beyond Prince, it's a discussion many blacks of multiple origins go through, and he's not "mixed" with two black parents regardless of what generations and generations down the line permit. That's most black folks due to the effects of colonization, but he is black. X

It's not proof. To know who his grandparents were might help but Prince himself didn't know who they were, specifically his mother's father for one. That leaves open the possibility he wasn't all black. Maybe he gets his lighter skin from north african heritage, but again that's conjecture. His nose and bone structure by contrast are east african, where he appears to take after his father. Look up deduction in the dictionary if you need to, cos it will always give a more probable answer than guesswork.

fortuneandserendipity said:

wizardtelly said:

I just want to clarify that "light skin" is not exclusive to North Africans whatsoever. Within every African country, there are different groups of people based on tribes and historic genealogy complexities. It is only in the West that people dismantle being black and that is quite a shame. Disgusting even. As stated, I don't need any proof to know that Prince was a black man and to know that you're slightly delusional and wishing he was a mixed race man. Mixed race is Barack Obama, and yet people still consider him black. No need to reply to me because I'd not want you to waste your time as I won't be reading. Much love [Edited 6/2/16 11:27am]

I've not come across any central africans, east or west who have a skin colour as light as a berber or arab of north africa. I also haven't come across any central african with the same colour as Prince. You're the one being delusional as you are certain Prince is 100% black. I'm not certain either way. The evidence on balance would suggest he wasn't. His skin colour is lighter than barack obama's for instance who is 50% black. Maybe just maybe Prince avoided the sun for 20+ years and he ended up with a skin colour much lighter than perhaps his genealogy confers.

Furthermore, there's nothing wrong in 'dismantling' what being black constitutes. It's called fair-minded analysis, and if you want to be prickly about this, remember we all come from the central east part of africa anyway.

CalhounSq said:

fortuneandserendipity said:

It's obvious just from looking at his skin colour Prince was mixed race.

STOP IT, please... get 5 clues, I fear 1 won't do Black people come in all shades - I have a sister much lighter than him & she's BLACK. He was BLACK - be ok w/ that, people

Good to see ya Cal, I see ain't a damn thing changed LOL

fortuneandserendipity said:

It's obvious just from looking at his skin colour Prince was mixed race.

You might just be the most ignorant person in this world. Black people are "colored" people because we vary in shade and feature, without being "mixed race." What are you talking about?

fortuneandserendipity said:

wizardtelly said:

I just want to clarify that "light skin" is not exclusive to North Africans whatsoever. Within every African country, there are different groups of people based on tribes and historic genealogy complexities. It is only in the West that people dismantle being black and that is quite a shame. Disgusting even. As stated, I don't need any proof to know that Prince was a black man and to know that you're slightly delusional and wishing he was a mixed race man. Mixed race is Barack Obama, and yet people still consider him black. No need to reply to me because I'd not want you to waste your time as I won't be reading. Much love [Edited 6/2/16 11:27am]

I've not come across any central africans, east or west who have a skin colour as light as a berber or arab of north africa. I also haven't come across any central african with the same colour as Prince. You're the one being delusional as you are certain Prince is 100% black. I'm not certain either way. The evidence on balance would suggest he wasn't. His skin colour is lighter than barack obama's for instance who is 50% black. Maybe just maybe Prince avoided the sun for 20+ years and he ended up with a skin colour much lighter than perhaps his genealogy confers.

Furthermore, there's nothing wrong in 'dismantling' what being black constitutes. It's called fair-minded analysis, and if you want to be prickly about this, remember we all come from the central east part of africa anyway.

Where you come from, is a place very far from where I want to be. In specific, we all technically come from Ethiopia. Guess what they are? Black. Stop responding to me please, I don't understand why people like you actually exists. This is a big reason why Prince marketed himself this way, because being "black" and having mainstream successes was difficult as it is. He is black, I am sorry white folks of the world (without penetrative racism or prejudice, as well). I know the urges of whites liking to "claim" black people with extending talents is a popularity. People will come out of the woodworks and investigate and find "So & So is 2.83719% Neandrathal and 3.1928% Celtic-Irish" *due to enslavement*. If it makes you feel better, then sure! Have a good day, month, and week. Take it easy.

[Edited 6/3/16 5:59am]

Why is there a consistent need to BREAK DOWN what percentage "black" someone is when it seems convenient? That's ludicrous and pathetic. Then talk about fact, he's a black man. What good is it if he's "mixed race" generations down the line? Most black people of the diaspora are. Does that mean we should all claim different races? And then make people who desperately want to make themselves feel better and close to his genius over a measley little percentage of something else feel accredited and included? There are people who like to blurr too many racial lines just because it's Prince. He's "light-skinned" so it's "impossible" for him to be black? That's absolutely ridiculous. Absolutely unfair, as well. This is a bigger discussion than just Prince, it's something that holds black people back by a long shot. It's not acceptable. He's not Italian either that was clarified, and his family even came out with that nonsense a long while back as someone mentioned.

It's very unfair and this is a discussion that goes back to slavery and colonization. That assumption about light-skin is so far-fetched because there are Nigerians, 100% "black", who are freckled, blonde, or red-headed, and incredibly light-skinned. There are East Africans who are dark as night and light as the day. Africans are not exclusively one thing, there are too many different tribes to describe what is black and what is not. That shows our diversity as people.

This only happens when someone is successful and black. It happened to Michael Jackson, it happened to Beyonce, it happens to many individuals who represent black excellence. Did Prince consider himself a "white man"? Absolutely not. I don't see anyone doing this in reference to Alexander Hamilton, Mozart, and Beethoven, all people who are said to have had black heritage.

[Edited 6/3/16 6:09am]

[Edited 6/3/16 6:17am]