Tinashe speaks out on racism in the music industry
Tinashe has spoken out on racism in the music industry in a new interview with xoNecole. She reflects on how there is a lack of room for an abundance of black female artists and how, a one per category seems to be the given.
Tinashe is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, actress and former model.
Tinashe sentiments prove valid and relatable, in order to distinguish yourself as a black female in the music industry you are egged on to out-do other female artists. Whereas with male artists there seems to be more than enough room for each of them to compete.
“I feel like I still have to represent the (black) community. That has been what has been my struggle because people do feel like there is only room for one. There is a Beyoncé, there is a Rihanna, there is Zendaya, there is a Jourdan Dunn. There is a Black girl in all of these positions and we don’t need another one. It’s just kind of ridiculous because there are like a hundred blonde, white actresses and leading ladies. There are a hundred rappers that all virtually look the same, sound the same, and dress the same and no one cares. But for some reason, when it comes to young women, they want to pit them against each other. There can’t be room (for us all). There can’t be five Black girls winning. It’s weird.” Said Tinashe
She also reflects on the nature of skin colour discrimination and the perception of successful black female artists. Given that black people’s skin colours come in varying shades, when a lighter skinned black artist is growing in her career it is perceived that this is the reason why…
“I think it comes from a place of there is only room for (black woman. The way I see it, obviously, is if a black girl is winning – whether she is light skin, dark skin, or any type of shade in-between, that should be a win for the black community, period. But it’s not necessarily always perceived as such. It’s like ‘Oh, she’s on the more lighter spectrum, so that is why she wins.”
Check out the full Tinashe interview
