Black Bodies

       It is not a secret that due to the African diaspora the victims of it and their generations after them were stripped of their cultures, traditions, and ways of life. These enslaved people of African descent were forced to accept and adapt to their capturers lifestyles. In America those of European descent were and still are idolized for their pale skin, fine hair, and body types. African American men and women are continuously compared to Europeans physically and even spiritually seeing how there were so many differences between westernized Christianity and West African polytheistic religions. 

       In the D'angelo video "Untitled" from his album Voodoo viewers are able to experience a visual for the Pentecostal message they receive in every song by this musician. 

      D'Angelo is the archetype for the power and beauty of African oral tradition specifically musically.

      Unfortunately, due to the triviality and shallowness of society, the most sexual song on D'Angelo's album was ostracized and the inspiration and beginning of his body being taken away from him. In his video for his single "Untitled" he is stripped naked and with the lyrics D'Angelo's video is taken as a sexual advance. In recent years he went on the Tavis Smiley Show and discussed his religious background, as well as how his "Untitled" video effected his career, personal life, and his opinions on the disrespect of bodies (i.e. women).

D'Angelo & Tavis Smiley PART I on PBS

 D'Angelo & Tavis Smiley PART I on PBS

          

             

      

      However, with the music not playing the viewer is given a chilling visual that shows D'Angelo's spirituality the same spirituality that was the backbone of his ancestors when their bodies were taken away just like his.