Comments on: The Missing Black Woman Formation

By: Lmary

Lmary — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 22:56:45 +0000

Ok then I apologize for being hostile but it just bugs me when people say ‘if this were the blacks’ or how black people lull themselves into a false sense of solidarity with people they have no business doing so with. Like the Clintons but if those views are not your views I apologize for painting you with such a broad brush I guess I need to work on my trust issues. And the last comment was funny even though I know it was a dig at me, good one!

By: Aaminah

Aaminah — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 14:47:46 +0000

Lmary, I NEVER said “if” or in any way made such an implication, so you are completely misquoting me. And you know what, I don’t care what someone else said somewhere else. I answer only for my own statements, not those of anyone else. Yes, some NA’s have issues with Blacks, and some Blacks have issues with NA’s, and some Blacks have issues with Arabs, and with Latinos and vice versa. It’s wrong, it’s always wrong. But do not dare to paint me like another, nor think that she speaks for me, nor that all my people think like her. I don’t expect you to answer for every dumb-ass statement made by a Black person, just for your own, and frankly, that’s a big enough burden for you.

By: Lmary

Lmary — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 00:47:45 +0000

My point was when I hear other people of color say ‘if’ it’s like your questioning are legitimacy to be pissed off or as IF we would know what discrimination and prejudice feels like. And there was even a Native American female on the Alternet message board who said black peoples issues and anger seem ‘trite’ compared to what Native people have endured. And also had the nerve to say as far as blacks are concerned what we’ve suffered PALES in comparison now that sounds like someone who’s very self-insulated. Which I don’t consider myself but just because other races of color have endured brutality and bigotry by white people doesn’t mean you’re my ally especially when I know for a FACT people,including Native Americans, of different races have a lot of hatred for black people. So if I’m self-insulated maybe THAT’S why.

By: Aaminah

Aaminah — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 16:22:03 +0000

Lmary, what “if” are you even referring to??? I think you are a crazy jackass who is a) misquoting me to begin with, and b) totally going off into left field.

I NEVER said that Blacks don’t get the shaft in media. Anyone who has read anything by me knows how I feel about that. You don’t know me and are making ridiculous assumptions. By the sounds of your rantings, I wouldn’t be surprised if I’ve done more productive work in solidarity with Blacks than you have. But you wouldn’t know since you are stuck in your insular self-serving world. Hmm, you have proven my point: some PoC – like you – are as bad as the white people at trivializing MY life. It sounds to me like you are the one playing the “oppression olympics”.

By: Lara

Lara — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 04:51:24 +0000

First I would love to say that this is such a great post. And so many of the responses here are right on point. I too have noticed this white-man, black man, white woman trio that permeates any media venue that is trying to give an image of “diversity.” It’s really annoying, racist, and sexist.
But something that I don’t think any others mentioned here: the historical debasement of black WOMEN in particular, the idea that they are not feminine enough, not “real women” is such a part of our national dialogue. Everything from adverts that show black women in animal prints (they are animalistic in their sexuality, sub-human) to the exclusion of women of color in the oft-used phrase “women and minorities”, women of color are virtually, and literally, rendered non-existent in our media. When black women finally ARE present, they are unfortunately fit into versions of mammy roles, as a loud-mouthed “bitch” with a chip on her shoulder, as a slut or video ho. It’s disgusting really. The idea that “all women are white and all blacks are men” is so prevalent in our culture because Patriarchy and White Supremacy are interconnected and cannot exist without each other. So you have the white man as the racial and sexual standard for “everyone” (privilege works in mysterious ways : / ), the Black man as the stand-in for all minorities no matter what race AND/OR gender, and the white woman (because only white women, with their supposed daintiness and class, are “real women”).
Just my two cents. Kudos to this post!

By: al_zorra

al_zorra — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 21:54:05 +0000

There's more than enough victimization and ignorance and cruelty carried out against women on the planet for all of us. Yet, despite all that, women's suffering of whatever color remains mostly invisible. Which might be related to why poc are still treated as mostly invisible in the media too. Though I don't know enough to say whether that is definitively true. Rape Cases on Indian Lands Go Uninvestigated Rape and the reservation: a legal maze allows sexual predators to attack American Indian women with impunity Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, & Questioning Issues Rape for Profit

By: Regina

Regina — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 19:50:27 +0000

Hi there! Nice to meet you. Very nice blog you have here! What an awesome post!

By: Lmary

Lmary — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 18:31:13 +0000

But I feel it is trivializing as well as insulting when others of color say ‘if’ that word just gets on my nerves that’s like saying what do WE have to complain about. And I have enough racial problems of my own to deal with maybe not Aaminah but a number of non/white folks treat blacks as inferior then have the nerve to drag us into their argument. So if they want to be selfish I can too.

By: Heavy Armor

Heavy Armor — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 10:49:14 +0000

All I am going to say (for the moment) is this:

http://heavyarmor.blogspot.com/2007/07/black-women-unsafe-in-any-medium.html

And apologize in an advance for the anger and slight demagoguery at the link.

By: Ico

Ico — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 01:48:24 +0000

Whoa… um, seriously Lmary, I think you just proved the point Aaminah was making when she said that frequently the plight of American Indians is dismissed. It’s not “divide and conquer”; she’s acknowledging an unfortunate reality and pointing it out. The school where I grew up had an Indian (complete with feather headdress) as its mascot. This goes on continually — part of a legacy of racism, assimilation, and the utter eradication of cultures. The invisibility of living American Indians is real; it’s not an attack to criticize the role other PoC play in this. It doesn’t trivialize the struggles of blacks or anyone else.

I think her point was that it’s easy to be blind to any struggles but our own, especially if we keep secluded in our own communities, never reaching out for real understanding of other peoples. She is right.