Any black person with even a rudimentary knowledge about our history knows the reasons that black women’s bodies, hair texture, phenotype and skin shade have been historically politicized and dehumanized. In the context of interacting with the dominant white groups, blacks can intellectualize Eurocentric standards of beauty and worth hasn’t been supportive in acknowledging our particular beauty. In turn black men and women internalized this on varying levels, across the span of ethnicities and nationalities.
Typical West-African ‘Negroid’ features being labeled unattractive was a manipulation tool used by the dominating group for control. The attitude of defeat (from not being proud to come from ancestors who SURVIVED chattel slavery) has been passed amongst the black collective like a permanent defect upon birth. The present ongoing conflict lies in how black women and girls are continuously assaulted (physically, mentally, emotionally) by other blacks and the lack of accountability for it.
We have the POWER to change those patterns now.
If anything there’s a responsibility to examine ALL of the motivators so black women can set high standards in how they’re treated.
If some of our ancestors had the strength to resist enslavement, not believing their circumstances defined them..then we certainly have the power to stop promoting the hateful, anti-black woman LIE that more Afrocentric hair and skin shades are inferior.
Black on black color racism and gender oppression is FAR WORSE! People just need to leave black women and their hair alone.
Here’s a Tweet (message from Twitter) from Kim Kardashian. I have to state I’m not a fan (they’re referred to as KarTRASHians for a reason), but I’ve never gotten the vibe of an underlying disrespect for African American women publicly displayed along the lines of a LaLa Vasquez or Kimora Lee Simmons.
Steve Stoute is a current investor of Carol’s Daughter. He was the brains behind their failed “polyethnic” marketing campaign last Fall meant to replace more traditional-looking black women (like former Spokesmodels Jada Pinkett Smith and Mary J. Blige). The ads featured women who claimed other heritage than black which basically insulted those who had made the company so successful.
Founder Lisa Price was curiously silent about Stoute’s erasure attempt. Such emotional abuse at the hands of those who should treat their customer base respectfully has been normalized.
Stoute resent a racist comment and formatted it to APPEAR as a message from Kim Kardashian. Why did he SET HER UP LIKE THAT? Does he deserve the benefit of doubt? She’s far more famous and wealthier than he is. Personally, if you’ve gotta live vicariously through a celebrity I’d chose Nicole Beharie these days but OBVIOUSLY you should be building your own life, seeking out those who bring value to you.
Perhaps Stoute’s a (Twitter) idiot. If you modify an original Tweet (message) use MT to indicate you’ve edited it. Use RT when you resend it. Separate your reply when adding a comment. Here’s an example:
Account A – (original message) xoxoxoxo / added comment
before RTing someone else’s Tweet SEPARATE original msg
Ah, but there’s that pesky little problem with his BLATANT insult of BW who don’t have wash and go hair. Tightly coiled hair close to the root can be smoothed out with a brush but it doesn’t lay flat without chemical processing (relaxers, which alter the structure of natural hair).
Basically “the kitchen” references getting your ‘nappy’ = bad hair temporarily straightened by a metal comb that had to be heated on the stove located in the kitchen. It also includes the hair area at the nape or sides of your head that reverts back to its natural textures because sweating will undo the heat styling that loosened the coils.
This is usually a requirement for girls. The hair must be straight at all costs! I’m sure this is news to some of you readers, but we don’t need to discuss the details of hairstyling techniques.
Women should do whatever makes them feel beautiful whether they wear extra hair, chemically alter it or not. The issue for BW is WHO motivates them and WHY. How what should be simple choices in a woman’s beauty arsenal is used as a blunt instrument to destroy her self-worth at the start of her young life.
For the record, I used to be a customer but their mediocre, overpriced products are too greasy & don’t properly hydrate my “kitchen”. British BW aren’t likely to travel all the way to Harrods when there are plenty of other shops in their local neighborhoods like Hackney, Peckham and Brixton anyway! That’s for the tourists I guess.
I think it’s HILARIOUS they’re now launching a Naturals line while Stoute keeps dissing us. For the love of God…and commerce GO where you are appreciated!!
The attitude and behavior of MOST black males is shared by the Stoute’s of the world. It’s POISON for us and other black women are often more diligent in oppressing each other in service to that defect. It’s a choice. It’s not healthy for for a woman’s emotional or personal growth and development.
The irony is how blacks incorrectly focus on white racism in assuming the white hierarchy doesn’t appreciate our unique beauty. Or how “Hollywood” doesn’t do x, y or z. Yet we ignore how we’ve been trained to react negatively to white men in particular, who are often willing to affirm us to get caught up what is in essence a failed patriarchy battle black males lost a long time ago. For all of their complaints, they stay focused on escaping blackness through lighter, brighter, whiter and non-black women to feel good about themselves.The reasons for other group’s (white, Asian, Latino,foreign blacks) continued and emerging dominance is because they focus on building strong family units. The majority of AA black males don’t marry at all, so this is a huge indicator of their misplaced priorities.
That is when they’re not attacking black women. Psychiatrists often diagnose how the most insecure, least attractive, morally bankrupt types often throw shade at others. Indeed we see the results of depravity stemming from black males who are conquered and feel inadequate taking it out on (non-exotic) black women and girls the most.
Sexual harassment claim filed by former employee:
Some of Stoute’s other illegal moves, the complaint alleges: that he told her to dress “sexy,” to wear “skimpy outfits” when she delivered papers to him, that he wanted her to come into his office just so he could look at her, that he would rub and touch her stomach, frequently grabbed her buttocks, pulled her onto his lap, and told her that he didn’t want a girlfriend, just someone to have sex with.
You might think you’re an exception and above all of this, but if you haven’t really dug deep to purge the LIES, you may still harbor feelings of inadequacy. Mary wishes for a femininity that includes long, flowing hair. Begin at the 9:52 mark of the interview. Yeah the irony of MJB and BW-hating Negro Fool# 2,796 running a women’s empowerment center isn’t lost on me.
It isn’t your burden to bear or problem to remedy. Any changes for these individuals is between them, their God and a qualified medical professional. Or law enforcement!! Your interests will best be served when you set standards for behavior with penalties for violating terms. Stop ignoring, excusing and denying the mistreatment from the Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR). They won’t change.
We’ve seen how EAGER your black kangs were to ERASE ALL BLACK WOMEN from Red Tails. And how some ‘random’ powerful white male dating a black woman didn’t blink at it. Makes one wonder if BW ever look to encouraging their collective upward mobility.
Some of you are still buying Carol’s Daughter. You’re still defending and engaging with the DBRs. You’re assuming that every BW discussing DBRs are Pro-BW, but peeling beneath the surface with minimum testing you’d be surprised to find their admonishment is motivated by trying to shame those negroes into good behavior: namely caring for and about BW & kids. Not gonna happen!! The idea of BW leaving instead of waiting sends them into a tizzy once exposed. They ‘talk’ empowerment and being a ‘happy BW’ but without the critical analysis and emotional separation, they’re only offering FAILED solutions.
Insanity.
BW must seek life-sustaining people, places & practices. Be more discerning. And discern some more.
We can only focus so much energy at the external – institutionalized racism. BUT WE CAN change personal attitudes when it comes to how we feel about ourselves.
If you want to see radical change, you must embrace radical things.
If anything there’s a responsibility to examine ALL of the motivators so black women can set high standards in how they’re treated.
