Cardi B has had enough of the misinformed dictating her race and ethnicity because of what languages she speaks and decided to give a mini-history lesson via Instagram Live, explaining the differences between Island cultures and confirming her own identity in an effort to shut down internet trolls.
During the IG Live session, Cardi reflected on an interaction where she was mistaken for Mexican because she speaks Spanish. “I’m not Mexican at all. I’m West Indian and I’m Dominican. I speak Spanish because I’m Dominican,” Cardi explained. “And it’s like, ‘So what’s the difference between Dominican and Mexican?’ And it’s like, everything!”
Then she touched on the assumption that she’s not black because she speaks Spanish.
“People just don’t be understanding sh*t. It’s like, ‘Cardi’s Latin, she’s not Black.’ And it’s like, ‘Bro, my features don’t come from…white people f**king, OK?’ And they always wanna race-bait when it comes to me…I have Afro features,” she continued. “‘Oh, but your parents are light-skinned’—alright, but my grandparents aren’t.”
Cardi even noted the comparisons between herself and other artists from the same island as her, and how they get the black seal of approval, but she doesn’t because she speaks Spanish. “It’s crazy because some island women, some artists that are from the same islands as me, people will be like, ‘Oh they’re Black,'” she said. “But because Cardi speaks Spanish to people, she’s not Black, even though we have similar features, same skin complexion. But no, they want to not put Cardi in it because I speak Spanish.”
The “Press” rapper said she believes it’s the school’s fault for not teaching cultural diversity and the history of other ethnicities to children.
Do you agree with Cardi B?
I feel exactly what she’s saying but in reverse. I am half Puerto Rican , but since I don’t speak Spanish, or don’t look like your traditional Boricua, people of the Hispanic culture try to dismiss me of my own culture!! People always ask what I am mixed with, as if I couldn’t be completely Black. But because of my light skin, eyes and length of hair I must be mixed with Spanish or White! Don’t folks know by now that Blacks come in all colors and variations , we are a Beautiful People as we are unique! Unfortunately as much as we have adapted to the world, the world won’t adapt to us.