Do you know a young, African-American female who listens to hip-hop and rap music? Chances are that her self-image is being influenced by the lyrics. Interviews with young African-American girls revealed they believed that today’s hip-hop and rap artists placed more value on the beauty of “redbones” and “yellowbones” than that of dark-skinned African-American girls and women.
Morgan L. Maxwell, Jasmine A. Abrams and Faye Z. Belgrave published their study about rap music and skin color in the Psychology of Music. The study included both focus groups and individual interviews with teenage African-American girls. The purpose of the study was to determine if rap music served as a conduit for messages about skin color to African American adolescents. The research indicated that rap music influenced messages about skin color such as a preference for “light-skinned females”.
Previous research has indicated that hip hop and rap music influence many aspects of African American “development and behavior”. However, little research is available in reference to colorism or discrimination based on physical traits. Researchers believed it was important to acquire more information on this topic since many associate rap music with negative social behaviors including lowered self-worth and substance abuse (Golden, 2004; Wilder, 2010; Wilder & Cain, 2011).
Researchers utilized the help of non-profit organizations serving youth in the target population. Participants were solicited from the organizations. Prior to the start of the study, participants were required to obtain written parental consent and were made fully aware of the purpose of the study. All participants were compensated at a rate of $10 and received a small gift bag. The final group of subjects comprised a total of 30 African-American girls between the ages of twelve and sixteen. Only female participants were selected since the researchers believed that colorism messages was more targeted to females.
All participants engaged in interviews individually or with a focus group at the site where they were recruited. The choice for the type of interview was made based solely on the number of anticipated participants per site–four or more became a focus group. Participants were asked four questions pertaining to their perception of light-skinned Black girls; dark-skinned Black girls; messages about skin tone from rap music; and how those messages should be used.
Additional questions were asked to clarify responses as needed. To help participants feel comfortable with the discussion, the interviewer was an African-American female of similar age.
The data collected during interviews was based on a systematic review of responses. All interviews were recorded and transcribed; reviewed by a second transcriber; and finally by the lead researcher.
The final transcript was analyzed for words found frequently such as “pretty,” “music videos,” and “light skin.” Another analysis was conducted to identify longer strings of related code or words such as “rappers like Lil Wayne prefer light skin.” Final review of all data indicated three recurring themes: 1) rap music sends messages showing preference to light-skinned females; 2) messages about dark-skinned females were either missing in music or negative; and 3) music used specific nicknames to describe females based on skin tone.
“Findings indicated participants consistently identified rap music and rappers as primary sources of skin color related messages. From this genre of music and affiliated artists, girls are made aware that lighter-skinned women are more desired than those with darker skin,” the researchers said.
The volunteer participants in this research study indicated that their self-image was affected by messages in rap music that approved colorism. Though not evaluated, it might be assumed that these messages also played a role in influencing males to choose a mate–based on the suggested, desirable physical traits. The Maxwell et al. study may serve as the foundation for future research that evaluates how rap music and culture influence young adults from multiple populations including diverse ethnic and socio-economic populations.
“Given the popularity of rap music, and the potential impact of skin color dissatisfaction on girls’ body image perceptions and psychological wellbeing, understanding rap music as a medium through which skin color related messages are transmitted is important,” the researchers concluded.