Ariana Grande + black culture in her thank U, Next Album

via Stereogum

With February being Black History Month, we can’t ignore the immense influence black culture has had over the music industry. And that goes for Ariana Grande's latest album, "Thank U, Next."

Just like the rest of the world, I was innocently bopping along to each track when a certain lyric caught my attention. In the hook for Fake Smile, Ari sings:

If I'm hurt, I ain't gon' lie about it Arms crossed with the attitude, lips pouted If I'm mad, I ain't gon' lie about it Neck roll with the attitude, yuh

These words in particular struck me, because it describes behavior stereotypically associated to black women. But here is Ariana. A 5-foot something white woman singing about participating in this manner. It made me realize, this isn’t the first time Ariana has mimicked black culture in her latest musical glow up. In fact, she seems to be following a similar post breakup album pattern as another pop singer— Ms. Miley Cyrus.

via usweekly

But where Miley’s twerking went so wrong, how did Ariana get it right?

In June 2013, fresh off her breakup to now husband Liam Hemsworth, Miley released her music video for We Can’t Stop. A music video rife with black culture themes such as her gold grills and of course— twerking. In the video Miley has black women shaking their asses with her as she grabs and slaps them. This shock factor continued throughout the summer and exploded at the 2013 MTV VMA’s. where Miley twerked on Beetlejuice himself, Robin Thicke. This led to outcrys and according to Mashable.com.. college credit…?

Skidmore College in Saratoga Spring NY created “The Sociology of Miley Cyrus: Race, Class, Gender & Media” to discuss Cyrus’ display of “cultural conflict” as Professor Carolyn Chernoff described it.

While the video for Fake Smile has yet to come out, Ariana’s 7 Rings certainly echos the aesthetics of a typical rap video— with cars, alcohol and girls. The difference between them? The point of view. The opening scene to 7 Rings starts with a car as it cuts to various girls. However the dancing, which does include twerking— some done by Ariana herself; is not sexualized with close ups or butt grabbing from the singer.

Miley’s video on the other hand further stimulated the male gaze. The video also displayed acts of racial privilege. Miley, being a white woman was able to normalize twerking to mainstream media, even though it’s been present in rap videos by black artists and dancers for decades. Whereas Miley glorifies the sexual objectification of black women in her song, Ariana interlaces black culture with aspiration and female empowerment.

via billboard

For example:

Miley’s lyrics: “To my home girls here with the big butts, Shaking it like we at a strip club” is the single vocal and visual identifier to black culture in the entire video, as she slaps the ass of a twerking black woman. Meanwhile Ari presents multiple lyrics: “my gloss is poppin”, “you like my hair, gee thanks just bought it” and “put it in the bag,” which all reference popular songs by black artists while describing a status she strives to reach, beyond visual sexual entertainment.

via google

Of course Miley and Ariana are not the only nonblack artists to produce videos heavily centered on black culture. Some do it the right way, by crediting their inspiration such as Bruno Mars, but most do it the wrong way by completely ripping of the original. Thankfully, times have changed and (most of us) have evolved in understanding what it means to represent and actually INCLUDE other cultures. Women are free to twerk. And women are free to flash their hard earned gifts. What we can learn from these similar artists, but very different videos is that culture is continuously merging and expanding. In order to avoid appropriation we need to have open discussions of what is morally and ethically acceptable.