(ThyBlackMan.com) I just finished an interview with WHUR radio in Washington DC. The topic was an article in Psychology Today by Dr. Satoshi Kanazawa, a Professor at The London School of Economics. In his commentary, Professor Kanazawa seemed to argue that higher levels of testosterone make black women less attractive than women of other races. He also cites high testosterone levels as an explanation for why black men might be perceived to be more attractive.
Of course, black women around the world shut down the Psychology Today website after hearing the results of Kanazawa’s argument. One has to remember that this is the same professor who also said that people in sub-Saharan Africa are in poverty because they have lower IQs. Well, considering the source, I don’t give much credibility to what the professor has to say. Black women who are offended by the professor’s comments may just want to step aside and allow Kanazawa’s colleagues to eat his career alive.
The professor’s remarks hit a deep place for African American women, who are consistently maligned by the world for not being quite as appealing as the 80-pound blonde that is shoved in our faces in most Hollywood blockbuster films. They are insulted by black men, like NFL star Albert Haynesworth, who said “I don’t even like black girls,” when he was accused of sexually harassing an African American waitress.
One has to take a moment to reflect on just how sick it is that there are thousands of black men just like Haynesworth who act as if they would rather date a Pit Bull than a black woman. How insulted their mothers, sisters and daughters must feel that these “men” have somehow decided that black women are not worthy of the respect they show to women of other races. I recall a consultant for the NFL telling me that when he met with all the wives of the players on a particular team, there wasn’t one black woman in the room. Now, this was during the 1980s, where white women were truly a trophy to behold for many black male athletes. But the truth is that there are still quite a few brothers who’ve decided that black women should be placed in the back of the bus of attraction.
While the remarks of Professor Kanazawa are certainly problematic and should be readily dismissed, it’s important that black men become part of this conversation. An overture of outrage on behalf of black males might make black women feel a little better to know that they don’t have to fight these battles alone. While we certainly know that no one is perfect, the reality is that the imperfections of black women seem to get a spotlight that is a bit brighter than everyone else. It must be accepted, however, that similar to black men, some black women must also understand the value of personal growth and self-development to overcome the damage that was done by historical oppression. In other words, being a beautiful woman is not as important as being a beautiful person, and this is something that we must reiterate to our little girls.
When it’s all said and done, the conversation about Professor Kanazawa is effectively over. But we must continue the discussion that advocates on behalf of women of color to ensure that they receive the respect they deserve in all segments of society. Additional ownership of black media outlets might also help to create a world where every talented black female actress does not have her opportunities trumped by the anorexic white woman that the world has chosen to idolize (like the ridiculousness of Angelina Jolie playing Cleopatra in an upcoming film). There are different ways to express beauty and every culture has it’s own swag; black women possess a swag like no other.
Staff Writer; Dr. Boyce Watkins
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition. For more information, please visit http://BoyceWatkins.com.
Its amazing how black people have to continually endure all of these same stupid attacks over and over and over again. “Black women are fugly”, “black men are dogs” give it a rest!!!!!!!I do think however that blacks perpetuate the stereotypes with self-fulfilling prophecies. black men often cheat and commit crimes and black women often have bad attitudes and lack class. positive changes need to be promoted INTERNALLY within the black community. there needs to be more shame on people aren’t civilized, self-respecting human beings.
ok, why does anyone have to pay attention to what this 2’5″ tall, chopstick using, dog eating, sony making, hairy pinky-penis having professor has to say our BEAUTIFUL, CONFIDENT, STRONG, RESILIENT, TALENTED, BLACK WOMEN!?!?!? i’m coming straight out to say phuck that midget who’s been turned down by almost every women, and is so intimidated by how our culture can bounce back and overcome every obstacle our people has faced?? PHUCK YOU KAWANZA and your ugly ass chink race!!
HandsomeBlackCowboyBrett1953
You sound sad and bitter. I’m sorry that so many black women didn’t and continue not to be interested in you. I’m sure that you’re a very nice guy or at least I would think that if you were able to keep moving on with your life despite your rejections. Instead you’re turning in to the same bitter stereotype that people have of rejected black females.
You could have made a valid point by sayign that perhaps black women are passing too many good guys by but you went off on a sad little rant about themnot liking you because you’re not thugish looking enough. Puhlease. Plenty of black men with degrees who speak well have black women on their arms so I’m guessing it is something a little different. Perhaps you don’t exude confidence or you’re just not that attractive. White women like pretty much all brown dudes and don’t have as discerning a taste in black men.
HandsomeBlackCowboyBrett1953 said:
“I get approached in bars,on the street,
in restaurants,etc.,by white women,OFTEN BABES FREQUENTLY,and my current chick is a 29-year-old,VERY BUSTY Latina-BUT BLACK WOMEN SEEM TO IGNORE ME AND ALWAYS HAVE!!!(Guess I’m not thuggish-looking,speaking and behaving for FAR TOO MANY BLACK WOMEN’S TASTE!!!)”
He goes on to say:
“Anyway,while black uber-babes Beyonce,Brandy,Claudia Jordan,Melanie Brown,
Gabby Union,Halle Berry and others are COVETED BY 99% OF STRAIGHT DUDES,ESPECIALLY YOURS TRULY…”
True, very true…
“TOO MANY BLACK WOMEN LOOK,ARE BUILT,AND BEHAVE LIKE DUDES!!!”
To summarize his point –
“YES,TOO MANY BLACK WOMEN APPEAR UN-FEMINE,AND RE-INFORCE THE STEREOTYPE WITH THEIR DEEDS!!!
I have seen a society in which many black women revile being feminine themselves and are acting like thugs. This is a total and utter turnoff, period! Who has lied to you and told so many women that femininity is dead! Judging by the many black men I see with so many women of other races, that is the one common answer to that equation.
cleopatra was in her time during her reign Greek…..and Angelina Jolie is the closest actress to perfectly play the part.
Matthew, not long ago archeologist found the remains of Cleopatra’s younger sister Arsinoe whom she had put to death. Using state of the art science techniques on the remains archeologist were able to reconstruct what Arsinoe looked like. Given this fact, it’s not difficult or hard to imagine what Cleopatra’s appearance was like. Both would be considered black by America’s one drop rule. Google it.
I totally agree with what you say I have just one small pedantic point. Cleopatra was descended from a greek family so it would have been correct to cast a caucasian woman. Though black women do not get cast in lead or even supporting roles as often as they should be.
I am so tired of hearing all this crap about how african or african american women are not attractive.People are not like boxes in a factory you cannot make a standard appearance for all of them. We are the only race that is very different in appearance to the others so it is only just that we have different standard of beauty. BEAUTY is very subjective if you do not like what you see kindly move on you don’t have to spit on it.
Please consider signing this petition to hold Psychology Today accountable for its content (http://www.change.org/petitions/hold-psychology-today-accountable). Over and above the content of the recent blog post, which just so happens to be race-related, this is an act of abuse and irresponsibility. This was not “a study.” This was not “research.” The findings were not “objective.” Conjecture is not “proof.” And credible research does not use language such as “I think” and “I believe.” I am a psychologist and it takes me YEARS to get research published. There is integrity in my work and how I disseminate that work. Kanazawa’s rantings were purely editorial, coupled with rather primitive statistics and presented as credible. It was a joke. And it should have never, ever been presented as scientific. Psychology Today should be held accountable.
Racist or not,AND IT’S OBVIOUS TO MR DR.KANAZAWA IS A BIGOT!!!-EVEN A BROKEN WATCH IS RIGHT-IN THE NOT-SO-GOOD-DOCTOR’S CASE,MAINLY AND FOR THE WRONG REASONS HE’S RIGHT!!!For example,as a VERY-DARK-SKINNED,boyishly handsome black 57-year-old-58 July 6-black lad,I get approached in bars,on the street,
in restaurants,etc.,by white women,OFTEN BABES FREQUENTLY,and my current chick is a 29-year-old,VERY BUSTY Latina-BUT BLACK WOMEN SEEM TO IGNORE ME AND ALWAYS HAVE!!!(Guess I’m not thuggish-looking,speaking and behaving for FAR TOO MANY BLACK WOMEN’S TASTE!!!)
Anyway,while black uber-babes Beyonce,Brandy,Claudia Jordan,Melanie Brown,
Gabby Union,Halle Berry and others are COVETED BY 99% OF STRAIGHT DUDES,ESPECIALLY YOURS TRULY,TOO MANY BLACK WOMEN LOOK,ARE BUILT,AND BEHAVE LIKE DUDES!!!(Aerosmith should have recorded “Lady Looks Like A Dude” AFTER THEY SEE SOME OF THE MASCULINE BLACK WOMEN HERE IN WINDSOR,LET ALONE ACROSS THE RIVER IN DETROIT!!!)
Summarizing:Yes,Dr. Kanazawa is likely a racist-no surprise,given Japan’s xenophobia,bigotry and homogeneity-but YES,TOO MANY BLACK WOMEN APPEAR UN-
FEMINE,AND RE-INFORCE THE STEREOTYPE WITH THEIR DEEDS!!!
Thanks for posting the link Sarah…
Staff,
ThyBlackMan
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Enjoyed them! The racist professor Satoshi Kanazawa may have done us a small favour by generating much needed internal discussion. The leading British newspaper, The Independent, has published a very fascinating response to the racist article about black women. The Independent article is titled:
“Why does LSE academic Satoshi Kanazawa seem to hate women and black people?”.
You can read it here:
http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2011/05/20/why-does-the-lse-academic-satoshi-kanazawa-seem-to-hate-women-and-black-people/#dsq-content