Hi,this is my first time posting here and I just had to let you know that I LOVE your blog.I thank you for your dedication to the empowerment of black women such as myself.
In light of your new post entitled "A Picture and a Thousand Words" I am very interested in what your frequent commentors will make of it.They're another reason why I think your blog is so great.
Again,Thank you so much for doing this blog YOU are greatly appreciated
I love the story of the Little Rock Nine. Here is the story of women (there were only two young men)who made a choice that changed history. Did you know that Minnijean Brown (now Minnijean Brown Tricky PhD) another of the Little Rock Nine married a white guy? This was in the 60s and after all that craziness went on and yet she saw fit to marry across racial lines. She married him in 1967 and moved to Canada. Here is woman who created the life she wanted in the 1960s and U.S. Black woman in 2009 still can't figure it out? We have role models from the 60s (and before) to show us how. Read your history and then FOLLOW up on this people. I also love reading about Marian Wright Edelman who founded the Children's Defense Fund. Thanks for this pic, I may go do a little historical research today on some black women I admire.
A picture is worth a thousand words. As a writer I do research for black history projects all the time. In many of the archival photos are pictures of ww in the fore front of lynchings, hangings, tar and featherings, etc, rapid with hatred, some of them dressed up like they're going to church or some special event, with their children along, drinking and selling lemonade.
A picture says a thousand words, the image is of one of the Little Rock Nine, the students who desegregated Little Rock High School 52 years ago this year--1957.
Also, so often, the face of racism (as depicted by most blacks) is a white man. I thought it was interesting that the face of ignorance and hatred in this photo almost exclusively consists of white women. You can see white men in the background as well, of course, but so often we are singularly focused on white male racism, while ignoring all OTHER parties who do not serve our interests.
Daphne, you are spot on. "...so often we are singularly focused on white male racism, while ignoring all OTHER parties who do not serve our interests."
Yes! Many white women have a vested interest in the continued subjugation of black women. As long as we are made to feel ugly, unworthy and inferior, they get a free mental boost. We are their competition and given a solid education and some opportunity we run circles around white women. Why do you think Michelle Obama has attracted all these haters? She is 45 years old and looks damn good, plus she went to Harvard Law and landed her own Harvard Law hottie (hahaha,pardon me Mr. President). I read some of the online comments after articles about her and some of these bitter Beckies are seething!
I mean look at the faces of these hateful women behind Ms. Eckford. I thought white women on the 50s and 60s were demure little flowers? NOT. Segregation was not just about keeping apart bm and ww. White women have been running scared since slavery that we would take their men. In high school and college, white girls would ask all the time "So you like white guys, ha? They sure seem to like you" and other dumb questions to probe my interest in "their" men. They were also intrigued when I didn't become upset at seeing white girls with black guys. "Really? Doesn't it make you mad and jealous?" Um, nope. You keep Tyrone and do his homework, I'll sit right over here and snuggle with Brad. You should have seen the jaws drop and teeth suck when I took the hottest Italian-American guy to our senior prom. Ooh, I had a good time that night.
I also refused as child to fawn over white, biracial and girls. Way too often I saw black girls playing with white and other girls hair. Why the hell would I be running my hands through some other girl's hair and making her feel good and superior to me? I have my own hair and you don't seem them asking or offering to play with mine. Nope, nobody's ego is getting a free boost on my watch unless they do the same for me. I also pass this message on to my younger girl cousins and my female students.(I do know times have changed and some of these white and Latina girls can cornrows and do braids! Finally, they can do their own biracial kids' hair!)
Another thing I am doing is not being immediately buddy-buddy with other women of color (Asians, Hispanics, etc.) unless they prove to me in some way that we are on the same page. I will only go out of my way to people who serve my interests in some way.
Another thing I am doing is not being immediately buddy-buddy with other women of color (Asians, Hispanics, etc.) unless they prove to me in some way that we are on the same page. I will only go out of my way to people who serve my interests in some way. ---------------------------------- I do this to because usually (not always) being friends with these women will back fire at some point in the friendship.
But why are black women always asked or forced to 'remember' the rapes of black women during and after slavery, while black men, with their selective memory and selective forgetfulness, just forget that they where murdered because of white women, and that white women did nothing to prevent their murder or even encouraged it in some cases? Weird.
Exactly! Very selective memories. If bm can "forgive and forget" the part white women historically played in their horrific deaths, then we bw can forgive and forget the sins of the wm, and just MOVE ON.
So should we just forget the thousands of white women who participated in the civil rights movement such as Virginia Foster Durr, Mary King and Casey Hayden. Should we forget Viola Liuzzo who was murdered by the KKK for her efforts in the movement?
why is it always a zero sum game for some people. Is it not possible to point out how white women have undermined and oppressed black women without it being a charge to totally castigate them.
why is it that it only appears to be ww that there cannot be any 'balance'/ying yang, applied, as it is to every other demographic, rather only nice and pleasant things need to be said and highlighted?
"The superior person can hold two contradictory thoughts simultaneously and still continue to function. You need a long-term vision combined with short-term focus."
"So should we just forget the thousands of white women who participated in the civil rights movement such as Virginia Foster Durr, Mary King and Casey Hayden. Should we forget Viola Liuzzo who was murdered by the KKK for her efforts in the movement?"
Who says they were doing that for Black women? Hell, for all we know they could've been doing it for their secret Black boyfriends.
"Who says they were doing that for Black women? Hell, for all we know they could've been doing it for their secret Black boyfriends."
Read Michele Wallace's Black Macho and the Myth of the Superwoman. This book was ripped to shreds when it was first published (for obvious reasons) but she blew the lid off what was going on behind the scenes of the civil rights movement that your comment touches on.
Lots of people in the civil rights movement were swirling. This doesn't mean they were in the movement for trivial or prurient reasons. And I am not excusing the adultery sometimes involved.
"why is it that it only appears to be ww that there cannot be any 'balance'/ying yang, applied, as it is to every other demographic, rather only nice and pleasant things need to be said and highlighted?"
You raised a very good question, but don't expect white women protectors to answer it. When we look back at history, we are expected to hold the White man accountable for everything yet make excuses for the white woman's complicity. You see, it was the patriarchy that made them do it. *rolls eyes*
Their honour must always be protected, no matter how vile or seedy their acts or character.
why is it that it only appears to be ww that there cannot be any 'balance'/ying yang, applied, as it is to every other demographic, rather only nice and pleasant things need to be said and highlighted?
Halima OMG! Exactly, exactly! It's like what was said last year on this now long-dead blog that was called Black Girls Rule under the post 'The purity of white womanhood'. Black women's most negative points are their only points in existence, and white women's most positive points are the only ones in existence!
Ridiculous! Any woman who is unhealthy in her thinkings and actions can be capable of evil. I don't buy that pedestal/sainthood bull. Otherwise you better move over on that pedestal and make some room for the rest of us! LOL
The faces of the white women in this photo has always stuck with me. It shows how many of them have an unecessary angst towards to black women, looking to degrade us in any shape or form possible...in order to keep themselves on some sort of pedestal. Whether it be in the form of the "Miss Ann" syndrome or in the forms of "I date Black men yet I don't like Black women"- Ive met some who have openly said this to me thinking that I would not flinch...saying to me "But youre different than the others...I can tell you things"... I responded of course with how they can surely try to tell me these ignorant things but not to mistake me for a fool to imagine that I will not respond to such foolishness. Ive had bad experiences with White women. I don't hate them and I don't blame all of them for the ignorant ones that Ive met... But I will say, I can trust them just as far as I can throw them. I don't trust them one damned bit. In friendship or anything else. There are a few exceptions to the rules, but not the majority...no way no how.
Hi,this is my first time posting here and I just had to let you know that I LOVE your blog.I thank you for your dedication to the empowerment of black women such as myself.
ReplyDeleteIn light of your new post entitled "A Picture and a Thousand Words" I am very interested in what your frequent commentors will make of it.They're another reason why I think your blog is so great.
Again,Thank you so much for doing this blog YOU are greatly appreciated
I love the story of the Little Rock Nine. Here is the story of women (there were only two young men)who made a choice that changed history.
ReplyDeleteDid you know that Minnijean Brown (now Minnijean Brown Tricky PhD) another of the Little Rock Nine married a white guy? This was in the 60s and after all that craziness went on and yet she saw fit to marry across racial lines. She married him in 1967 and moved to Canada. Here is woman who created the life she wanted in the 1960s and U.S. Black woman in 2009 still can't figure it out? We have role models from the 60s (and before) to show us how. Read your history and then FOLLOW up on this people. I also love reading about Marian Wright Edelman who founded the Children's Defense Fund. Thanks for this pic, I may go do a little historical research today on some black women I admire.
Hi Halima,
ReplyDeleteA picture is worth a thousand words. As a writer I do research for black history projects all the time. In many of the archival photos are pictures of ww in the fore front of lynchings, hangings, tar and featherings, etc, rapid with hatred, some of them dressed up like they're going to church or some special event, with their children along, drinking and selling lemonade.
A picture says a thousand words, the image is of one of the Little Rock Nine, the students who desegregated Little Rock High School 52 years ago this year--1957.
ReplyDeleteThis photo still haunts me!
ReplyDeleteCo-signing with E.
ReplyDeleteAlso, so often, the face of racism (as depicted by most blacks) is a white man. I thought it was interesting that the face of ignorance and hatred in this photo almost exclusively consists of white women. You can see white men in the background as well, of course, but so often we are singularly focused on white male racism, while ignoring all OTHER parties who do not serve our interests.
Just my intepretation.
Worth A 1000 Words Indeed!
ReplyDeleteWhat grabs me is those in the photo were the "Street Harassers" of that day..
Who are the "Street Harassers" now?
Daphne, you are spot on. "...so often we are singularly focused on white male racism, while ignoring all OTHER parties who do not serve our interests."
ReplyDeleteYes! Many white women have a vested interest in the continued subjugation of black women. As long as we are made to feel ugly, unworthy and inferior, they get a free mental boost. We are their competition and given a solid education and some opportunity we run circles around white women. Why do you think Michelle Obama has attracted all these haters? She is 45 years old and looks damn good, plus she went to Harvard Law and landed her own Harvard Law hottie (hahaha,pardon me Mr. President). I read some of the online comments after articles about her and some of these bitter Beckies are seething!
I mean look at the faces of these hateful women behind Ms. Eckford. I thought white women on the 50s and 60s were demure little flowers? NOT. Segregation was not just about keeping apart bm and ww. White women have been running scared since slavery that we would take their men. In high school and college, white girls would ask all the time "So you like white guys, ha? They sure seem to like you" and other dumb questions to probe my interest in "their" men. They were also intrigued when I didn't become upset at seeing white girls with black guys. "Really? Doesn't it make you mad and jealous?" Um, nope. You keep Tyrone and do his homework, I'll sit right over here and snuggle with Brad. You should have seen the jaws drop and teeth suck when I took the hottest Italian-American guy to our senior prom. Ooh, I had a good time that night.
I also refused as child to fawn over white, biracial and girls. Way too often I saw black girls playing with white and other girls hair. Why the hell would I be running my hands through some other girl's hair and making her feel good and superior to me? I have my own hair and you don't seem them asking or offering to play with mine. Nope, nobody's ego is getting a free boost on my watch unless they do the same for me. I also pass this message on to my younger girl cousins and my female students.(I do know times have changed and some of these white and Latina girls can cornrows and do braids! Finally, they can do their own biracial kids' hair!)
Another thing I am doing is not being immediately buddy-buddy with other women of color (Asians, Hispanics, etc.) unless they prove to me in some way that we are on the same page. I will only go out of my way to people who serve my interests in some way.
Another thing I am doing is not being immediately buddy-buddy with other women of color (Asians, Hispanics, etc.) unless they prove to me in some way that we are on the same page. I will only go out of my way to people who serve my interests in some way.
ReplyDelete----------------------------------
I do this to because usually (not always) being friends with these women will back fire at some point in the friendship.
THANK YOU halima, for highlighting how racist against us Black women these White women are! That gets swept under the rug too much!
ReplyDeleteThis picture is a great reminder of what we've been through and what we've strived for in achieving a better life for ourselves.
ReplyDeleteThe young woman pictured is Elizabeth Eckford. You can read short bios of each of the Little Rock Nine at this link
ReplyDeleteMeet the Little Rock Nine
And each of the Nine has their own Wikipedia page:
Thelma Mothershed, Minnijean Brown, Elizabeth Eckford, Gloria Ray, Jefferson Thomas, Melba Beals, Terrence Roberts, Carlotta Walls, Ernest Green
Wishing you all progress.
Hi Celeste
ReplyDeleteExactly!
But why are black women always asked or forced to 'remember' the rapes of black women during and after slavery, while black men, with their selective memory and selective forgetfulness, just forget that they where murdered because of white women, and that white women did nothing to prevent their murder or even encouraged it in some cases? Weird.
LOL
And daphne
ReplyDelete'Exactly!' again.
Hi ak,
ReplyDeleteExactly! Very selective memories. If bm can "forgive and forget" the part white women historically played in their horrific deaths, then we bw can forgive and forget the sins of the wm, and just MOVE ON.
White women have been running scared since slavery that we would take their men.
ReplyDelete-
Or that white men will continue to find interest. I think that is the issue. lol.
Miss Phantom
So should we just forget the thousands of white women who participated in the civil rights movement such as Virginia Foster Durr, Mary King and Casey Hayden. Should we forget Viola Liuzzo who was murdered by the KKK for her efforts in the movement?
ReplyDeletewhy is it always a zero sum game for some people. Is it not possible to point out how white women have undermined and oppressed black women without it being a charge to totally castigate them.
ReplyDeletewhy is it that it only appears to be ww that there cannot be any 'balance'/ying yang, applied, as it is to every other demographic, rather only nice and pleasant things need to be said and highlighted?
I do so wonder
"The superior person can hold two contradictory thoughts
ReplyDeletesimultaneously and still continue to function.
You need a long-term vision combined with short-term focus."
- Brian Tracy
"So should we just forget the thousands of white women who participated in the civil rights movement such as Virginia Foster Durr, Mary King and Casey Hayden. Should we forget Viola Liuzzo who was murdered by the KKK for her efforts in the movement?"
ReplyDeleteWho says they were doing that for Black women? Hell, for all we know they could've been doing it for their secret Black boyfriends.
"Who says they were doing that for Black women? Hell, for all we know they could've been doing it for their secret Black boyfriends."
ReplyDeleteRead Michele Wallace's Black Macho and the Myth of the Superwoman. This book was ripped to shreds when it was first published (for obvious reasons) but she blew the lid off what was going on behind the scenes of the civil rights movement that your comment touches on.
Lots of people in the civil rights movement were swirling. This doesn't mean they were in the movement for trivial or prurient reasons. And I am not excusing the adultery sometimes involved.
ReplyDeleteAs has been said here before: No one owns anyone.
"why is it that it only appears to be ww that there cannot be any 'balance'/ying yang, applied, as it is to every other demographic, rather only nice and pleasant things need to be said and highlighted?"
ReplyDeleteYou raised a very good question, but don't expect white women protectors to answer it. When we look back at history, we are expected to hold the White man accountable for everything yet make excuses for the white woman's complicity. You see, it was the patriarchy that made them do it. *rolls eyes*
Their honour must always be protected, no matter how vile or seedy their acts or character.
They have always got to be the victim.
Who says they were doing that for Black women? Hell, for all we know they could've been doing it for their secret Black boyfriends.
ReplyDeleteFro, THANK YOU so much! I am SO glad that somebody FINALLY said it!
Celeste yes. umm-hmm! I mean why not?
ReplyDeleteHalima:
ReplyDeletewhy is it that it only appears to be ww that there cannot be any 'balance'/ying yang, applied, as it is to every other demographic, rather only nice and pleasant things need to be said and highlighted?
Halima OMG! Exactly, exactly! It's like what was said last year on this now long-dead blog that was called Black Girls Rule under the post 'The purity of white womanhood'. Black women's most negative points are their only points in existence, and white women's most positive points are the only ones in existence!
Ridiculous! Any woman who is unhealthy in her thinkings and actions can be capable of evil. I don't buy that pedestal/sainthood bull. Otherwise you better move over on that pedestal and make some room for the rest of us! LOL
The faces of the white women in this photo has always stuck with me. It shows how many of them have an unecessary angst towards to black women, looking to degrade us in any shape or form possible...in order to keep themselves on some sort of pedestal. Whether it be in the form of the "Miss Ann" syndrome or in the forms of "I date Black men yet I don't like Black women"- Ive met some who have openly said this to me thinking that I would not flinch...saying to me "But youre different than the others...I can tell you things"...
ReplyDeleteI responded of course with how they can surely try to tell me these ignorant things but not to mistake me for a fool to imagine that I will not respond to such foolishness.
Ive had bad experiences with White women. I don't hate them and I don't blame all of them for the ignorant ones that Ive met...
But I will say, I can trust them just as far as I can throw them.
I don't trust them one damned bit.
In friendship or anything else. There are a few exceptions to the rules, but not the majority...no way no how.
That ought to be a BLACK MAN those WHITE WOMEN are yelling at, cause they think so highly of them
ReplyDelete