Is It A Matter Of Race? The Rise In The Popularity Of The Mixed Race Female Pop Stars
This decade, the music industry has seen a new trend, the rise in the popularity of the mixed race female pop stars. Beyonce , Alicia Keys, Leona Lewis, and Rihanna are all mixed race women they have exploded in popularity in pop culture. Of course, Beyonce, Keys, Rihanna, and Lewis all have talent. However, it would be ludicrous to ignore the politics of race, gender, and sexuality, and how this relates to the real picture. The music industry is all about making money, and the key to making money is reaching as many demographic markets as possible.
I am not suggesting that Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Rihanna or Leona Lewis do not deserve their success, because they obviously worked very hard for their fame. I believe all four of these young women are very talented and definitely are doing well because of their strong work ethic. I am suggesting though that their “Eurocentric appearances”, does have something to do with their popularity. It isn’t just a stroke of luck that there is the trend of the rise in popularity of the mixed race female pop stars.
The mixed race female pop stars are unique, they are “kind of black” yet also “kind of white”, meaning they can appeal to both markets and make the record companies even more money. Why would record companies bother hiring darker skinned black female singers when it is considered tougher to market these women to mainstream audiences?
The mixed race women also of course have the background stories around the “struggle” of being mixed race . You will read the recycled stories about how the light skinned women got it tough because they are so “pale”. It is the typical “tragic mulatto woman” story that Halle Berry has explotied for decades to boost her career. Yes, according to the music industry, “only” light skinned mixed race women struggled in this world.
The media constantly recycle these stories about the dilemmas the mixed race girls went through in their lives. It’s all gimmicks and marketing tricks. The record labels will do anything to sell records.
In the 1980s and 1990s darker skinned black women such as Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, and Mary J Blige were able to appeal beyond the R&B market due to talent,determination, and hard work ethic. Of course Houston, Jackson, and Blige are very attractive women but their success was largely due to their talent.
Clive Davis marketed Whitney Houston as an adult contemporary singer not as an R&B singer although Houston does appeal to black audiences as well. Janet Jackson is considered more of a pop artist then as an R&B singer. In the last four years Janet Jackson’s sound has changed to a more urban sound. Mary J Blige is an example of a black woman that overcame the odds of a tough life and become a legend. Blige is called the “Queen of Hip Hop Soul” and she has crossed over due to her talent.
It is obvious this decade music executives don’t seem to be that willing to spend the money to market and develop dark skinned black female artists.
The only darker skinned young black women that have achieved success in North America this decade are Fantasia and Jennifer Hudson. However, Jennifer and Fantasia got popular due to the television show American Idol. Where would Jennifer and Fantasia be if American Idol did not exist? It is obvious Jennifer and Fantasia have a lot of talent but they are also “darker skinned” black women they are not mixed race.
American Idol allowed unknown talents such as Fantasia and Jennifer to have a “chance” when they probably wouldn’t of broken through in the racist music industry. Fantasia won the third season of American Idol her debut album sold 2 million copies, she was the lead in the Broadway play “The Color Purple”.
Jennifer Hudson did not win American Idol, but she won the war. Hudson’s rise in popularity is truly a stunning example of determination and hard work. Hudson beat over 780 other young women for the role of Effie White in Dreamgirls. Hudson just wanted the job she did not expect to become an acclaimed actress. Hudson was able to to win the Oscar for best supporting actress for Dreamgirls and overshadow Beyonce.
Remember Dreamgirls was supposed to the movie that made Beyonce a Hollywood movie star but she got overshadowed by Jennifer Hudson.Hudson also appeared in the successful film “Sex & The City The Movie” and “The Secret Life of Bees”. Hudson debut album has reached gold status. Would Jennifer Hudson and Fantasia make it if it wasn’t for American Idol though? Would a record company really give Jennifer Hudson and Fantasia a chance? I doubt it.
In the music industry it isn’t just about talent promotion is required, a gimmick such as a background story is crucial to an artist’s success.
Some people will argue that Beyonce isn’t “mixed race” but Beyonce isn’t just black either. Beyonce’s mother is “creole” and her father is an African American. Beyonce looks like her mother, if Beyonce looked like her father, I doubt she would be so popular. Beyonce also has the classic Eurocentic features the light skin, the thin nose, she also wears platinum blonde weaves to have a more European appearance.
Some people will say that Beyonce has a “right” to wear blonde weaves and of course she does it is her choice. My argument is Beyonce’s “blonde weave” is an example of whiteness it is a way to appeal to both black and white markets. It is not a stroke of luck that Beyonce wears a wig to appear more European.
Leona Lewis is being marketed as the new “Mariah Carey” not just due to her talent but also due to her apperance. Lewis is mixed race she has white and black heritage. Just like Mariah, Leona Lewis also has a great voice and she is very attractive. Rihanna is mixed as well her father is biracial. Rihanna also has extremely light skin, the thin nose, and she can appeal to the white teen market. Rihanna’s third album “Good Girl Gone Bad” has sold over 6 million copies worldwide she now has reached the adult market as well.
Will darker skinned black women be able to “make it” in the music industry? Or will the trend continue of the mixed race women dominating the pop charts?
Gayblackcanada 
I agree that this can seem the case, the artists you mentioned are incredibly beautiful but they are also supremely talented. I’m white, I just wish race distinctions/discrimination would disappear forever! Good music, great vocals are upmost in my criteria of what I will listen to and buy. How can you beat the likes of Angie Stone, Jill Scott, Mary J. Blige, Ruby Turner, Aretha? The list is endless!
I live in the UK, we have a number of home-grown gorgeous, talented black female singers who have had great success in Britain at least over the past 10 years or so. I include Estelle, Jamelia, Beverly Knight in my line-up.. I’m no expert on their genetic make-up but I believe they qualify as being ‘black’ rather than mixed-race. You are right that the darker-skinned females tend to get less promotion, but is it due to the ‘prettiness’ factor rather than skin darkness which is rife in the music-industry no matter what ethnicity the artist is?
Unattractive women rarely obtain maximum exposure in today’s culture – whereas males no matter what colour or degree of attractiveness are affected less by this tendency – maybe this is case of gender inequality rather than degree of colour?
What grates on me, is the recent rise of the ‘White Soul Sister’ syndrome, IMHO they rarely match the soulful depth/character of their black/mixed-race counterparts, but that is purely my take on it.
I ant to believe raw talent will always breakthrough no matter the skin colour.
Arcticsnooze you are right about black female soul singers in the UK able to be very successful. I have heard about Jameila, Beverly Knight, Gabrielle, and Estelle and they sell very well over there. I always wondered why these black female UK singers don’t do well in the USA but so well overseas?
There is definitely a white female soul singer syndrome I think it is just a way for the record companies to make money. Although I do believe Duffy and Amy Winehouse are talented singers.
Well, mostly it’s down to Simon Cowell!!! Probably the reason Leona Lewis is a hit in the US is because of his clout! Money speaks! I’m sure it won’t be long before you guys over on your continent get this year’s X-Factor winner Alexandra Burke too(who as far as I can tell is definitely black).
As for Amy W and Duffy… I’m not exactly a big fan, Amy sounds fine on her recordings, but from her live TV appearances I’ve seen/heard she is truly disappointing… as for Duffy, at first I liked her… but after a few releases her voice has started to grate I’m afraid. As far as white British female soul singers go, Adele is probably one of the best of our ‘newcomers’… but she is a large (but pretty) lady… which may be why she hasn’t has the big sell as much as the others!
Think it’s probably even more difficult for black British male singers to get a foothold in the States – I mean have you guys ever heard of Lemar? 😦
This story, observation,is so old. What would be new is what to do about it. And I’m not talking about something political.Maybe even something funny.Like one day of Black women running through the streets screaming, “WE’RE BEAUTIFUL! WE’RE BEAUTIFUL”, dressed liked ancient queens or goddesses. Just something CRAZY!
But O, Beyonce, Rihanna are NOT mixed. Rihanna’s father is light skinned and her mum is dark.
I do see exactly what you are saying but just thought I’d point out that Beyonce and Ri are not mixed. Beyonce’s mum is a light skinned woman.
All the women you mentioned do have Eurocentric features but I also think it is about the public’s racist nature.
Even black people have intense self hatred!
Light skinned girls being famous is related wholly to economics and what the market wants.
Hi Aulelia, I thought Beyonce and Rihanna were mixed thanks for the clarification.
No Beyonce is mixed race because her mother is mixed race. Her mother is Creole, which for those who don’t know is french and African American.Sometimes Creole people are even mixed with Native American heritage.
Note: This new layout is confusing
@Rachel, Beyonce is not mixed race. Firstly, she has NEVER once called herself ‘mixed-race’ She always says ‘African-American’. For example, a few years ago she said she wanted to be the first African American woman to win a Tony, Oscar. And in a Marie Claire UK interview earlier this year, she said that she wants to show black women that they can achieve whatever they want.
I know the concept of blackness is hotly contested, as per this thread but Beyonce and Rihanna do not identify as mixed race and therefore should not be called mixed-race.
I don’t know why it is so hard to see them as ‘black’ for some people. Blackness is more than just the hue of one’s skin.
Good thread Orville.
@Orville, just some proof that Beyonce considers herself as ‘black’.
The following link is a behind the scenes look at her 2008 Essence magazine cover and she talks about how important Essence mag is because it is ‘our’ magazine, ie, for black woman.
Lol, I know I am being picky but I am huge Bee stan and one reason why I love her is because she is so pro-black.
Understood aulelia. Beyonce is not mixed. She is black. Her father and Creole mother are black as well. Does anyone remember her real hair????
@msgrevioux, what do you mean ‘her real hair’? why is her hair relevant in this discussion?
It more has to do with standards of beauty, as Akon and Seal have little problem doing well.
This may not be a bad thing. This may mean that eventually darker women will have their day.
On the other hand, what about Mary J. Blige? Even Aretha Franklin?
beyonce is definitely mixed race.her mum is ‘creole’ meaning she’s has a little bit of african and french blood in her. but obviously, beyonce prefers to identify herself as black. and i don’t blame her. there’s this unspoken rule in society that says ‘if you look remotely “black” or if you have a drop of black blood in you, you’re black’ regardless of the fact that your dad was white while you mum is black. same can be said with barack obama. in spite of his white heritage(from his mother’s side), people continue to refer to him as a african american in the process denying his mother any part in his life. both barack and beyonce refer to themselves as african american because that is exactly what mainstream society expects them to. also, there’s a “secure/relief” factor in identifying oneself with one particular “race” rather than having to say i’m half this and half that. Yasmin Brown’s of The Independent has written an excellant article titled “CALLING OBAMA BLACK IS AN INSULT TO HIS MOTHER” . check it out.
redapple I understand what you are saying that mixed race people should not deny any part of their heritage. However, I sense this attitude that somehow by claiming “blackness” that some people view being black as being a bad thing when it is not. Why don’t you question the issue of racism in white society? Why don’t you question why society will not “accept” mixed race people as part of white culture? Black culture does accept mixed race people more then white culture and that’s the reason why some mixed race people call themselves “black.” Also, do not forget the legacy of slavery and the days of segregation.
If Barack Obama was a young man in the 1960s he would be seen as “black” the KKK wouldn’t care if his mother was white or not.
Also, this is just my personal opinion I notice when mixed race people suddenly become successful white society wants to claim them. For example, before Halle Berry won the Oscar and crossed over she was supported by the black media and the black press. White Hollywood did not care about Berry “until” a few years ago.
to say that “society” does not accept mixed race offsprings part of white culture is a little exaggerated.no? what exactly is society?i find that today, people are in general more accepting of mixed race kids. as a matter of fact, people go on about how goodlooking mixed race offsprings tend to be. anyway, i’m sure you’re right when you say that often white people don’t accept mixed race kids as a part of white culture . i’m also certain there are black people who do not accept mixed race kids as part of black culture/community. there were always be those who won’t accept mixed race kids but then one has to remember there are also some people who do accept and embrace these biracial kids. and about the history of KKK and segregation, i get that.it was an unfortunate period. but at the same time, if i were married to a person of another “race” tomorrow, and had kids. i would be seriously offended if my daughter chose to ignore her mother’s(mine) heritage. regardless of what society accepts and demands biracial kids to refer to themselves as , i think in the end, they should stay true to themselves and speak the truth. if you’re biracial.be proud of it and don’t deny any part of what made you and makes you different.
redapple, Beyonce is not mixed-race.
Rihanna is not mixed-race.
In the cases of Beyonce and Rihanna, they both have one light skinned parent and one dark skinned parent.
Black people come in all different shades and tones.
I find it hilarious that now Barack has become such an important figure, he is all of a sudden mixed-race to mainstream society.
Fuck that shit. Barack is black and so is his immediate family! People need to get over it. Because he seems himself as black. End of.
Anything to say that you are not black. Frantz Fanon was right; blackness is the lowest rung for some people. But not for me.
People like Leona Lewis fair enough. But Beyonce has already said plenty and plenty of times that she sees herself as African-American. Just because she is light skinned does not mean she is mixed-race. Nonsense.
I really hate it when people will do anything to take away from black achievements by saying people aren’t black.
SMH.
there’s no need to get so defensive. i by no means am trying to undermine black achievements. if anything, i’m a very pro-black person. there might be other people who never accepted barack as anything but black but i am not one of them. to be fair, most people didn’t know who obama was until he ran for the democratic race. and like most people who’ve read his memoir DREAMS FROM MY FATHER: A STORY OF RACE & INHERITANCE, i infer that he’s a biracial person. if i read his memoir 10 years back(when he wasn’t famous), i’d still consider him to be a biracial person. so that’s that. but having said that, i do understand why Obama himself chooses to identify himself as an africana-american. and i have nothing but respect for his decision to do so. it’s just sad that people can’t tell something for what it really is just because “things have been that way for ages”(e.g. because others refer to me as black or asian based on my physical appearance, i choose to identify myself as solely that rather than acknowledge both heritages)
But all in all i think people shouldnt assume that black people are mixed just because of eurocentric features like eye color for example. i am a african american with natural hazel eyes and light skin. both of my parents are african american. Its just how genetics work out. I know Rhiana is black for sure and Beyonce. And i also agree with the article above that darker skined woman have less chances in the media/hollywood than a lighter skinned woman. its pretty sad. just like how skinny woman have a bigger chance in winning a modeling contract than a plus size woman. And a blonde girl having a bigger chance in hollywood than a minority. The world needs to change!!
Beyonce and Rihanna ARE mixed race. A person does not have to have two immediate parents of different “races” to be mixed. Rihanna’s father is biracial, and so is Beyonce’s mother (i believe). Your race and ethnicity are two different things. Rihanna is Bajan to the bone. That’s her culture, not African-American. Beyonce may live the life of a African-American, but that’s not the entire truth of her families heritage. Arguments (which they are because minorities can never discuss race without it turning into an argument) about race are futile. One side won’t budge on their opinions, and neither will the other side. Rihanna and Beyonce are in fact of mixed race heritage, and so are most American people who have been in this country for over 200 years. People choose to call themselves by certain labels, and ignorant people put others in boxes to make themselves feel more secure with the label that they’re assigned. Since Barack Obama was mentioned, he is 1/2 Black, 1/2 White. No matter how much Black people want him to be 100% Black (which doesn’t exist too often), he’s not. His father was from Africa, not a person from the US that has mixed blood as a result of slavery. His kids, despite their appearance, are a MINIMUM of 1/4 white. They’re STILLED OF MIXED RACE ANCESTRY no matter if he, Michelle, or whoever simply deems them as solely Black. Once purity has been tainted, it is no longer pure. End of story. A person can chose to identify however they like, but that doesn’t mean that’s what they truly are. And DNA, since that was brought up too, has everything to do with how a person looks. But if everyone in your family is 100% Black, with no mixing or contribution from white or native ancestors, Black people would all look the same…unless you are the product of a genetic mutation, meaning you’re albino. So to argue that Black=Black, and people aren’t mixed, just light skin or just happen to have light eyes or the most Caucasian features just by chance is a pretty dumb argument. And from my personal experiences, White society has accepted me as mixed race and left it at that, whereas Black society has continuously tried to put me in the Black box, and the Black box only. Everyone’s story is different. But science doesn’t lie. And science will deem Rihanna and Beyonce as people who come from different assigned races. Get their blood tested and see how it’s going to comeback with 100% NOT coming straight out of Africa. You don’t have to like it, but that’s the truth, Ruth.
I find it really redundant to say B & Rihanna are mixed race when they do not identify as such.
Both women are black.
It doesn’t matter how far people say they have a mixed heritage background, as far as Beyonce & Rihanna are concerned, they identify as black and live that way.
And so does Halle Berry too.
As soon as a black woman is successful, she is all of a sudden less black.
Okay… Halle Berry can ” identify” herself as black. And, certainly did in accepting her award. Her mother however, does not have that option. Hollywood does not want black women, they want women with european (white] features and mocha colored skin at best. People tend to find people of mixed race very attractive. And not just black and white, but indian and swedish, mexican american and so on.
Well i just want to say that beyonce and rihanna are both black just because there mum or dad have a lil light skin in them or a
Different culture in them that dont mean nothing. My dads mixrace half black half white and my mums white but i still say im mixedrace and my dads lighter skin than me but he still half black. And about obama he is mixedrace weather he calls him self black or not.
If Rihanna and Beyonce are mixed then a hell of a lot of other African Americans are mixed too. Most African Americans aren’t pure African. But rather, like Beyonce, they are predominately of African descent. Hell, not even Oprah and Whoopi Goldberg are pure African. I find it curious how people are so quick to point out that Beyonce has a Creole mother, but never seem to point out this fact about Solange. Whenever she is referred to as a black girl, no one ever feels the need to make a correction. Light skin isn’t a novelty in the black community. Not every fair skinned black person is half white. I would go so far as to say that most of them aren’t.
@ auliela. you strike me as a racist. take the chip off your shoulder and the blindfold off your eyes.
beyonce is mixed race as is rhianna. why is that so hard for you to admit? there are very few pure blacks in the usa.
Beyonce is mixed race. maybe that gave her some advantage:however the reality is she is gorgeous,talented.She can write,sing,act,and dance, and she is a virgo. I admire her as a artist. She also has a sweet personality. Look. I AM MIXED (MULTI ETHINIC) INDIAN BLACK,europeon. I LOVE WHO I AM AS A WOMEN. My skin is honey hued ,my hair is long and jet black. And my eyes are almond colored. Lets just appreciate everyone for their beauty and differences! enough already with the race debate! visit my website ardysslife.com
Hi, thanks so much for these tips! My blogs usually do bring readers and responses. One thing I do is engage with the readers. Answer questions in responses and make clarifications where needed. I think they appreciate that I take the time to talk to them.
I agree with Mixed_Chiquita 85 and Sheba. 😉
Aurelia…you make some very good points. However, I want to share my perspective. I know that some biracial/multiracial people identify as Black, but the reality is that they aren’t ONLY Black. Halle Berry is free to identify as Black. There’s nothing wrong with that. But the truth is that she is both black AND white. Same with Obama. I respect everyone’s right to identify as they wish, but let’s not pretend that certain people are simply one thing or the other.
I’m a person of mixed race. It seems a bit disingenuous and false to identify myself only as a Black woman, when I do not look like the majority of Black women. I’m often stared at. I’m often assumed to be white, Latina, or Asian. Very few people can tell that I have African blood in my veins. I’ve walked into rooms filled with other Black people and they wondered what the “white” woman was doing there. I’ve been around Black people who didn’t trust me because they believed I was white. Looking the way I do makes it nearly impossible to claim a Black identity and be taken seriously by most people.
I’m not denying my blackness, but at the same time, I will not accept a false reality by only claiming to be Black.
Like Mixed_Chiquita 85 stated, light skin and European features often come from mixing somewhere down the line. Maybe a person has two parents who look Black and identify as such, but if they have very light skin and green or blue eyes…obviously they have some white ancestry.
This doesn’t mean they should deny their African heritage, but it seems silly to pretend that certain features exist in Black folks “just because”. Slavery, rape, and interracial relationships have all contributed to the diversity of people throughout the African diaspora…whether it is in the United States, the Caribbean, or Europe.
Beyonce’s parents are African-American, but this doesn’t mean they aren’t mixed. Matthew Knowles is extremely dark but I can tell he has some Native American blood. Tina, Beyonce’s mother, is light-skinned and her grandmother had French/Spanish AND African roots.
I wish people could simply acknowledge that being Black is not bad, being mixed is not bad, and everyone is special in their own way.
Trinity Deserio and Rai Rai are BOTH correct. Hate to break it to you guys but light-skin black man or woman is NOT black. The West African slaves brought over from Africa were as black as a black binder! MOST whites in the U.S. and most blacks in the U.S. are HYBRIDS…get over it. I’m not even pale-looking and I’ve never been accepted into black cliques in school. I now know it’s because I’m mixed. There is NO such thing as a light black person NOR a dark white person. Yes, the sun can change your color (but your skin will revert back to its natural color). Being mixed does not mean 50% of this and 50% of that. In Africa, Beyonce and Rihanna are called 0.5 (meaning half) and that term is used in a deragotory sense!! Black Africans would not count them as their “sista” … rather they would treat them as a novelty! And the men would chase them for you know….
Two black Africans will not produce a honey-hued person…that would be a genetic mutation….like an albino!! Get over it!