Leave Black Women Alone.
As the days go by, more and more black female artists disappear from the public eye – some even giving up on their original passion. Why is that? The influx of backlash they receive for simply being themselves. You would think this level of personability would be appreciated and praised as these women try to garner connections with supporters – but they are instead bullied and harassed. Newsflash: black female artists are not here for you to police their bodies, appearances, experiences, or thoughts. Let them live their lives and enjoy (or don’t) the music.
Earlier today, Dreamville signee Ari Lennox took to Instagram for a heart-felt reveal of her disdain for her newfound fame. She dropped her debut album “Shea Butter Baby” in early 2019 as an ode to Black women and her love of soul music. Lennox has been in the spotlight recently for her opinions on Gayle King, wigs, etc., as well as a viral tweet about her appearance. She wrote: “People think the industry is the worst part of being successful, no it’s the people judging your every move.” She added that she wishes she were never “so naïve” in thinking she could openly share her personality with the world at her discretion. She announced she will not be going on Instagram live until further notice.
As a supporter and someone who has tuned into countless lives, I can vouch for the fact that Ari Lennox is the most unproblematic artist out. She has not brought any of the criticism thrown her way on herself. Yes, she did choose to be in the spotlight. But that does not mean she deserves to be publicly ridiculed for simply existing. Attacks on everything from her nose to her hair have weighed the singer down. She should not have to water down her hilariously beautiful, fiery personality because people cannot handle a woman with an opinion.
But Ari Lennox is not the only R&B star who has been pushed into silence to protect their peace. Five-time Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter SZA has stepped away from social media multiple times. Everything about her existence has been questioned and nitpicked. There are entire YouTube videos and discussion posts dedicated to conspiracy theories on her hair, weight, and origin story. Songstress Kehlani has also fallen victim to the dark side of celebrity. I have seen people call her everything but her name, even questioning her hygiene despite never coming close to encountering her. In 2016, the Oakland star was hospitalized from a suicide attempt following an influx of hate. Some took to social media to show support, while artists like Chris Brown chose to make a mockery of her instead. Summer Walker, Normani, Ella Mai – the list goes on. There are far too many instances of sudden switch-up to name in less than 1,000 words.
Female rappers are not safe either, the perfect example being Megan thee Stallion. While the Houston hottie has not expressed similar plans to disappear any time soon, her personal life has been the butt of many jokes recently. Comments about her stature and attire have surfaced. Twitter trolls believe her sexual song lyrics give them license to keep tally on her possible love interests. What Megan chooses to do with her vagina is, frankly, none of anyone’s business. And if that is your prime concern, maybe you should re-evaluate your passions in life. Plus-sized rapper Lizzo is probably the greatest example of the attempted erasure of black womanhood.
What was she scrutinized for? You guessed it, her weight. The “jokes” concerning her body have driven the star to completely leave Twitter. I would quote specific examples, but they are far too grotesque, triggering, and undeserving of attention.
City Girls’ JT went on live to address fans’ bombardment of concerns and criticism about the duo’s promised music. She was recently released from parole in early March after serving an 18-month sentence. She received an outpour of love from the public as they fixed their fingers to tweet #FreeJT at every turn. Yung Miami, her other half, did an excellent job of creating a thirst for new music from the group, teasing that the longing for more would be put to rest once JT was free. Fans grew unhappy because JT was not as active as they convinced themselves she would be. In reality, she was on parole, which she abided by because, of course, she does not want to go back to jail. Now that she, and the rest of the world, have been forced to pause their endeavors due to COVID19, the drama ensued. JT quickly reminded them who she was in an emotional IG live: “The reason the City Girls don’t have a project out right now is because our rollout got fucked up [due] to the Coronavirus. But at this point, we[‘re] ‘bout to just drop that shit, and let it just do whatever it’s going to do because our shit is straight… Bitch, I ain’t bigger than god… Y’all need to leave me the fuck alone and let me be. And stop saying mean stuff to me because y’all don’t know what people be personally going through.”
The pattern with all of these women is due to one phrase known to stan Twitter users: “hate trains”. These waves of critiques usually emerge a year after an artists’ debut, or months following a major career milestone. Black female artists are usually hit harder since they receive backlash from not only the general public but specifically the Black community. Citizen journalism sites, also known as gossip blogs, like The Shade Room, invite their followers to rag on the artists with selective posting. The comments become a cesspool of emotionless, bitter, hateful remarks from bored strangers. You truly hate to see it.
The popular colloquial “if you ain’t got no haters you ain’t poppin’” is the perfect response. I hope all of these women understand that their role in entertainment is pertinent. I hope fans, and the like, realize that these women are human beings who deserve to be treated as such. They are not your punching bags. To the women, there are large bodies of men and woman who speak power behind you. We need you. We love you. We have your back.