The Jezebel..food for thought

The portrayal of Black women as lascivious by nature is an enduring stereotype. The descriptive words associated with this stereotype are: seductive, alluring, worldly, tempting, and lewd. Historically, White women, as a category, were portrayed as models of self-control, self-respect, and modest, and even sexual purity, but for Black women they were are often portrayed as innately promiscuous, even predatory. This depiction of Black women is signified by the name Jezebel.

The belief that Blacks are sexually lewd and promiscuous came from the institution of slavery in America. Europeans traveled to Africa and found scantily clad natives. This semi nudity was misjudged as lewdness.

The Jezebel stereotype was used during slavery as a justification for sexual relations between White men and Black women, especially sexual unions that include slavers and slaves. The Jezebel was depicted as a Black woman with an insatiable appetite for sex. She was not satisfied with Black men. At the same time, Black men convicted of raping White women were usually castrated, hanged, or both.

The idea that Black women were naturally and inevitably sexually promiscuous was reinforced by several features of the slavery institution. Slaves, whether on the auction block or offered privately for sale, were often stripped naked and physically examined. In theory, this was done to insure that they were healthy, able to reproduce, and, equally important, to look for whipping scars, the presence of which implied that the slave was rebellious.

Black slave women were also frequently pregnant. The institution of slavery depended on Black women to supply future slaves. By every method imaginable, slave women were "encouraged" to reproduce. Some slavers, for example, offered a new pig for each child born to a slave family, a new dress to the slave woman for each surviving infant, or no work on Saturdays to Black women who produced six children. Young Black girls were encouraged to have sex as "anticipatory socialization" for their later status as "breeders." When they did reproduce, their fertility was seen, as proof of their insatiable sexual appetites.


The portrayal of Black women as Jezebel whores began in slavery, extended through the Jim Crow period, and continues today. With hyper-sexualized images and media content, some black women have used prevailing stereotypes about the black female body for their own monetary gain. This leads to unwanted continuum of the portrayal of the black women. I am not an angry black woman, but I am a woman that god has blessed with understanding and consciousness.

African Americans males and Basketball: Stereotypes and fading Social Identity...

African Americans are lead to believe that we are put on this earth to be athletic machines, especially in young African American men. They are blind sided by commercial ad’s that create false hopes and wrong messages that basketball is “for the brothers” In a Nike ad makes it all clear stating: ”The revolution is about basketball. To bring on the revolution brothers must leap in the air, not rise up in rebellion. As we once believed. That’s right, stuff a ball in a hole and all will be made right in our troubled black world” (McCall 1994). Stating in the trouble world African Americans face, which is discrimination, racism, prejudice will go away if all black men play basketball.

So many men are sucked into this common misconception because they are made to think of themselves as mule’s rather then intelligent thinking men. They are encourage by the media, which are produce by the whites and most black men are in awe and buy into this self image that leads to self -defeat. And being great and gracious at the sport of basketball black men would win white Americans approval and praise, simply because many African American men strive and yearn to be viewed as something other than the aggressive monsters they are made out to be. Advertisers happily commercialize the lounging white acceptance, by using black athletic stars as pawns to sell hundred dollar sneakers. In the Vietnam War commercials flooded the T.V airwaves with high influential ad to promote military as a great career move, creating the slogan “Be all that you can be in the army.” Years after the commercial African American men everywhere started to sign up, showing how commercials can be very influential.

What is so strange is that white fans adore the famous African American basketball players. Idolizing the young black man on court, like Michael Jordan and downgrade him off the court. The most appalling mockery is that white Americans look at Jordan as race neutral athlete but yet physically he has features that most white Americans fear. Which is skinny bald headed, six foot dark black man, but because of his great skills it somehow blocks white American to see his color. I believe that basketball feeds in to the many stereotypes and contradictions Americans bring to the game. That basketball is an obsession of color, and is a metaphor for race. It is a crude assumption that we do not see because it is embed in our brain, it is also similar the myth the all African American Females can braid hair. It is a deep-rooted belief that blacks are more talented and gifted as athletes than whites. It sad to see that African Americans live up to theses myth and falsifications it just shows the lack of understanding about African Americans. Black stereotypes often limit African-Americans to four categories. Black men are often seen on television as an entertainer, athlete, idiot, or criminal.

Basketball has a different, meaning for African Americans and for white Americans. White Americans play basketball for fun and on there free time; whereas African Americans play basketball because it is their obsession it is similar to jazz. African American men brought a poetic grace and style to the sport. It is like ballet in sneakers and sweaty socks. Mythologies that black men are blessed with athletic skills and abilities. Many African American men are missing the lager part that basketball is a mental sphere in a sense, African American men claim basketball as their unquestioned domain, basketball to them is like Charlie Parker with jazz. Playing basketball and making it to the NBA is an American dream for African American men. They are lead to believe that the only way to succeed in life is to play in sports; to white Americans basketball is just a leisure time to have to have fun as well as enjoyment.

For African American men basketball is a way of life and a ticket out of the “the hood” and to escape the life of poverty. Basketball is the scholarship to help them pay for their college education; in all basketball to African American man is a way of survival. Psychologically, Black male athletes think that they would have a good chance of playing professional sports if they attend college for at least two years. Therefore, they do whatever is necessary, academically, in high school to gain entry into college.

The media hypes the urgency for young African American men to become an athlete; it is almost like that is what is expected from them. Commercials like Michael Jordan playing in pair of Nikes sneakers and performing all types of superhuman stunts, leading many African American men to believe that they can do the same persuading them to buy the product that was advertises. The sneakers ads and messed up mythology that continue to go deep inside African American men heads, this is mixed in with degrading real life experiences that reinforce the ads and misleading themes. The mythology that endorses the idea that black men are valued most when they are playing basketball...

White Americans see the false myths about African American and it’s culture and becomes easily entertain. Many African Americans can not figure how to put as much devotion and passion for basketball to their intellectual, instead they get stuck on the psychical and fall in to the tricks of what white American society wants you to do. Advertisements and myths are leading African Americans and White Americans to think basketball is what black men are for. This causes many African American men to believe that they are not intelligent and cannot be capable of being nothing else except an athlete. I believe that African American men are persuaded and brainwashed to be amusement to white Americans. For white Americans media portrays young African American men as a “super athlete” they see them as “leaping monkeys. We are viewed as beast but when playing sports, especially basketball we are viewed as humans.

In Social Identity theory it is an individual-based perception of what defines the “us” associated with any internalized group membership. This can be distinguished from the notion of personal identity that refers to self-knowledge that derives from the individual’s unique attributes. African American males especially the youth, tries to identify themselves with a white America perceptions. They strive and yearn to be viewed by playing basketball; African American males believe this will accept them in society.

They are now forced not to accept themselves, and will change be put into a different category instead of the negative categories they are automatically put into. Basketball has become a crucial social space for the development of an African-American identity. African-Americans consider basketball a forum for nurturing cultural identities, interests and meanings. Basketball has becomes a fraction of collective identity, influencing African-Americans' self-perception and the ways others distinguish them.

These personal images may disseminate that group identity and act as continual fortification of basketball's status in Black culture, and the sports share in the "racial label" for Blacks. Such racial labels, shape identity. Most African Americans are lead to believe that they are athletically superior and dominant at sports that any other race.

I think it is important that African Americans stress the fact, that athletics is not everything. African Americans are intelligent are capable of being a productive American citizens without the help of sports, and should not change there identity to be accepted by the dominant culture.

The Role of African American Women in the Black Church

The role of African American women in the black church is an interesting concept, woman outnumber men in the pew, yet are rarely seen in the pulpit. Actually, black women have been the backbone of the black church. But they’re great amount of important contributions are made as lay leaders, compared to religious heads of churches. Question is why aren't black women serving as spiritual leaders? And in spite of this obvious gender inequality in the black church, why does church life continue to be so important to so many black women?

According to James Henry Harris, pastor of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Norfolk, Virginia, and adjunct assistant professor of philosophy at Old Dominion, states: “Women in black churches outnumber men by more than two to one; yet in positions of authority and responsibility the ratio is reversed.” Even though African American woman are slowly entering as pastors, bishops, elders and deacons, women and men are still resistant and fearful of development.

When churches approved a woman to the preaching ministry over a decade ago, nearly all the male deacons and many women members disagree the action by requesting to custom and selected Scripture passages. Black theology and the black churches have to contract with the double repression of black women in church and society. Christianity became prominent in black society because it was a religion of empowerment and spiritual freedom that sustained them through the ravages of racism and slavery. But still to this day African American woman in churches are faced with abundant of issues that Christianity stood against. According to James Henry Harris, black theology and the black churches should address sexism against black women, and I totally agree.

X0x0,

Kitty<3

♥February 14th, Happy Single's Day!♥

Growing up I was always a true believer in fairytales. I was intrigued with the charming prince sweeping the beautiful princess off her feet, and carrying her off into the sunset. It inspired me to make my own fairytale and my own “happy ending”. As I got older I began to realize that the reality of a happy ending was just non-existent. There’s no such thing as a happy ending, or is there?

My Fairytale began in elementary school, back when I believed every boy had cooties, but in some odd way I was still interested. I also started to realize that boys had very different behavior than girls. I would offer my gushers fruit snack to my first grade school. Gushers are a gem shaped snack, any kid dream snack that comes in different colors and flavors and are filled with high fructose corn syrup. When you shared a gusher it had high value when traded at lunchtime.

Well, my school crush way of saying thank you would consist of putting worms in my milk, putting glue in my hair, and kicking dirt on my white nylon tights. After being tortured for an entire week, which seemed like eternity I finally got the courage to ask him “why are you so mean to me?”  He responded bluntly “because I like you” and that is when I realize that boys are weird, crazy and unstable creatures. 

That day at recess, instead of playing tag with my friends I sat on the monkey bars completely confused about what just happen. I pulled out my Cinderella book out of my backpack, and began to skim through pages and looking for some type of clue that could help me makes sense of this confusion. I am sad to say the glass slipper illusion had no answers. That day I learned that Cinderella was a fake, and an imposter! I threw the damn book in garbage, but soon ran to get it. Forgetting that it was from the public library, also I did not want to give up on Cinderella yet. 

High school is where I would have my first “real” relationship. It was difficult because I was threatened by love. Love in my opinion is a powerful drug that can blind you from reality, it is almost like your living in your own fairytale. Although I had these feelings during the relationship, it lasted for 4 years. It ended when I started college. I found that attending college in Virginia and with him living New York started false accusations. The lack of trust took it’s toll, the relationship ended in 2005 leaving me to walk alone into my own sunset I have been single ever since.

I haven’t had a relationship in 4 years. I can admit it’s lonely, but I’m ready to take a challenge and face my fear on love. I am just sick of the half commitments that I have been getting. I find that men do not want to grow up or the glass slipper just does not fit.

I have yet to find “prince charming” and in some odd way I think I’ve been poisoned like Snow White. My single life has been cursed to sleep till eternity, Carrie, a character on the popular T.V shows Sex in the City said it best “What if Snow White was a real and Prince Charming had never showed up? Would Snow White have slept in the glass coffin forever? Or would she have sooner or later wake up, spit out the awful apple, got a job, a health-care package and a baby from her local neighborhood sperm bank? Inside every self-assured, ambitious, single woman, is there a delicate, fragile princess just waiting to be rescued?”

Being single is a gift and curse. You love the independence but miss the companionship that a relationship can offer. There has to be a solution, and E-harmony is not the answer. My best friend mom stated that “being single isn't the cause of loneliness, and marriage is not necessarily the cure. There are many lonely married people as well.” And I agree, but it’s so annoying to be the single one amongst all your friends. Have I’ve been locked in dungeon? My friend’s says that there is no rush and love will find you when you least expect it. I just hope that love does not knock at the same time death does.

For now I’m going to sit in my castle and just wait to be rescued. I am just like any other woman. I’m waiting for the knight in shining armor. Until then I’m going continue to be the vibrant individual that I am. Hey how can you get bored with yourself? As for me, I am content with my thoughts for company. It’s been my company for 4 years.

Personally, I am not holding my breath waiting for Prince Charming. I love my life, and I am not forced to clean up anyone's dirty socks, except my very own. For now, I think it’s best that way. If someday I see dirty socks that are not mine on my floor, I will provide space for them.

Do I have any wise guidance or ideas for single women? Maintain an open heart and mind, and let life guide you to beautiful places. You never know, you can possibly meet some nice people.

Adore and take pleasure in the people who are in your life now, and more importantly yourself. Be grateful for your family and friends, and have an open mind to new people, even if you’re not interested romantically. For now I’m going to appreciate and embrace the single life, and ride off into my own sunset. I may have to help prince charming along the way, Happy Singles Day! :)

x0x0x,

Kitty

Embracing a Natural Hair Journey

I was always a big believer in relaxers, I guess because it made my hair easier to manage. As a child my hair was super thick! So it made sense right? My mom doesn't really know the exact age of my first relaxer but I can estimate that it was around age 9 or 10. Now I never like sitting through the process and majority of the time getting a burned scalp, Lol but I definitely loved how my hair looked after...until breakage.

At one point my hair was severely damage but even through that lesson I had gotten more relaxers, after months of extreme proper hair care I was able to get my hair back to a healthy state and in between I have gotten more realxers.

 Even though it was back at the healthy state my hair seem to never grow past bra strap length (hair touching your bra strap) I would actually go through a vicious cycle of healthy, then damage. My oldest sister Kree decided she would embrace the journey and 2 years or year (not to sure) she is completely natural and her hair is soooo healthy and she has amazing curls (My second oldest sister is going natural as well, and will be cutting out the rest of her relaxed ends next month or so, she almost a year in to transition).

 I thought that by going natural my hair would break off. I sit back and realized that was a myth,  my breakage now and then was due to putting that creamy crack on my head in the first place!

I'm 5 months post creamy crack, and I can see my new growth which is about 1, or 2 inches and I can see my curl pattern and I'm sooo excited! I watch youtube videos, as well as research to see how others transitioned.

Many have asked me are you doing the Big Chop? and for those who are not familiar with that term. Basically it's cutting off your relax ends to your new growth similar to a Slonge look. I am not personally doing the BC. I’m not ready to let go of my hair yet. I want to have more new growth before I do any kind of chop because I will eventually have to. For now im letting my  relax ends grow out and I will cut my ends every so often. Plus I think my head is to damn big for that any way lol..

I am trying transitions styles like Rods, Rollers, Straw Sets, and Braid Outs. I have tried the Braid out and it was a disaster lol ugh! And rollers but umm the next time I’ll try another style I will be sure and blog and post many of pictures good ...or bad lol

But for now I just want to give you a brief background to why I decided to go natural. 

 

X0x0x,

 Kitty