I think many of the comments are missing the point of Ms. Bowen's thesis. Yes, we know that we have had generations of successful and iconic black artists. However, this new crop of artists are being allowed to express themselves in ways many of their predecessors were not. Specifically, the "black nerd," as portrayed by Issa Rae and even Donald Glover to some degree. Past iterations of black celebrities often had to adhere to a specific skin tone. bravado, hypersexuality and of course hair texture. As our society, in some places, evolves, black folk can begin to express the complexity of our experience.
Yes, The Goddess Grace Jones did a lot for gender bending. But how many openly LGBTQ R&B artists can you recall? Of course, there have been the rumors, but how many graces the cover of Out. So that DOES make Ms. Monae a trailblazer.
Ms. Bowen is asking you to look beyond the music and consider how previously successful artists had to CONFORM to achieve that success.
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Gee, good to hear that people who are merely as physically attractive and talented in acting and music as Donald Glover are finally getting their due. I feel so much better about American culture's inclusiveness now. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go hide in a corner.
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" He is the prototype for people like me who find the Drakes and Michael B. Jordans of the world a little too clean-cut and remain unmoved by the bad-boy swagger of rappers like Future and Travis Scott."
I have a crush on Drake, Michael B, Jordan, and Donald Glover. In 2018 black artist can be all over the spectrum in the same way as their white counterparts. The three artist featured in this article all have been authentically themselves, and we appreciate. We need more African Americans, Latinx, Asians and other poc in the mix as well.
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As a nerdy White American woman, my attraction to African American celebrities as "exotic" is probably at least a little racist an uncool. But, it is real and I get endless pleasure from the contributions of artist like Donald Glover and am grateful.
7
You forgot about Lizzo. New hotties can also be plus-sized. Body diversity matters.
8
Thank you for this article Ms. Bowen but I think a huge shout out is owed to the fabulous Ms. Nina Simone whose influence still reigns supreme today. Her glorious afro, fierce beauty and stunning talent still bring chills and always will.
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Much as I really enjoy the 3 artists featured in this article, the sub-header of "we’re seeing a weirder, cooler, queerer and more realistic black and sexy" is such a patronizing, presumptuous and annoying thing to say - it made me decide not to read the rest of it.
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The writer herself is African American, and personally, I don't think she meant to patronize anyone. I am happy for her that she has apparently found an audience who appreciates her and her work. It's sad that "white" audiences do not embrace white performers whose physical appearance doesn't meet the very narrow and strict white standards for "hotness", IMO.
11
This retired teacher, at 67, loves these artists - all clever and curious and interesting! And I can't get enough of Donald Glover!!
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Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Ronald Isley,
Teddy Pendergrass, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Count Bassie, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Sarah Vaughan, Al Green, Ray Charles, Curtis Mayfield, Sam Cooke, Luther, Vandross, Smokey Robinson, Barry White, James Brown, Lionel Richie, Aaron Neville, Isaac Hayes, Otis Redding, Lou Rawls, Eddie Kendricks, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Dionne Warwick, Diana Ross, Gladys Knight, Patti Labelle, Janet Jackson, Anita Baker, Etta James, Tina Turner, and thousands more. All household names known around the world, amongst people of all races, ages, incomes, and political persuasions from the 1960s through the 1980s. I haven't the slightest idea who these 'hotties' even are in the article.
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One aspect about these three artists (all of whom I respect and admire) is that as a white gay man, I feel included in their world view. They're black artists immersed in their respective worlds, but it doesn't feel exclusionary related to race. I don't have any proof that it's not, but it's interesting to me that their values and art make me feel otherwise. This means I'm able to include them in my world view, too. In the age of Trump, this is no small thing.
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I do wonder if sometimes white audiences expect a black artist to help them overcome their own hesitancy--which is not, in my opinion, the artist's job.
I am reminded of Toni Morrison's quip that when she read and enjoy Dostoevsky, she never expected him (or was it Tolstoy?) to write for her, a little black girl in Lorain, Ohio.
I am curious if you feel that your "inclusion in [these black artists'] world view" is uncommon. Is there a point of comparison--other artists whom you feel exclude you? What is the nature of the inclusion? Is it the presence of white characters? The depiction of said characters? Or is their some other point of connection, such as generational reference points or sexuality?
11
What about Tyler The Creator?
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The “hottest” things about Danny Glover are his brain / intelligence and intuition...
Celebrity is vapid and useless...
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I'm sorry but I don't think it is necessarily race that make these artists attractive and symbolic but their charisma. That natural charm is what draws people in.
22
These Black artists & actors, beyond breaking appearance expectations and other stereotypes, also produce art that has a broad appeal, beyond the U.S. black community, because it is original and high quality. Janelle Monae celebrates her personal achievements in the video, Django Jane, and does it in such a witty, visually engaging way, it will be enjoyed and appreciated by older non-rap fans like me. The same can be said for Issa Rae's work, her internet video series was so much better than most TV sitcoms.
11
Cardi B. is very interesting, there's no mention of her here.
Her hardscrabble, school of hard knocks background has made her what she is today. Undeniably successful and she owns it.
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She's may not mentioned here because most Dominicans do not consider themselves to be Black.
We can debate whether they are in the diaspora, or not but this was written specifically about people who identify their heritage as African American. She does not.
The being said, I'm not a fan of her music but I agree I like her swag. She's as real as they come.
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Point taken.
Cardi B was born to a Trinidadian mother and a Dominican father. She, a person of Caribbean-background, *does* identify as "Black", but not "African American".
The title is "The New Black Hotties", not the "The New African American Hotties"
It would be great to have Cardi B listed here.
1
I understand that people of color should not be expected to conform to white standards of beauty. I can understand that no one should be expected to conform to artificial and unrealistic standards of beauty. I understand that beauty, attractiveness, and sexuality are intertwined strands of individuality that should express all humankind. If the transgressive is appealing to some, fine, but it also cannot become a standard for all. In popular culture, it is common for the transgressive to be absorbed into the mainstream, as long as it sells.
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When did the word "hotties" become acceptable?
Fight objectification.
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And you got me. yep the whole title is objectionable. But this is hollywood... where looks, gender, etc. all are part of the marketing thing... So sad.
19
Thanks. I need all the help I can get in deciding who's beautiful and attractive, and who isn't.
57
We are finally seeing the fruits of previous generations' goal to break up the monopoly of opportunity held by white males in American dominant culture.
Keep up the good work, America, and don't let the vocal minority of Haters take us back to the 50s.
Remember to vote this November.
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>D.A.Oh
Finally? Ever hear of Michael Jackson? His album, "Thriller" has sold over 60 million copies.
12
James Baldwin, Screamin Jay Hawkins, Jimi Hendix, Parliament / Funkadelic, Grace Jones? Its nice to see your generation continue the cool, the weird...as all of us natural misfits who have had to flee or otherwise navigate the herd to avoid getting stampeded have too...
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"For so long, black celebrities were hypersexualized in a way that never quite translated for “real” people of color like me."
How terrible, because most celebrities, asian, white, hispanic, whatever look like "real" people?
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"Black and sexy has blossomed into a celebration of eccentricity."
Come on, man it's just show biz.
37
Don’t forget the incredible Grace Jones! She wasn’t just *in* the vanguard of art and fashion in the 1970s/1980s - for a long time, she WAS the vanguard. She more than held her own with Bowie, Jagger, and the rest of rock royalty. Grace Jones was doing transgressive sexuality and pop punk before Janelle Monae was born. Let’s give the Queen her due.
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I agree that the evolving representation of Black "hotness" is good. But this isn't NEW. Does the writer not know who GRACE JONES is? Or, I don't know...PRINCE?!!
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Michelle Obama was a paradigm of glamour. She was a sharp dresser, healthy, had fun being physical, was confident, and was so attractive. She turned heads and caught eyes wherever she went. Mrs. Obama was a great role models for her two daughters, whom she wanted to become smart, beautiful black women.
How lucky we all were to behold her.
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Apparently your comments only apply to black women. The current First Lady has set the bar so high for beauty that no one will ever be compared to her.
2
And so intelligent as well....and an eloquent speaker.
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Yes, but is she anything other than beautiful?
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Thank you Ms. Bowen for an interesting piece with new information and a fresh analysis (at least for me) and for not mentioning Donald Trump even once.
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"And being black and some combination of queer, weird, awkward, fluid or artsy is the new sexy. Pop culture is finally catching up."
Enjoy it while it lasts. Pop culture eventually moves on to the next big thing.
14
“A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions.”
- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
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The time has come when Black nerds, geeks, oddballs and artists can finally be "cool".
Let us revel in our awesome non-conformity as it constantly creates new sexy, stylishness and hipster chic that others want to emulate.
In a way, it feels like the 80's all over again. Regardless of era, doing your thang and not apologizing for it never goes out of style.
10
"Regardless of era, doing your thang and not apologizing for it never goes out of style."
I mean, maybe. Certainly we wouldn't say that someone being bigoted as part of doing their thang and not apologizing for it would be considered "in style". Being unapologetic and sufficiently popular has never gone out of style though.
Come on. Roxanne Shanté was rocking a sexy look way back. And what about Salt n' Pepper? Donna Summer was no conventional beauty either. And Grace Jones? Wild thing from Jamaica. Such short memories, America. Glad I'm outta there.
22
And Bessie Smith, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Grace Jones, ALL the jazz legends from the 40s through the 60s. I think Bowen's knowledge of history only goes back to 1990.
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They are just referring to this current crop of loveliness. Their is no denying the generations prior. Every 20 years we get rediscovered; this is nothing new.
4
terrific piece. great assessment of where we are and where were going culturally.
3
It's always a good thing when media can help, allow, or follow the idea that personality is more important than mere image, that depth of character outweighs visible abs.
Our tangible images are more easily objectified than the nebulous ambiguity of personality, the latter of which humanizes.
4
When we all finally come to grasp with the reality that the human body is nothing more than a container for the personality or soul or essence of the being, we will be in a much better place as the shape, size and color of the vessel will become irrelevant.
17
Beauty is usually a narrowly defined ideal across any ethnic group. The classic example is either tall and skinny for women and muscular and tall for men. This classic stereotype may be true for only 2% of the global population. Especially among the black population that everyone doesn't fit in those neat categories. As a black male myself one gets overlooked if you are not tall and don't have the body of a professional athlete. The other defining bias among African Americans is the notion of 'colorism.' Usually the blacks that are depicted in a positive light in Hollywood are those with light skin and fair features. That was considered the ultimate ideal which led to such absurdities for black women to wear blonde weaves or wigs with blue eyed colored contacts to be accepted by a mainstream audience. Its a good thing we are getting back to our roots of blackness.
10
I dream of the day when the color of a person’s skin is considered by the casual observer, as just another factor that when added up with behavior, face, musculature, female breast size snd shape, a male’s ability to fill a codpiece, dress,, eyes nose, hair style, length, color, texture, along with one’s unique combination of the above plus each person’s UNUQUE skin color, texture, degree of reflection/refraction, moles, dimples and the like would all be taken together with a million other factors (how many from lips to uvula tooth color, tongue size, length and display ...) smooth movement, etc. etc. etc. would determine instant sexual triggers, without the silly classification into “race” - unless one is turned on by non-humans: The various “races” within the cat family, ungulate family, het, whatever does it for you.
And I’ve known my share of other great apes, and the human race, particularly female humans, are the only ones who do it for me.
(Then again, a chimp who offers you what the human race considers a friendly handshake, is thinking in its racial terms, and wants a test of strength. Don’t try it.)
I also long for the day when the Times, with its finite financial resources will stop printing this kind of, uh, fudge, and spend cash on more reporters in the US and around rhe world..
When the NYT eliminated its “ladies’ pages, I didn’ think ir was to move it, in bits and pieces, into News, Arts&Leisure m, the mag and now the Week in Review,
Send this to Cosmo!
1
This sounds more like an argument for ignoring skin color, which usually results in invisibility for people of minority groups in whatever culture. This article is a celebration of African Americans with varying skin colors, but mostly fairly dark brown. Whether all the musings on love and sex (e.g. the Modern Love column) may not be to your interests, not everyone wants to ignore culture and skin color as a part of getting along. Some people are proud of their culture, like their hair, and *don’t* want to have to pretend curly hair and brown skin is like tongue size, i.e. some irrelevant oddity of no real significance.
14
Whoa. You had me until you implied you're not attracted to Michael B. Jordan. (!!!)
17
I think you'll find many who disagree with the assumptions here..
11
She may be transgressive, but Janelle Monae is drop dead cute.
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Why do they have to be identified as black hotties instead of just hotties? Stop making everything about race, religion, ethnicity, sexuality, gender preference, politics and every thing else that separates us. We’re all human beings. Let’s stay together. Thinking of Marvin Gaye’s song of that title at the moment.
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With all due respect, Olivia, difference most likely does not separate us. It is how we translate and act on difference that seems to lead to intraspecies divisions and violence.
4
Let's Stay Together = Al Green.
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That's an Al Green song, not Marvin Gaye.
12
I am sure the preference for Michael B. Jordan types across all groups (black, white, Asian) will always remain. Celebrities represent fantasy (sexual) desire, not fantasy of who you want to discuss critical theory or Shakespeare with. That being said people need to start recognizing that one can both be intellectual and sexual. The author can keep Donald Glover, I will one Michael B Jordan and two Winston Dukes. Eye candy all the way.
6