11.Dec.2023 About Us | Contact Us | Terms & Conditions

Are you on Facebook? Please join us @ The New Black Magazine

Search Articles

Home











For Colored Boys Who Considered Blond/When The Rainbow Wasn’t Enuf: A Review of Frank Ocean’s “Blonde”




By I. Augustus Durham |@imeanswhatisays |With thanks to NewBlackMan (in Exile)



Friday, October 7, 2016.




It was on the heels of the 40th anniversary of Ntozake Shange’s for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow was enuf that I first heard Frank Ocean’s blonde. Actually, that is a lie: I first heard it in August at my cousins’ Philadelphia loft, while we conversed about our children and the education system, and whether Kanye West had four consecutively good albums. (We agreed yes.) Nonetheless, the difficulty in reviewing Ocean’s second album, the second offering usually being the awkward project in one’s discography, is precisely because I do not know what to say.


At first, I thought about reading the album as a weekend: “Nikes”, “Ivy”, and “Pink+White” as the Friday and Saturday errands and festivities and interpersonal encounters you attend to before getting up for church on Sunday—the call to worship (“Be Yourself”); the choir processional on a churchified organ (“Solo”); the morning prayer (“Skyline To”); the first selection (Self Control); offering (“Good Guy”); the sermonic selection (“Nights”); the sermon by the pastor-elect, Rev. Andre 3000 (“Solo [Reprise]”); the call to discipleship (“Pretty Sweet”); the testimony and altar call (“Facebook Story”, “Close to You”); the church announcements (“White Ferrari”, “Seigfried”); and the benediction (“Godspeed”). “Futura Free” becomes the after-church meal with friends to contemplate the bittersweet reality of a new week, hoping this one is better than the last or remembering that Monday is a holiday. This review seemed facile.


Then, based solely on the contingency of when I listened to blonde for comprehension, I thought about correlating the album to the saga of New York Fashion Week vis-à-vis Marc Jacobs and the politics of hair. In some ways, his comment about not criticizing “women of color for straightening their hair” has a subtext, I opine, that runs in line with the rhetoric of one bell hooks while a resident at the New School, both aesthetics having albeit different “desires”. I started pondering what it means for a black man with black hair to color his hair a “dominant” hue for capitalist consumption as self-promotion. This is with a full understanding that my own hair, not necessarily regarding coloring but rather styling, has allowed me to be a jack of all follicular trades. Likewise, it is not as if black men with blonde hair is novel (excuse the problematic website name considering this paragraph and the next). This seemed petty.


But the blond hair-dominance piece sat with me because in proximity to my listening, Tyre King was killed running from the police in Ohio (maybe “we” shouldn’t live there—anywhere?!) and then, within days, Terence Crutcher was killed in Oklahoma because the police were too busy coding him as a “bad dude” instead of trying to assess the “real” “situation” for which they were initially called. I began thinking: what if the album, especially with its lyrics “R-I-P Trayvon/That nigga look just like me”, interrogates whether an alternative coding as “blond(e)” could signal the difference between life and death in that these two bodies, among countless others—trans* and cisgender, female and male, compliant and compliant—are now dead because of their black “hair”? This seemed “essentialist”: though it appears that the police, like gentlemen, prefer blondes, this is my second straight post written for this platform related to an unconscionable death at the hands of “judicial” actors, the one prior regarding a “black” white man. Which is to say, the abolition of the police is increasingly that which shall not be named but hurriedly needs to be uttered, and confirms why Colin Kaepernick, and others, should ride this protest ‘til his knees fall off. I first thought I would name this piece:


for colored boys who considered blonde/when the black was enuf (to be killed)


What then shall I say about such melancholy things as these? If Frank is for us, who can ever be against us? That blond(e)s have more fun? That blond(e) is bond, and black must git back? And then I caught it:


For those who know what the “I” stands for under my pen name, they likely also know that the letters following that perpendicular pronoun are often misspelled. From as early as I can remember (and I have photos to prove it!), this was my mistaken destiny as identity. That is why I could not help but be perplexed as to why Spotify has the album name, right in front of it, but chooses to misspell its title and typesetting. I wondered: maybe what the album means is nothing? If you are not willing to spell me how I spell me, how I conjure me, is capitalist consumption subverted insofar as how could anyone ever really consume the “me” projected as a lie? Blonde is and is not the album title, just like placing the “e” before the “a” in my name does not mean you mispronounce it, but that you have not been paying attention when I spelled it out. This also brings to mind Nathaniel Mackey: a new word, a new world—he literally takes the “l” for the win! Queering language is now on the table.


I am careful in suggesting that blond is queer in its affect, surmising why such a designation is boring, even while Frank wants to “be the boyfriend in your wet dreams tonight”. The lingering sentiment, however, is, as per Jonathan Jacob Moore’s poem and interview, whether you, Frank, “hate coming outside, sometimes, too”? To come outside—as Toni Morrison would state, to be “outdoors . . . the real terror of life”—is to encounter the facile, the petty, the essential. And as it concerns the environment, the sun can change the color of one’s hair. Therefore, one finds god in himself and he loves it/he loves it fearfully, inside, because the rainbow wasnt, and isnt, enuf to keep the head intact. Interiority allows one to willingly settle for a piece of sky as he generates in peace.


Perhaps the album should be called 'Green'.

***


I. Augustus Durham is a fourth-year doctoral candidate in English at Duke University. His work focuses on blackness, melancholy and genius.

For Colored Boys Who Considered Blond/When The Rainbow Wasn’t Enuf: A Review of Frank Ocean’s Blonde


From: Sebastian Samuel | 7.Dec.2021 @02:22:00 | Add Comment
Brilliant article! I don’t see such articles any more these days. Well thought out and really well written. Couldn’t agree any further. Thank you for this. https://catalyticministries.com/
From: Deanna | 22.Oct.2021 @13:47:00 | Add Comment
Excelente blog, buen repertorio de contenidos puta en sevilla.
From: Christy | 9.Jan.2020 @06:11:00 | Add Comment
Christy der geomix soccer store deutschland ist dein spezialist für fußball und co Fussball Trikots Kinder! unser fußball online haaland bvb trikot: 40% günstigershadowbeast Karee
From: Fallon | 26.Dec.2019 @14:58:00 | Add Comment
Fallon Maglie Calcio A Poco Prezzo FinleyR Patsy
From: Terri | 9.Dec.2019 @12:34:00 | Add Comment
maglie calcio bambini Terri TwilaOve Maglia Tottenham Hotspurs Bambino JaniLamp TresaCol Terri
From: Nina | 13.Nov.2019 @01:59:00 | Add Comment
It's a pity you don't have a donate button! I'd without a doubt donate to this superb blog! I guess for now i'll settle for book-marking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to brand new updates and will talk about this website with my Facebook group. Chat soon! fotbollströjor barn TheoSchaw fodboldtrøjer børn LenoraRed KaiVasser Magliette Roma Cornelius
From: Elisa | 12.Nov.2019 @08:27:00 | Add Comment
Hi there! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a group of volunteers and starting a new initiative in a community in the same niche. Your blog provided us valuable information to work on. You have done a marvellous job! billiga fotbollströjor Francisco fodboldtrøjer ColumbusJ ConradDag billige fotballdrakter NidaGukhp
From: Hilario | 11.Nov.2019 @07:05:00 | Add Comment
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on maglie calcio bambini poco prezzo. Regards maglie calcio a poco prezzo BlairTell fotbollströjor barn LenaIqbal AdrianPep Maglia Manchester United Bambino JesusClub
From: Trudi | 11.Nov.2019 @02:35:00 | Add Comment
Hey I know this is off topic but I was wondering if you knew of any widgets I could add to my blog that automatically tweet my newest twitter updates. I've been looking for a plug-in like this for quite some time and was hoping maybe you would have some experience with something like this. Please let me know if you run into anything. I truly enjoy reading your blog and I look forward to your new updates. maglie calcio a poco prezzo SamBatche fodboldtrøjer LeoraNadp JodieWitc fußballtrikots kaufen JeroldceJ
From: Theo | 4.Nov.2019 @02:06:00 | Add Comment
I have read so many articles concerning the blogger lovers except this article is actually a good paragraph, keep it up. fotballdrakter barn ThereseMa billiga fotbollströjor Christope PenneyMcn fodboldtrøjer børn SibylVill
From: Candice | 1.Nov.2019 @04:17:00 | Add Comment
Do you mind if I quote a couple of your articles as long as I provide credit and sources back to your weblog? My website is in the exact same area of interest as yours and my users would definitely benefit from a lot of the information you present here. Please let me know if this okay with you. Regards! fodboldtrøjer børn MarciavnQ fodboldtrøjer TerrenceT ChristyEl maglie calcio bambino FabianGer
From: Caleb | 28.Oct.2019 @05:05:00 | Add Comment
I'm amazed, I must say. Rarely do I encounter a blog that's equally educative and amusing, and without a doubt, you have hit the nail on the head. The problem is an issue that not enough men and women are speaking intelligently about. I am very happy I found this during my hunt for something relating to this. billige fodboldtrøjer AlisonIso maglie calcio TerryRols ErnestoBr fotballdrakter DaniloSch
From: Corine | 28.Oct.2019 @02:32:00 | Add Comment
Just desire to say your article is as surprising. The clearness in your post is just spectacular and i could assume you're an expert on this subject. Fine with your permission allow me to grab your feed to keep updated with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please carry on the enjoyable work. fodboldtrøjer børn Demetrius fodboldtrøjer ErwinNelm Numberssr Maglietta Leverkusen GenevaDow
From: Juliann | 21.Oct.2019 @18:53:00 | Add Comment
When someone writes an post he/she maintains the plan of a user in his/her brain that how a user can be aware of it. So that's why this paragraph is great. Thanks! fodboldtrøjer JPJMarta Juventus tröja ZaneGvoqr TwilaGaro Ny fotballdrakter MalissaPr
From: Sanford | 11.Oct.2019 @18:20:00 | Add Comment
Hi there! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering which blog platform are you using for this website? I'm getting sick and tired of Wordpress because I've had issues with hackers and I'm looking at options for another platform. I would be awesome if you could point me in the direction of a good platform. fussball trikots
From: Kassandra | 8.Oct.2019 @06:24:00 | Add Comment
Hi, I wish for to subscribe for this website to take most up-to-date updates, thus where can i do it please help out. fodboldtrøjer
From: Alejandro | 13.Aug.2019 @20:38:00 | Add Comment
Nice post. I was checking constantly this blog and I am impressed! Extremely useful information specially the last part :) I care for such info a lot. I was seeking this particular info for a long time. Thank you and good luck. fodboldtrøjer Celsauoxn barcelona fotballdrakter HollieVal
From: Connor | 4.Aug.2019 @02:03:00 | Add Comment
It's going to be end of mine day, except before end I am reading this impressive paragraph to increase my experience. seattle sounders drakter med trykk WyattShar maglie calcio Joellengy
From: Doris | 3.Aug.2019 @21:36:00 | Add Comment
My family all the time say that I am wasting my time here at web, however I know I am getting knowledge daily by reading thes nice articles. Maglia juventus Bambino RheaJaime fotballdrakter barn ArethabqM
From: Mohammed | 3.Aug.2019 @16:28:00 | Add Comment
I've learn several just right stuff here. Certainly value bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how much attempt you set to make one of these magnificent informative website. Billige fodboldtrøje VickyBrad VM-tröjor:Billiga Fotbollströjor 2018 på nätet KayleighB
From: Vicki | 3.Aug.2019 @11:11:00 | Add Comment
I do consider all of the concepts you've offered for your post. They are very convincing and can certainly work. Nonetheless, the posts are very short for newbies. Could you please lengthen them a little from subsequent time? Thank you for the post. Billiga Fotbollströjor: Köpa Barcelona Tröja Butiks JeroldAng maglie calcio poco prezzo RobertMoy
From: Orval | 3.Aug.2019 @08:07:00 | Add Comment
There is certainly a lot to find out about this subject. I really like all of the points you made. Günstige fußballtrikots KathyClem Everton Fodboldtrøjer AbelWebbe
From: Tricia | 31.Jul.2019 @07:43:00 | Add Comment
Aw, this was an incredibly nice post. Spending some time and actual effort to generate a really good article… but what can I say… I procrastinate a lot and don't manage to get nearly anything done. Chelsea fodboldtrøjer Margarita maglie calcio bambino KatrinPin
From: Sherlene | 3.Jul.2019 @21:37:00 | Add Comment
Craigslist might be searched by about to selecting a selected area appealing or region, and entering text in the search. Craigslist templates may be purchased or downloaded from template websites, but you may make your and personalize them just how you want. all craigslist search Click the "Posting Description" box in case you want to feature symbols towards the body with the post. If you happen to be looking to get a fun solution to get inside the Halloween spirit, start the You've Been Ghosted game as part of your.
From: Ray | 30.Jun.2019 @15:06:00 | Add Comment
It's a shame you don't have a donate button! I'd most certainly donate to this fantastic blog! I guess for now i'll settle for bookmarking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to fresh updates and will share this site with my Facebook group. Talk soon! Billige liverpool Fodboldtrøje
From: Candra | 17.Jun.2019 @06:07:00 | Add Comment
Howdy! I know this is kind of off topic but I was wondering which blog platform are you using for this site? I'm getting fed up of Wordpress because I've had problems with hackers and I'm looking at options for another platform. I would be awesome if you could point me in the direction of a good platform. Napoli Fodboldtrøjer
From: Kacey | 16.Jun.2019 @17:21:00 | Add Comment
Attractive section of content. I just stumbled upon your weblog and in accession capital to assert that I get in fact enjoyed account your blog posts. Any way I will be subscribing to your feeds and even I achievement you access consistently rapidly. nuova Maglia Napoli
From: Denisha | 14.Jun.2019 @18:07:00 | Add Comment
Heya i am for the first time here. I came across this board and I find It really useful & it helped me out a lot. I hope to give something back and aid others like you helped me. Billiga Italien
From: Bradley | 14.Jun.2019 @04:52:00 | Add Comment
Wow that was odd. I just wrote an very long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn't appear. Grrrr... well I'm not writing all that over again. Anyhow, just wanted to say superb blog! Eindhoven Fußball Trikots

  Send to a friend  |   View/Hide Comments (29)   |     Print

2023 All Rights Reserved: The New Black Magazine | Terms & Conditions
Back to Home Page nb: People and Politics Books & Literature nb: Arts & Media nb: Business & Careers Education