23 July 2012

Link

Eric Benet is feeling the heat from fans and some new enemies after dropping his song, “Redbone Girl,” playing on the classically Southern phrase describing fair-skinned women.

Critics claim that he’s promoting the mainstream, racist standards of beauty.

“I think it’s its own form of racism,” he told CBS Local of the controversy. “I did a song called “Chocolate Legs’ about my experience with a dark skin lady. There was no anger or uproar of ‘How dare you.’ So ‘Redbone Girl’ is one song about one experience about a girl who happens to be light complected but there was quite an uproar.”

Despite him attempting to justify his position, online critics are relentless, saying the light skin beauty concept is linked to privilege and superior beauty.
“There’s a clear premium on light skin and on straight hair, whether it grows out of your head or not,” said Akiba Solomon gender blogger for Colorlines.com. “I’m not a big fan of songs that fetishize dark skin either. But you could argue that [the ‘dark-skin’ devoted songs] offer some sort of resistance to the prevailing beauty standards. He’s attempting to be provocative. He’s pretending that he’s never heard about light skin preferences. Let’s not pretend that it doesn’t exist.”

But Benet doesn’t accept the argument, saying there is a double standard in society when it comes to artists expressing themselves and sharing their experiences.

“You can talk about how wonderful it is to be with a dark complected person but how dare you talk about having an experience experience with light skin person,” he said. “By no way is ‘Redbone Girl’ me professing my preference for any type of skin color. It’s just the songwriter talking about one experience. When people look into it much deeper than that, it’s on them.”

While Eric Benet does attempt to provide some sort of balance with a separate song and a disclaimer, Lil Wayne takes a less nuanced approach on “Redbone Girl.” He raps about the pleasures of a lighter skin girls in general terms, as if he’s taking a 2012 version of the “Doll Test.”

“I like the long hair, thick redbone … I like ‘em lights-kinned, lighter than a feather…” Benet says no matter which side of the argument you stand, songs like “Redbone Girl” ultimately provide an opportunity to have the discussion about how blacks view each other.

“I think the fact that we are talking about it, it’s an issue,” he said. “Now it makes me, on my next record, want to talk about an experience with an Asian girl. What I was trying to do as a songwriter is talk about the beauty of all. One at a time. The fact that it’s so sensitive, we need to talk about it.”

Fuck Eric Benet and errbody that love em.

Proof that some people have too much free time and are far too easily offended.

The tasty bit of irony is those same critics will listen to the ''flavor of the month'' rapper repeatedly characterize Black women as "hos" and "bitches''.

The hypocrisy is staggering.

how would everyone prefer us to sing about women-as-meat?

Identity said:

The tasty bit of irony is those same critics will listen to the ''flavor of the month'' rapper repeatedly characterize Black women as "hos" and "bitches''.

The hypocrisy is staggering.

I was gonna say this.

Dark sskin people have always been jealous of light skin people. What's new?

Pr1nceQuik said:

Dark sskin people have always been jealous of light skin people. What's new?

Really man?

Identity said:

The tasty bit of irony is those same critics will listen to the ''flavor of the month'' rapper repeatedly characterize Black women as "hos" and "bitches''.

The hypocrisy is staggering.

This is very true.

Anyways, my opinion is meh. I don't care.

As you keep reminding us...

Weren't there songs in the past by R&B artists that mentioned the type of women they like? Some say dark, some say "high yellow", others said redbone...

So why is Eric being picked out?

This world is getting too PC.

Identity said:

As you keep reminding us...

Me? Actually that's the first time I said what I thought.

Timmy84 said:

Weren't there songs in the past by R&B artists that mentioned the type of women they like? Some say dark, some say "high yellow", others said redbone...

So why is Eric being picked out?

This world is getting too PC.

I find it strange that the focus is on skin color and totally ignores the fact that it's about viewing women entirely as sex objects.

Now, I agree with you about people being PC, and I don't care personally who Erec Benet likes or if he objectifies women (hell, it's just a damn love song, not a political speech). But it seems like the attitude toward women is so pervasive that nobody even sees it!

If you're going to be PC, then be PC

Identity said:

23 July 2012

Link

Eric Benet is feeling the heat from fans and some new enemies after dropping his song, “Redbone Girl,” playing on the classically Southern phrase describing fair-skinned women.

Critics claim that he’s promoting the mainstream, racist standards of beauty.

“I think it’s its own form of racism,” he told CBS Local of the controversy. “I did a song called “Chocolate Legs’ about my experience with a dark skin lady. There was no anger or uproar of ‘How dare you.’ So ‘Redbone Girl’ is one song about one experience about a girl who happens to be light complected but there was quite an uproar.”

Despite him attempting to justify his position, online critics are relentless, saying the light skin beauty concept is linked to privilege and superior beauty.
“There’s a clear premium on light skin and on straight hair, whether it grows out of your head or not,” said Akiba Solomon gender blogger for Colorlines.com. “I’m not a big fan of songs that fetishize dark skin either. But you could argue that [the ‘dark-skin’ devoted songs] offer some sort of resistance to the prevailing beauty standards. He’s attempting to be provocative. He’s pretending that he’s never heard about light skin preferences. Let’s not pretend that it doesn’t exist.”

But Benet doesn’t accept the argument, saying there is a double standard in society when it comes to artists expressing themselves and sharing their experiences.

“You can talk about how wonderful it is to be with a dark complected person but how dare you talk about having an experience experience with light skin person,” he said. “By no way is ‘Redbone Girl’ me professing my preference for any type of skin color. It’s just the songwriter talking about one experience. When people look into it much deeper than that, it’s on them.”

While Eric Benet does attempt to provide some sort of balance with a separate song and a disclaimer, Lil Wayne takes a less nuanced approach on “Redbone Girl.” He raps about the pleasures of a lighter skin girls in general terms, as if he’s taking a 2012 version of the “Doll Test.”

“I like the long hair, thick redbone … I like ‘em lights-kinned, lighter than a feather…” Benet says no matter which side of the argument you stand, songs like “Redbone Girl” ultimately provide an opportunity to have the discussion about how blacks view each other.

“I think the fact that we are talking about it, it’s an issue,” he said. “Now it makes me, on my next record, want to talk about an experience with an Asian girl. What I was trying to do as a songwriter is talk about the beauty of all. One at a time. The fact that it’s so sensitive, we need to talk about it.”

Gee Whiz! How's he pretending that it doesn't exist?

Furthermore, where's that blogger when Kanye West professed those same feelings over and over again in his music. Why the selectivity?

Not a fan of Benet, but I'm glad he didn't quibble and coughed a 1/2 assed apology,,,,,and I really hope he doesn't it.

NDRU said:

Timmy84 said:

Weren't there songs in the past by R&B artists that mentioned the type of women they like? Some say dark, some say "high yellow", others said redbone...

So why is Eric being picked out?

This world is getting too PC.

I find it strange that the focus is on skin color and totally ignores the fact that it's about viewing women entirely as sex objects.

Now, I agree with you about people being PC, and I don't care personally who Erec Benet likes or if he objectifies women (hell, it's just a damn love song, not a political speech). But it seems like the attitude toward women is so pervasive that nobody even sees it!

If you're going to be PC, then be PC

Guess no one cares about that. They don't focus on the sexual objectiveness because people are already trying to make it a political debate lol

MickyDolenz said:

Damn, dude facing backlash over this? Some people need some Johnson&Johnson babywipes because there's too much butthurtedness in society lately.

Harlepolis said:

Identity said:

23 July 2012

Link

Eric Benet is feeling the heat from fans and some new enemies after dropping his song, “Redbone Girl,” playing on the classically Southern phrase describing fair-skinned women.

Critics claim that he’s promoting the mainstream, racist standards of beauty.

“I think it’s its own form of racism,” he told CBS Local of the controversy. “I did a song called “Chocolate Legs’ about my experience with a dark skin lady. There was no anger or uproar of ‘How dare you.’ So ‘Redbone Girl’ is one song about one experience about a girl who happens to be light complected but there was quite an uproar.”

Despite him attempting to justify his position, online critics are relentless, saying the light skin beauty concept is linked to privilege and superior beauty.
“There’s a clear premium on light skin and on straight hair, whether it grows out of your head or not,” said Akiba Solomon gender blogger for Colorlines.com. “I’m not a big fan of songs that fetishize dark skin either. But you could argue that [the ‘dark-skin’ devoted songs] offer some sort of resistance to the prevailing beauty standards. He’s attempting to be provocative. He’s pretending that he’s never heard about light skin preferences. Let’s not pretend that it doesn’t exist.”

But Benet doesn’t accept the argument, saying there is a double standard in society when it comes to artists expressing themselves and sharing their experiences.

“You can talk about how wonderful it is to be with a dark complected person but how dare you talk about having an experience experience with light skin person,” he said. “By no way is ‘Redbone Girl’ me professing my preference for any type of skin color. It’s just the songwriter talking about one experience. When people look into it much deeper than that, it’s on them.”

While Eric Benet does attempt to provide some sort of balance with a separate song and a disclaimer, Lil Wayne takes a less nuanced approach on “Redbone Girl.” He raps about the pleasures of a lighter skin girls in general terms, as if he’s taking a 2012 version of the “Doll Test.”

“I like the long hair, thick redbone … I like ‘em lights-kinned, lighter than a feather…” Benet says no matter which side of the argument you stand, songs like “Redbone Girl” ultimately provide an opportunity to have the discussion about how blacks view each other.

“I think the fact that we are talking about it, it’s an issue,” he said. “Now it makes me, on my next record, want to talk about an experience with an Asian girl. What I was trying to do as a songwriter is talk about the beauty of all. One at a time. The fact that it’s so sensitive, we need to talk about it.”

Gee Whiz! How's he pretending that it doesn't exist?

Furthermore, where's that blogger when Kanye West professed those same feelings over and over again in his music. Why the selectivity?

Not a fan of Benet, but I'm glad he didn't quibble and coughed a 1/2 assed apology,,,,,and I really hope he doesn't it.

The blogger also needs to check all the women who chase behind light skinned dudes for the same reasons they claim dudes want light skinned women. Everytime a man professes a preference regarding skin color he gets slammed but you don't hear about women getting that flack.

HonestMan13 said:

Harlepolis said:

Gee Whiz! How's he pretending that it doesn't exist?

Furthermore, where's that blogger when Kanye West professed those same feelings over and over again in his music. Why the selectivity?

Not a fan of Benet, but I'm glad he didn't quibble and coughed a 1/2 assed apology,,,,,and I really hope he doesn't it.

The blogger also needs to check all the women who chase behind light skinned dudes for the same reasons they claim dudes want light skinned women. Everytime a man professes a preference regarding skin color he gets slammed but you don't hear about women getting that flack.

The stench of hypocrisy, ain't it?

Both Eric Benet and this topic put me to sleep..

Timmy84 said:

HonestMan13 said:

The blogger also needs to check all the women who chase behind light skinned dudes for the same reasons they claim dudes want light skinned women. Everytime a man professes a preference regarding skin color he gets slammed but you don't hear about women getting that flack.

The stench of hypocrisy, ain't it?

Yep!

Identity said:

The tasty bit of irony is those same critics will listen to the ''flavor of the month'' rapper repeatedly characterize Black women as "hos" and "bitches''.

The hypocrisy is staggering.

exactly.

That's bullshit. He did a song called "Chocolate Legs", too.

He's an equal-opportunity perv.

Pr1nceQuik said:

Dark sskin people have always been jealous of light skin people. What's new?

Sad dark skin and light skin is dividing our community. We got enough issues. Just silly. Divide and conquer. Divide and conquer.

On top of that, why a woman got to be objectified by her color like it is some kind of fetish? I don't care if she's dark or light. If you look at her skin color and want to call her "sexual chocolate" or "sexy red" both are being objectified.

It's amusing how many decades (centuries?) pass by and people still manage to get their panties in a knot over the lyrics to popular music.

Haterz!!

lyecry said:

Pr1nceQuik said:

Dark sskin people have always been jealous of light skin people. What's new?

Sad dark skin and light skin is dividing our community. We got enough issues. Just silly. Divide and conquer. Divide and conquer.

On top of that, why a woman got to be objectified by her color like it is some kind of fetish? I don't care if she's dark or light. If you look at her skin color and want to call her "sexual chocolate" or "sexy red" both are being objectified.

Can't believe we're even having this discussion in 2012... This sounds like some 1980's shit, which I think was the last decade where being light skinned and having wavy/straight hair was generally accepted as the standard of black beauty... Do people STILL concern themselves with such things??? Darker skin people have been getting plenty of love from where I see it...for a long time.

The only people who would get worked up about this are people who are self concious about their own skin tone. They have their own personal self image issues to work out.