enough is enough

over the weekend, i was in an exchange of words with someone on tumblr. the origin of the discussion was surrounding yet another bash against black women. on some level, i feel as though this is so common that it is almost a given when discussing racism, sexism, and any other ism. but it feels as though lately, it has been happening more and more.

covert bashing and subliminal attacks are a norm, for all people of color, especially in hollywood. but it seems as though black women have been at the brunt end of many recent overt and unabashed attacks. from the situation with the billboard, the nfl star's remark, the Psychology Today article, the plethora of amateur videos on youtube (some even by black women, unfortunately), famous radio hosts' remarks, to "friends" on my facebook contantly making updates about black women having multiple fathers to their children and basically trying to shame the black women on their friends list. it's almost as if bashing black women is the new...black.

what is a big issue, for me, is that these are usually coming from black people. black men harp on the supposed failures of black women as if they have any idea what it means to be a black woman. and black women that are focused on keeping these men agree and perpetuate these stigmas.

i have my issues with black women subjecting their hair to chemicals, heat and whatnot, but i'm really tired of black men feeling as though they have any place whatsoever to comment our hair. they have no idea what it means to be 20+ years old and not know what their natural hair feels like, nor do they understand the types of pressures society puts on women's appearances. a sistah may have a horrid looking Virgin Remy Malaysian Sliky weave on her head, but it isn't their place to say anything about it.

i suppose this post is mainly a rant. i'm just frustrated by the amount of anamosity there is against black women, and women of color in general. and when women of color even attempt to come together and get ourselves to a healthy state (whether that be feminism or some other movement), it is attacked as well. attacks like the ones i have mentioned reiterate the need for movements like feminism in our lives. we have to have something in our lives that encourages us and pushes us to analyze how we look at ourselves and ways to empower ourselves. i have no problem with anyone (black men most importantly), making constructive criticisms about black women. but the key word is CONSTRUCTIVE. when there is a criticism that fails to put particular issues within their respective context, within that culture, within that time period, then it simply becomes as attack without purpose.

comment. think. criticize.