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Mathew Knowles says he initially thought ex-wife Tina Knowles-Lawson was white

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Frank Micelotta/Getty ImagesBeyoncé and Solange Knowles‘ father, Mathew Knowles, is coming out with a new book titled Racism from the Eyes of a Child, which appears to have already caused a bit of controversy.  

In an interview with Ebony magazine to promote the book, Mathew talks about the internalized colorism he possessed that led him to believe his now ex-wife, Tina Knowles-Lawson, was white when they first met. 

As of Friday, the interview was removed from Ebony‘s website, but Rhymes With Snitch captured it. 

Mathew says, “When I was growing up, my mother used to say, ‘Don’t ever bring no nappy-head black girl to my house.’ In the deep South in the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s, the shade of your blackness was considered important. So I, unfortunately, grew up hearing that message.”  

He continues, “I have a chapter in the book that talks about eroticized rage. I talk about going to therapy and sharing  — one day I had a breakthrough — that I used to date mainly white women or very high-complexion black women that looked white.” 

“I actually thought when I met Tina, my former wife, that she was white. Later I found out that she wasn’t, and she was very much in-tune with her blackness.” 

Mathew went on to even mention his superstar daughters when asked about the music industry’s issue with colorism in the black community. 

He says, “I challenge my students at Texas Southern to think about this. When it comes to black females, who are the people who get their music played on pop radio? Mariah CareyRihanna, the female rapper Nicki Minaj, my kids, and what do they all have in common?”

When the interviewer replied, “They’re all lighter skinned,” Mathew added, “Do you think that’s an accident?” 

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