(ThyBlackMan.com) There is no doubt that I am a black woman, I am probably what is considered to be a real black woman, kinky haired, so called now described type 4 with no real curl pattern with which to classify it as good hair.
I am hearing this term again and again, not just from whites but from predominantly black men and I wonder what in the hell is happening. I myself have been in the past deemed a bitter, dark, angry, jealous, ugly, sister who has tried to bring a black man down. (My war with the Great Will Smith has been well documented).
Are we angrier than white women, well let’s examine this more closely shall we? I remember growing up as a little girl, I hated dolls, not that I really did, it was just that they did not look like me, for at that time there were no black baby dolls like there is now for my mother to purchase. That made me sad as a little girl; it did not make me angry. I do remember someone giving me a Barbie doll, but she quickly went to the bottom of my closet.
This article just makes me incredibly sad… I have observed far too many times what pain and poison a person who is defined by their anger inflicts on themselves and everybody that has to be around them on a consistent basis. I am a Black woman capable of intense fury, but I refuse to be defined by what should be an occasional and temporary state — and one meant to provide the energy to galvanize one to massive righteous action. The hopeful part of this article was “We have not had the same advantages or opportunities as our white sisters, and frankly we need to stop looking at them for the justice we seek and create our own opportunities with our own curl patterns.” Indeed. We ought to challenge ourselves to do constructive things with our anger instead of having it poison our lives, our families’ lives, and our collective reputation. How much good all that energy could do if focused on making positive, lasting change!
One of the main reasons why I don’t approach black women: the fear she will say something disrespectful and I lose it. Too many times myself and other brothers have tried to be kind to black women only to have them try to emasculate us in the process. We say smile and black women respond “why these niggas always trying to get us to smile. I don’t have to smile if I don’t want to.” Silliness all around. But then when we get Suzy Q, then we value white women over black women. Can’t have it both ways. And furthermore, stop looking towards the media for your self-image. That’s what your family is for. Read some damn books. learn some languages. Get off that boob tube and you might become healthier psychologically.
I totally disagree with your analysis Ms. Hubert…repeatedly you continue to use the word anger…perhaps you need therapy. I am not a tired woman angry about life (and I am not saying that you are speaking to me. I just needed to acknowledge that). I don’t think it is fair to lump women in this category. I am African American too. I have had a lot of challenges in my life. However, they have not made me angry and bitter. I have embraced what has happened and let it go. I think that is what your article should present to women. There is a difference of being angry, understanding why you are angry, and releasing that anger.
To think “Good Hair” is a mockery or terrible is a bit much. Plus Janet was fired from The Fresh Prince of Bel Air for basically being an angry, disturbing presence on the set. So I don’t know if she was tired then and now or just tired now but she’s been angry and bitter for a while now.
I love this woman! A continuos role model to us all. Continue to do what you do Mrs. Hubert!
This is an excellent analysis Mrs. Hubert and you don’t have to apologize for your anger. We totally understand. Before I read your article today, this morning I had these thoughts: Black women are the females who are depicted the most negatively in every media. Your article just confirms this. Thanks for sharing your experience about Essence Magazine. I was sad to hear about it but not surprised because unfortunately our people internalized the so-called western standard of beauty.
Also, I thought it was a “new” thing to be called B* but when I am reading right now the autobiography of Elaine Brown and I am discovering that during her youth, black females were depicted the same way it makes me realize even more the depth of the problem. I wrote in the past on this Website that I am angry (and I have every right to!!) to be called recently by a White colleague a call girl as soon as she discovered I had a law degree (by other people, I would have never shared this with her because most of the time these people hate to see us succeed). I still don’t digest this insult. I am tired and sick to interact with people like her. I have to make a living, so I don’t have a choice but it makes me angry. Many of them are envious, jealous, vengeful (when they had bad experiences with our brothers) toward us. Most men in other ethnicities stick by the side of their women except ours. There is a serious problem!!! I even met a black gay guy once who was dating a white man. When I shared this story with a brother from the Nation of Islam he laughed. He had nothing against gay people but he said: wow! even when they are gay they have to go for white people. I could go on and on. To finish, there is a lot of hypocrisy regarding western feminism. Their gain was done at the expense (and it is still the case) of Black females and immigrants. During the 60s, when Black maids had to work in White homes who earned $100 000 a year, they received a salary of $5 a week. Several among them were sexually exploited and some even disappeared. The Help movie sugarcoats everything and of course won’t cover these facts. Right now 60% of maids who are immigrants have a university degree from their home countries. This is another way to exploit these females.
Very well written.
I don’t even know where to start with this one!