Exposing the Beauty in Black: A Review of Beyonce, Wizkid’s and Saint Jhn’s “Brown Skin Girl”

It has been weeks since the release of “Brown skin girl” by Beyonce Knowles, Saint Jhn and wizkid on 30^th July 20019. The release of the song was like letting out endorphins to the black community. It is a well-received anthem that speaks of the beauty and glory of the black skin hence appreciating the black race and all that it brings. Like the dark melanin and the kinky hair, the thick thigh and broad hips to mention a few. Listening to the song, it isn’t one of the very bubbly songs that makes you spring quickly to your feet to bust some Michael Jackson dance moves. It especially sips rather quietly into the heart of a race that has been long taught to hate their skin and everything that being black entails. The love for the song therefore is heightened and reinforced by the black sentiments and social reconstruction and perception of the world.

 The release of the song made a huge impact on the internet and social media. Its widespread sparked the worldwide trend of #blackskingirl, a challenge born by Beyonce also. Despite this positive reception there was a twist on social media as to who the black skin girl is. The search for the identity of the “girl” may have been provoked into being because of a line in the song. The particular line reads:

“melanin too dark to throw her shade” (5^th verse, 6^th line) and  another line that says “ but your skin, it glow like diamond”(8^th verse, 4^th line)

The above lines from the song clearly describes a really dark skinned girl with a shiny glow hence the reference to Lupita in this line “Pretty like Lupita when the cameras close in” (5^th verse, 3^rd line).

One could easily see, in the lyrics of the song, that an acknowledgement is given to the “complexities of complexion” but it is more specific to a dark chocolate glowing skin. So this should end the brawl on the complexities of skin tone.  The lyrics of the song is embedded in a message that brings about social awakening; that the black race ought to and should love their skin whose natural beauty belies power gifted to them by nature itself.

In light with the above, the first line of the song alerts the black girl to her beauty by poetically describing her thus: “your skin just like pearls”.  The simile “like” is intentionally used to show comparison as to how precious the black skin is, just as pearls are deemed precious. It celebrates the pure dark melanin and calls on one to bask in the blackness of one’s skin, regardless of what anyone thinks. It also challenges one to continually grow in love with the black skin while conquering socio political perceptions and stereotypes of racism. Black Skin Girl is “woke”.

With the event of the songs’ release, a thousand reactions were felt from prominent people. They more or less endorsed the song by their actions, comments and hash tags, thereby affirming the positive vibe of the song to spread love to the African community. Actors, actresses, sports men and women, musicians, and famous talk show host Oprah Winfrey reacted to the vibe of the song by calling it a resounding love letter to black women which invariably shows what the song means to her.

Oprah Winfrey; changing the perception of African American women.

 Going to Nigeria, music producers like Don jazzy and various others took to their social media to endorse the song consciously and otherwise. By doing this, they show, without mincing words, what the song mean to them. Lupita Nyongo a prominent Kenyan born actress, who is a star in Hollywood, was mentioned in the song. She took to her instagram page and danced in appreciation to the song, not being the first time she would be mentioned in a song by the Carter’s family.

The song which has since been described as a love letter to the African woman has inspired and birthed other versions like the one done by thee Nigerian artist, Simi. It has led to the appreciation and movement of the “Brown Skin Boy”. 

The song has since prompted some people to say they wished they had this song growing up as young girls, wishing they had some public affirmation to appreciate their uniqueness. This, simply meaning that to some it may seem that this kind of song that sings the praise of the African skin is the first of its kind. It is definitely not when we remember India Arei’s “Brown Skin’ released in 2001. The disparity of impact and effect of the latest skin tone song lies hugely in the timing of these songs. Two distinct differences could be through the different eras in which the songs were sung.  Beyonce, Wizkid and Saint Jhn version of the song is aired in an era where the social awakening/ wokeness of the black community are more awake and stronger than ever. Unlike the time of Arie’s “Brown Skin” which they were not as socially awake and empowered.

When looking at India Arie’s “Brown skin”, one sees a similarity of point of view to that of “Beyonce , Wizkid and Saint Jhn’s. The first line begins with ‘Brown skin, you know I love your brown skin” which projects the appreciation of the brown skin. Both Arie’s song and Beyonce, Wizkid and Saint Jhn’s song have lovers confessing love and adoration of partners who are brown skinned. This is clearly seen in lines like: “skin so brown, lips so round”.

Notwithstanding all said, “Brown Skin Girl by Beyonce, Wizkid and Saint Jhn, resonates more in its time which has added to the prowess of the song.

These songs are an instrument of social awareness and alertness emphatically stating that “Black lives matter”. “Black Skin Girl” is a song that talks of acceptance and self-love like yoga teaches. It is a song of race, identity and feminism that urges the African woman to smile and love herself and be who she wants to be as it says: “from your nappy curls to every single curve, your body natural”(8^th verse, line7 and 8). “keep dancin; they cant’t control you, they watchin; they all adore your”(9^th verse lines 5)

The above lines, clearly requests the woman to be free of her inhibitions and insecurities. Implying that people are watching admiringly but not wanting success for “her”. the song thus urges her to keep moving on and breaking barriers. This takes on the feminist approach of women empowerment. The song portrays strong black women Naomi Campbell and Lupita Nyongo as symbols of black women conquering the world and fighting the shackles on them created by a patriarchal society. Thereby presenting that one can break free of societal reserves, expectations, stereotypes and political perceptions that exist.  It brings to light the squabble of society and the black “self” a struggle that has lingered for centuries.

Naomi Campbell; top class African American model.

 

It is a song that urges the African woman to love what the world and society has termed an oddity; nappy/kinky hair, the rise of matriarchy, which are all suspicions embedded in the guise of sexism and race. It urges acceptance and believe in their humanity as every other being on earth despite the rainbow nature of the world.

It goes without saying that the anthem “Black Skin Girl” has keyed into the “black is beautiful movement” specifically the spirit of every black woman.  It therefore paints the picture of a strong black skinned woman taking the frontiers of the world, putting away all that hinders her every step. It suffices thus to say that the song coming from our very own self acclaimed songstress, Queen Bee and Wizkid is confirmed, a match made in heaven.