Ode to Brown-Skinned Women, Do Musicians Show Them Love?
community. In 2010, we still hear people say things like “good hair” and “cute to be so dark skinned.” Although the film “School Daze” released in 1988, it’s strange how much the color controversy within the film is still so relevant even after James Brown sang “Say it loud! I’m black and I’m proud.” Rap group Field Mob rhymed about issues they endured growing up being dark skinned in their song “Blacker the Berry” featuring a chorus with rapper Tupac Shakur. Hip hop lyricist Wale rhymed on “Shades” about light skin versus dark skin. However, we’re progressing slowly but surely and celebrating not just the lighter shades but the darker shades in our black American ancestry. The music industry would make you believe that the only person who appreciates brown skin is India Arie. And as much as I love to hear her sing about wanting a Hershey’s Kiss for her man’s licorice, there are black men who dig brown-skinned women, too. Rappers UGK shouted out chocolate women in the collabo song “Rea
