Kendrick Lamar Accused of Colorism

Kendrick Lamar has been accused of colorism due to the woman that he is engaged to.

You know, it was actually quite hard to type that previous sentence out. Over the past few weeks, much has been said about Kendrick Lamar. Whether it be “lyrical titan”, “weirdo rapper”, “confused human being”, or whatever many want to call him, Kendrick Lamar is still a Black man. And being a Black man, he has to welcome much commentary about his actions. Namely, there will be plenty of people questioning and talking about every little thing he does.

Still, I am usually at a loss for words when someone is questioned over their own personal choices.

Kendrick Lamar Believes in Colorism?

Recently, Kendrick Lamar became engaged to his longtime girlfriend Whitney Alford. In an interview with Power 105.1 Breakfast Club, he noted that he is “loyal to the soil”. And you know what? This is great news to me! In my eyes, there is nothing more important than being loyal to the woman that had your back when your top flight cuisine was sardines and ramen noodles.

However, there are many of those that don’t share my adulation for Kendrick Lamar’s situation. Rashida Marie Strober made it perfectly clear that she was thoroughly disgusted with his choice in woman:

well, well, well would you looky here! ANOTHER FAKE CONSCIOUS MUTHER FUKER EXPOSED. I will never support him nor his music with one dime of my money and encourage all dark skinned women not to either! [1]

And she was not done after that, either.

FAKE CONSCIOUS COON ASS RAPPER KENDRICK LAMAR PART 2.

I see calling out and exposing self hating fake black men who speak about consciousness but date and marry NON DARK SKIN WOMEN brought you haters to my page. WELL SHARE THIS MUTHERFUKING POST!!! These type of fake coons are the worst of the worst. DARK SKIN is the essence of true blackness and if these fakers were really and truly conscious they would MARRY DARK SKINNED WOMEN!!! You pissed ?? GOOD!!! [2]

So, what she is saying is that Kendrick Lamar is a “fake activist” and a “coon” because the woman that he has been dating for years is not dark skinned. I take it that we are going back to School Daze when the sorority girls and the regular girls chirped about “good or bad hair”, right? Or are we going to take it back farther with the “light skinned brother” (he’s not black, btw) preaching his Blackness in The Spook Who Sat By The Door? Are we really going to assume that Kendrick Lamar is being color-struck through his love life? Also, at what point was it our fucking business what he chose to do in his love life to begin with?

Kendrick Lamar and Where Rashida Marie Strober Went Right/Wrong

What Strober does help us realize is that colorism is an issue that needs to be addressed. Colorism is a practice of discrimination by which those with lighter skin are treated more favorably than those with darker skin [3]. With roots in slavery, light skinned slaves received preferential treatment. Meanwhile, the darker skinned slaves caught much more flack. This type of treatment has carried on into our societal actions.

Unconsciously, we have either witnessed or partaken in colorism. All of those “paper bag” tests that many organizations and clubs did back in the day? Colorism. Mentioning “Light Skinned Be Like” jokes? Colorism. Showing preferences for those that aren’t dark skin? Colorism. Thus, colorism has been happening without many of us recognizing it.

However, what Strober fails to realize is that she is speaking out against colorism by using its worst aspects. I understand that she is pro dark skinned women. I love it actually. However, she isn’t going to win any fans by going after a man because his fiancé is light skinned. In all actuality, she sounds like a bitter female misguided by her own insecurities and inner demons.

For Kendrick, this is bae. You really think he cares what people think at this moment?

I’m still wondering if she understands that many Black people come in many different shades and hues. But that is another discussion.

I would've thought that Kendrick staying with the same Sista both pre- and post-fame would be something to celebrate, but don't mind me.

— April (@ReignOfApril) April 5, 2015

And then, there is the obvious part: how does she even know Kendrick Lamar’s intent? This is Lamar’s high school sweetheart. This isn’t some chick he picked up after the Dr. Dre checks and dick riding became overwhelming. This is actually the one female that remained loyal through the thickness of failure and thinning lane of success. In short, Whitney Alford is Kendrick Lamar’s ride or die chick.

Meanwhile, Strober is looking like a misguided hater.

Kendrick Lamar Epilogue

I am glad that people like Strober work hard to eradicate the effects of colorism. However, using “reverse-colorism” isn’t the way to defeat it. Black is beautiful in all of its different shades. Being dark skinned is not better than being light skinned and vice versa. At the end of the day, the shade of your skin cannot account for the ugliness of one’s soul.

‘Nuff Said and ‘Nuff Respect!!!