Let's step outside our fictional/non-fictional posts for now and try to have an open-forum discussion. I didn't post a pic that correlates with this one because I didn't really wanna search for a "nappy" girl photo ... so use either your imaginations or experiences, just as you did for our other stories.
When you’re watching television, or passing by an ad in the street, what do you see when you see a black woman? Is she ecstatic? Is her neck twisting? Is she unkempt/overweight? What about her hair? Does it look like you can run a comb through it once without struggle? Why is it that the media promotes us more on the negative side of the spectrum than the positive? When I watch a regular Colgate commercial, I see a white woman who can probably try out for ANTM. Or they’re running through fields of purple flowers, hair flowing in the wind, falling into the arms of a man who is happily awaiting them at the other end of the field.
When they cast black women in some commercials, they’re in the kitchen, with 2 mulatto kids, no father present, complaining about something. And if there is a father around, he has this look of discomfort on his face, or probably has an attitude too. In other commericals, she’s at least 20 pounds overweight, short, with a fro-like hairstyle. You’re either unaware of her body type or it’s evident that she is slightly overweight. She has hair that you can't come through, nor is it past the shoulders. Why are we perceived as if we’re just a bunch of cantankerous, sometimes overweight, unbearable people to deal with? Why is that when we’re showing joy, it has to be expressed grandiloquently? So if we’re not parading around with a 'tude, we’re being loud and abhorrent. Why can’t we be conditioned to see all different types of black women embracing different styles of clothing, hair and body types? I'm pretty sure that there are a lot of nice looking black women trying out for commercials so why are the unattractive ones, stuck in this stereotypical Afrocentric look, being chosen?
Now, I’m not saying this is in every commercial I see where a black woman is present, but this occurs quite often. I’m not sure the reason for it, or how to change it. But I do know that they need to wake up because times have changed. We’re all not nappy anymore. We can afford to keep our hair looking right. We’re all not frumpy anymore. We just have big butts and breasts (naturally!). We’re more in the office, being the backbone of a business and less in the kitchen in front the stove. We all don’t twist our necks when we’re voicing our opinion nor are we walking around with a scowl on our face. And last, we are not always at war with our men.
So if you’re a black female or another race reading this, feel free to agree/disagree with me by letting me know how YOU feel about the way black women are projected in the media (if you even noticed it at all).
KarrieB.
PS - Toy Story [3] coming soon.
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