In light of this week’s Jill Scott kerfluffle, we decided to pool our mental resources and come up with a playlist that represent artists’ evolving attitudes about interracial relationships, over the years.
What emerged was a sort of “dueling banjos” list, with five songs about interracial love and/or unity and five songs promoting “Black love.”
Hopefully, there’s something here for everyone, but if we’ve missed the jam that represents your take on the issue, post it up in our comments section.
1. “Girls, Girls, Girls” by Jay-Z (R.A.B.)
2. “Black or White” by Michael Jackson (brokeymcpoverty)
3. “Electric Relaxation” by A Tribe Called Quest (slb)
4. “Fire & Desire” by Rick James and Teena Marie (Alisa)
5. “I Believe” by Blessid Union of Souls (Alisa)
6. “Be Real Black for Men” by Donny Hathaway and Roberta Flack (brokeymcpoverty)
7. “Dark Skin Girls” by Del Tha Funky Homosapien (Jamelle)
8. “Around the Way Girl” by LL Cool J (R. A. B.)
9. “Fine Brown Frame” by Dianne Reeves and Lou Rawls (brokeymcpoverty)
10. “Brown Skin Lady” by Black Star (brokeymcpoverty)
Honorable mentions go out to the obvious: Stevie’s “Jungle Fever” and the horrid Stevie-McCartney duet, “Ebony and Ivory,” as covered by Carlton Banks and the boys of USA’s Psych, respectively: