Just finished watching the Tyra Banks show which admittedly, I don't normally watch. Her topic today was racism and on the show, she had two guests that were of particular interest to me.
One the guests was this woman named Shelly Williams. Shelly is a thick Black woman, someone that I thought was very pretty until I heard what came out of her mouth. Shelly said she HATES (yes, she used the word hates) Black women. She also mentioned hating Black men but, she had a particular disdain for Black women. She then went on to describe so many things she hated about them (me) that it's hard to even list but she mentioned Black women being loud, obnoxious, atitude-y and being Aunt Jemima nappy heads. She went on about how she didn't consider herself to be a Black woman, how she doesn't call herself Black and how she only dates White men. Needless to say, I was more than a bit shocked. Where the hell does this come from? How can a person look at themselves (especially someone with lucsiously beautiful black skin) and say they hate that? It really sadenned me. She mentioned that she permed her hair EVERY TWO WEEKS because she didn't want nappy hair. Being an absolute proud person of color, this baffles me, it's just sick.
The other guest was a Black woman named Jamilah who said she purposefully married a Korean man so that her children would have "good hair". She went on about how when she was a child, her sister who was lighter than her, was treated better than she was. She says she didn't want her children to have to live in a world where they were viewed as less beautiful or less than other people because of their skin color or hair texture. There was also an Asian woman who had eye surgery to make her eyes appear more Caucasian. Again, all of this saddens me. What does one even say to a person like this? Someone who is so self loathing?
As a big fat, black nappy headed woman, one who has ALWAYS loved herself I just DON'T understand. I know this will come across as racist but, oh well. I can't see myself wanting to do something to myself to make ME look like those who are (and have been for centuries) oppressive, racist, and life stealing towards others just because of the way they look. Knowing MY history in this country and how I am viewed, I am happy, thrilled actually at my skin, my naps, my big nose, lips, hips, butt and everything else. It is who I am. I cannot, will not understand someone who lives their lives wanting to be something they are not especailly when the something they want to be reflects that of a race who have single handedly caused so much death and destruction world wide. I enthusiastically pick out my fro and throw my fist in the air on that one.
Lyrics from Welcome To The Colored Section by Donnie
Cloud Nine
"Yes, I wear the lamb's wool, the feet of burned brass and the wool defies gravity like the nature of a cloud".
"Happy to be nappy. I'm Black and I'm proud that I have been chosen to wear the conscious cloud".
"I could be a chameleon and wear it bone straight. But it's so much stronger when it's in it's nappy state."
"Don't let them tell you that you're ugly."
2 comments:
that is so sad - that she obviously has so much self hate - she has to manifest it by trying to change herself and say it's not herself that she hates - because she's not black. it's sad that someone else could cause her to hate herself so much. yes there are black people that are that stereotype she mentioned, but there are lot's that aren't - like myself. i've got my own issues - self love, etc. - but i won't go as far as to say i hate my race. i love my naps too!
I saw that episode a few weeks back and I remember watching it with my mouth wide open. I couldnt believe it either. I think it has to do with her being hurt in someway and she associates it to the color of her skin. It is sad to hear people say that, but at the end of the day you cant be who you're not and the same white folk who she loves to embrace are looking at her like the black person she is running away from. Does that make sense?
Needless to say I love that song Cloud Nine! I jam to that cd all the time.
Post a Comment