Many non-Black entertainers, influencers and artists have been accused of “acting Black” or thinking it’s okay to use racial slurs in their content because their main audience is Black.
Singer Danileigh is a clear example of a racially ambiguous woman who thinks they can get a pass for using the “N-word” or using other African American euphemisms and colloquialisms to be accepted into Black culture. These types of cultural appropriators are better known as “culture vultures” within the Black community.
Recently, the singer released a snippet of her song, “yellow bone” on social media and the reactions she received from the song were completely fair and justified. The song seems to have encouraged colorism through her lyrics and a lot of her Black audience was completely against it.
In the song she refers to herself as a “yellow-bone.” According to Urban Dictionary, “yellow bone is a term used for lighter skin black women.” According to this definition, Danileigh is neither a Black, or light skin woman.
After she posted the snippet, she commented under the post saying, “Why can’t I make a song for my light skin baddies? Why y’all think I’m hating on other colors when there are millions of songs speaking on all types? Why y’all so sensitive and take it personal?”
@angiebaddd_ tweeted, “Pro-tip: you can’t be a yellow bone when your parents are spicy white. You are a conquistador! Love yourself!”
The Hip Hop Guru (@thhgurutv) posted a Danileigh video in which she didn’t appear remorseful and apologetic about her song. She even went as far as saying that she doesn’t see color and mentions that her boyfriend is Black, in an attempt to prove that she is not a colorist, or possible racist.
She used phrases like, “my chocolate man” and having “melanin friends.” It’s almost equivalent to white people saying, “I’m not racist, I have a Black friend.”
@joyzangel tweeted, “So she doesn’t see color but made a song about……. COLOR?”
It’s so important for Black people to uphold their integrity and pride in their blackness. It’s important for Black people to be educated to spot out someone who is violating their culture.
Non-Black people are profiting off of our blackness and have been for decades but, when it comes down to actually living in Black skin every day and encountering the daily prejudices and racism that seem to come along the journey of being Black, they are nowhere to be found, or don’t want that part of our blackness.
If she wanted to be a real ally to Black people and their culture, then she would need to acknowledge and understand the social privilege that comes with her skin tone.
Non-black people may think Black people are being sensitive, or taking it too far but, Black people are tired of letting these situations continue to be swept under the rug. Black people have every right to disapprove of this behavior and voice their opinions.