Wale penned a lengthy blog recently, in which he vented his many frustrations over the current portrayal of Black women on camera, and the overall lack of positivity within Black Hollywood.
In his latest music video, "The Body" featuring Jeremih, Wale never utilizes imagery of overly sexualized women. Instead, he uses an all-natural model named Mariah, who he views as a refreshing throwback to the days when Black models and actresses were praised for their "around the way" girl looks that accented a pretty face instead of an enormous cosmetically enhanced booty.
Wale released his blog to Necole Bitchie, where he detailed his disgust in the way that Hollywood operates in regards to Black actors, but also the way that Black entertainers portray themselves and their women. He referenced the likes of Jada Pinkett-Smith and Lisa Bonet as women who he used to fantasize about during his youthful years, who never had to reveal their bodies in an over-sexualized manner.
"I have honestly been sick and tired of our representation in the entertainment world," Wale wrote. "I feel like they curve "us" as a whole, then every blue moon they allow a pass for a Black person and we're supposed to throw a party for it.
"I remember Lisa Bonet and a plethora of other beautiful Black women on 'Different World.' I remember princess Jada [Pinkett]. I used to daydream about her. I was only in elementary school but when I first saw Jada I was in love. Nothing about this princess screamed, 'Sex!' My mind was allowed to play with the idea of what lies under this fully clothed "around the way" girl. True, perhaps a child shouldn't have such fantasies but that's besides the point.
"Black women were represented in such a way that they were not hyper-sexualized objects created by doctors with the sole intent to take pictures, just to add on even more enhancements- be it Photoshop or an abundance of makeup with a sprinkle of good lighting."
Wale went on to discuss how he hopes that the visualization of "The Body" will help to enlighten people involved within the Black entertainment industry, and make them realize that you don't always have to resort to portraying women with fake body parts to have the most visually stunning videos. Also, Wale hopes that this will help bring a sense of positivity to Black Hollywood, and hopefully change the scope that has been set on women which makes many of them feel as though they have to undergo plastic surgery in order to gain success.
"When Jeremih and I did a video for my single,'The Body,' it hurt my soul coming to the realization that there is hardly any positivity in Black Hollywood. Years ago I wanted to do a short movie for a single, with legendary director John Singleton. I'm not sure if he didn't believe in me or if he plain old didn't have the time to do it, but it never happened.
"'The Body,' was an attempt to get us, as Black people, headed in a more elevated direction. Mariah [the model I used in the video] kind of epitomized what I felt a normal beautiful 'round the way' girl looked like. These days, we spend so much time focusing on 'that assssss,' we forget how much of love's chemistry is contingent to a beautiful face and genuine personality. Personalities that used to cut through our television screens when Jada would flex that B'more attitude in a scene. The authenticity back when there was no desire to portray women as just an over-sexualized, clay-like-body to Instagram-obsessed people!"
Wale concluded by acknowledging that while his single is titled "The Body," he never actually shows any body parts in the video, which carries the underlying message that showing skin is only scratching the surface when trying to portray a message through a work of visual art.
"Yes, I'm aware that my latest single is called 'The Body.' I also am aware we that barely showed the body... Maybe, just maybe, I thought I could trick these dudes into looking a little deeper. And if only for one video, bring back the glory days of a more genuinely prestigious, 'Black Hollywood.'"
How do you feel about Wale's views on Black Hollywood and the portrayal of women who are overly-sexualized in music videos?
Source: NecoleBitchie
