"Respectability politics" refers to attempts made by marginalized groups to police their own community members and show that their social values or behaviors are similar to the mainstream group. Enforcing this ideology that you have to be a portrayal of a “respectable” black person inhibits marginalized groups from celebrating their ethnicity and challenging the mainstream for its failure to accept the differences in people from other cultures.
Within the context of the United States, where black people in the media are depicted as thugs, gangsters and drug dealers -- there is, even more, pushback by the black community for all of its members to adhere to a certain standard of “exceptionalism” and “excellence.” Let’s be real: respectability politics were made to make white people feel more “comfortable” around black people, make black people more uncomfortable with themselves and blame black people for their own oppression. Below are a list of celebrities who are defying the mold of black respectability politics, embracing their culture, and unapologetically challenging racism.
1. Beyonce.
Beyonce has often been portrayed as a figure of black excellence; however, in her most recent appearances in the news, she is as real and as hardcore as ever. The day before her Super Bowl performance she released the surprise video “Formation,” which articulates her infuriation with police brutality, the discriminatory treatment of black people after Hurricane Katrina, the lack of black self-love, the dismantling of the Black Panther Party and the death of Martin Luther King, Jr.
After her Super Bowl performance with Bruno Mars and Coldplay’s Chris Martin, she was put on blast in the news media for directly referencing Michael Jackson and the Black Panther Party; however, it was a true sign of solidarity and a commentary on the racism in the U.S. If one takes time to research the Black Panther Party, instead of automatically labeling them as “aggressive,” they might realize that the dismantling and execution of the Party’s leadership were unjust. This performance also may have been a nod to the current #BlackLivesMatter movement, as a 21st-century reinvigoration of black power.
2. Chris Rock.
Chris Rock, an American actor, comedian, voice artist, writer, director and producer is famous for his satirical comedy about societal problems and issues. When Chris Rock recently hosted the Oscars he was praised for calling out the industry on its whitewashing and bringing up the Twitter hashtag #OscarsSoWhite. While some argue he made a mockery of the cause that brought a lot of scrutiny to minority actors, he still was making his own personal stand.
Many wished that his comedy was restricted; however, I appreciate it for its nature and his lack of adherence to respectability politics by saying the things no one else may have had the courage to say. In 2014, he made headlines by posting selfies on Twitter of the third time he had been pulled over by the police in seven weeks, while other celebrities in similar situations criticized him and news reporters said he should just “adapt." There was an outcry of support and solidarity with him from those in the Black community with similar experiences.
3. Misty Copeland.
Copeland is America’s first black female soloist for the American Ballet Theater in New York City, and she often thought of as the first black ballerina. When she was younger, she was told she could never be a ballerina because of her body type. However, just look at her now: breaking stereotypes andboundaries. She has created a space for black women in a forbidden art for the “higher social class.”
Misty Copeland’s true defiance of respectability politics is that she is not afraid to talk about racism in the industry; she has been quoted in interviews tackling the racism that she has experienced head on, like confronting fellow coworkers stating she was “too dark” to be on stage with everyone else, and being praised for being unapologetically black.
She was essential in starting Project Plié in 2013, a program within the American Ballet Company to train minority ballet students and promote racial and ethnic diversity within the industry. Currently, Misty is the model for UnderArmour's fitness campaign.
4. Lupita Nyong'o.
Lupita Nyong'o, a Mexican-Kenyan actress and film director, has made headlines over and over again, for her incredible performances. Nyong’o is most well known for her Academy Award-winning performance as Best Supporting Actress in the film "12 Years a Slave." She is the first Mexican and the first Kenyan actress to win an Academy Award, defying standards and the limited representation of people of color in the media. In her award speech, she eloquently spoke of what it meant to be a black woman in the industry, the things she’s had to overcome and how emotional it was to be a part of the stunning film. In 2014, she was named "The Most Beautiful Woman" by "People" and "Woman of the Year" by "Glamour Magazine." She will be featured on the cover of "InStyle Magazine" in the April edition, where she gets real about shaving her head recently and Hollywood’s racial “imbalances.” Lupita Nyong’o’s grace, talent, natural look, candid way of speaking the truth and unapologetic blackness is exactly what the mainstream media needs. Her newest showcase is in the Broadway Show "Eclipsed," which tells the story of extraordinary women brought together by unrest in their homeland Liberia. Breaking boundaries, this is the only play by a woman on Broadway this season.
5. Kendrick Lamar.
Last on the list, but number one in my soul and mind: Kendrick the King. Every single one of Kendrick Lamar’s albums is a social commentary on class and race. My favorite album in particular being: "Section.80" -- the title itself commenting on welfare and affordable housing, "good kid, M.A.A.D. City" -- each song full of unapologetic blackness, and "To Pimp A Butterfly" -- the entire album telling a journey about his struggles from Compton to fame. Kendrick Lamar’s Grammy performance of “The Blacker the Berry” and “Alright” was legendary to say the least, featuring him in chains, referencing the senseless killing, imprisonment and institutional racism against black men in the U.S. The performance also featured lots of beautiful black people with natural hair and African Jazz dancers embracing black culture at its finest.
Last week, surprising fans, he released the album "untitled unmastered" (props to LeBron James for urging Kendrick’s producer Anthony from Top Dawg Entertainment via Twitter to release it). The album just debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. A few days ago his song “Alright” from to "Pimp A Butterfly" recently became an anthem for the students who protested at a Donald Trump rally in Chicago, which ended up getting canceled.
