Debate « Charcoal Ink

Oct 06 2007

Debate

Blended Thoughts: Puff Daddy & University Blues

*I haven’t blogged for a few days and I almost feel like a stranger to blogging world again! But I am back for now. University took me away and wow…it is really an eye-opener being back at university. Some people are rude and others are just…indifferent. I hope I can make it through this year. I have great friends but I sometimes can’t get over how feisty some people can be! The following things I have learnt since my first week back at university:

Loads of people go out of their way to make loads of effort to look shit hot for university! Is that necessarily a bad thing or does it reek of desperate cries for validation? I like dressing up here and there but I do wonder whether many girls do it for themselves or to be noticed
Is popularity at university the same thing as being popular at school? It sure feels that way!
There is so much work floating around…I hope I will have time to work on [kerosene]
Does aloofness = arrogance? That is the general vibe of my university. Most people are aloof until they deem you ”cool” enough lol. I think I still am in school!

*In the centre of town, which is called Broadmead, there is this massive advert in the window display of Debenhams, a famous department shop in Bristol. And this advertisment for Unforgivable is none other than Puff Daddy in what looks like he is friggin’ groping a woman. It is repulsive and frankly, it doesn’t look seductive or enticing, it just looks like something that has hints of rape to it. I find it repulsive, I really do. And I don’t understand how the hell it is supposed to make you go buy the damn perfume? Puffy is slowly but surely losing it.

*I am on a mission to make my hair grow so I am currently sporting cornrows. I think I will switch it up next week and wear an afro-puff with cornrows. My question is, what is everyone’s opinions of cornrows? Do you think they make girls look younger and are they purely for girls?

May 18 2007

2 Comments

Africa, Debate

South Africa and Zim have things to discuss…

According to this bbc article, SA can expect an influx of illegal immigrants from zimbabwe due to recent events. What will this mean for both countries and why is it important? I believe that this is a harsh signal of the tatters that Zimbabwe is in. So many people are leaving a country that in fact many people have already left! What is it going to take for Mugabe to just step down? It might be naive of me to ask such a general question like that but this country will be sucked into oblivion if something is not done about the situation. A country can only function with a solid government that protects and helps its’ citizens. This government just needs to go. Time is up. He needs to leave — this is not even about what I think of him (heard those crazy rumours that he has new blood put into him?), this is about that country that forms part of our beautiful country. It deserves to be a success story so why isn’t it?

I wonder what South Africans think of the increased influx of Zimbabweans. I know that certain Congolese people did not like Rwandese people in their country, calling them ‘cafards’(cockroaches in French). Does political upheaval spread xenophobia? Ultimately it does because it seems that all people are scared of people bringing their problems with them. We are all Africans together — why should we look upon another African and think that they are less than? I know it may seem presumptuous for someone who is in some internet cafe in Paris to say that but frankly, we need to start working together. These immigrants need resources and help. I hope that it does not lead to xenophobia in Zimbabwe but as the Rwandan genocide showed, nothing is easy as said.

Link:

*Zimbabwe short of bread

*Zimbabwe accuses Australia of funding terrorist activity

–A

Mar 08 2007

14 Comments

Black People, Debate

are you less/more pro-black if you are in an IR relationship?

My friend Liz and I got into an interesting discussion yesterday afternoon about the concept of pro-blackness. One half of the debate was about preferences. We were discussing whether a black person likes themselves less if they say that they prefer the way white women or white men look and we were talking about why saying you like blue eyes or grey eyes gets such a controversial reception from certain black people.

~If a black girl told you that she liked the way white men looked over black men, would you think that she had sold out or would you think it was simply her preference? I’d love to hear your thoughts. I think people essentially should just do what they like especially if they fall in love. The only instance where this infuriates me is if a black girl is saying that she prefers white men because she wants to have light skinned children, light eyes etc. THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE IN MY OPINION. The same applies for black men too. There is nothing wrong with IR relationships if you are in them for your heart. However, they become problematic for me when you do them to climb a social ladder, you want to assimilate or because you have racial issues. I know plenty of people in IR relationships who are happy and I know a significant chunk who do them so that they can be different or they don’t like their own skin etc.

~Can you be pro-black and be in an IR? Opinions please. I think you can but because this is such a general question, I think it wholly depends on what type of black person you are, ie, if you have identity issues or not. If you are proud of being black and have no colorism issues and just happen to be in IR, I think you can be as pro-black as ANY black-and-black couple. The only people in IR who I don’t think are pro-black are the ones who are doing it to have children with ”good hair” etc. I hope I am not confusing anyone on my viewpoint.

The other half of the debate was about the choice of IR dating. Liz maintained that why do black people feel like they can’t make the choice of IR because they are seen as selling out. What are your thoughts? Does choosing to be IR mean that you are more open-minded or does it mean you are chasing a pot of gold? Opinions s’il vous plait My view is that IR can’t be categorised like that because I think it is just too specific ont the individual. I personally don’t think a black person should be made to feel like they have to be in an IR relationship the same way I don’t think a black person should feel like they can’t be in an IR.

I mentioned this on another post of mine before when a commenter falsely assumed that I didn’t like IR relationships because I had said that I support Will Smith marrying JP Smith as they are a black couple, something I like. Like I mentioned before, IR dating doesn’t bother me because I have left my pain and hurt in the past. Those wounds of inadequacy of the black man image with another woman aren’t part of me anymore so that is why I just feel happy about people making the IR choice for themselves because I have made the choice not to let it define me as a black woman.

I don’t see how supporting black couples makes me close-minded or a black separatist and I will NEVER feel like I have to apologise to anyone and everyone about liking black couples together.

I consider myself to be pro-black. However, when I identify myself like this I see pro-black as including every black person whether they are from Dar-es-Salaam like me or my Transatlantic friends. I started this blog so I could connect with discerning and intelligent black people and luckily I have had such polemic and stimulating comments from them. I think the black experience needs to be re-addressed and it needs to be safe-guarded and protected. I think blogs are the new “Harlem Renaissance”. Any black blogger out there discussing their lives and their identity as a black person in my eyes is pro-black and they should be commended for it.

–A

Mar 07 2007

2 Comments

Debate, Europe, Paris, Uncategorized

with hindsight: could the french riots of 2005 been avoided?

This video was taken during the riots in Oct/November 2005. The two young men are angry, stating that 2 people died (this was the catalyst for the riots) and that 2 people is just too much. You can hear their anger. The riots just erupted all over France and even reached Guadeloupe where fire was shot (Police since thought it was because of the riots). My university is in the North Parisian suburb of Saint-Denis, an area which is under-developed and feelings are rife of the French government being inadequate. Saint-Denis was also on the list where riots broke out.

The details are hazy as to why it all sparked off but 2 young boys while trying to avert the police who did want to question them ran to an old electricity station where they died by electrocution. Police say they died by electrocution in accidental deaths, others say the Police did it. The vitriol that is in the young men’s hearts is proof that France has a great deal of work to do in regard to the suburb situation (banlieue).

The race riots here were on a different scale to those in other countries. It was so quick and spread like wildfire. They are a consequence of issues that France doesn’t want to address like why African and Muslim sounding names aren’t favoured when it comes to job decisions as opposed to the typical ‘Dubois’ and ‘Legrand’. These names might sound romantic but there is nothing appealing about French citizens being passed over because they live in the ‘wrong’ side of town or because they are black or Arab.

Being in Paris now, I see the underbelly as the real Paris. There is a haunting beauty that the suburbs that the quartiers surrounding Champs-Elysees will never have. That is not me objectifying them but it is just a reality of life. Are European suburbs the ghettos that the countries ignore during elections?

All I know is this upcoming French presidential election is going to make heads roll. I hope the inhabitants of the banlieue are finally heard. What are your thoughts? Does Europe need to start addressing race and racism loudly?

–A

Feb 20 2007

8 Comments

Black People, Debate, Europe, feminism, Paris

elle a retournée!

My grandmother was in a coma and she is recovering well! I am so happy after I learnt this news from my mother, with whom I shared a lovely day in Paris with yesterday. I don’t see my mother often due to her job so it was great to spend a few hours with her and the fact that my grandmother is doing better has cheered me up. In addition to that good news, the property pursuit is over. The keys should be in me and Liz’s hands today!

Thanks for all your well-wishes Tasha, Bygbaby and Field Negro.

Leaving the blogosphere meant I didn’t have time to post but I was reading a lot of blogs and wow — so much is happening. I think the blogosphere is probably the most innovative sphere of the Internet, hands down with the amount of opinions being transmitted digitally. Here is my contribution for today:

Britney’s bald head was on the Entertainment chapter of the Guardian newspaper that I read today (I cheated by reading it in English lol). There is so much commotion about her cutting her hair off. The author of the article was basically saying that why is it a big deal that she cut off her hair? My spin on it is this – hair is seen as a part of a woman’s asking and selling price whether we girls like it or not. All women know how they are judged on what kind of hairstyle they have. Especially black girls. Whether you have a weave, relaxed or have natural hair — your hair is the canvas on which society paints their opinion on you. It is so unfair. Why should we even care that Britney cut her hair? If she is happy doing that, I say power to her. I think as a child me like many other girls was brainwashed into thinking short hair meant that you were not pretty. I even remember a certain friend of mine pulling one of her relaxed strands out and showing me how long it was. This buys into the myth that long hair is beautiful and that short hair is not.

I have had comments about my Afro being ‘short’ by certain English people and I always found that so peculiar because it meant that they were judging Afro hair with a European yardstick, ie, if it didn’t fall flat against one’s back, it was short. I realised that it offended me. Then I thought to myself you too are buying into the whole short/long ideal by trying to prove to them how long your Afro hair is. Have we bought into the myth that long hair is what men want or is it what we want for society to accept us?

–A

Feb 15 2007

21 Comments

Black People, Debate, Europe

Zwarte Piet — Does this offend you?

Europe is a cauldron of racial problems. Chuck in the kerosene of the 2001 race riots in Bradford in the UK and mix in the ether of the French race riots in the banlieues (suburbs), and you will get the European cocktail of race. Remember, on this continent, it is uttered in hushed tones because people here just do not like to discuss it.

The Netherlands is seen as calm and open-minded country with relaxed laws on prostitution and drugs and it has one of the highest rates of ethnic immigration in Europe. However, there is a cog in the works and it is called Zwarte Piet in Dutch or Black Peter in English. This is Sinter Klass, Santa Claus’ right hand man in Holland who rewards children who have acted well or chastises them for bad behaviour. According to the legend, Saint Nick comes from Spain into Amsterdam with Zwarte Piet.

It is no joke. I thought it was. It is a tradition in the Netherlands that is ingrained in society. It is part of the Christmas celebrations and attempts to paint the Santa’s helper in other colours besides than blackface have apparently been unpopular with the certain sectors of the white Dutch population. The participants of this disgusting tradition paint themselves black in order to take part in the ‘festivities’. Look for yourself:

Dictionary.com should have a new definition for repugnant – they should just put this picture there. This again perpetrates the idea that black people are inferior and can be mocked as little assistants who are just there for laughs. I can’t even begin to describe how revolting I find this tradition. Of course, I am sure the immigrants from the Dutch West Indies (Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao) and Suriname, the former Dutch colony have a great deal to say about this but all I could find were message boards in Dutch, not English. The Netherlands should not be forgotten during imperialism. Many people say the USA is the new imperialist nation but let us not forget this tiny nation with a flat surface was a big player with territories in the West Indies and Indonesia.

What do you think? Is it just a harmless way for laughs or is there something seriously wrong with the way the Dutch participants are thinking? Zwarte Piet seems to me to be just another example of extending racism, dressed in the clothes of ‘tradition’.

It is crazy to think that things like this still exist. Gollywogs have been virtually eradicated from the UK and minstrel shows a part of the past in the US. When will the Netherlands learn? I don’t think it will be soon. For a country with intense racial problems and many white Dutch people emigrating elsewhere, it seems this is part of the racist debate in Holland.

–A

Feb 12 2007

26 Comments

Black People, Debate, Diaspora

Colorism – Do Black people like it?

A Girl Like Me

This film is so powerful and poignant. I heard about it while it came out but I never had the chance to see it until this morning. It raises some interesting questions and I would like to start a mini-discussion on it except this time, I have a short mini-quiz for you all so please join in!:

1) Does ‘good hair’ exist? (My answer: ‘Good hair’ is hair that you love. Whether it is kinky, thick, fine, curly or sparse, it is your crown of glory. Race does not determine this.)

2) Are mixed race people ‘exotic’? (I used to hear many people saying that mixed race people are really beautiful because they are from both sides essentially. I think comments like this are so backward. In my opinion, what makes someone physically beauty is whether their features are asymmetrical. Maybe it is scientific but whether a person has very African features or mixed race ones, I’ll find them beautiful because of symmetrical features and that glint in their eye. Light skin or blue eyes doesn’t determine this nor does dark skin or near black eyes.

3) Should pejoratives such as ‘hi-yella’, ‘tar-baby’, ‘blue-black’ still be used by the black community? (I admit, I was a former user of these disgusting words and I have moved on since my times of using them. I would never mean to use them in a pejorative way and in that same way, I don’t use the n-word because I think these derogatory words are as potent when used by us as they are when the n-word is used by us.)

4) Does the hip hop industry have a role to play in furthering colorism? (In a word: definitely. Hip Hop is a beautiful child of Soul. A Tribe Called Quest. Erykah Badu. There are so many positive sides yet…the video models and the intense pressure on black girls to look a certain way has spawned ideas of colorism. Look at that brain-deficient Kanye West with his comments about mixed-race girls being ‘mutts’ last year! That is exemplary of how much the issue of light and dark skin is rampant in hip hop. Don’t get me wrong, I love hip-hop yet I can see how it backtracks on itself.

5) Have you any examples of times when you have been a victim of colorism? (My answer: Before I learnt who I was, I did wonder if being light skinned would mean that more guys would like me. Of course, I don’t think that now because I am content with what my skin looks like. I think it affects us when we are weak and vulnerable, once we are over that stage, it is simply a painful memory.)

I’d love to hear thoughts on this and I have written a post before touching on Colorism called the Bluest Eye as there was some interesting discourse on that too. I think some black people are at the stages in their life because of colorism. Has anyone seen ‘the Human Stain’? It apparently was about Anatole Broyard, a critic who passed for white. Even if he didn’t, does colorism advance certain black people endeavours for heavier wallets?

Jan 27 2007

13 Comments

Black People, Culture, Debate, Diaspora

The Bluest Eye

‘The Bluest Eye’ by Toni Morrison is a classic book essentially about the urge to look ”beautiful” or be whatever society deems as ‘beautiful’. The main protagonist is Pecola, a young girl who has entered literary history for her burning desire to have blue eyes.

Whilst reading this, I wondered: do we black people secretly wish that we could have Eurocentric features such as light eyes? Your answers and thoughts are appreciated. In my opinion, black is black. I do not think that because one black person has blue eyes or green eyes that they are better than a black person who doesnt. It is so important that we respect all types of black beauty whether that is dark-skinned like Naomi Campbell or mixed race like Noemie Lenoir (both stunning supermodels).

When I spent my 4 months in Martinique last year, I saw how deeply rooted Eurocentric beauty is preferred. Those black people with ”yeux clairs” (‘light eyes’) were automatically preferred. Indeed, several Martinican men had told me that girls prefer ”les chabins” (light skinned men with light eyes or slightly reddish hair etc). I found this peculiar – despite the different shades that our hue comes in, we are all black together and naturally we shall all suffer racism and discrimination as a race, so why would we single out those we look more ‘white’ as better? Of course this is a tough question that has its roots in history but I think we honestly need to ask ourselves. Do the black people want to look light skinned by creaming their skin or want to have light eyes by wearing contacts do that because it gets them more attention or are those who think like that confused?

The Bluest Eye was written in 1970. Little did Toni know that her book would still resonate today in a devastating way.

NB: The picture of Rihanna in my post below can serve as an experiment. Do any of you think that she would be less pretty with brown eyes or do you think her eyes make her? Asking such a question is something that I do not like to do, yet I am asking it because I have numerous discussions with people about that and the general consensus was that her eyes are what make her pretty. Personally, I think she is a pretty BLACK girl with or without her green eyes and I am always going to support black women doing big things!

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