According to Rihanna, racism in the music industry “never ends.”
The singer opened up about the prejudice that she still faces, despite her success, and the fact that her race is usually pointed out in business dealings. In an interview with The New York Times, she spoke specifically about racial profiling as well as the everyday microaggressions faced by women of color.
“I have to bear in mind that people are judging you because you’re packaged a certain way – they’ve been programmed to think a black man in a hoodie means grab your purse a little tighter,” said Rihanna. “For me, it comes down to smaller issues, scenarios in which people can assume something of me without knowing me, just by my packaging.”
She went on to specifically call out the music industry.
“When I started to experience the difference – or even have my race be highlighted – it was mostly when I would do business deals… That never ends, by the way. It’s still a thing. And it’s the thing that makes me want to prove people wrong. It almost excites me; I know what they’re expecting and I can’t wait to show them that I’m here to exceed those expectations.”