Opinion by Darrel Alejandro Holnes: Mariah Carey, queen of the American dream
, which rank songs based on streaming and sales from more than 200 territories.
Earlier this month, I was on my way to see “Merry Christmas to All,” Carey’s Madison Square Garden holiday show, when I asked my friend Rachel: Despite having heard the song a million times, why do I still feel so fulfilled when I hear it?In the arena, we were surrounded by fans who had flown in or driven from far-flung places to see the “Queen of Christmas.
Carey was then escorted off the snowflake by dancers wearing white tuxedos and top hats to a cheering crowd. She glided across the stage wearing a tiara and a sparkling silver and white ball gown with a tight bodice, splits up to her thighs, and open-toed stilettos. She was soon flanked by an all-Black church choir, the singers wearing white robes with yellow collars and starting her off with “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.
As Rachel and I watched, we heard at least six languages, and saw many same-sex couples, a few women in hijabs, a man with a kippah, a South Asian family of mostly elders who told me they had driven in from New Jersey — all in communion. I hear Carey’s singing — a mixture of gospel, jazz and pop — as an expression of her mixed identity as a biracial woman with an immigrant Afro-Venezuelan, Irish American heritage.
I realized that more than the song had brought me to the arena. Carey is a musical meeting ground for in-betweeners like me, who have resisted the constant demands to exclusively tick a race or ethnicity box “Black” or “White” or, in my case, “Black” or “Hispanic/Latine.”This is a common problem for people like us. A few years after the invasion, my family moved from Panama City to the Panama Canal Zone, and we were the first Black family in our neighborhood on Ancon Hill.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Mariah Carey’s Boxing Day Attire Included a Sexy Column Dress in the Most Festive PrintMariah Carey wore a red plaid dress and a velvet shawl when celebrating Boxing Day.
Read more »
Mariah Carey ‘Can’t Even Handle’ Her Record-Extending 90th Week Atop the Hot 100Carey shared that she is celebrating the milestone with one very winter-themed activity.
Read more »
The most read Opinion stories of 2022 | OpinionAnd the most popular stories from this week's Opinion section
Read more »
See Nick Cannon's Family Photo Album With His 12 Children and Their MomsNick Cannon shares his kids with Mariah Carey, Brittany Bell, Abby De La Rosa, Alyssa Scott and LaNisha Cole — take a look
Read more »
Pink and Carey Hart’s Sweet Family Moments: PhotosPink and Carey Hart have shared so many fun moments with their children since starting their family in 2011 — take a look at pics
Read more »
Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ Dominates Down UnderThe highest debut in the week of Christmas belongs to British rapper Central Cee.
Read more »