Teena Marie/Vanilla Choc
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We got all these White women today trying to pass. In the '80s many of Us were shocked to discover that Funk Diva Teena Marie was not Black. And as you can see here, she sometimes adopted certain stylistic indications of her cultural affinity. And she was allowed to do that. And some of us might have been mad if she didn't.
You gotta understand. Teena Marie taught herself to play bass, guitar, keyboards and percussion. And before she was even out of high school was already leading her first band. See. She earned her eternal Golden Key to the City of Harlem by being The Funkiest White Woman Ever.
In fact, I would bet that many Black people from that era, when they see images of her today, still give her a melanin wash. But, she never tried to pass. It wasn't her. It was us. We simply couldn't accept that she was White.
I guess that's why we called her "Vanilla Choc." - rp
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BTW: if you've never heard Square Biz, go do your booty a favor and check it out. And, turn it up too. So you can really hear what Lady T. was all about!
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Itty Bitty Black History Lesson: Motown was dying in the early eighties. And Teena Marie was part of a group of stars who, led by Rick James, reinvigorated the venerable label.
