Beyonce’s and Solange’s dad, Mathew Knowles, has long ago proven himself to be a complex individual. He’s made mistakes (cheated on his now ex-wife, Tina Knowles Lawson), he’s molded one of the most dynamic superstars of today’s generation, he’s had love affair kids outside his marriage, and he also dedicates his time toward helping others in need within his hometown of Houston, TX. So, as you can see, the brotha has many layers from which he gets judged by, but quite frankly, don’t we all? It’s called being human, even though it does not negate any of the wrongdoing we may have done.
That brings us to the topic of this article, apparently Mathew is on a mission to shed a much needed spotlight on the ignorance of colorism in America. In doing so, he’s getting some backlash, as well as praise. Why? Because as we previously reported, he’s being brutally honest about his inflictions with colorism, while simultaneously holding a mirror up to America, forcing her to embrace her wrongs, so to speak. As we could expect, with bravery, always comes adversity and for Mathew, he’s getting his daily dosage now.
In an interview with Ebony Magazine, Knowles was promoting his upcoming book, “Racism: From the Eyes of a Child.” Aside from admitting that he thought his ex, Tina, was a White woman when he first met her, he then went on to discuss why Beyonce has had so much success. Simply put, he says it’s because of her light skin. Let Knowles explain in this excerpt from his Ebony interview:
"If we each at least come clean with who we are, with even the ugliest past, we can work to project a more beautiful picture for the children yet to come."
Preorder "Racism From The Eyes Of A Child" today. https://t.co/LSnyMzZ5Pz pic.twitter.com/ISNAVbGGkH— Mathew Knowles (@MathewKnowles) February 2, 2018
Mathew Knowles: “When it comes to Black females, who are the people who get their music played on pop radio? Mariah Carey, Rihanna, the female rapper Nicki Minaj, my kids [Beyonce and Solange], and what do they all have in common?”
Interviewer: “They’re all lighter skinned.”
MK: “Do you think that’s an accident?”
Interviewer: Of course not!
MK: “So you get it!”
At first glance, hearing a Black man say that about his daughter, may make him seem very shallow and void of substance. But after actually reading what else Mathew had to say, it soon becomes clear that he wasn’t attempting to sound like a brainwashed coon at all. He was instead shedding light on a very brainwashed state of mind within America that has existed since slavery.
Mathew Knowles: “I have a chapter in the book that talks about eroticized rage. I talk about going to therapy and sharing–one day I had a breakthrough–that I used to date mainly White women or very high-complexion Black women that looked White. I actually thought when I met Tina, my former wife, that she was White. Later I found out that she wasn’t, and she was actually very much in-tune with her Blackness. … I had been conditioned from childhood. With eroticized rage, there was actual rage in me as a Black man, and I saw the White female as a way, subconsciously, of getting even or getting back. There are a lot of Black men of my era that are not aware of this thing.”
Fan Reactions
Check out the mixed reactions he’s getting over his revelations…
https://twitter.com/Thisbutts4u2/status/960591237102399488
https://twitter.com/Myishiacb/status/960618574044807168
https://twitter.com/TaylurJeffers/status/960592348664168449
https://twitter.com/Myishiacb/status/960618574044807168
https://twitter.com/Agilesmusic/status/960603494578376704
there is no lie there. he is just stated the facts (that could’ve gone without being said aloud 🙄)
— ★★★★☆ (@GABBYiSACTiVE) February 5, 2018
It’s understandable that the lies and psychological warfare that has brainwashed and conditioned many generations of human beings, is a painful wound to bear for many. However, we can only put a band-aid over it for so long, because even though it’s covered, it’s still bleeding. Therefore, what Mathew is admitting and raising awareness about – the nonsense notion that beautiful women, like Lupita N’yongo and Gladys Knight, are not as ‘beautiful’ as a Beyonce and Pebbles- is a much needed discussion, not only within the Back community, but it sure is a great place to start.
