February 10, 2025
SAINt JHN is looking out Puerto Rico for racism and the absence of dark-skinned music artists.
SAINt JHN is talking out in regards to the racism he’s encountered whereas residing in Puerto Rico, describing it as “loud, lively, and really current.”
The Guyanese-American rapper and singer has been residing in his lovely “art-filled dwelling” (as cited by Forbes) in Puerto Rico for a number of years. Throughout a latest look on The Manner Up with Angela Yee, the Brooklyn-born musician opened up in regards to the racism he’s skilled whereas residing on the island.
“If I’m being actually clear, Puerto Rico’s racist. Nobody talks about that, and I’ve by no means even stated that out loud,” Saint Jhn declared in a clip
The “Roses” singer spoke out in regards to the colorism he believes impacts the Latin music trade, highlighting the underrepresentation of dark-skinned Afro-Latino artists in mainstream music.
“Even whenever you consider Latin artists, you don’t consider no one that don’t look whitish,” he continued.
SAINt JHN referred to as out the artists that he feels get to “signify the tradition” and the way they lack numerous ranges of colour.
“You don’t see any, you don’t see individuals of various colour,” he stated. “You begin pondering that solely that exists, and solely that must be celebrated, as a result of that’s the one factor that they’re permitting to be celebrated.”
The “Who Do You Blame” singer recalled a visit to the mall the place he seen that nobody acknowledged him, and he believes it was due to the colour of his pores and skin.
“I bear in mind no one taking a look at me. And I bear in mind pondering, ‘OK, that’s not loopy that individuals aren’t taking a look at me.’ However individuals would exit of their approach to not look in my path,” SAINt JHN defined.
“And it took me some time to course of. I used to be like, ‘What’s happening right here?’ I simply didn’t get it. I couldn’t, as a result of my mind doesn’t default to, ‘They don’t love me due to the colour of my pores and skin.’ As a result of my pores and skin is gorgeous. I’m glowing.”
SAINt JHN’s criticism in regards to the racism in Puerto Rico sparked a debate, with some agreeing and others shutting down his claims of the island having no dark-skinned Latin artists.
“Sure and no. Artists of numerous colours are celebrated and acknowledged, i.e., Celia Cruz, Tego Calderon, Don Amor, and so on. BUT colorism does exist,” one particular person wrote.
“Eeeeeehhhhhh unsuitable. Simply trigger you don’t perceive the language doesn’t imply nobody talks about it,” added another person. “Tego Calderon made ALBUMS concerning the lively racism and colorism in Puerto Rico.”
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