The Problem With Beyonce's 'Blackface' Photos - theBVX

Beyonce's latest photo shoot for the French magazine L'Officiel honors the late Nigerian Afrobeat musician Fela Kuti, but her darkened face is being compared to blackface images of America's racist past.In late years, the singer has been under examination for her fading figure and white image. Critics contend that as she's developed into a global superstar, her "bootylicious" figure has become less curvaceous and her appearance more wish that of a white woman.

Her L'Oreal ad in 2008 became notorious after it was rumored that the company digitally lightened her skin and her recent appearance at the Grammy's with bleach blond hair and a slim physique caused more uproar leading one writer at the Daily Mail to write she's betraying women of color.

The Controversial L'Oreal Ad and Beyonce at the 2011 Grammy Awards:

But in the recent fashion hit the singer decided to go in the inverse way from her usual blond locks and golden skin and she wore dark brown makeup on her side for a feast in L'Officiel. The magazine writes:

"The Fashion magazine is near to keep its 90th birthday. To keep this anniversary, the festivities start with the Border issue, with Beyonc on the cover. She agreed to sit for an incredible fashion shoot, with the idea of African Queen, paying a testimonial to the legendary Fela Kuti. Far from the glamorous Sasha Fierce, the beauty posed for the clip with amazing fashion designers clothes, but likewise in a set created by her mother. [It is] A pass to her African roots, as you can see on the picture, on which her side was voluntarily darkened. All the pictures will be usable in the collector edition, on trade at the end of this month."

Images from L'Officiel Photo Shoot:

Being the lead that she is, Beyonce's is certain to get aid to the clip and boost newsstand sales. She is arguably the most famous black female entertainer on Earth and not coincidentally, hubby Jay Z is a co-producer alongside Will and Jada Smith of the Tony Award nominated play Fela. Beyonce may have really thought of the idea. Remember, in Dreamgirls Beyonce's face and consistency was pied with dingy brown makeup to depict an African woman during a photo shoot scene as the character Deena. This conception is not so new to her.

Beyonce in a setting in Dreamgirls:

The magazine did observe that this was a voluntary choice on her part. Being an African American it's probable that Beyonce would see the sensibility that could originate from a white or light-skinned person wearing a good expression of dark brown makeup. Perhaps she genuinely thought the picture shoot was artistic. The foreign element about the photos is that the constitution was simply applied on her case and neck. Did the makeup artists get lazy? Beyonce's stunning in her natural skin look and with the darker composition but the creative directors could get decided to go with an entire body of the makeup or she could have through the entire spread without any dark makeup. Is there cause for blacks to be pained by these photos? Let us live in the comments section below.