This week, Billboard named Taylor Swift as the second greatest pop star of the 21st century, with Beyoncé securing the top spot. Of course, this makes perfect sense! The debate over who deserves to be crowned is still ongoing, but one thing is clear: Taylor Swift has never been more popular and polarizing—at the same time. In the culture wars, you’re supposed to choose a side. And if you are a Black woman, the assumption is that you’re on Team Bey, and for the most part, that tracks. Beyoncé’s fan base is made up largely of Black women who grew up feeling seen by Destiny’s Child, while Swift has dominated the market of sad suburban white girls who have loved her since she was writing about the teardrops on her guitar. But this picture is too one-dimensional. First of all, it relies on an unfair comparison of both artists. As Swift herself has acknowledged, Beyoncé is a once-in-a-generation talent who has shaped the music industry and paved the way for every female solo artist who came after her, including Swift. This doesn’t take away from Swift’s own achievements. It’s just that the comparison starts a narrative that both stars would very much like to avoid. And secondly, the Beyoncé vs. Taylor wars paint us all with the same brush, leaving no room for nuance, varying tastes, and for Black Swifties. Yes, they exist.
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The Story of Black Swifties
Usually, the discussion surrounding being a Black Taylor Swift fan is wrapped in shame and complexity. Wangui Mwai wrote an article for Pop Sugar titled “The Complicated Reality of Being a Black Taylor Swift Fan.” There’s a viral Reddit post by a Black fan titled “my thoughts/struggles as a Black Taylor Swift fan.” Bizzi Lavelle also wrote for Refinery29 Australia, “I’m A Blak Woman Who Loves Taylor Swift — But It’s Complicated.” Reading these articles made me sad. I want us to be able to like what we like in peace. At the same time, I appreciate the thoughtfulness we put into the artists we support.
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In each of these posts, these women unpack why being a Black fan of Swift often comes with a disclaimer or a defense. They love her lyrics but disagree with the idea that “she’s basically a physical representation of how white women uphold systems of oppression while only highlighting their own.” They love her vulnerability but don’t agree with how toxic, rabid, and racist some of her non-Black fanbase can be. They love the nostalgia of her music but don’t agree with her usage of private jets or her past relationship with the problematic Matty Healy. They love her songs but don’t like how isolated loving her makes them feel. While I understand the cultural analysis and the desire to explore Swift’s impact, all this hand-wringing over liking a pop star is almost comical to me. Is it really that serious?
When I Got the Chance to Cover the Eras Tour
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When I had the chance to cover the Eras Tour, I knew I wanted to address this topic with the very people who knew best: Black Swifties. And under the sparkling lights of the highest-grossing concert tour of all time, amidst the glitter-covered bodies and through a sea of cowboy hats and bedazzled tassels, the simultaneous seriousness and absurdity of devoting yourself to the Swiftdom was clear. To her legions of fans, loving Swift isn’t casual, it’s personal. But it’s also silly and playful. Besides the fact that many of her fans are actual children (including my four-year-old niece), youthfulness is one of the things Swift trades in. Often, Black women don’t have the luxury of being seen as forever young. I get wanting to play pretend in Swift’s perpetual sandbox for a while. For Khortlyn Cole, a self-described Swiftie who used to run a Tumblr account dedicated to the singer, her love of Swift started young. She’s 29 now, and she’s been a fan of the pop star since her 2008 album Fearless. Sixteen years later, Cole is used to having to defend her status as a Black Swiftie.
The Diversity Among Black Swifties
Loving Taylor Swift within the Black community isn’t always seen in the most positive light. However, Black Swifties have a strong and undeniable presence in Taylor Swift’s world of music. These fans have shared their love for Swift’s music, but they also face judgment and scrutiny from both outsiders and within their own community. As the music culture continues to evolve, the space for Black Swifties is growing and becoming more powerful.
