I recently wrote about America’s Obsession with Black Female Identities. Ronald Reagan, Mitt Romney, Lupe Fiasco and Shonda Rhimes were among those I examined to explore the various identities created for Black women. The article, shared at Curlynikki.com, drew comments from readers who thought I was too harsh in my treatment of Lupe Fiasco’s “Bitch Bad, Woman Good, Lady Better.” My point is that Lupe Fiasco’s track, in much the same way as Reagan and Romney, ultimately serves to creat[...]
Rewind. In 1976, Ronald Reagan did what many politicians do when giving anecdotal support of his/her platform—he made stuff up. She has eighty names, thirty addresses, twelve Social Security cards and is collecting veteran's benefits on four non-existing deceased husbands. And she is collecting Social Security on her cards. She's got Medicaid, getting food stamps, and she is collecting welfare under each of her names. Her tax-free cash income is over $150,000. Enter the social constru[...]
Quite frankly, I blame Michelle Obama. Here we have a First Lady of the United States of America (code name Renaissance) who dared show the world that Black women are comfortable in their own skin. She didn’t fit into any of the socially constructed identities previously created for women of color—no Jezebel, Mammy, Welfare Queen or Sapphire to be found on or near her person. The resulting confusion led to women of color holding their heads just a little bit higher. When little Brown and Bl[...]