African American Beauty: Reconstructed

I came across this research paper by a student from Georgia State University (2004) entitled Emulated through Images: The Globalization of Misconstructed African American Beauty and Hip-Hop Culture.

The abstract below gives an overview of the what the paper is all about:
From news coverage to entertainment, the media shapes, reflects, reinforces and defines the world in which we live. In publishing, theatre, films, television and popular music--industries largely controlled by white men--Blacks continually struggle for both a voice and representation. Many scholars write about the stereotyping of Blacks in the media (Meyers, 1999; Davis, 1989). Light skinned Black women with classic European features predominate in beauty pageants, music videos, and in the world of modeling. It is with respect to the world of modeling and music that this discussion will examine the globalization and commodification of Black female beauty. I will examine the historical creation of Black beauty in the United States and Europe and how theses misconstructed images play out globally.

It's kind of long but a good read. How do we reconstruct our own beauty within the context of the greater society in which we live? How do we grow to feel comfortable in our skin and celebrate our sexuality without conforming to or perpetuating pre-existing stereotypes about the oversexed Black woman? It's complicated but an open and honest discussion is the best way to start. Check out the paper over here.

African American Beauty contestants from 1949 supported by a local pie shop

2008 Natural Beauty Contest from ymib

Que Pare La Violencia!

Stop the violence! That's how I feel about what is going on in Mexico right now. Yes, there is violence everywhere but I ran across this article on Latina.com that made my stomach knot.

So many people are being kidnapped, beheaded, raped and only God knows what else along the southern border of the US and in Mexico. Cartel members are becoming increasingly violent and many are suffering. What used to be thought of as just a Mexico problem is becoming a US problem with craziness like 'Rape Trees' popping up in places like Arizona. Apparently, these cartel members are raping women under these trees then 'decorating' them with their victims' undergarments as a way to commemorate the event. This is infuriating and scary!

A few weeks ago I watched Bordertown, a 2007 film featuring Jennifer Lopez and Antonio Banderas, which attempted to shed light on the brutal rapes and murders of women in the Mexican city of Juarez. These killings have been going on for more than a decade and the police have yet to find the murderers. These young women are genrally poor. This is an excerpt from an article explaining the situation:
"The problem has grown beyond the serial murders. In the past decade, more than 300 women have been killed in Juarez. Every type of homicide against women is common in the city, especially domestic and drug-related killings."

The violence not only affects women: "Juarez is headquarters to a major drug cartel, with its attendant violence and lawlessness. For every one woman killed in Juarez, four men die violently," Burnett says.

Lastly, and I wish I had known this before, February 14th is V-Day, a campaign to raise awareness and funds for charities looking to prevent violence against women. One V-Day event was a worldwide march where thousands of people around the world joined to raise money for the Juarez victims' families. This is an amazing movement to help women around the world be liberated from violence and fear.

Next V-Day I'll be ready to help. If you are interested, click here to find out how you can too.