Why did the Breakfast Club’s Charlamagne The God and DJ Envy struggle with Amara La Negra’s stance on colorism in the Latinx Community?
What was expected to be an interview filled with Amara’s enthusiasm turned into a dismissive response from show host’s DJ Envy and Charlamagne. Amara was ready to receive all questions that revolved around her new music deal with BMG. And of course, she was prepared to answer questions about her passion to spread awareness of the fact that Black people exist in latin countries. Yet she was greeted with a series of questions that put her at a loss for words. She was especially left speechless when the validity of her struggles were brought up in form of denial.
As she tried to get into depth with the now over-complicated concept, DJ Envy and Charlamagne insisted that she provided proof to why she feels it’s hard to be a dark-skinned Afro-Latina woman in the music industry. Charlamagne proceeded to invalidate her struggle by providing examples of dark-skin women who are successful, like SZA and Issa Rae. He somehow missed the point that these are Black-American Women, and not Afro-Latinas.
If the two hosts have trouble understanding, the least they could do is listen. They could take note of the fact that they are different. They are Black American men who have made it here in the states. This is an Afro-Latina woman trying to crossover from the Latin music industry to the American.
In addition, arguing that Hollywood has progressed on opportunities with race/ethnicity is one that needs evidence. An argument that needs more evidence than Amara should have to provide about colorism in the industry.
The craziest part about this interview is the fact that the term “Afro-Latina” has been expressed to both interviewers by actress, Dascha Polanco. The dynamic duo seemed to understand it then- so why couldn’t they this time around?
Check out Amara La Negra’s Breakfast Club video here:
Afro-Latin Concept being explained to Charlamagne The God, here:
