JILL SCOTT'S VIEWS ON INTERRACIAL DATING
Jill Scott has spurred a bit of controversy after penning an impassioned essay that seeks to explain the emotional reactions some black women have when they see a black man with a white woman.
As expected, Jill’s words have sparked a strong reaction on both sides of the debate. Here’s an excerpt of her essay below:
My position is that for women of color, this very common “wince” has solely to do with the African story in America.
When our people were enslaved, “Massa” placed his Caucasian woman on a pedestal. She was spoiled, revered and angelic, while the Black slave woman was overworked, beaten, raped and farmed out like cattle to be mated. She was nothing and neither was our Black man. As slavery died for the greater good of America, and the movement for equality sputtered to life, the White woman was on the cover of every American magazine. She was the dazzling jewel on every movie screen, the glory of every commercial and television show. She was unequivocally the standard of beauty for this country, firmly unattainable to anyone not of her race.We daughters of the dust were seen as ugly, nappy mammies, good for day work and unwanted children, while our men were thought to be thieving, s*x-hungry animals with limited brain capacity.
We reflect on this awful past and recall that if a Black man even looked at a White woman, he would have been lynched, beaten, jailed or shot to death. In the midst of this, Black women and Black men struggled together, mourned together, starved together, braved the hoses and vicious police dogs and died untimely on southern back roads together. These harsh truths lead to what we really feel when we see a seemingly together brother with a Caucasian woman and their children. That feeling is betrayed. While we exert efforts to raise our sons and daughters to appreciate themselves and respect others, most of us end up doing this important work alone, with no fathers or like representatives, limited financial support (often court-enforced) and, on top of everything else, an empty bed. It’s frustrating and it hurts!
Our minds do understand that people of all races find genuine love in many places. We dig that the world is full of amazing options. But underneath, there is a bite, no matter the ointment, that has yet to stop burning. Some may find these thoughts to be hurtful. That is not my intent. I’m just sayin’.
Some have called her racist. That makes about as much sense as eating deodorant. Others question why every debate about interracial dating goes straight into a diatribe with rampant references to slavery. That statement may have a bit more validity to it. But Jill’s had her say. What’s yours?
Black women, do you share her wince whenever you spot the swirl? Black men, what effects if any does Jill’s words have with you?
A Post by: http://girl-friends.ning.com
As expected, Jill’s words have sparked a strong reaction on both sides of the debate. Here’s an excerpt of her essay below:
My position is that for women of color, this very common “wince” has solely to do with the African story in America.
When our people were enslaved, “Massa” placed his Caucasian woman on a pedestal. She was spoiled, revered and angelic, while the Black slave woman was overworked, beaten, raped and farmed out like cattle to be mated. She was nothing and neither was our Black man. As slavery died for the greater good of America, and the movement for equality sputtered to life, the White woman was on the cover of every American magazine. She was the dazzling jewel on every movie screen, the glory of every commercial and television show. She was unequivocally the standard of beauty for this country, firmly unattainable to anyone not of her race.We daughters of the dust were seen as ugly, nappy mammies, good for day work and unwanted children, while our men were thought to be thieving, s*x-hungry animals with limited brain capacity.
We reflect on this awful past and recall that if a Black man even looked at a White woman, he would have been lynched, beaten, jailed or shot to death. In the midst of this, Black women and Black men struggled together, mourned together, starved together, braved the hoses and vicious police dogs and died untimely on southern back roads together. These harsh truths lead to what we really feel when we see a seemingly together brother with a Caucasian woman and their children. That feeling is betrayed. While we exert efforts to raise our sons and daughters to appreciate themselves and respect others, most of us end up doing this important work alone, with no fathers or like representatives, limited financial support (often court-enforced) and, on top of everything else, an empty bed. It’s frustrating and it hurts!
Our minds do understand that people of all races find genuine love in many places. We dig that the world is full of amazing options. But underneath, there is a bite, no matter the ointment, that has yet to stop burning. Some may find these thoughts to be hurtful. That is not my intent. I’m just sayin’.
Some have called her racist. That makes about as much sense as eating deodorant. Others question why every debate about interracial dating goes straight into a diatribe with rampant references to slavery. That statement may have a bit more validity to it. But Jill’s had her say. What’s yours?
Black women, do you share her wince whenever you spot the swirl? Black men, what effects if any does Jill’s words have with you?
A Post by: http://girl-friends.ning.com
This is an interesting topic. One that is bound to be a big issue in nationhood for black Americans. Sure, Anita...black women go thru some degree of culture shock when these engagement of black men and white women stares you in the face. It shocks me when I see a black woman with a white man.
The chemical reactions that take place confirms with your anxiety that this should NOT be so. Our very nature tells us that something is wrong with that. For me, I say let the black women keep virtue alive.