I had been looking forward to seeing the film since I first discovered the trailer a few months ago. Overall I thought the film was funny and I commend his attempt. It is Chris Rock. His antics have long tickled me and the conversation of black hair has intrigued me for nearly a decade. In fact, my undergraduate thesis project attempted to tackle the topic.

An author for theybf, today’s top source for all black celebrity gossip, insinuated that the film showcases only “ghetto” hair salons and stylists—a term which has become the proverbial descriptor for all things unsavory and by extension black. Can we please retire that misused “adjective,” right along with n-word and bitch? Teresa Wiltz of The Root offered an insightful critique of the documentary, noting the film’s misogynistic undertones—its depiction of black women as overly-superficial, illustrating the lengths some go to in order to have “good hair”; $1,000 hair extensions, and thousands of dollars a year dedicated to hair maintenance. This comes as no surprise, I do remember feeling unsettled as a woman viewing Rock’s comedy specials, such as Bigger and Blacker and Never Scared.

Furthermore, I was perplexed by the lack of consideration given to particular components of the issue, considering its complex origin, consistent presence, and varied modalities. When interviewing black men, Rock never questions their hair preference. Did these men prefer natural hair or relaxed hair on black women? Did they like both? What did these men find attractive? Was this omittance due in part to Rock’s assumption that black men “naturally” prefer women with relaxed, straightened hair? As the film’s creator and writer, it is quite telling that he does not address the matter. I firmly believe that the majority of black men prefer straightened, relaxed hair (although that is changing).

Rock also did not address the negative depiction of women who choose not to relax their hair. As Wiltz noted, of the female celebrities Rock interviewed, Tracie Thoms was the only one who wore her hair visibly non-relaxed or straightened. Perhaps he believes there is truth to the idea that black women with natural hair are unattractive, militant, masculine, and unsophisticated. When he made his rounds promoting the film, he described Oprah Winfrey as a slave when seeing her childhood picture before her first relaxer. He also stated that she was delivering the “mean” news when seeing  footage of Oprah with an afro. (Clip 2)

These comments although made in jest are surely not those expected of one who desires to earnestly examine the complexities of black hair with sincerity and “compassion” to borrow Wiltz’s term.  Even though these comments were made in an offhanded  manner, the political implications of   black women’s coiffure are very much contemporary and relevant;  let us not forget the New Yorker’s depiction of Michelle Obama as a gun-toting extremist wearing an afro.

Unfortunately, in 2009 black women who wear their hair naturally are viewed as aggressive and unattractive by society as a whole and by a large amount of African-Americans, men and women alike. Chris Rock appears to follow suit.

___________

View a previous post on the film here.

Oh Oprah . . .

Last Thursday’s Oprah Winfrey show highlighted the story of a Zimbabwe woman Tererai Trent who overcame poverty, an adolescent marriage, and an abusive husband to attain her Ph.D. in the United States, fulfilling her lifelong goal of obtaining an American education. Trent is scheduled to receive her doctorate degree in December of this year.

For her achievements Trent (and Oprah) graciously and partially credits Jo Luck, a white woman from Heifer International, who visited her country in 1986 or 1991 (depending on which web site is actually accurate) encouraging Zimbabwe women to fulfill their aspirations. Luck told Trent, “It is achievable” after hearing Trent’s dream of receiving an education. Luck (now Heifer International CEO) made an appearance on the show as well.

Trent’s real-life story was one of several inspirational accounts of female empowerment lifted from the pages of the newly-published book Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide. The husband and wife author team (Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn) were featured on the show as well. And in true Oprah form, each audience member received a complimentary copy of the book with the option of attending a private book-signing following the show.

Also featured on the show were actor Ben Affleck and his work with rape victims in the Congo and Lisa Shannon, a white woman who sponsored two Congo rape vicitms after viewing a report on rape in the Congo on Oprah’s show in 1995.

On the surface these stories of female empowerment, hope, and outreach are all inspirational and touching but these accounts are couched within layers of exoticism, notions of the white man’s burden, and the elevation of the immigrant narrative.

The works of Affleck, Luck, Shannon and Oprah herself are all laudable expressions of humanity. We at BGTC have no reservations with people helping people, but at the same time we must critically examine everything. It is only through analysis can we make solid reasoned decisions about the world in which we live and navigate daily.

We live in a nation where there 39.8 million people (13% of the pop.) live in poverty. It is important to note that the definition of poverty for the United States Census is extremely low, for instance the poverty threshold for one person on their own is $10, 991.00, basically 916.00 a month, or $30.00 a day. When you compare that with the increasing cost of college education, we have a problem in our own front yard. According to the CollegeBoard the average cost of tuition for in-state enrollment in a two-year college is $2,402.00, or roughly 22% of their annual income. So why is there such push to help those abroad when there is so little effort domestically? Is it because to acknowledge the shortcomings of our society would illuminate the extreme inequities in our social and economic structures? Would it effectively illustrate that the difference between the ruling 1%, in Zimbabwe really isn’t that different from the ruling 1% percent in the United States? It is easier to project inequity onto a foreign locality, another people; but it is a true test of humanity to address the failings of a culture that provides one with comfort at the expense of another’s survival.

And lest we forget Oprah’s thoughts on America’s inner-city youth. When asked why she decided to construct her $40 million school for adolescent girls in South Africa and not in rural Mississippi (where she was born) or inner-city Milwaukee (where she was raised), she stated “I became so frustrated with visiting inner-city schools that I just stopped going. The sense that you need to learn just isn’t there.  If you ask the kids what they want or need, they will say an iPod or some sneakers. In South Africa, they don’t ask for money or toys. They ask for uniforms so they can go to school.” According to the US Census 29.4% of the population under the age of 18 live in poverty in Mississippi and  14.5% of the same demographic group in Wisconsin live in poverty.  Perhaps young people in these two states may desire iPods and sneakers like the rest of society, but it is certain that they need all the help they can get to progress.

Movie Review | Capitalism: A Love Story

Go and see it.
We’ll talk about it tomorrow soon.

Janet Jackson | Harper’s Bazaar

The October issue of Harper’s Bazaar features Janet Jackson. You’ll find more pics from the cover shoot here.

Honolulu BS move over BO

Honolulu is engaging in a war against the poor, the aged and abandoned, and the unfortunate; all for the benefit of a newly “conscious” moneyed class.  Those of us who live in large cities, cities with effective and vital public transportation systems, sometimes ride the bus. We recognize the importance of the bus providing affordable transportation for everyone.  The city of Honolulu has decided to  penalize hygiene.  According to local news, “Under the bill, if you or something you bring on the bus smells bad, you could be asked to get off, or be issued a police citation. That would carry a fine of up to $500, maybe even up to six months in jail.” This new measure, proposed by the city of Honolulu is really an assault on the traditional user of bus services for  promoting the service to a new “green class”  one that is turned off by the prospect of sharing a bus with those that may be unable to maintain their hygiene in a manner that we would prefer.

This is classicism repackaged as civic concern and I am ashamed that any civic institution would levy, without any compassion, such a large fine on any facet of their citizenry; especially one that could not easily afford to pay it.  Furthermore, it is taking the one method of “convenient” transportation that needs it most.  I hope that the citizens of Honolulu would reflect upon the true ramifications of this law and ensure that all citizens can depend on dependable transportation, but I am not particularly hopeful.  What do you think?

On September 13th Anna Sui’s Target line will be available for public consumption. The line is inspired by Gossip Girl characters—Blair, Jenny, Vanessa, and Serena. Needless to say I am ecstatic because I enjoy Sui’s designs and I might actually be able to afford one now.

Check out a preview courtesy of New York Fashion.

Light-Skinned Black Women Fare Better at Marriage

Shocking!

Just kidding, of course.

I have expected this to be true for awhile, but now I’ve got the data to back  me up.

Research shows that light-skinned black women (below the age of 30) marry more frequently than their darker counterparts. In Shedding “Light” on Marriage: The Influence of Skin Shade on Marriage for Black Females, authors Darrick Hamilton, Arthur H. Goldsmith, and William Darity, Jr. “contend that the associated shortage of desirable men in the marriage market provides those black men who are sought after with the opportunity to attain a high status spouse, which has placed a premium on having lighter skin (i.e. intensified colorism in marriage markets for black females)” (30).

Justice

According to the Manhattan D.A. and the New York criminal justice system at large it is far more egregious to accidentally shoot yourself in the leg with a properly obtained firearm than to intentionally shoot and kill: 1) A fellow officer OR 2) An unarmed man attempting to get you to sell drugs on his mother’s stoop. Who knew?

What do you think?  Was justice served in any of these cases?  I don’t.  It’s time for the criminal justice system to truly re-evaluate why it exists and what is for the bennefit of all the citizens that exist under it aegis.  If you want to make an example out of jocks carrying guns into clubs fine, but let us also ensure that you send the message to law enforcement that because we grant them a badge and the liscence to carry a gun that they cannot take life without thought or consequence.  Until this sea change in policing and punishment occurs, citizens will always view the watchmen with discomfort.

Fashion Designer Ann Sui in Elle Decor

The September issue of Elle Decor features the new penthouse apartment of fashion designer Anna Sui. As a fan of both Sui’s signature fashions and interior spaces in general, it was great to see how her sense of style influenced her home decor. Here’s the full article.

Naomi Campbell Graces the Cover of Giant

The May 2009 issue of Giant magazine features supermodel Naomi Campbell—digging the ‘fro.