Madonna: Plantation Mistress or Soul Sister? By Bell Hooks

Hooks holds Madonna accountable for commodifying black culture; for appropriating the glory of blackness, without the culture of opposition which defines the black experience.

Hooks talks about the envy and admiration Madonna has for black culture, how the pop star appropriates the black format, adopts a black stature and presence, without understanding the history of the culture.

It goes the other way though, with “blonde ambition” or “white-washing.” Many black female artists have a desire, envy, or appeal for white culture and appropriate that into their image. Black women perform a certain way to assimilate and be accepted.

Being blonde is a symbol of having white supremacy; it is interesting because Madonna dying her hair blonde has symbolic implications, that she knows that in this society being blonde means being more likely to succeed. Madonna deconstructs the blonde “girl next door” by appropriating the sexual myth that black women are not innocent. Madonna’s blondeness is a performance to pass in society. Madonna has something in common with black women who must assimilate to be accepted; her blondeness represents a motif she must embody to succeed.

Within pop culture the black body is seen as a sign of sexual experience; male or female. Madonna uses black phallic imagery as a backdrop for her own fall from innocence.

In seeking power over the white male, she appropriates a black masculinity, an assertive phallic power which eludes and taunts white men.

Kraeyshawn's appropriative swag is a modern example of a white female musician demeaning genres devaluing black women which are prevalent in our society. At the moment cool is synonymous with "swag"--a motif of black masculinity--and Kreayshawn's misogynistic dismissiveness and denigration of black women has launched into success. 

Look at this white girl who talks like a black man! Isn’t she awesome? as she talks stealing bitches, smoking blunts, and realness. 

'Gucci Gucci'

interview

Beyonce's blondness, and performance for the white male

Beyonce 'Dance for You'

Hooks mentions the race implications of Madonna's "Like A Prayer" music video; what are the implications of Florence + The Machine's video "No Light, No Light"? {where the antagonist is an exotic black figure, and the church is glaringly white}.