Amara La Negra Talks Colorism and Cardi B’s Sister Isn’t Having It
Colorism
Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Valder Beebe Show
Colorism. Are you familiar with this word? Colorism is defined as “Prejudice or discrimination against individuals with a dark skin tone, typically among people of the same ethnic or racial group.” We bring this up because colorism was the main topic at hand during a recent radio interview with Amara La Negra on Breakfast Club with hosts DJ Envy, Charlamagne Tha God, and Angela Yee.
The breakout star from the reality show “Love & Hip Hop Miami” said that her life and career has been harder as an Afro-Latina because of her dark skin. She says other Latina celebs — lighter-skinned Afro-Latinas — such as Cardi B have it much easier because society accepts their skin tone a lot more than hers.
As the interview got started, right off the bat, the hosts ask Amara “what are you?” Like no hello, nothing. And Amara did a great job and held her poise with these rude men. After she tells them that she is Dominican and an Afro-Latina, the guys could not figure out how you could be Dominican and Black. Wow!
Amara goes on to say, in a 40-minute interview, that because of darker skin than say Cardi, Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, or Sofía Vergara life is just different. As Complex explains: “While host Angela Yee seemed to grasp the concept, stating she grew up with plenty of Afro-Latinos and Dominicans in particular, Charlemagne and Envy had a much more difficult time, with Charlemagne at one point asking Amara if it’s ‘all in her head.'” The nerve!
Cardi B’s sister Hennessy Carolina defended her sister on social media saying all Latinas have to work hard regardless of their skin color.
“Okay I like her she’s obviously beautiful,” Carolina said on social media. “This is the same message my sister has been trying to spread for a while now, but it doesn’t count because she’s not so dark? People f*** with Cardi because of who she is, not because she’s light skinned. I think that’s what Charlamagne was saying, a girl from her same country with her same hair in braids from the hood that had to become a stripper because it was hard for her to find a job BECAUSE IF HER HAIR AND COLOR. […] We are woke and we’re fighting for the same rights girl.”
While she agreed with Amara saying that colorism is a real problem, she doesn’t think that her sister benefited from being a lighter-skinned Latina.
Amara responded to Carolina saying: “Mama i have never said shes not a hard working girl I have always admire her iv said it in every interview im not putting her down…and she deserves everything god is blessing her with cause shes worked for it. I think your misunderstanding what Im saying..”
The Breakfast Club djs issued somewhat of an apology saying they weren’t trying to disqualify her struggle but just wanted to ask questions about it.
Despite how you feel about colorism, no one should question someone’s experience. Amara is doing a phenomenal job at answering peoples questions without getting flustered, but the fact that her career is so heavily talked about because of her skin color proves that she is completely right.
How do you feel about this topic? Let us know by commenting below!
