Let me start off by saying that I'm not blind. Nor am I such an Obamaniac that I will not allow anything negative to be said about the Obamas in my presence, no matter how true. Now that we have that out of the way, the following little hater slip by former model Iman burns my buns...alot.
‘Mrs. Obama is not a great beauty,” Iman says, startling me a bit. “But she is so interesting looking and so bright. That will always take you farther. When you’re a great beauty, it’s always downhill for you. If you’re someone like Mrs. Obama, you just get better with age.”Isn't that just a perfect example of hate disquised as a compliment? Translation: "The First Lady isn't pretty but she's smart. And when you're pretty like me you have to worry about keeping it up. If you're ugly like the First Lady, you don't have to worry about that." Sigh.
First some quasi-facts. Yes, Iman is beautiful. Model beautiful. No, Michelle Obama is not model beautiful. But Michelle is beautiful...she is far from being some chick that has to tout her smarts as her greatest attribute because she has the face of a troll.
If that's the case then why does Iman's comment bother me? Because this is another example of the black woman's burden. Iman is beautiful enough to have been a model. Why? Because her features conform more closely to the anglo ideal of beauty. The mainstream can deal with Iman. She nearly resembles a white woman dipped in chocolate. Michelle? Her features and body do not conform to the anglo ideal of beauty. But does that make her ugly? Apparently to alot of the mainstream and to quite a few of people of color, yes it does.
In this country in particular, black women have a problem with recognizing and embracing our own unique beauty. This is why sew and glue other people's hair on our heads, or endure uncomfortable hair straightening routines...why we are love with light skin, why we are love with "good hair" and light eyes. It hurts to hear this shortsightedness vocalized by a woman like Iman, who by her position and one of the first black supermodels, has the power to influence young black girls and shape mainstream opinions of black beauty. I am disappointed that Iman took her opportunity to speak out and used it to demean black beauty in favor of the more "traditional" and "preferred" black anglo-centric beauty standard.
Now, before I get any angry emails. I will fully acknowledge that I am a hypocrite of sorts on this. I wear my hair straight. Up until very recently, when I became overcome by the Rhianna haircut frenzy, I wore my hair long and anglo-like. So I am very aware that I am part of the problem. I am also very aware that my own impression that Michelle Obama is beautiful, but not model beautiful is likely due to a lifetime of indoctrination into accepting the anglo beauty standard. But at least I am aware of my shortcomings. Iman, it seems is not, and is quite willing and happy to parrot these faulty thought patterns of self hate to the media.
Comments
It has everything to do with how black women are perceived in American society.
\"it\'s not my business to know what other people think of you\"? WTH? If it affects my employment options it does. It I \"must\" shun natural hair styles to be considered employable and/or promotable then it does.
Maybe when you actually read and comprehend my opinion then we can talk about this.
Anyhooo...I refuse to cosign that mess Iman is saying especially after she\'s shelled out thousands $$ to caucasoid herself. I have no problem with caucasians...but I do have a problem with my community eschewing unique characteristics in exchange for those of another culture. On my blog is a pic of Iman when she was younger and compared to now her nose is Anglo, her skin is lighter etc. Am I to say that she\'s an authority on beauty when she overhauled her own self to look a certain way??? uhh NO. She is knowledgeable as far as what the new black is, the new white, telling a counterfeit LV from an authentic one-but she is not an authority on REAL beauty-as it comes from within and not from a surgeon\'s scalpel.
I allso refute that a black woman\'s choice in relaxing her hair is due to indoctrination. I relax my hair because it\'s easier to manage. No more no less. It\'s a personal preference. I rocked dreds for 7 years, wore the twists...however my taking on the relaxer afforded me flexibility that natural styles cudn\'t give me. There are caveats to both relaxed and natural styles...and a woman should not be looked down upon due to her personal choice of hair dress.
If there is someone who judges another based on whether roots are bumpy or not then my advice to that sister is this: get a gotdamn life!
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