Last week my crew and I headed to the Salsa Festival on St. Claire’s in Toronto to take in the local ethnic flavor. I was sitting in the backseat with my new YouTube friend, KayLove, and listening to the beats from the front. I heard a song with a rhythm that was both hypnotic and soulful, and the singer’s scratchy voice was the perfect compliment. I asked about the song. “Best One” by Anderson Paak.
I can be a bit obsessive when I discover a song I like, and I’ll listen to it over and over and over and over and over and over. But the more I listened to the song, the more I hated myself for liking it. The words are a roadmap for a black woman’s romantic destruction. Carrying out such expectations will lead her a ruin.
It’s indoctrination wrapped in a catchy tune. Hypnotism by rhythm. Brainwashing through the beat.
The lyrics:
Yes love, yes love
My fault
That’s my, that’s my living
You love me like you knew I could be leaving in a moment’s notice You telling me to stay till the morning You know a nigga homeless
[You are aware that I have no intention of ever committing to you, but you give me all you have anyway. I have no real way to support myself, and you take care of me like my mamma.]
You give me everything inside the showroom Your old school trophies You used to work the small farm Now you working corporate, dipping in the sportswear
[You started off with little to nothing, and you worked hard to become successful, probably because you knew no one would or could be around to be a safety net for you]
Well I hope I never have to cut you off My best one
By far
[Despite give me EVERYTHING you have, I STILL may just drain you until you have nothing left and then leave you and never look back. You the “best one” (of many).]
That’s my, that’s my living
I think she could be in it for the long run
My niggas said I’m on one
I never knew a love stronger
My heart is a great big boulder
Hey, you fuck me like you know this could be something like your very last moment I could leave it at the drop of a Fedora But damn it girl I want you
[Again, know that I’ve got one foot out. But before I go give me give me give me give me]
I hope I never have to cut you off
Your my best one
By far…
******
Notice how one sided this relationship is? He makes absolutely no mention of what he can give to her, just talks about what he’s taking. Her only reward is knowing that out of the many many women he has, she’s the “best one,” and that should be enough. That’s as good as she’s going to get. She’s also good for using long term too, because she sex game is good.
Some may argue it’s just a song. But then they’re either lying or have no idea what the expectations are for black women from their romantic partners. You are to bring your A-game to the table, and yet sacrifice yourself for the well-being of men who give little commitment, have multiple sex partners, and high expectations of what you can do for them financially.
This could just be the story of one loser, underemployed dude, except…how many successful black women do you know pair up with men like this? I can name five without even thinking hard.
“Best One” holds a mirror to the unreasonable and unfair expectations successful black women have in a situation where they outnumber the marriageable and eligible men in the community. We have been openly told for a decade that our expectations are too high because our degrees won’t keep us warm at night.
But the truth is, the community needs all these degreed women to keep afloat. They also need for them to believe they have to give more than they receive, and that they should be grateful to be the “best one” of many.
Holla if you hear me.
Follow Christelyn on Instagram and Twitter, and subscribe to our You Tube channel. And if you want to be a little moreabout this online dating thing, InterracialDatingCentral is the official dating site for this blog.
Follow Christelyn on Instagram and Twitter, and subscribe to our YouTube channel. And if you want to be a little more about this online dating thing, InterracialDatingCentral is the official dating site for this blog.
"The Pink Pill course teaches women to be their very best selves, to learn how to navigate the world of elegance while dating and in their daily life, and helps them to WIN!"
- Tobi.
I have loved every module of your Pink Pill course; the videos you uploaded onto the Facebook group are such great resources!
I wanted to say thank you for creating the course. You put some much time, energy, and love into the Pink Pill and it shows!
- Audrey.
"I know that this program will change everything. It is amazing and life changing being around people that think the same way that I do in regards to trying to be better. I am recommending this to EVERY black woman that I know because I think this is for people that want any race of man. It's just about being the best version of you an dhow to present yourself with confidence."
