(ThyBlackMan.com) No one wants to be defined by their past. We don’t like to live in the shadow of the mistakes we’ve made…regardless of why we made them. This is all understandable, but some people are delusional regarding their past. Karrine Steffans may need a reality check before she referred to the pasts of Oprah Winfrey or Maya Angelou. The problem began when a fan stated on Twitter: “I look up to Oprah. I want to be a woman like Oprah not you. Everything you do is tasteless”. Truth be told Steffans punched well above her weight in stating “@Oprah was a hoe. She was promiscuous after her rape, admittedly. Same story. More money doesn’t erase truth.”
The bottom line is yes they have a sexual past this is riddled in abuse, and decisions that affected their lives as a result of said abuse. Yes, they have been very honest with us about the pains of their past. However, their success and fame was not based on their past. There is a difference between the past pains and struggles making us stronger, verses them being the foundation on which we are 
known to the public. Karrine Steffans is out of line because she decided that she would speak on women of whose shoulders we stand , but in reaching for Maya Angelou she decided to touch the deceased that was tasteless.
She proceeded to explain her original tweet: “Oprah was promiscuous. Maya Angelou was a prostitute. A woman’s sexual organs, their functions or reputation will never define or stop her. You revere great women but give no credit to their sexual traumas and repercussions for making them stronger, better, wiser women. Take a long, hard look at our strong, honorable black women and see how their sex plays a part in their stories. These women are the best proof that where we start isn’t always how we end up and that sexual pasts have nothing to do with worth & purpose.”
I totally understand what she’s trying to say here, and if this would have been her initial response maybe I wouldn’t be writing…naw. The apparent problem is she isn’t gaining strength from where she has been verses how SHE was introduced to the public…and what she’s doing now. To this day we are still waiting to see her transcend her past, and her current, to become the role model that other black girls can aspire to be. We are still waiting for her story to give us something more profound than superhead or the Video Vixen series. What is she teaching us through her past? What strength has she gained that causes her to defy all odds? Basically exploiting the personal encounters and information of black male artist for the sake of financial gain because she knows everyone wants to read it.
Just this past October she was tweeting about a Lil Wayne sex tape, and chiming in on her experiences with him. It’s not a judgement call, however if Karrine Steffans is going to get defensive because a young woman thinks she is tasteless and would rather be Oprah Winfrey…maybe it’s time to take a look at self instead of bring up the past of other women to validate you. The elder, and ancestor, that Steffans spoke of are a testament that were we begin is not where we have to stay…maybe Karrine should take her own advice. Calling Oprah Winfrey a “hoe” [even to prove a point] was out of line, and the testimony of Maya Angelou is only relevant if you are seeking to elevate yourself.
The Black women that have come before us have shown us that we are resilient, and we can turn crap to sugar with hard work, and perseverance. No, every decision we make won’t be perfect, but we must be willing to take a hard look at self and be honest. Oprah Winfrey, and Maya Angelou, didn’t make us feel their lives were just perfect and leave us to think they were great somehow. No, instead they showed from whence they came…they allowed us to see their works and resiliency. No they are not, and we’re not, perfect…but they gave us hope that we could aspire to, and achieve, greatness regardless of what we come from. Karrine Steffans please go sit down, and take the time to learn from these women before you decide to mention where they’ve been.
Staff Writer; Christian Starr
May connect with this sister over at Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/christian.pierre.9809 and also Twitter; http://twitter.com/MrzZeta.
