Rapper Azealia Banks defended the use of skin lightening
products after she received backlash from people who believe it goes against
her previous comments on black culture.
Banks has been outspoken about anti-black racism and
cultural appropriation in hip hop, calling out other artists. Now that she's
found herself on the defensive, she's asking, "What's the difference
between getting a nose job and changing your skin colour?"
In a 21-minute long Facebook Live video posted on July
1, the rapper responded to questions fans were asking about her decision to
lighten her skin.
"To say that it negates anything that I've said
about this current situation of blackness in America, is ignorant and just
stupid," Banks says.
"What do body modifications have to do with
somebody's level of intellect? The two don't correlate."
In the video, Banks describes skin lightening as another
example of assimilating to white culture, just like "speaking clear English."
"It's just a continuation of the falsification of
self that comes with being a black person in America," Banks said.
"The paradox of being black in 2016."
Her remarks were widely criticized on social media.
Banks dismissed the criticism, equating skin lightening
procedures to getting a chemical peel or applying acne medication.
"I consider skin lightening to be anything that's
removing a layer [of skin]," Banks said.
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