When Nicki Minaj released her new visual promo for her
upcoming single “Anaconda” there was major backlash for her reverting to her
old image after making conscious efforts to try and separate her from the
overtly sexual image she once portrayed. Her reaction was to call it racism.
Alluding to the fact that the black woman’s body is viewed as too racy, too
abrasive, instead of as art like a white woman’s body. While racism clearly exists
in entertainment, especially when talking standards of beauty and the fashion
world, it is also a case of taste. Nicki instagrammed pictures of white or fair
skin high fashion models in shots with their butts to the camera labeling them “acceptable”
while then posting her own single art work with the word “unacceptable.” I have
several issues with all of this.
First, in the world of art an image can send such a strong
message based off things as simple as angles, lighting, facial expressions, and
more. The difference between arching ones back and con caving it delivers different
emotions in a still shot picture. Even scenery plays a huge part. Nicki posted
a bunch of slim, high fashion models in bikinis on beach shoots. Only one was
in an actual thong and one model was Chrissy Teigen of Thai descent. Nicki is squatting,
spread eagle, looking back at the camera in a g string in front of a white
backdrop. Though I can agree that black women’s
bodies have been hyper sexualized and at times this culture has shunned and
bashed curvy shapes, I do not think race played a major part in the opinion of
this single art work. The taste level
was non-existent. Venus Williams, a voluptuous black woman just posed fully
nude butt to camera in the ESPN: Body Issue and there was no uproar from
anyone. It’s not just a bunch of white or “non-black”
people having an issue
with this, it is the people that look like Nicki as well. (or what she looked like
pre-op)
Though black women do tend to have more voluptuous bodies
than a white or Asian woman, we live in a world where ANY woman can achieve the
body she desire and a lot do. So now women as a whole are overly sexualized
which makes the details much more important. The details being the context, the
poses, the scenery, the faces, lighting, angles, etc. If Nicki had been
slightly hunched, face forward, with her arms behind her in a black and white
shot even that would have portrayed a more sensual image versus sexual or
raunchy.
It is no news to know that hip-hop, and now even r&b,
promotes overtly sexual images. I do not see any of them raising their hands to
volunteer as role models for young kids and I don’t believe they should censor
their selves because parents do not monitor what their children see. However, most
are not even role models for young adults of age.
Nicki and her team made it a point to draw her away from the
raunchy image she portrayed in her early years that garnered her attention. She
crossed over taking on a pop like persona in outrageous clashing layers and
colored wigs galore reflected in her music. From there the only option was to
become her, which brings us to 2014 Nicki with simple hair, makeup, and
wardrobe. Possibly the best she has ever looked. Just when it seems she may
have transcended the need for gimmicks she takes a leap back and drops
(literally) the anaconda visuals.
Where a second issue arises, IF she is so concerned with preserving
the value of the black woman’s body why is she selling back into the less known
stereotypes. Ever since hip-hop became another form of consumerism the black
woman has been a hyper sexualized image. So when a black female rapper pursues
a career in music she is often primped into a sexual being, from lyrics to
visuals.
At this point in Nicki’s career she is such a major
influence that if she chose to just exemplify how a black woman (and any woman)
should hold and respect themselves the industry would have no choice but to let
her. This is without even saying or addressing the issue, letting her actions
alone speak.
Then again she has never seemed to truly control her own
image since she signed her 360 with young money, and I am sure this was very
much a decision made by the whole team. None the less, it seems she has decided to go
back to her rap roots as far as the music goes, and sadly the visual has too. Perpetuating
the image that black female rappers must expose their bodies and sexuality to
maintain a brand and success.
I am not and have not really been a fan of Nicki, but I was
admiring the turn in her career. I enjoy the moments where she has seemed
genuine in her moves. I am not giving up faith and I hope she sees through the
jaded support her fans will provide to the bigger picture of why this image
alone was unnecessary. If her goal is to be a voice for demanding respect for
black women as a whole she may want to remember the hiphop emcees of the early
90s who used their music to express messages to their community. And lay off the photo shop if the point was to embrace the black womans body.
Carry on.
A few black women doing racy in a tasteful way, just for emphasis.
Hey Tyra.
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