African American

with a black person, we often "stop seeing color". Most of us live in a predominantly white world so we are aware of skin tone when it differs from what we are accustomed to. But when we know someone, we notice it less or not at all. They just become themselves, an individual. And that is great. But what I have noticed, many of us (meaning white) still see negative stereotype (consciously or unconsciously) when we see or meet new black people, but credit the black people we know and respect to the general culture column that is by default white. So it can become a subtle form of appropriation. If we like it, we "don't see color" so we can hold onto negative stereotypes. To see Prince as a black man is harder because it makes us (whites) challenge our stereotypes about what a blackness IS.

My senile, racist FIL demonstrated this very well the other day.... We were talking about his neighbors before he went to assisted living. According to him, They were really nice, not like most Mexicans. Pretty sure they are the *only* Mexicans he knows But for him, their good qualities are now in the white default column and he can maintain his racist attitudes toward other Mexicans.

Not saying you are like that at all, or that you stereotype anyone, just why it is important to acknowledge his race.

And as Frenchie points out, he was also light skinned. Much of his music is ABOUT oneness, love and not being divided. He was a spiritual guy.

Music and musicians are one of the BEST ways to forget about race. I just found out that Aretha Franklin's backup band on her breakout album were a bunch of white teenagers and it was recorded in segregated Alabama. Whatever. Those guys were funky. And, of course, Stax Records in Memphis was integrated before segregation was outlawed. Musical genius D'Angelo's regular bass player is a white guy from Scotland named Pino Palladino. D'Angelo says he understands complex R&B rhythm better than nearly anyone on the planet. Look at videos of early James Brown concerts. there are always a few white people in the predominantly black audiences. They are loving the music, but it is also in your face black art and performance. White people can be there and appreciate but there is no getting around the blackness. So historically, there has always been mixing. But it is also important to see the race, who the real geniuses and leaders are, otherwise, it becomes appropriation where we erase the blackness and just make the achievement part of the default culture. Like what happened to rock and roll when they erased all the black artists and made it a white art form.

I dunno if I am saying this right. It's complicated.