I don’t know much about the hierarchy of pop groups, but the monarchy in Destiny’s Child is making me sick.

Beyonce Knowles is the only independent woman in the group - the lone member who stands on her own two feet.

But as attractive as Beyonce is, I’m a little tired of seeing her in the front, as if the other girls can’t hold their own when it comes to singing or looks.

Maybe that’s the real reason they’ve had three girls leave the group in less than two years.

Behind the talent of the group is its manager, Mathew Knowles, who’s also Beyonce’s father. He’s being accused by former group members LaTavia Roberson and LaToya Luckett of “greed, insistence on control, self-dealing, and promotion of his daughter’s interests at the expense of the plaintiffs,” according to an 18-page legal petition filed by the two.

Daddy’s also been accused of making Farrah Franklin, who most recently left the group, tan to have darker skin. He apparently wanted her to be more like one of the darker members she replaced.

This raises another point about the women of Destiny’s Child: They seem to be associating light skin with leadership, because the black community in general has often associated lighter skin color with superiority.

Like Lil’ Kim, a hip-hop and R&B artist, Beyonce has colored her hair blonde and gone heavy on the foundation that makes her skin tone a little lighter - not Michael Jackson light, but there is a noticeable difference in the group’s first album cover and its upcoming one.

But she’s daddy’s little girl, mommy’s little model (her mother designs their costumes) and things aren’t changing just because their baby girl is in a group. While I generally wouldn’t be opposed to the Knowles’ making things better for their child, it seems as if they’re more concerned with her than the group.

I hate to sit back and watch as the others get stepped on, while Beyonce takes the spotlight from the other two.

It’s really sad that some would stoop to this level to make a solo career for their daughter.

I’ve studied, with a very sharp eye, hundreds of their pictures and I can’t seem to find a flaw in either of the other two women.

And I’ve even listened to their second album, “The Writing’s on The Wall.” The only flaws I heard were some bad production, but that’s on an album that’s gone platinum 10 times worldwide.

I guess I just hate to see such talented and beautiful ladies drowned out by the vocals and physical shadow of Beyonce. They’re equally talented, have picture-perfect smiles and the attractive appeal of the girl next door, so why can’t they share the spotlight?

I guess there isn’t much reason to wonder why they’ve lost so many members in such a short time.

Justin D. Brown, State News technology reporter, can be reached at brownj72@msu.edu.