The Stereotypical Notions of Nomenclature

This past Friday the Tyra Banks Show addressed the stereotypical impressions generated by one’s name. Tyra conducted a focus groups consisting of roughly ten adults varing in age and race in New York City. The focus group was given a list of five names and were asked to generate impressions of the individual based on his or her name. “Deedrica” was the first name examined by the group. The only black male boisterously stated that she must be “Black, black, ghetto black!” The rest of the participants followed in suit claiming that Deedrica was an overweight, angry black female that you would not want to cross working, possibly a disgruntled DMV employee one group member maintained. Deedrica sports designer clothing and hair extensions as she lives a luxurious life in the projects with her three children fathered by three diffent men nonetheless.

Although I wasn’t surprised by the first impressions invoked by the name Deedrica within the focus group, I was however shocked at the depths of their stereotypical stupor. It proved to be limitless, with group members possessing a crystal clear visual representation of Deedrica and the characteristics of her personality and behavior.

Needless to say I was disappointed, angered, and stunned all at the same time. The plethora of negative views which plague black women, from the angry black female to the oversexualized nymphomaniac are absolutely maddening. When will black women be viewed as individuals, not the sum of our parts? And furthermore, when will there be an honest and earnest attempt to understand the plight of the black female which at times may explain why you catch an angry sister on the wrong day? In Salvation: Black People and Love, prolific cultural critic bell hooks mentions that many of her college students “of all colors” would describe black women they encountered as “unsmiling and rigid” (106). hooks further explains what happened when her class critically assessed the lives of black women. She writes

“When we would later examine the details of black women’s lives, facts that document the reality that many of us live in poverty, or do low-paying jobs without access to health care; that we are likely to be single for much of our adult life; that of the three leading causes of death for women, heart disease, breast cancer, and lung cancer, we are disproportionately at risk and more likely to die if we have these illnesses; and that we are daily the victims of unacknowledged verbal and physical assault both in the streets and in our homes, they understood the reasons black females do not appear open and playful. After examining these facts students would often say, ‘what do black women have to smile about?'” (106)

Black women are constantly viewed and treated as the world’s mule, living in a society that “systematically devalued our bodies and our beings” (hooks 93).

Another point worth mentioning is the audience reaction when viewing the Deedrica compared with its reaction when watching the focus group discuss the name “Jose.” Although the audience members offered statements of disgust and outrage after they viewed video snippet, this protest was not expressed during viewing. However, when the audience viewed the Jose exchange, the audience outcry was undeniable. In fact, Trya said herself that that’s the loudest verbal reaction she’s encountered as the audience viewed a tape. Why such anger for Jose and not Deedrica? Is this a continuation of the mistreatment and debasement of black women? One can make a sound argument.

Notice the clip below of Mad TV’s spoof of a “ghetto” cashier Bon Qui Qui working at King Burger. Latino/Hispanic actress Anjelah Johnson plays the part of Bon Qui Qui.

The clip’s “humor” struck a cord within the black community. A former neighbor (African American female) forwarded it to me via email and raved of its comedic genius. And judging from the comments listed on the You Tube just below the video, she wasn’t the only one who found the skit funny.

I however failed to see the humor. What are your thoughts?