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Cardi B. Says the Lizzo Hate is ‘Mean & Racist as Fuck,’ I Agree!

Lizzo, Mammy, Rumors
Mazur/Getty Images for Roc Nation

Cardi B. is right. The Lizzo hate, “body shaming and callin’ her mammy is mean & racist as fuck.” 

I, mean really…

 

If you haven’t been watching social media, upon the release of Lizzo’s collaboration with Cardi B. “Rumors,” there has been staunch criticism of Lizzo’s size, skin color and how she is marketed, especially to white people as a Black woman. The cruelty that followed the release of the video made Lizzo cry.

 

Lizzo is a beautiful, dark-skinned Black woman who is sex positive, proud of her larger figure and isn’t ashamed to be her authentic self. She doesn’t cower behind the beats, instead she rides on top of them and let’s you know she’s “100 percent that bitch.”

So Why the Lizzo Hate? Especially from Black People?

I expect the modicum of hate from white people, particularly white women like Nicole Arbour.

What I don’t understand is the hate she is getting from Black people who are always telling Black women to love themselves – yet when one does and becomes successful in the mix, they tear her down for it.

 

It Started With a Fatphobic, Colorist Tweet

One Twitter user, @TheFineFeminine, continued to liken her to the stereotype of the asexual grinning “Mammy,” whose “act is marketed” solely for “the white gaze.” Her tweet has since been deleted because, well, the ratio that followed. But Black Twitter has the receipts as always.

Ferris University calls Mammy “the most well known and enduring racial caricature of African American women.” They go on to say “the mammy image served the political, social, and economic interests of mainstream white America.” Mammy’s smile and jubilation served as proof to the white gaze that Black women were content in their role as slaves. 

That is not Lizzo.

Meet The Real Lizzo

Lizzo, who was initially hurt by the comments, came back for the haters late with knowledge. She schooled the haters on the negative history of the Mammy stereotype. She also ran down the list of other Black women in music, like Whitney Houston, who had crossover success and faced rejection from their own people as a result.

Why Lizzo Bothers People, Especially Black People, SO Much

I will never understand the hate America has for dark-skinned Black women who are of a larger size. But I do know where it comes from – internalized self hate as a result of generations raised under the thumb of white supremacy. We have learned as a people that we are not acceptable and therefore impart that inner turmoil on our brothers and sisters.

Black Women and Others Show Up for Lizzo

Black women came out in full effect to support, including many celebrities.

How Do We Support Artists Like Lizzo

When artists like Lizzo challenge the barriers of white supremacy in entertainment and in society, they deserve our love, our support and our show of faith. What they do not deserve is our scorn.

As for “Rumors,” the song is doing great according to a post from Cardi B. It is Top 10 in all major markets.

If you haven’t hear “Rumors” or seen the video, it’s worth a llook and listen.