Afro-Latina recording artist accused of 'blackface body' claps back with childhood video
Thanks to the superinclusive launch of Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty cosmetics line, brands industrywide got a refreshing wake-up call on just how many variations of deeper skin tones there are in the world. Now, an Afro-Latina recording artist may be gaining the same kind of popularity for being nearly forced to show that women of color also come from a ton of different cultures and backgrounds.
After being trolled by others who assumed she must be darkening her skin, Amara La Negra, one of VH1’s Love & Hip Hop: Miami breakout stars, proved that her skin is completely natural by posting a video of herself on Instagram as a young girl. “Well Yea I guess I was Born in a ‘Black Face Body,'” her caption began.
She continued, “It’s funny that I even have to go through this and show you baby pictures or videos to prove to blogs and people on social media that my skin color is not airbrushed or spray tanned nor do I take melanin shots to be black!” During the short clip of her modeling across a stage with braids, pigtails, and a swimsuit, you can clearly see from head to toe that the complexion she has today is in its truest form.
A post shared by A M A R A “LA NEGRA” (@amaralanegraaln) on Jan 4, 2018 at 5:53am PST
La Negra’s post has garnered over 416,000 views along with more than 5,000 comments. One person noted, “You are what the world needed to see. Black beauty in all its perfect glory. I am here. For. It!!!” Another encouraged, “You are gorgeous and you are repping who you are and women like you! I love your spirit and you are immensely talented! Keep shinning superstar.”
The initial issue that more than likely prompted La Negra’s post was a social media comment made by a viewer during a live interview with The Shade Room in which someone proposed that she was wearing blackface. La Negra’s childhood video was the ultimate response and confirmed those accusations to be absolutely false.
This isn’t the first time La Negra’s look has been publicly scrutinized. During a clip of her meeting up to have a studio session with producer Young Hollywood, he suggested that she alter her look if she wants to be successful. “A little more Beyoncé, a little less Macy Gray,” the Miami-based producer said. Oh, and it didn’t stop there. He went on to suggest, “You gotta be a little more sensual. You know the Afro thing is cool … but maybe try something different.” Utterly perplexed at his viewpoint, La Negra asked him for more clarity, and he went ahead and made it clear that he thought having an Afro wasn’t elegant.
Watch Young Hollywood dig himself deeper into a hole, below, with La Negra unhappily walking out and yelling, “F*** you.”
As one would imagine, viewers were just as outraged as La Negra. She has dark skin and a large voluminous Afro that has gained her lots of fans who are transfixed by her beauty. For someone to want to alter that to fit a “cookie-cutter” — as Young Hollywood puts it — standard of beauty is baffling.
La Negra has made it known that there is a void when it comes to notable Latina women who look like her being celebrated in Hollywood. “Not all Latinos look like J.Lo or Sofía Vergara or Shakira,” she expressed during the exchange. “So where are the women that look like myself?” Young Hollywood responded by sarcastically throwing up a Black Power fist.
A post shared by A M A R A “LA NEGRA” (@amaralanegraaln) on Dec 24, 2017 at 11:06am PST
Just when one would think there couldn’t be anything more inappropriate than Young Hollywood’s remarks, there’s actually someone who imitated La Negra’s natural born beauty back in 2016. During popular variety show Aquí Se Habla Espa?ol, former Dominican beauty queen Geisha Montes de Oca wore blackface, an Afro wig, and butt padding to make her overall appearance reminiscent of La Negra’s.
Through all the past and present controversy, La Negra hasn’t let it affect her confidence and determination to inspire as well as enlighten others. On top of her most recent win with Fast Life Entertainment Worlwide and BMG for a multi-album deal, she also continues to share her wisdom. “I am More Than Just a Pretty Face,” she wrote in an Instagram post. “My True Beauty Comes From Within me! For Those That don’t believe that Dreams Can Come True. Join me in my journey and watch me prove Them Wrong!”
A post shared by A M A R A “LA NEGRA” (@amaralanegraaln) on Jan 4, 2018 at 6:31pm PST
Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:
Rihanna shook the beauty industry by challenging what it means to be inclusive
Makeup artist continues to defend blackface as art, not racism
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