Music Review: En Vogue "Free Your Mind"

En Vogue

Free Your Mind

Album: Funky Divas

Year: 1992

                 Dawn Robinson addresses stereotypes associated with African-American women in the astute “Free Your Mind.”

           In the intro, Robinson says she has opinionis about racism and sexism. She’s going to express them whether people like it or not. Direct drums and synths open the single, setting a take charge tone. (“Prejudice, wrote a song about it/Like to hear it? Here it go/Free your mind.”)

              First, assumptions of who she is based on clothing. She chooses how to feel sexy. She enjoys Public Enemy but she’s not on the streets, selling her body for her next fix. She gets offended (and rightfully so) if people think she has a relative of another race after noticing her straight her. She thinks all men are handsome – despite their race. Her men (who haven’t been African-American) have been snubbed and people have pulled her aside, telling her she’s betraying her race. (“I wear tight clothing, high heeled shoes/It doesn't mean that I'm a prostitute, no no/I like rap music, wear hip hop clothes/That doesn't mean that I'm out sellin' dope no no/Oh my forgive me for having straight hair, no/It doesn't mean there's another blood in my heir yeah yeah/I might date another race or color/It doesn't mean I don't like my strong black brothers.”)

              In the chorus, she doesn’t understand the creation of the stereotypes. People have to get to know each other first. People also need to be open-minded. (“Why oh why must it be this way/Before you can read me you gotta learn how to see me, I said/Free your mind and the rest will follow/Be color blind, don't be so shallow/Free your mind and the rest will follow/Be color blind, don't be so shallow.”)

           She has a good job and has a decent income. However, the clerks give her the once-over. They hold onto her credit card and driver license longer than they should, making sure every part of her matches the photo. Before it, she was followed around in the store. She would pick something up, a clerk would ask her for help. She wants to tell them off but knows it won’t do anything. They will always be ignorant. (“So I'm a sistah/Buy things with cash/That really doesn't mean that all my credit's bad, oh/So why dispute me and waste my time/Because you really think the price is high for me/I can't look without being watched, and oh/You rang my buy before I made up my mind, OW!/Oh now attitude, why even bother/I can't change your mind, you can't change my color.”)

           An extended chorus ends the single. (“Why oh why must it be this way?...Free your mind and the rest will follow/Be color blind, don't be so shallow/Why oh why must it be this way?/Before you can read me you gotta learn how to see me, I said/Free your mind and the rest will follow/Be color blind, don't be so shallow... free your mind.”)

              En Vogue’s fiery vocals questions racially charged/sexist interactions they’ve experienced. A mix of frustration, anger and helplessness runs through them. They aren’t trying to save the world but they are getting people to think.

            The  powerful “Free Your Mind” won’t tolerate ignorance.