The Revolution of Black Women Is Being Televised
Wow, last week the stars were aligned just right for Black women. OK, I admit, we got off to a rocky start with all the publicity surrounding the reunion show for “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” and the brawl that took place between beauty queen Kenya Moore and trophy wife Porsha Stewart.
How in the hell, could these women spend hard-earned money on hair, make-up and wardrobe, and then roll around on the floor on national television is beyond me! Yes Porsha, you’re right. You embarrassed yourself! But not only that, you embarrassed every dignified, African American woman in America! I hope these girls read the open letter my friend Tanya Young Williams wrote on Huffington Post.
NeNe, maybe it’s time for you to make a grand exit from the show. When I repped you, I always said, “Girl, you never leave a top-rated show!” But now, ya’ll are fighting and carrying on … I mean, even the mother of Kandi Burruss — Mama Joyce, and her Geritol gang — was trying to start some mess on an episode this season. I’ll text you later about it.
Anyway …. if you really want to see Black women portrayed accurately on a reality show, just tune in to OWN’s “Love in the City.” My client, Kiyah Wright, a two-time Emmy Award winning hairstylist, is part of the cast, along with her best friends Chenoah Maxwell, Bershan Shaw and Tiffany Jones. Yes, I’m plugging the show, and for good reason. The revolution of African American women with some class is being televised!
*Sigh* But I digress.
Fortunately, the folks at Time Inc. missed the reunion show of RHOA. And last week, Black women nabbed the covers of two of the most important magazines in our pop culture. The light-skinned, flowing, blonde locks of Beyonce’ graced the cover of Time magazine for its annual “100 Most Influential List” and Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o, the dark-skinned “exotic” beauty with a fade haircut from Kenya, grabbed the cover of People magazine as “Most Beautiful.” And you know there’s a Black woman on the cover of Essence magazine this month; so, this is almost as good as it gets for us! (All three of these publications are owned by the publishing giant, Time Inc.)
Plus, there’s a Black woman in the White House! I just threw that in for good measure! Anyway, we Black girls, have come a long way! A recent episode of AMC’s “Mad Men, called “A Day’s Work,” can attest to that!
Still, there’s reason to celebrate: two Black women with two different aesthetics of beauty made the headlines last week for their beauty and brains! This sort of mainstream validation is a good thing for our daughters, nieces, and women who have “color” issues. There’s been a shift in the universe. This is a victory for us all … a big one at that!
So, as hip hop artists spew their misogynistic lyrics about Black women all around the globe, somebody needs to be rapping about the “bitches on the cover of Time and People magazine!” Spit that!
I’m just saying!
#WhatIsPretty
Cast of “Love In The City”
(l-r) Bershan Shaw, Chenoah Maxwell, Kiyah Wright and Tiffany Jones
Thanks Wyllisa! Love this discussion. It looks like time and reality are finally starting to grace the same page relating to beauty. For as long as beauty has been publicly proclaimed in this country, dark beauties were a slave owner’s secret sexual fixation and since then many a mans private “fetish” so it’s more than refreshing to see the truth of beauty being acknowledged. This country has tried to box gorgeous into one package and NOBODY fit that..it left scarred and insecure women among every ethnic group including the intended focus, Caucasian women. Black beauty does not cancel out white beauty and vice versa. There is no competition, no race..no reason to suppress the natural human inclination to appreciate the beauty of many flowers. Now see America..roses didn’t lose their beauty because someone said that orchids were gorgeous.
Alisa, what a thoughtful comment! I think the movie, “12 Years a Slave,” (the best movie you’ll never want to see again) shows a slave owner’s fixation with a dark beauty … and its psychological effects and dynamics on the entire plantation. Of course, there’s no Black beauty vs White beauty, and that’s the point. If only the fashion industry would get that memo, and allow beauties of all nationalities to walk the runways globally. It would signal a change in the perception of beauty, and overlap into other areas like entertainment. Still, Black girls on the cover of Time, People and Essence magazines in the same week is a big win. Now, we just need to get Vogue onboard this ride. Thank you for your thoughtful comments. Come back and see me soon!
This blog is perfect for your business Wyllisa, great article!
Thanks Maureen! I appreciate the comment, and you stopping by my blog. I’ll continue to give it to you straight, with no chaser! xo