Beyoncé - Brown Skin Girl Video on Youtube

[BlondeQueenOfGGD 25,454]

Love the visuals 

[paradox 4,568]

1 hour ago, StrawberryBlond said:

Wasn't initially going to respond to this but when I saw how many pages it had, I just had to see what was happening. The video itself is beautiful looking but certain lyrics to this song have always bothered me. I'm going to deal with them in the most diplomatic way I possibly can. I'm just critiquing this in the same way as I'd critique any other song, there is never any hatred intended in anything racial that I speak. This is just a deep dive into certain lyrics.

@HoneyB @L E O @Joaco95 perhaps you would be interested in seeing my take on lyrics that I deem as problematic. I'm not saying Beyonce's racist but I do think she delves into some distasteful racial ideals and I hope you might be able to see where I'm coming from at the very least :

"Brown skin girl, skin just like pearls, best thing in the world." - This one has multiple issues. First, as I've said from the very beginning, "brown" is commonly a word that middle eastern and south Asian people use to describe their skin, to differentiate it from other POC. Its only recently that some black people have started referring themselves as brown, therefore, when I hear this term, I'm actually more prone to associate it with a different race, so it's an odd choice. Secondly, skin just like pearls actually suggests white skin. Maybe it's a reference to black skin traditionally being very smooth and pearls are smooth but when people compare a skin colour to something, it's always a reference to the colour of the thing they're comparing it to, so pearls is again, a very odd choice of words. Finally, while no one should feel ashamed of their race, your colour should never be referred to at the best thing in the world. Racial supremacy ideas are not cool no matter what race does it.

"She need an Oscar for that pretty dark skin." - This again reinforces the idea that being black is the most superior race and even now suggests that it's Oscar worthy in and of itself, even though Oscars are meant for who's the most talented in the art of film, nothing to do with looks.

"Melanin too dark to throw her shade." - This weirdly suggests that your complexion is in correlation to how resilient you are to nastiness. It baffles me how Beyonce doesn't seem to realise that she just sidelined the black girls who have lower melanin levels, especially the ones who who very light skinned or could even pass as white. This is the line that makes you think that it's only meant for the darkest of black people, instead of all black people.

"I love everything about you from your nappy curls." - Even I, as a white person, am shocked by the inclusion of the word "nappy" which is never spoken of in a positive light. It wasn't hard for her to replace it with "frizzy" or "afro," but she chose "nappy," which is a word choice that I just can't support.

"Same skin that was broken be the same skin taking over." - I understand that coming from a discriminated race can result in being a strong person but please don't boast about taking over from a racial perspective. No race should be the only race in charge and this idea isn't any less palatable or is made better because you sing it in a pretty tune.

 

In conclusion, I think a song about loving your skin colour could be done so much better. There are better songs about this topic out there that don't play with a racial hierarchy like this song does nor do they make statements about black being better than other races. Everyone should be happy with their skin colour and not try to change it but you should never let it define yourself as a person or hold it up above others.

I know most of you won't want to listen to the opinion of a white woman on this one but I speak out of concern for all races and their self-worth when I criticise songs like this. You can make a song about the beauty of black skin in a much better way and do so without problematic references. We should be free to express our views about song lyrics when they involve race without being called racist when it's clear we come from a place of concern and hope for a world of better race relations in the future.

Wtf is this mess? 

[Monster7 5,697]

You really should see the full movie, this is the song with the most basic visuals actually, Find Your Way Back and My Power are outstanding @HeardASine

Spoiler

Off topic, some of the people before, calling Beyonce a racist in a serious way... 2020 always disappoints I guess

 

[L E O 6,035]

I was about to answer to all of this mess that Strawberry user made but then... Why should I waste my energy on white supremacist trying SO hard on every threads about Black pride. 

If you're rotten on the inside and can't enjoy black people being happy with themselves, in any way they judge fit, in ways us white people cannot judge, no matter how much educted on the subject you want to sound, ESPECIALLY in 2020, go f*ck yourself I don't know what else to tell you. 

[StrawberryBlond 14,902]

28 minutes ago, paradox said:

Wtf is this mess? 

A deep dive into lyrics, like any music reviewer would do. I was completely respectful and diplomatic throughout. For you to write it all off as a "mess" makes me wonder why I even bother trying to do one of the things I love most in this world - getting into the meaning behind lyrics - and putting it on GGD. Barely anyone takes it seriously and are so rude.

18 minutes ago, L E O said:

I was about to answer to all of this mess that Strawberry user made but then... Why should I waste my energy on white supremacist trying SO hard on every threads about Black pride. 

If you're rotten on the inside and can't enjoy black people being happy with themselves, in any way they judge fit, in ways us white people cannot judge, no matter how much educted on the subject you want to sound, ESPECIALLY in 2020, go f*ck yourself I don't know what else to tell you. 

You really shouldn't call someone a white supremacist without any proof. I did not for one second give any indication that this is my belief. If you read it, you'd see I'm actually against any practice of racial supremacy and wish all races could get along without pitting ourselves against each other. Just because I'm not immediately on board with something a black person says does not mean that I'm against them.

What is your fascination with calling people rotten on the inside? That's a really nasty thing to say when you've never even spoken to me until now and have only seen a tiny glimpse into who I am. Just so you know, whenever I bring up my views on how women are treated as a woman, I frequently get kickback around here, with men telling me I don't know what I'm talking about. I don't receive widespread support, nor are these men told that they don't have a right to an opinion on women's issues. It seems that women's issues are fair game for men to speak on, even if it involves laughing at and/or silencing women. Yet, try to give opinions on racial issues when you're white around here and there is no toleration of said opinion, you're called every name under the sun and the overwhelming belief is that you have no right to speak on this. Double standards, much? It's no wonder that so many people feel they can't breathe without being jumped on anymore and are becoming reluctant to express any opinion anymore.

[paradox 4,568]

Just now, StrawberryBlond said:

A deep dive into lyrics, like any music reviewer would do. I was completely respectful and diplomatic throughout. For you to write it all off as a "mess" makes me wonder why I even bother trying to do one of the things I love most in this world - getting into the meaning behind lyrics - and putting it on GGD. Barely anyone takes it seriously and are so rude.

Yeah, next time you shouldn't bother! 

[StrawberryBlond 14,902]

15 minutes ago, paradox said:

Yeah, next time you shouldn't bother! 

Ugh, it saddens me how people are so happy about opinions being stifled. If it was yours being spoken about in this way you may think very differently.

[lego 44,165]

On 8/24/2020 at 4:29 PM, Varys said:

I notice it is always eastern european members here that are fuming about black empowerment 

 

 

ugh good connection. Poland, Slovenia, most EE countries are racist as hell.

[SevenWonder 4,404]

I am not really a Bey fan. But I am low key obsessed with this song. I love the lyrics, melody, visuals. It's so damn good.

[lego 44,165]

On 8/24/2020 at 10:35 PM, Roxanne said:

yea, her songs also have racist messages but people just dont want to see it, because she is black and she can be proud of her race, skin and she can have only black people in videos and she can sing about them. 

 

joined March... are you trolling or is this just pure ignorance? quote those “racist messages” from her songs. 

have you met one black person in Georgia? have you talked to them? it’s always from the least diverse places on this planet yt people talking ****. 

[Gimme More 35,404]

55 minutes ago, StrawberryBlond said:

A deep dive into lyrics, like any music reviewer would do. I was completely respectful and diplomatic throughout. For you to write it all off as a "mess" makes me wonder why I even bother trying to do one of the things I love most in this world - getting into the meaning behind lyrics - and putting it on GGD. Barely anyone takes it seriously and are so rude.

You really shouldn't call someone a white supremacist without any proof. I did not for one second give any indication that this is my belief. If you read it, you'd see I'm actually against any practice of racial supremacy and wish all races could get along without pitting ourselves against each other. Just because I'm not immediately on board with something a black person says does not mean that I'm against them.

What is your fascination with calling people rotten on the inside? That's a really nasty thing to say when you've never even spoken to me until now and have only seen a tiny glimpse into who I am. Just so you know, whenever I bring up my views on how women are treated as a woman, I frequently get kickback around here, with men telling me I don't know what I'm talking about. I don't receive widespread support, nor are these men told that they don't have a right to an opinion on women's issues. It seems that women's issues are fair game for men to speak on, even if it involves laughing at and/or silencing women. Yet, try to give opinions on racial issues when you're white around here and there is no toleration of said opinion, you're called every name under the sun and the overwhelming belief is that you have no right to speak on this. Double standards, much? It's no wonder that so many people feel they can't breathe without being jumped on anymore and are becoming reluctant to express any opinion anymore.

Just stop typing, please.

[StrawberryBlond 14,902]

4 minutes ago, Gimme More said:

Just stop typing, please.

Will you quit trying to stifle every opinion of mine you see that you don't like? You weren't the least bothered when I spoke well of Britney and Little Mix. You suddenly don't mind me when I say stuff you like. Either I have a right to express an opinion or I don't. Seriously, who do you think you are to tell me not to use this forum the way it was intended?

[Jose P 23,341]

44 minutes ago, StrawberryBlond said:

Ugh, it saddens me how people are so happy about opinions being stifled. If it was yours being spoken about in this way you may think very differently.

One thing is having an opinion, and another thing is being inherently racist. You are on EVERY Beyoncé thread saying how her expressing her pride on being a black woman and empowering other black women is somehow problematic. Don’t tell me “it’s not racist just an opinion and I’m educated and did my research” to try to make your statement look smart and correct when it’s just a well-written and pretentious racist comment.

[Gimme More 35,404]

1 minute ago, StrawberryBlond said:

Will you quit trying to stifle every opinion of mine you see that you don't like? You weren't the least bothered when I spoke well of Britney and Little Mix. You suddenly don't mind me when I say stuff you like. Either I have a right to express an opinion or I don't. Seriously, who do you think you are to tell me not to use this forum the way it was intended?

You're forcing your opinion on everyone else, so why can't I give mine? 

I may not have been 'bothered' with those topics, however I am bothered in topics like these where your remarks are extremely different and can cause offence. Would you prefer I was negative in every topic I came across you? 

I don't think this forum was intended for racism 

[HeardASine 443]

1 hour ago, Monster7 said:

You really should see the full movie, this is the song with the most basic visuals actually, Find Your Way Back and My Power are outstanding @HeardASine

about to start it! <3