Black Men...Are They To Blame? Part 2

Hey guys,

While reading through the comments about this article/blog, I came across a comment from a man named Shawn West and I felt that I HAD to share it with you!

He shares his opinion stating that:

First of all white men are the source for all ignorance in the world when it comes to the Western world. Black men just purport to be the main actors in this grand play of objectification. White men own the large “parent” labels and marketing firms that pay black men to put these absurd images out in the mainstream. You can’t blame black men solely for trying to make a buck even if they’re complicit in this madness.

White men were parading Sarah Baartman throughout Europe well before there were any music videos. It takes years of conditioning to turn black men into what we see now. There is no evidence to my knowledge of black men or indigenous men objectifying black women until they brought here and broken-in by slave owners.

More importantly, black women are as complicit in this play as black men. Yes there are a lack of jobs that pay as well as striping or modelling but when does personal responsibility come into play. Like Chris Rock said jokingly, “you’re dancing to your own oppression.” But whatever, to each it’s own.

Mind Blowing!

Has your thoughts changed on who is to blame? Do you think either male race ( white or black) is to blame, or does this problem fall onto both races?

Please share your comments below!

Black Men.. Are They To Blame?

"Butt shots and black men, are they to blame for the problem?" This article/blog I found speaks about the pressures Black women face to live up to the ideal body type that Black men fantasize about, and the extreme measures they go through to achieve this look. The author Brande Victorian explains that her days of doing squats in the gym to pump up your butt are gone, since women are going for quicker and riskier methods to enlarge their buttocks.  

Victorian proceeds to explain the many ways how Black men reveal that they prefer their Black women with larger buttocks. These men sing, rap, stare at it, and constantly chase after girls with these assets,

without even realizing what dangerous measures these women are going through to become the object

of the Black man’s affection. The author ends the article by stating that if your rear end doesn't look like

Jenifer Lopez, Beyonce or Kim Kardashian, naturally you're option is to pull a Nicki Minaj and get that

look. Hip Hop artist Nicki Minaj is well known for her decision to get buttock augmentation surgery,

since before and after pictures surfaced on the internet of what her buttocks looked like.

I chose to share this article/blog with you because it gives a testimonial of real life African American women who are either affected by the consequences of butt implants and, can see how much damage the idea of

buttock implants is doing to a large amount of African American women. It is a growing problem,

especially in the Hip Hop community, and awareness needs to be spread on the dangers of receiving

this surgery.

How do you feel?  Do you believe that Black men are to blame for this dramatic increase in this type of surgery?

To read more from Victorian, click on the link below:

http://frugivoremag.com/2012/04/butt-shots-and-black-men-are-they-to-blame-for-the-problem/

Love & Hip Hop New York Actress Nya Lee's Honesty.

I decided to refer to a blog spot that speaks about the topic of butt augmentation in

the Black community. The blog is named Madame Noire and, was written by Charing Ball on

December 9^th/2013. She talks about the popular stripper turned actress of a popular show called Love and Hip Hop New York. LHHNY Cast member Nya Lee opened up about getting butt injections, and why she doesn’t encourage other women to do so. Lee admits to paying $1,200 for a non FDA approved butt injections in hopes of creating a larger and rounder behind. She explains that the procedure was done four years ago, in her friend’s house by an un-licensed technician.

 The technician claimed that she was using a medical grade bio gel, but Lee admitted to not being able to verify that claim. Despite being content with the

outcome; the actress acknowledges that she put herself in danger and, that she wouldn't advise young

women to seek out butt injections, which are illegal and proven to be deadly.

The blog proceeds to share how much they appreciate Lee’s honesty. She ( Lee) goes into the idea of

African American women having large buttocks by saying “ Hey, not every black girl has a big butt, but

when you ask around, it seems that a big behind is the epitome of beauty for African American Women

and, if you don’t have one, you better figure something out”. The writer begins to give a list of songs

that promote and praise the idea of African American women having a large buttocks, and then ends

the list by saying “ one thing for sure, it ain’t her pretty brown eyes anymore”. This line refers to the old

90’s hit named Pretty Brown Eyes sung by the group Mint Condition. It also shows how music has

changed from talking about an African American’s facial features, to now focusing on their assets behind

them.

To read more about Nya Lee's story, you can read the rest of Madame Noire's blog:

http://madamenoire.com/330738/nya-lee-butt-injections/

She also posted a of video of her getting the procedure done. She wanted to share with everyone that she is comfortable with letting people know that she has a fake buttocks.

Clink on the link below to see her procedure. If you have a weak stomach or don't feel comfortable watching someone receive surgery, then I wouldn't recommend for you to watch this.

http://theurbandaily.com/2014/01/16/nya-lee-butt-injections-video/

How do you feel about her decision to receive injections? Do you appreciate her honesty?

Story Credit: http://madamenoire.com/330738/nya-lee-butt-injections/

Patricia Hill Collins "Get Your Freak On"

    

     Patricia Hill Collins is a social theorist, and a University Professor of Sociology at the University of Maryland, College Park. She is well known for her being the author of the book 'Black Feminist Thought'. Her work primarily surrounds issues of around feminism and gender within the African American community.

      Patricia Hill Collins speaks about the term ‘freak’ and how it is used today in the

book “the politics of women’s bodies” by Rose Weitz. She speaks about the popular

song by Missy Elliot named ‘get your freak on’ in the chapter titled “get your freak on”( page 143-154), and on the different meanings freak and where it originated from. Collins explains that when Elliot says ‘get your freak on’, she is speaking about women who enjoy having sex and like kinky behavior in the bedroom. Collins explains that in the 19^th century, the

term freak was used to describe humans with oddities exhibited by circuses and

sideshows. Individuals who were not considered normal (midgets, giants) were

exhibited as “freaks of nature”( page 144). These people were used for entertainment based on their abnormalities.

Picture of Missy Elliot from " Get Your Freak On" Music Video

     Collins speaks about how Black women’s bodies become objectified in Black male

Hip Hop artists music videos. She gives examples of music videos such as Sir Mix A " 

lot’s “ Baby Got Back” and 2LiveCrew’s “ Pop That Coochie” all focus on the buttocks

of these females. She goes into detail explaining that “all focused attention is on

women’s behinds, Black women’s behinds in particular” and how “ being able to shake

the booty is a sign of authentic blackness, with the Black women who is shaking the

biggest butt being the most authentic Black woman” (Collins,pg 149).

Pictures From The Music Video of Popular Hip Hop Song " Baby Got Back" By Sir Mix A Lot

     These two quantitative examples from Collins readings reveal how freaks were labeled in the 19^th century and how many women of color's bodies were objectified. The label of being a freak can relate to the story of Sarah Baartman, the African American woman whose body

was exhibited as a freak show attraction based on her large buttocks. The example of

how women’s bodies are being objectified in music videos is the attention the buttocks

receives. When they refer to the Black woman shaking the biggest butt being the most

authentic, reveals how much credit women of color receive for having a large buttocks, and

shows that if you are a Black woman without a large buttocks to shake to your

 favorite Hip Hop song, you are not seen as truly authentic. This example can reveal

the pressures women of color deal with to fit the expected standard of being a Black

women, and why receiving butt augmentation surgery will help them to achieve that

 authentic look. In today’s society, African American women are risking their lives and

paying money to have their buttocks look rounder and larger. African American men

are praising and bragging about women who have these assets, which reveals how much

times have changed; seeing how having a large buttocks comparable to Sarah Baartman

is no longer seen as abnormal, and is recognized as amusement for the audience in the Hip Hop industry ( black male artists, music videos) instead of amusement and laughter for Caucasian people.

Example of what an "authentic" Black woman looks like .....

Media Influences

I found this AMAZING BLOG that shares EXACTLY how I feel about how influential Hip Hop artist Nicki Minaj is when it comes to this new phenomenon on receiving silicone injections.

I stumbled upon an article from the Daily Mail, which is a British Newspaper owned by Daily Mail and General Trust. This article was published May 2013.

The article shares the stories of Apryl Michelle Brown and Claudia Aderotimi, then moves into the topic of butt augmentation surgery.

It says:

Buttock enhancement surgery is becoming popular in the U.S., among women who aspire to the shapely curves of Beyonce and singer Nicki Minaj.

Minaj has become almost as famous for her posterior as for her voice, and rumours have spread across the web that the Massive Attack singer underwent surgery or uses pads to boost her bum, especially on urban gossip sites such as Bossip and mediatakeout.com. 

She, however denies having had surgery.

The illusion of a larger backside has become increasingly more fashionable among young women since the rise of the 'Hip Hop Honey' phenomenon.

A bigger behind has become almost a prerequisite for any aspiring dancer wanting to make it on the music video scene.

But the hip hop industry has come under fire for objectifying women in music videos where dancers - or Hip Hop Honeys - chasing fame can often leave themselves open to financial and sexual exploitation.

And in their desperation to beat off the competition, many resort to surgery to get ahead.

'Top up' procedures are only legal when the silicone gel is contained and sealed within an implant. But illegal injections of the material are also widely available from unlicensed back-room medics.

One expert said having a direct injection of silicone gel - long outlawed in the U.S. and Britain, even for breast surgery - is 'like playing Russian roulette'.

Story Credit: Daily Mail Article

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2333224/Apryl-Michelle-Brown-My-quest-perfect-left-NO-LIMBS.html

It's funny how Nicki Minaj denies receiving this type of surgery, but speaks about it in her music.

In the song titled Ass by Popular Hip Hop artist Big Sean feat Nicki Minaj, Minaj says:

" Kiss my ass and my anus, cause it's finally famous,

And it's finally soft, yeah it's finally solved!

I don't know, man, guess them ass shots wore off!"

Also, various pictures of the star before she received the fame and fortune, indicate that she did receive silicone injections.

I find that with Nicki Minaj, it doesn't make sense to deny receiving injections in interviews if you're going to speak about it in your music.

Minaj is more known and popular for her assets compared to her music and song lyrics. She is setting the example of how to gain success in the industry using a large buttocks. 

Women of color will see Minaj and her body and want to gain the status and attention she receives. Many women of color need to realize that the type of injections Minaj paid for are not affordable for everyone, which would force many women to resort to the Black Market (spoken about in blog post injections gone wrong) which is very dangerous.

As women of color, we have to do better.

To listen and watch the music video click the link below:
Ass - Big Sean Feat Nicki Minaj

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pn1VGytzXus

Thoughts on Influences Part 2

Our (male) peers can be one of our biggest influences when it comes to how we judge others and how we see ourselves.

Recently I did a interview with African American females and males on what they thought about silicone injections, and how Hip Hop culture played a role in these women getting this type of surgery. I  interviewed people between the ages of 18-28, had a interest in Hip Hop music, African American females that had or wanted a large butt, and African American males who were attracted to women with a  large buttocks.

While interviewing my male participants, they both gave me similar answers. Two questions that I asked and the answers that stood out to me were: did you ever tease someone for having a flat bottom? and how do you feel about women who actually get these silicone injections?

Both males answered that they did tease some females in high school, one said he compared the female's behind to the wall. Overall, they didn't see any harm in teasing the young ladies about their appearance. I shook my head in disappointment. I asked them " did you ever think that you may be the reason why these girls were influenced to get silicone injections"? They both answered no. None of the males gave any serious thought to what long term affects their words would have on those ladies.

When I asked them how they felt about women who received injections, they didn't see the harm they said as long as it " looked and felt good".  They both elaborated on the fact that most of these women who get these types of surgery have low self esteem and are looking to seek attention, or gain popularity/status. Most females know that having a large buttocks is seen as a bonus, especially when it comes to attracting Black men, since they are stereotyped to be attracted to that part of the body the most.

I find it funny how these men said they don't really care as long as it looks and feels good, which would mean to certain women that it is an OK pass to receive this surgery as long as they can make sure it feels like an authentic black buttocks, or what they refer to as a " booty".

They also shared with me how when they see a Black Female with a large buttocks; they refer to it as an onion booty, because it has the potential to make them cry. Haha I thought that was funny, but it also shows how much power a big buttocks has, and what potential it has to make men weak and submissive.

Most of the information on they gave me on the reasons they feel why women of color choose to get this surgery, I had found in the stories that I shared with you in previous blog posts ( ex: Claudia Aderotomi having low self esteem and wanting to gain status and popularity, Apryl Michelle Brown having low self esteem and was teased when she was younger).

Share your thoughts below. Let me know how you feel about these males perspectives and opinions

Thoughts on Influences..

Hello again!

While researching on the topic about silicone awareness and the desire for women of color to want to have a large buttocks, I thought about the influences besides Hip Hop that could make these women feel that way.

The first example that came to mind is a personal story I'd like to share. It's about my older cousin named Sarah ( name has been changed to protect her identity).

My family and I are very close. Every holiday we always have a get together that involves food, laughter, games and overall just catching up with one another.  My family is full of kind, loving, hard working people so when we get the chance to get together, it's always a memorable event. 

In my family, most of the women starting from my mom to my grandma, aunts, cousins are blessed behind (LOL). Meaning that most of the women in my family were naturally born with a large buttocks...except one in particular, which was my cousin Sarah. Around the time that I was in my teenage years, my cousin Sarah was in her early twenties. She had brains, she was beautiful and very ambitious, but my family never seemed to forget to remind her what she lacking the most, which was a large buttocks.

I remember my mom and cousins teasing her saying " what happened to you girl, your mom has something behind her so how did that miss you?" or they would say " you shouldn't wear certain pants because it's not helping your situation behind you", and they would die of laughter. My mom and cousins were obviously playing around with her, but I always wondered if the comments really ever got to her.

A couple years later, I assume she got tired of being cracked on because she came to a family dinner one night, and something was different about her. My mom and cousins noticed right away. They asked her " what did you do? Where did that butt come from? What have you been eating? ". Immediately my cousin answered proudly saying " I bought padded underwear".

Pictures of padded underwear's

Again, my mom and cousins started laughing loudly in the house. They were shocked! One of my older cousins said " I can't believe you did that, but it looks good on you". Another cousin said " Yeah, I see it now, I noticed you had a little more shape behind you". Not too long after she shared the news with everyone about her new padded panties, they started to ask her " what are you going to do when a guy comes over, and then realizes that you were wearing padded panties"? Everyone started laughing again.

She laughed and just brushed off the answer by saying " I'll deal with it when the time comes".

Reminiscing on that story and the way my family reacted is a perfect example of how Women of Color in our society may get the idea on why they should get silicone injections. I'm glad that my cousin didn't go down that road and that she ended up getting padded panties, but what about other women who choose to go down that path, unaware of the potential danger that comes with that surgery ( Ex: Apryl Michelle Brown).

When I started doing this topic about how women of color are pressured to receive this surgery, and what measures they take or they money they pay to get this done, I called my mom and reminded her of the comments that she said to my older cousin Sarah. My mom started to feel bad and she didn't think twice about how much damage that could do to Sarah, or how large of a role she played along with other family members when it came to her wanting to purchase those padded panties. 

It's been about a couple years since I've heard my family make about Sarah and her buttocks. Maybe it's because I'm not around as often because I am away for school, which causes me to miss out on family events.  My mom promised me that she wouldn't tease Sarah about her buttocks, and that she would spread the message to my other cousins. Even though Sarah may never forget what was said by our family and that they were just playing around with her; judging by the stories I've read of women who get this surgery, that those memories and negative messages could last a lifetime.

I hope my message really made a difference for my cousin Sarah, and to all the other women who can relate to this story, or just even in general. We shouldn't tease our family and friends for having a "flat" or "pancake" buttocks, but we should uplift them with words of encouragement and praise for what good they have done or are in the process of accomplishing.

I think that Sarah is a wonderful cousin, and I look up to her as a role model. She is finished university, finished law school and is now a full time lawyer. That should give my family something to talk about, instead of what's lacking behind.