Victim or Victimhood Peddler?

Puffy or Not Is Ashley Judd The Real Face Of Sexism?

Poor Ashley is having a very public moment. Maybe she’s going through something privately that’s making her a little extra-sensitive these days. I can’t imagine why she’d take the time to write an entire [...]]]>

Victim or Victimhood Peddler?

Puffy or Not Is Ashley Judd The Real Face Of Sexism?

Poor Ashley is having a very public moment. Maybe she’s going through something privately that’s making her a little extra-sensitive these days. I can’t imagine why she’d take the time to write an entire essay about what she purports is a ra-ra sisterhood stance combating misogyny and body-shaming if she’s as rooted as she claims: 

The only thing that matters is how I feel about myself, my personal integrity, and my relationship with my Creator.

Now that television outlets have picked up on the story this is becoming a huge media circus going into Week Two – amongst those who have time to pay attention. Some people would have women believing we’re lesser-than, oppressed and victims under-siege with no recourse.

This time what we need to reassess and discard isn’t part of Blackistan Thought Propaganda but a lopsided, distorted feminist ideology. To me all of her righteous indignation reads more like self-indulgent posturing that’s an emotional response for not being considered a Sexy Young Thang anymore.

**Begins crocodile tears and a pout.

She has a mid-season replacement action thriller about a former CIA operative to promote. Since the ratings have dropped, it isn’t likely to be renewed. I didn’t notice that she looked as if she’s had any work done in the episodes that have aired so far. Which might have changed during her press tour and why she responded.  Her gorgeous co-star sidekick character who’s not big and loud but downtrodden with relationship issues Aunjenue Ellis is the same age (43) and you’d be hard-pressed to notice.

Black women tend to age much better. It’s one of the only benefits we get: melanin and oily skin slows the aging process to a crawl. Of course that “double-burden” of gendered sexism adds unnecessary stress. Wanna trade places Ashley? Doubt it!

Affirmative Action For White Women Is Par For The Course

Understand, my analysis is not a complaint but an observation of certain systems in place. Due to built-in statuses, some of these arguments about patriarchal oppression is really a power grab.

The fact that “women and minorities” is part of the social lexicon shows how much has already been won for them. African-American women in particular paid a high price to build this country. Furthermore, the beatings, rapes and abuse the matriarchs specifically endured to secure Civil Rights legislation only to see non-blacks and black immigrants collectively advance in accessing those treasures cannot be ignored.

White women automatically being added to EEOC categories ensured their seat at the table with their so-called ‘oppressors’. So does control of every ‘feminist’ organization.

Aging is part of life, but it’s really hard for beauty queens and actresses, especially American white actresses to age gracefully. I know – it’s because Hollywood is sexist  – cue the violins – except for all those pesky opportunities automatically afforded them they rarely acknowledge.

It is not a level playing field. There is no ‘equality’. We’re not the same. Women don’t always take the high road with each other. That’s life. The sooner we stop pretending, more women will better negotiate alliances and decide the parameters of their support.

Racism and Sexism Intersect Or Hadn’t You Heard?

Ashley Judd is a wealthy woman of privilege. She’s been a celebrity most of her adult life. She has a hot husband. For all her criticism of misogyny and anti-patriarchy blah blah blah my eyes are gonna glaze over she most certainly wasn’t complaining when circumstances benefited her. With all due respect to her long illustrious career, I can’t recall one breakout role of hers. All I recall is her famous last name.

You know I could have written a response hailing Judd, that supported this down with ‘the man’ attitude and gotten picked up by some white privilege oriented feminist blogs, but that obscures the need for other women to better strategize for fuller lives. When assessing true allies transparency and reciprocity are required. I’m indifferent to her plight because she threw black women under the bus last year.

Apparently some of the repeat offending DBR (c)rappers took umbrage to the potential conscious-raising attention from her ACCURATE assessment about the Hip Hop Industrial Complex promoting rape culture briefly mentioned in her memoirs. Of course everyone and their mama knows this is about black male assaults against black women, but it benefits white women to remain silent. It certainly benefited Judd.

Another essay excerpt:

Patriarchy is a system in which both women and men participate. It privileges, inter alia, the interests of boys and men over the bodily integrity, autonomy, and dignity of girls and women. It is subtle, insidious, and never more dangerous than when women passionately deny that they themselves are engaging in it.

When a few of them whined to the press last year, she quickly proffered a public recanting with Russell Simmons of all people.  April 2011 – Ashley Judd Doesn’t Want A Hip-Hop Beef

We are either part of the problem, or part of the solution. There is no in-between.

So she has full understanding of misogyny when it applies to her personal life, but can’t connect the dots when it comes to other women. Okay Ashley. I’m gonna play dumb, too. Let’s start a prayer circle for a rich, famous white woman who is an Executive Producer and lead in her own tv series, married, supported, “usually wrinkle-free” AND a size 2/4 because the world isn’t falling down in worship.

Satisfied now?

One could argue she didn’t stick to her point with the DBRs lest (false) race accusations got the way, but I think she could have articulated RACIO-MISOGYNY. Gosh, if she can’t take that small amount of criticism, she’d never be able to survive the full-on assault black women have had to endure.

I’m not saying she doesn’t have a case to gripe about or has a perfect life. We all have problems. I’m saying you have to evaluate the sum total of circumstances. Is it patriarchy or did she just look bad? If she chooses not to have any plastic surgery or fillers or tweaks that’s her choice and we can applaud that. She’s going against the status quo and there are going to be some industry types who will push back. It’s part of the territory.

Complaining about how men get to age and be fat is a moot point. I’ve watched several tv shows and movies where the under 30 year-old male leads are buffed, manscaped and botoxed. I think there was a certain generation of established male stars who did get away with that. Not anymore! It’s not just women who must comply.

For all of the claims of oppression, white women are running movie studios and they’re still considered the standard of beauty. Nepotism is rampant – or you can just refer to it as daddy, brother, cousin and family friend opening doors, especially amongst certain groups.

I read a movie reviewer complain recently about how a young lead actress only got paid half a million to star in a huge mega blockbuster. There was not one non-white actress who even had a sliver of a chance getting cast. I have a funny feeling an actress of Viola Davis’ caliber has barely been paid half a million for anything to date.

This complete whitewashing of the disparities the rest of the population of women face (to an extent) tells me how easily some choose to forget – if they ever noticed beyond paying lip-service.

Which is why I won’t go hunting for my Mammy Cape trying to rescue certain people for what are individual issues. This lesson has only been reinforced dozens of times since I began blogging. More AA women should ask how much will Misogyny Hypocrisy cost them? 

I need a white woman victim tune-out because for one thing it’s grossly exaggerated and two it’s completely self-focused. You gotta hand it to them though because they stay on message and work together. Something black women need to learn from. I see why Asian women opted to bypass all of this publicly (name me two Asian political ‘feminists’ who have an Executive Level/Spokesperson role at any of these feminist organizations) and instead MARRY the “oppressors”. It’s very smart.

Like I said during my post about Marie Claire‘s fake out, more of those women will continue beating the “White Males Are Defective” drum trying to poison the well. You see white women and black males using similar tactics in attempting to undermine their dominance.  Other women are not going to buy into that. There’s a HUGE difference between navigating boundaries and goals with a willing man and dealing with a DBR – or a combative, ethically challenged woman. Power grabs and emasculation techniques because some biological females don’t appreciate being women will continue to backfire for them.

I am a woman and I’m tired of hearing about how bad they have it. They’re just driving the better-functioning men away and fueling the extremists. Remember rampant misogynist males were raised and influenced by women. Where’s the critical analysis of that?! We just need to state for the record that some women purporting their version of a “feminist” message do not speak for every similarly situated woman.

See AOFB post: abundance is where women who don’t want to wallow in powerlessness go to create a better life  

The Kate Hudson Debacle, or Why Feminism is for White Women Again

Ashley Judd pens wordy essay on patriarchy & Botox, I think

photo credit: AP

Where’s Newt Gingrich when you need him? He was offering his assistance and support to the NAACP last week in their stupid misguided attempt at promoting faux controversies and blatant fundraising schemes fighting racism by denouncing the Tea Party. Not to help [...]]]>

Who wants to be integrated into a burning house? – MLK

Where’s Newt Gingrich when you need him? He was offering his assistance and support to the NAACP last week in their stupid misguided attempt at promoting faux controversies and blatant fundraising schemes fighting racism by denouncing the Tea Party. Not to help black people of course but to divide and conquer.  I bet you Ben Jealous would sure love a distraction story right now.

This is the same Newt Gingrich who led a very successful Republican obstructionist/attack  agenda when he served as Speaker Of The House during the Clinton Administration amongst other things. Thanks to Billy Jeff’s proclivities, their failed attempt at impeachment and constant pressure he signed the very flawed Telecommunications Act of 1996 into law. I’m reminding you dear readers of this most recent history because it ties into this latest debacle from the last 24-hours.

We all know how redundant the FCC is especially if you use online media, have a cell phone, watch cable, listen to the radio, require internet access and have seen prices skyrocket while the quality of programming has sunk to the depths of mediocrity. That’s due to the deregulation that allowed for a concentration of media ownership by one company. Some would simply call it monopoly, but it’s not nearly as fun to play as the board game.

We’ve seen what havoc banking deregulation (initiated by Republicans, co-signed by the co-opted and spineless Democrats)  has brought down on this country (and the world). Our economy has yet to recover and will never go back to the way we once knew things. Due to the constant deregulation pushed by the Republican agenda conglomerates have taken over, independent media has been almost completely marginalized and terrestrial radio is craptastic.  In case this doesn’t connect with you, 1996 was also the year Fox went on the air. Oh happy joy!

What the FCC hasn’t bungled, the FTC will gut and kill off given the chance since they’ll be targeting those of us who write content in online forums and use social networking. So rabble rouse while you can before they roll up on us gangbanger-style.  

This ties into the lack of enforcable standards of so-called traditional journalism along with television standards and practices – of which there doesn’t seem to be much left.  Andrew Breitbart took it upon himself to enlighten us with a doctored version of a speech given in March by former USDA Director of Rural Development for Georgia Shirley Sherrod.

In this speech Sherrod discussed her own personal history at separating unfavorable racial attitudes and unpleasant life experiences in light of meeting the needs of people. Just a quick background, Sherrod is 62 so she would remember the Jim Crow era and life before Civil Rights. Also her father was murdered by a white male KKK member when she was 17. She went on to tell how she had to set aside the previous negativity when she oversaw a case involving a white farmer who needed assistance.

She was not an employee of the USDA at the time. This also occurred in the 1980′s.

Breitbart made it seem as if this was something that happened recently while in her current role instead of a Reagan-era event. Remember Ronald Reagan, the denier of AIDS and race-baiter? Fox News and quite a few others who lack real journalistic standards jumped all over this story.

So let’s connect the dots: Gingrich  –> Breitbart –> Media That Spins A Negative False Story  –> Race  Distortion vs. REAL Racism–>

Now how does the NAACP jump in the mix? Well….I think they were so busy being outraged they didn’t bother to do any DUE DILIGENCE. They publicly condemned Sherrod for…wait for it…RACISM! Of course the NAACP knows all about racism…against black women for ignoring the needs of their most loyal constituents. Let’s never forget how the West Palm Beach chapter joined with Rev Hot Comb Al Sharpton in defending the now-convicted Dunbar Village rapists.

Trail of Shame for the Shameless: Gingrich —> Breitbart —> YELLOW JOURNALISM —>NAACP —> SEXISM and…the Obama Administration.

How? Well they also denounced Sherrod and she was coerced into resigning. She was harrassed while she was driving for goodness sake! Didn’t any of these people take Oprah’s No Phone Zone pledge?

Apparently they were scurred of Glen Beck doing a story on Sherrod but curiously enough he refused. Since Beck hasn’t let something like facts get in his way of spreading chaos and mayhem perhaps someone should’ve paid close attention. Sherrod should have told them to shove it and hired a lawyer immediately but she’s probably a loyalist who takes orders without question.  If the Obama Administration was not hell-bent on distancing itself from the needs of blacks and stopped being overly concerned with the right wingers (i.e white people mad he’s in office) then perhaps Obama would take a stance for something for a change.  It’s a combination of obvious fear on the part of this President for standing up to the obstructionists and the lack of control over his message that makes him appear far too eager to meet with the approval of those who will always seek his failure.

Some people won’t even allow for such concessions and see a trend where blacks will be literally ignored into oblivion. It’s certainly time other black people reassess their near-blind support for Obama and start exacting some standards PUBLICLY. A reality check is in order for the condition of the entire collective. After all, black women were the largest percentage of voters for Obama to begin with. The backpedalling (or CYA) from the White House has already begun as it’s floated by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack it was his decision to fire Sherrod without input from the White House. Yeah right.

The NAACP misleadership should be ashamed of themselves for jumping the gun and attacking a woman who could be the grandmother next door. Her speech was taken out of context and no one bothered to check!  Ben Jealous was on tv last night making a fool himself apparently but by then I was tired of watching this media circus. He and Obama are at least a generation removed from those who fought for Civil Rights. Nor is Obama African-American. They’ve certainly enjoyed the benefits of the sacrifices of women like Shirley Sherrod. Breibart is a less-clever copycat of yellow journalists but his throw rocks and duck tactic is effective yet predictable.

It’s time we take a stand for justice.

1. Ben Jealous needs to be fired

2. President Obama needs to apologize to Sherrod – and us for his failure in leadership

3. Shirley Sherrod needs to have her job reinstated OR whatever else she wants (including winning a defamation lawsuit against Breitbart and the NAACP)

4. We need journalistic standards and integrity put on the front burner and an overhaul of the monkey-see monkey-do crew

Perhaps Sherrod can embark on a career discussing race and sexism in a society where white and (half) black men all join together to piss all over who they view to be defenseless : a black woman. Or take a nice looong vacation. It’s shoould be HER choice and I hope she doesn’t let them off the hook without recompense. Thank goodness an inter-racial and inter-generational group of people  have pushed back against her being permanently blacklisted. I’m also relieved to see black people distinguish the difference between a true injustice versus excusing criminals.

Andrew Breitbart is just flexing his muscles as he makes his play as a more telegenic Rush Limbaugh. He’s as greasy and slimy as that BP Oil Spill and even more toxic. No matter, he’s tipped his hand. Lucifer wants us to know he has better things to occupy his time with than messing with 62 year old grandmothers – but Breitbart’s just shot up on the list for the Hell Hounds to greet in the pit.

Ben Jealous says he’s “sorry” and he’ll talk to Sherrod when he’s back in GA. Does she even want to meet with Jealous? Sounds like it’s on his “high-priority” list between swimming in warm tea, television appearances and fighting white hegemony for profit.

Obama will continue to kowtow (let’s keep it real) but at least it’ll be far more obvious to those that ought to be paying attention. This is a teachable moment so pay attention: black males will continue to jockey for power in a partriarchy-based hegemony war  with white males at our expense even at that level. They need to know black women will not continue to be used as canon fodder. 

The rush to frame racism, misuse charges of racism and denial of racism by males in power will ALWAYS fail when they refuse to account for their SEXISM. Obama wasted his race “grace period” when he foolishly stuck up for Skippy “I’m more European than African” Gates last summer. Remember the “Beer Summit” where the white cop said he would not aplogize and didn’t? Shirley Sherrod deserves so much more! If this is how the administration is going to treat blacks (particularly black women) in America it’s going to be a rotten six years (provided he’s reelected).

Here’s something else for all the black women who continue to support the do-little organizations from the Industrial Complex and/or blowhard politicians and pundits to consider:

After you’ve devoted all of your free time building them up and your financial resources at sustaining them what have they done for you lately? They’ve moved from ignoring the needs of black women (supporting black male criminals and miscreants)  to openly attacking you. Do you still plan on supporting them after this? Or will you claim it was anomoly? Don’t be caught with no safety net or backup support when they’re done leeching from you.

This is the video in its entirety. If you fast forward to 16:00 you’ll get to the best parts.

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