J. Cole on Colorism: “I might not be as successful as I am now if I was dark skin”
In a recent interview with BET, rapper J. Cole sounded off on a variety of heavy issues, including racial profiling and homophobia in Hip Hop.
One topic of conversation that is seldom discussed in Hip Hop is the issue of colorism.
Cole says his privilege as a lighter-skinned person has probably helped him to get where he is today.
I can’t say it for sure but I just think we’re still in America. We’re still Black Americans. Those mental chains are still in us. That brainwashing that tells us that light skin is better, it’s subconsciously in us, whether we know it or not… still pursuing light skin women. There are some women out there that are like, “I don’t even like light skin men” and that’s fine. But Barack Obama would not be President if he were dark skin. You know what I mean? That’s just the truth. I might not be as successful as I am now if I was dark skin. I’m not saying that for sure, I’m still as talented as I am and Obama is still as smart as he is, but it’s just a sad truth… I don’t even know if this is going to translate well into text and people not hearing what I’m saying, but it’s a sad reality. So I can only naturally assume it’s probably easier for a light skin male rapper than it might be for a dark skin male rapper. It’s all subconscious s***, nobody’s aware — I think that s*** still subconsciously affects us.
Thoughts on J. Cole’s comments, and colorism in the black community?
Are you happy to see a mainstream rapper addressing this issue?
Sound off below!