Is Beyonce The Token Black Celebrity?

So, the list is out—“What Is Sexy?” per Victoria’s Secret and no, I didn’t make the cut and not many others who can identify with me did. Charlize Theron got top honors as the Sexiest Actress, “Hunger Games” star Jennifer Lawrence won Sexiest Eyes, singer-performer Beyonce Knowles won as Sexiest Mom, and actress Olivia Wilde as Sexiest Summer Glow.

Few questions for the judging panel: What are the criteria for being the sexiest? Seriously, for the most part either through extreme workouts or multiple plastic surgeries (assuming sexy implies physical, after all this is Victoria’s Secret), who in Hollywood isn’t sexy? Secondly, why did Beyonce beat out Charlize Theron for best mother? Speaking of Beyonce, who I love, why must she be the sacrificial lamb, the chosen token Black person on the list among the intended non-Black list to make non-Blacks  comfortable with the decision so Blacks can’t utter there are no Blacks on the list?

And I don’t think Beyonce shouldn’t be on the list—she’s wonderful! I think the judging panel know about as much as I do of her parenting skills, so why not Jada Pinkett Smith, Nia Long (who by the way has a beautiful summer glow), Chili, Brandy, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu? For the love of lists—diversify—Google black celebrity moms like I just did and switch it up or…let’s just call the list what it really is.

By Deidre White

The ABS Newsletter — Stories that matter, in your inbox.

Independent journalism still matters.

We hope this story was worth your time. For over 14 years, Atlanta Black Star has stayed Black-owned and independently run. We didn't get here by waiting on ad budgets that were never built to prioritize us. Our readers did that.

Corporate support for Black media has always been thin. Outlets like ours get roughly 1% of the $170 billion spent on U.S. advertising each year, and that margin is shrinking further as advertisers walk back the DEI-linked commitments they made in 2020. That's the backdrop. It's not why we're asking.

The wider picture isn't any steadier. Newspaper ad revenue has fallen more than 80% since 2005, and local newsrooms are closing at a rate of roughly two a week nationwide. When outlets go under, it's rarely the ones built to center a Black perspective from the ground up that get to stick around.

We know a request for support isn't why you came here. But without readers choosing to fund this work directly, the depth of reporting we can do at home and abroad shrinks along with everyone else's. If you're not in a position to give, that doesn't change how much we value you as a reader.

If you are able to, a recurring contribution does more for us than a single one-time gift, because it lets us plan the next investigation instead of just the next invoice. It takes about 30 seconds, no long form, no account. Thank you for continuing to support independent journalism and freedom of the press.

Latest from Atlanta Black Star

Back to top