Racial Stereotypes: Lamar and Fanon
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In his song, The Blacker the Berry, Lamar could be reclaiming his Blackness when he applies stereotypes about Black people to himself. By bringing forward these negative stereotypes, he brings into light their absurdity, and paints them as what they are: false societal beliefs. Lamar takes the power away from these words by saying them himself, not letting them affect him and define his identity. In turn, Lamar does acknowledge the consequences that such perceptions have had and will always have. They have shaped how he views himself, however, bringing them forth as he did in his song allows him to reclaim his Blackness as his own and not as something imposed on him by society.
In chapter 5 of Black Skin, White Masks, Fanon also brings up the racist stereotypes that black individuals encounter. He says: “My blackness was there, dark and unarguable. And it tormented me, pursued me, disturbed me, angered me.” (page 88). Just like Lamar, Fanon struggles with the Blackness that is imposed on him. He almost describes himself as being haunted. Anywhere he goes, anyone he talks to sees him as one thing only: a Black individual. Such a perception of his identity strips him away from his humanity. Both Fanon and Lamar, one through his introspection and the other through his artistic expression, illustrate the importance of facing these stereotypes to be able to challenge them.