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.
4 comments:
The advertising world is a tricky one. They try their best to market to the mass and not the individual. In the mass theory, the individual is built on a stereotype. Our Black and Latino men are either hoodlums, hip-hop heads or baby-daddies. To them, we are just one spectrum. As to our women, they are the "soul" of the house, the natural woman or the enforcer. But these labels are all built on the stereotypes of the past. They don't see our evolution as individuals.
However, with making this argument, you have to look at how the portray white people too. White men and women may be portrayed better socially, but imagine a DOVE commercial, do you ever see them with a wash cloth. Or when they need to go somewhere in a hurry, they are given a wet wipe to freshen up after a sweaty day of activities. To me, these advertisements promote them as having bad hygiene habits, equating to just nasty. My point being is that all advertisements do is play upon the stereotypes of society.
In regards to the Black and Latino men and women, in order to change these images that are broadcast daily, we need to get more involved in what we watch on TV. You need to write the heads of these companies and express your distaste of their marketing practice. It's a problem that needs to be fixed. We are constantly bombarded with false images of our people and it has created a resonating effect in our communities. We no longer appreciate what's real in our men and women, instead we want what we see on TV. My response is to air your grievances to the FCC or the heads of these companies or the ad agencies involved. Step up and be heard. It's time for us to take pride in who we are!!!
I find this post to be truthful on so many various levels.
Black women are very diverse...our hair, our skin tones, body shapes, etc., yet we aren't seen that way in the media. When it comes to television shows, music industry, etc., we're mostly seen as the light-skinned/long-haired type who is no bigger than Beyonce's body size at the most. Outside of the major entertainment industry (such as commercials), we're over weight, mostly dark-skinned...our hair is either natural (that's not styled) or we have an obvious weave (that ugly cheap-looking weave). I find it very offensive that the media tends to box us into various categories, while in the real world, we don't fit in either box...we are our own identity.
On the other hand, the media makes white women seem as though they are constantly beautiful, yet in the real world I can count the number of beautiful white women I see on a daily basis (no offense, I'm just being honest).
The media is one heavily skewed industry, who is in favor of the "white is right, and black is wack" ideology, and this is probably a reason why I tend to not watch too much television. The media isn't willing to accept the real world and put it on blast in a respectful and honest way, for instance:
*There are over weight white women.
*There are black women who are educated, good looking, with bodies that can put shame to any other woman.
*There is nothing wrong with black children who don't look biracial.
*There are black women who are married/happily dating white men (this one strikes a nerve with me).
*Not all black women are angry with attitudes.
*Black women do have naturally long hair (this one strikes a nerve with me also).
The list can go on and on...basically, the media is full of crap.
Leave it to Coley to suggest we write to the FCC... lol.
Dre - with regards to your comment on Dove commercials, I never looked at like that. I guess I'm too busy focusing on the stereotypes of blacks.
BCU - you're right. The media is very distorted and dishonest which is the exact reason children grow up with this inaccurate perception of how people should look and behave.
I don't know about this one. I think actually these days more and more black women are embracing their NAPPY-NESS. Why must we try to be something we are NOT? God gave us thick coarse hair that doesn't naturally lay flat so I can't complain about the "nappy head" black woman on the commercials. I think so many of us women of color are brain washed and we don't love ourselves for who we really are especially if we can sit here and criticize our beautiful natural hair.
Aside from that. We are portrayed in such a way because this is what they see. We as black people aren't exactly showing them anything different. We have a lot of growing to do. Why must we be ghetto all the time? There's a time and place for everything. Save that shit for when your in your house w/your friends. Why do we have to be out in the street all LOUD talkin' bout "NIGGA THIS NIGGA THAT"? How disgusting!! Why do you think so many people were impressed with Obama? He truly is "different from what they are used to" (Poor, loud,overweight, unhealthy, thugs,"ghetto" etc etc.) Until we start respecting ourselves what do we expect?
-JC
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