Feminism's Dirty Little Secret

I was a junior in college when I took Intro to Women's Studies. It was a required core course that I took, thinking it would be fun to study the journey that women have had to take in society just to be not only seen but equal. As a literary geek, I didn't have to do to much research when reading Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen to understand why the elder Mrs. Bennett was so desperately trying to marry off all of her daughters. Women were not allowed at that time, which would've been early nineteenth-century England to own property or trusts. A woman basically wasn't allowed to take care of herself, no matter how smart and capable she was.

When this class first began, we explored these early challenges women faced, discussing how women would and could lose all of their property to a male cousin, brother or husband just for having a womb. Fast forward to the activism of the 60's and 70's. Women ripped off their bras, marched in the street, got "Roe v. Wade" passed, became CEO's, etc. But just like the image above feminism was subtly predominately white. Even for me in that class, it wasn't until we studied the later years that I realized, not one African-American or woman of African descent had ever been brought up in class. We're discussing feminism, and made it all the way to the 60's and not one mention of Harriet Tubman? How was that even possible?

I also realized that I could not personally identify with much of the feminism movement, which literally took up about 50% of the course. So, why am I discussing this today? Well, after Beyonce' literally shut the Superbowl down, the Internet went into a collective frenzy over her announcement of concert dates coming this Spring/Summer. She even released a commercial in the UK regarding upcoming shows at O2 Arena in London. Donned in traditional regal dress fit for a queen, Bey sashayed out in ridiculously high stilleto heels and demurely looked into the camera as the title: THE MRS. CARTER WORLD TOUR scrolled. This angered feminists from Cali to NY. Correction: this angered white feminists.



I follow a good number of progressive and controversial women on Twitter, and none of them even mentioned the promo. However, feminists, all of whom just happened to be white, LOST IT! They weren't upset that Beyonce wore a gold wide-set crinoline (normally worn under traditional gowns to give a wide set bell look) on the outside of a fancy gold corset. They weren't upset that she wore gold encrusted thigh-high red royal 6-inch stilleto boots. They weren't upset that her lightened skin showcased a pouty red-lip that screamed sex! No, they were upset because she called it the MRS. CARTER TOUR! *double sigh*

The teacher that taught my women's studies class was married and pregnant as she taught the course. Week by week I saw girl after girl in my class lose respect for her, as we delved deeper into feminism. They deemed her a feminist in fantasy because she was married to a man. By the end of the semester, it was clear that at least 87% of my class were also lesbians. They felt the professor was not and could not be a feminist because her marrying a man meant that she'd conformed to the patriarchal demands of society. They also felt that her being pregnant by him was her acceptance of this conformity, thus making her unfit as a feminist. WHAT? Me, being the meticulous person I am, went home and read the text practically cover-to-cover. I saw nothing in the feminism chapter regarding marriage, except the right of a woman to choose not to get married if she didn't want to. My poor professor got riled in class by these girls who truly believed conformity of any kind deemed a woman as being weak, and definitely NOT a feminist. I couldn't have disagreed more. I argued that our teacher was married, pregnant and tenured at the third largest university in the state. Needless to say, I was not popular in this class. In fact, I was often excluded, which was due more to the fact that I just didn't feel attached to the majority of their causes.

Black women in America often deal with negative images, as well as prejudices regarding our race. This double-edged sword forces us to stay on top of our game, especially if you work in corporate america, but we have never felt the need to "masculinize" ourselves in order to be equal. Here, silly me, I thought feminism was so women could enjoy the basic rights men enjoy, such as owning property, equal pay for the same work, etc. But, you will not hear me or many of my black counterparts to wave a red flag and claim to be just like men. Not only do we not agree with that, it's just not true! In my opinion, that is the power in being a woman, the fact that we are different in a lot of ways than men. The fact that we can be feminine, bring life into the world, be smart, nurturing and all of the things that God made us to be. So, why then does it seem, that feminists are so determine to make women JUST LIKE MEN? I find that insulting. I did in college, and I still do.

So back to this Beyonce' promo for her tour. She called it the MRS. CARTER WORLD TOUR, because guess what, she IS Mrs. Carter! Her husband is Shawn Carter, a/k/a Jay-Z. Why does she have to just be Beyonce'? She just had this man's child a year ago for goodness sake. And so now, she is expected to deny that she is not only a brand, but a married woman, with a child? When did this become popular? And how come no one railed against Madonna when she married Guy Ritchie, moved to England, where he is from and took up a whole new life? Why are these alleged feminists coming for Beyonce' so hard? I will say it. Because Beyonce' doesn't look like them. Because, even the most progressive black women who stand on the front lines for women's rights, will not deny their husbands or any important man in their life, for the cause. We, unlike our white counterparts, exist in a country that works against us daily. We have no choice but to know who we are. We don't need a movement for identity. Beyonce' was a brand before she became Mrs. Carter, and she will continue to expand her brand. So, to all of the Caucasian women out there using the cover of a movement to hide the fact that it's basically a self-imposed identity for them, HAVE A SEAT! Don't be upset, simply because it is not the be-all for every woman who considers herself down for women's rights. I hope to someday teach my daughter (if I have one) to be self-sufficient, brilliant, brave, feminine and proud. I will also teach her that marriage will only enhance those attributes, and that she will never be less than, because of it.

To Beyonce' - SALUTE TO YOU MRS. CARTER! See you July 17 in Chicago.

DESPICABLE!

I was perusing Huffington Post this evening when I came across the most disturbing story thus far in this election.

At a Palin rally on Saturday, a supporter, an older white male showed up with a monkey doll in his hand that wore an Obama bumper sticker around its head. He looked into a camera, laughing and waving the monkey as he stood in line to get into the rally. Even amidst, Obama supporters across the street, who began to shout, "Racist," he still raised the monkey and laughed.

I knew that race would eventually become an issue in this race, but it is still jarring to see it so blatantly today. Even in 2008, people still have the nerve to walk around carrying unrepentant notions of hate, and in this election, some have proudly exploited it.



I think what is even more despicable is the fact that the other people in the lines are smiling as if amused, and not one person said anything to him or even tried to stop it! God help us!

A Little Insight on Race from Paul Mooney!

Piggybacking off of this whole Obama-Wright thing, I can't help but think about generational differences between black people. My grandparents did not like white people at all, and I always thought this was harsh. But I didn't pick cotton or share-crop. I was not a product of the pre-civil-rights south. I came across this video of Paul Mooney talking about race and the N-word some time ago, then I didn't get it. Funny how much of a difference a few more years in corporate America makes.

I can't even watch this video now without laughing and nodding. But more than anything, it is a searing realization of how different blacks and whites view America. Our truth is soooo different, it seems harsh, but that doesn't make it untrue.



You have to admit, he makes some good points! Although now, he doesn't say the N-word anymore!

Obama Speaks of Hope Amidst Issues of Race!

Today Barack Obama gave a very enlightened speech amid a week of controversy over comments made by his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright of Trinity United Church of Christ. Before I delve into his speech, I would like to give a little background. Trinity is one of the largest African-American churches in the city of Chicago. It is also in the top twenty largest churches in America. They have four services on Sunday to accommodate the membership, and Rev. Wright is a pillar in the United Church of Christ as well as in Black America. He has been admired and toted from people such as Michael Eric Dyson to Tavis Smiley. One thing that has stood out has been his undying quest to teach today's generation the importance of race in America and how Christianity is the vessel to get them through it.

So, what was the controversy about? A series of about 13 sermons, that had been edited into a damaging video of Rev. Wright angrily preaching to his congregation about how Hillary Clinton is not in the same arena as Obama, because unlike him, she hasn't had to deal with racism. He also compared present day America to the Roman Empire in the bible. Once this video got out, which conveniently was about two days after the whole Geraldine Ferraro situation, the media went on Obama attack. His patriotism was called into question, Rev. Wright was called a bigot, a cult leader and unpatriotic. For days now, you can't turn on any news channel without this being their main news story. Now all of a sudden the one candidate who hadn't been talking about race or making it an issue, had the issue of race swirling around him.

So, to clear things up and address the controversial remarks, Obama made a speech this afternoon. He wasn't nervous, panicky, guilty or any of the many things the media guessed he would be. In fact, he took the high road and took this situation as an opportunity to finally address something that has plagued this nation since day one. Here is an excerpt of his speech:

"[R]ace is an issue that I believe this nation cannot afford to ignore right now. The reality in which Rev. Wright and other African-Americans of his generation grew up" in the 1950s and 1960s was one of legal segregation, and discrimination even afterward. For many, he said, "the memories of humiliation and doubt and fear have not gone away, nor has the anger and the bitterness of those years." It still finds expression, he said, in black barbershops and kitchens, and in black churches.

What was even more interesting to me were the comments that came from this speech. It didn't surprise me how different they were based upon race:

"It wasn't until he was forced to take a stand against Wright's screed that he finally did," Republican strategist Tony Fabrizio wrote in an email. "Why didn't he denounce what he said when he said it? Why didn't he distance himself then? What Wright said was no one-time slip of the tongue."

Even Obama supporters have seen dangers in the senator addressing racial tensions so directly. "The more he has to talk about race, the blacker he becomes in the public imagination," said Randall Kennedy, a Harvard law professor and Obama backer, before the speech.

Sen. Clinton, also in Philadelphia to campaign yesterday, told reporters she hadn't seen or read the Obama speech. "Race and gender are difficult issues and therefore we need to have more discussion about this," she said, adding: "Obviously the more Sen. Obama and I talk about it or put it into some context...that's good for the country."

I am just befuddled at how out of touch so many Americans come across since these comments saw the light of day. I am 30 years-old, obviously a product of the post civil-rights era, and without a shadow of a doubt, I have experienced Real Racism in this country in my time. It is something you never forget and consequently it is also something that a white person in America will never experience or understand. I feel like white Americans are walking around with a veil on if they think racism is over. While I don't agree with the method in which Rev. Wright was addressing racism, I understand the anger. Once you have experienced racism, it is so demoralizing and humiliating, you NEVER forget it. But for the media along with right-wing conservatives to say that his anger makes him a bigot and unpatriotic is a real slap in the face, and further encourages racism in this country. The message that it sends out is, well you should just suck it up. So what if you have been oppressed and still don't have equal rights, keep your anger to yourself, complain in private. That notion is racist as hell! I can relate wholeheartedly with Barack Obama's explanation of the generational difference. My grandparents literally don't like white people. Both are direct products of pre-civil rights America. They picked cotton and share-cropped in an extremely racist south. As much as I didn't care to hear the hatred they felt, I understood it because what they've seen and been through, no one ever apologized for. Thus, it is much harder to get past.

What was compelling was when Obama who denounced Rev. Wright's statements, didn't denounce the man. He said he couldn't, just like he couldn't denounce his white grandmother who helped raise him and yet also admitted to being afraid of black men, and made racial epithets around him that made him cringe. I can understand that as well. I have a friend whose grandmother was white and basically raised her to fear and dislike black men, so she does. What that tells me is that race is very strong still in this country. We, all of us, black, white, red, yellow, brown - are dealing with the residue of slavery. No one wants to talk about it. In fact I have often heard people say, "I wish you people would just get over it." How do you get over something that still exists? Slavery wasn't just about the physical detainment of an entire race, it was also about the mental division and cultural elitism of races in this country and those ideals still exist in 2008.

We have to deal with it, otherwise we will go another hundred years holding on to anger, saying racially explosive and hurtful things about each other and still having generations recycling the pain of one of the biggest acts of terrorism to ever take place on this earth. Obama's speech today was a wake-up call to America. Racism must be dealt with, otherwise, generations to come will still be recycling the same conversations, the same speeches, the same protests and worst of all, the same pain!