What Is Beautiful?

The lyrics in The Trinikas' song "Black is Beautiful," contradict what Pauline Breedlove thinks of her own daughter. The song says that "black is beautiful" and that they [the blacks] now have "...the chance to be free..." and they "...need determination..." to preserve and do what they want. It just boggles my mind that Mrs. Breedlove would think, "But I knowed she was ugly. Head full of pretty hair, but Lord she was ugly." The voice in my head just reading this sentence has a twitch of a southern drawl and it makes the connotation of the sentence much worse. Just like southerners saying X,Y, and Z about someone and finishing the comment off with, "Bless her heart!" to make everything all better and lighten the blow. Well, it doesn't work. It is what it is, no matter how you try to phrase it or cover it up. If you said she was ugly, you said she was ugly.

It is a shame to not think the best of your own children. What parents say and do highly affect the growth of their children in every way, shape, and form. Pecola needed to grow up in a household that advocated "Black [as] Beautiful" instead of "Pecola is ugly." This sentiment about Pecola physically, heightened Pecola's want for physical features she did not have, and could not acquire, (blue eyes), in order to be respected instead of ignored. Louis Armstrong brings up similar points in his song, "What Did I Do To Be So Black And Blue?" His melancholy lyrics demonstrate the societal perceptions that are heaped upon him and others like him. They [the whites] "...laugh at you [the blacks]..." but I [Armstrong] promise that "...I'm white inside..." But, but, but my "...only sin is my kin..." (emphasis added). The title of the song really almost says it all. What did Armstrong do to deserve being this "terrible" thing of "black" and why does he always live his life blue [sad]? The lyrics to the song then help to demonstrate some of the social conditions of the time and why these questions are ever present in his life.

Music is a great way to get messages into people's minds, maybe without them even noticing until later. Naturally we just catch on to the high beat or the solemn tune and "forget" or "not pay attention to" the lyrics. With repetition, we soon fall into the trap of almost unconsciously memorizing the whole song and having it on constant replay in our heads all day. Well, are brains are just that good. So, music is a great way to "trick" others into listening to your message no matter how controversial. Once something is published, it is forever out there in the cruel world to be judged, critiqued, and debated. You have to be one courageous soul to put yourself out there, especially when you know you may be ridiculed by others. Armstrong was not afraid to sing what he felt. In the magically crafted lyrics, his hidden message is proposing a course of action for increased equality for blacks. This is the art and craft of a true artist.

Many of the characters in "The Bluest Eye" can relate to Armstrong's song in one way or another. Especially poor Pecola. She always seems to be "blue" because she is "black." And, she doesn't even live around any true whites, only lighter skinned blacks. How much more would she suffer if she was surrounded by whites? This is exactly what happened to her mother, Mrs. Breedlove, which started her down a path that led to deteriorating marital relations and adverse conditions for Pecola and her brother to be born into. Society really takes a toll on a person - that is for sure.