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The Souls of Black Girls - New Documentary Why have African-American women become so maligned by popular culture that we have a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Karen Hunter, writing a best seller seriously posing the question, "Are black women necessary?" And how has this shocking state of affairs affected the psyches of the sisters of the Hip-Hop Generation shaped during the dominance of gangsta' rap, an age marked by misogyny and an embracing of a European standard of beauty?
These are the questions posed by The Souls of Black Girls, a provocative documentary which suggests that African-American females are suffering from a form of self-image disorder. Produced and directed by Daphne Valerius, this provocative examination of a timely subject features sage contributions from such icons as actresses Regina King, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Juanita Jennings and Amelia Marshall, PBS news anchor Gwen Ifill, Public Enemy's Chuck D, BET producer Darlise Blount, Essence Magazine fashion editor Pamela Edwards, historian Dr. Lez Edmond and cultural critic Michaela Angela Davis. These famous faces share screen time with several representatives of the demographic being discussed, articulate teens who weigh-in with their heartfelt feelings on hot-button issues ranging from their dating desirability to skin color preferences to hair straightening to absentee fathers to promiscuity to their weights and shapes. Ms. King bemoans that we have "a whole generation of lost women who don't that it's okay to be you." Meanwhile, Jada reflects upon having herself gone "through a period of shame." Fortunately, the participants are ultimately optimistic and offer positive solutions, such as Ms. Ifill who proudly asserts "My beauty has value" and finds satisfaction when greeted by young aspiring journalists who see her as a role model.  [Edited 12/19/08 11:36am] | |
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i think i watched this on IFC or Sundance Channel | |
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I totally want to see this. It's amazing how much of an impact the media has on our acceptance of ourselves.
After I came out, I declared myself a feminist. I absolutely believe in and support the full emancipation of women. As you can still see in this day and age, women are property in much of the world. It doesn't take very much leeway in the law for societal perceptions and acceptance to slip back into that mindset. This is why, for me a woman's right to choose is so important. It's the distinct drawing line between women as second class, owned property and a society where women are have full control over their destiny like men. I have always seen the feminist movement as a sister to the gay rights movement. There are parallels between both groups, mainly the right to self identify and live outside dictated gender roles. It's not until maybe the last 5 years, that I started to see how much minorities are ignored within both movements. Personally I grew up around gangs and always lived among minorities. In a way it removed a lot of the fear that I would have had otherwise not growing up in poor and minority areas. I can identify with much of where many in those social classes are coming from. But because I am accepting of other races and cultures, I never really examined it from a group perspective. I think because I am open and accepting, and part of both groups, that I never considered the struggle that the black community faced in both. Not because I didn't care, but because I believe in my community and yours and love people on their character and their soul and so it was just living in my own bubble so to speak. It wasn't until it popped that I realized how bad the air was outside 
This has become very apparent with the gay marriage proposition in California, but I started becoming aware of it in the last 5 years or so. My friend RhondaB (former orger: please come back!!!! ) and I have had discussions about her non-profit work and I was amazed at how little black women were considered within the women's movement. I don't think this is intentional, that the white majority movement as it came up in the 60s actively sought to alienate black women but I think it came down to the fact of really just not being exposed to each other and not knowing and realizing the issues the other person faces. I really had never thought of it until she mentioned how little black women's issues are paid attention to in the feminist movement. A few years ago I had a discussion with some friends and we were discussing racism within the gay community (something I'm going to touch on in a separate thread) and it wasn't until that discussion that I realized as a Latino, not always obviously so, how I too had been affected by the way that white men were glorified in our community. I found myself envying men with strong jaws, was self concious of my big lips and like even entertained thoughts of surgery on my face and stuff. Well I have been learning to be me and to love me and to accept me and to realize that my difference to the "mainstream" is my strength and will be my victory if I let it. I think, especially for young black women, that this documentary (and others like it) and black women speaking out on it is just so important. Like I'm choosing to do with my history of abuse, women who can speak on it should because they are giving voice to the voiceless. And this becomes a way for people to know and cause consideration of the other person's experience. I think this kind of thing is just so fabulous. Bringing people back to themselves. Amazing. 2010: Healing the Wounds of the Past.... http://prince.org/msg/8/325740 | |
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DAMNIT HARLEy why did you have to post this now when I gotta LEAVE??  I'm about to straight miss the taxi glued to this... I was JUST talking to a girlfriend from Dallas about these topics a few hours ago...
Anyway, watch me be up in here at 2am trying to watch this...I hope they don't take it offa youtube...I have to finish this   | |
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Ottensen said: DAMNIT HARLEy why did you have to post this now when I gotta LEAVE??
I'm about to straight miss the taxi glued to this... I was JUST talking to a girlfriend from Dallas about these topics a few hours ago...
Anyway, watch me be up in here at 2am trying to watch this...I hope they don't take it offa youtube...I have to finish this She's a squirley one aint she? 2010: Healing the Wounds of the Past.... http://prince.org/msg/8/325740 | |
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SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said: I totally want to see this. It's amazing how much of an impact the media has on our acceptance of ourselves.
After I came out, I declared myself a feminist. I absolutely believe in and support the full emancipation of women. As you can still see in this day and age, women are property in much of the world. It doesn't take very much leeway in the law for societal perceptions and acceptance to slip back into that mindset. This is why, for me a woman's right to choose is so important. It's the distinct drawing line between women as second class, owned property and a society where women are have full control over their destiny like men. I have always seen the feminist movement as a sister to the gay rights movement. There are parallels between both groups, mainly the right to self identify and live outside dictated gender roles. It's not until maybe the last 5 years, that I started to see how much minorities are ignored within both movements. Personally I grew up around gangs and always lived among minorities. In a way it removed a lot of the fear that I would have had otherwise not growing up in poor and minority areas. I can identify with much of where many in those social classes are coming from. But because I am accepting of other races and cultures, I never really examined it from a group perspective. I think because I am open and accepting, and part of both groups, that I never considered the struggle that the black community faced in both. Not because I didn't care, but because I believe in my community and yours and love people on their character and their soul and so it was just living in my own bubble so to speak. It wasn't until it popped that I realized how bad the air was outside
This has become very apparent with the gay marriage proposition in California, but I started becoming aware of it in the last 5 years or so. My friend RhondaB (former orger: please come back!!!! ) and I have had discussions about her non-profit work and I was amazed at how little black women were considered within the women's movement. I don't think this is intentional, that the white majority movement as it came up in the 60s actively sought to alienate black women but I think it came down to the fact of really just not being exposed to each other and not knowing and realizing the issues the other person faces. I really had never thought of it until she mentioned how little black women's issues are paid attention to in the feminist movement. A few years ago I had a discussion with some friends and we were discussing racism within the gay community (something I'm going to touch on in a separate thread) and it wasn't until that discussion that I realized as a Latino, not always obviously so, how I too had been affected by the way that white men were glorified in our community. I found myself envying men with strong jaws, was self concious of my big lips and like even entertained thoughts of surgery on my face and stuff. Well I have been learning to be me and to love me and to accept me and to realize that my difference to the "mainstream" is my strength and will be my victory if I let it. I think, especially for young black women, that this documentary (and others like it) and black women speaking out on it is just so important. Like I'm choosing to do with my history of abuse, women who can speak on it should because they are giving voice to the voiceless. And this becomes a way for people to know and cause consideration of the other person's experience. 
I think this kind of thing is just so fabulous. Bringing people back to themselves. Amazing. Supa...I just love your long posts.   "Let love be your perfect weapon..." ~~Andy Biersack | |
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noimageatall said: Supa...I just love your long posts.
You read it! 
 2010: Healing the Wounds of the Past.... http://prince.org/msg/8/325740 | |
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SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said: noimageatall said: Supa...I just love your long posts.
You read it!
Always... "Let love be your perfect weapon..." ~~Andy Biersack | |
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i read all of that too, supa, and i agree with you 100%. 
as a black woman--and especially as one who's been looked at as "weird"--it saddens me to see that some sistas are believing all this stuff that they're being fed. i just don't see why more women cannot be comfortable and love who they are, be themselves, and not try to run with the jonesettes all the time.  | |
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BSK3478 said: i read all of that too, supa, and i agree with you 100%.
as a black woman--and especially as one who's been looked at as "weird"--it saddens me to see that some sistas are believing all this stuff that they're being fed. i just don't see why more women cannot be comfortable and love who they are, be themselves, and not try to run with the jonesettes all the time. I was shocked to hear with my own ears in this VERY day & age of 2008 - some black women(That'll be the day when I call those ignant ass heffas sistas) refer to the natural as a "plantation throwback" 
And they WERE serious too  slave mentality is a mutha,,,and ALOT of black folks are still suffering from it to this day, sadly. | |
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Harlepolis said: BSK3478 said: i read all of that too, supa, and i agree with you 100%.
as a black woman--and especially as one who's been looked at as "weird"--it saddens me to see that some sistas are believing all this stuff that they're being fed. i just don't see why more women cannot be comfortable and love who they are, be themselves, and not try to run with the jonesettes all the time. I was shocked to hear with my own ears in this VERY day & age of 2008 - some black women(That'll be the day when I call those ignant ass heffas sistas) refer to the natural as a "plantation throwback"
And they WERE serious too slave mentality is a mutha,,,and ALOT of black folks are still suffering from it to this day, sadly.i have a 'fro, and i just gotta say...whatwhatWHAT???  that's another thing, i don't get how some people think of black folks' natural hair as dirty or uncultured. it totally is not, it's absolutely beautiful! | |
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BSK3478 said: Harlepolis said: I was shocked to hear with my own ears in this VERY day & age of 2008 - some black women(That'll be the day when I call those ignant ass heffas sistas) refer to the natural as a "plantation throwback"
And they WERE serious too slave mentality is a mutha,,,and ALOT of black folks are still suffering from it to this day, sadly.i have a 'fro, and i just gotta say...whatwhatWHAT??? that's another thing, i don't get how some people think of black folks' natural hair as dirty or uncultured. it totally is not, it's absolutely beautiful! I'm a dread freak. "Let love be your perfect weapon..." ~~Andy Biersack | |
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I'm really interested in checking this out. Thanks, Harley-boo!  | |
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 [...i think i can, i think i can, i think i can...] | |
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i love how white folks love us.....they are so into everything we do....how can we be at a level of endangered esteem?????
TELL ME??? !!!  THE B EST BE YOURSELF AS LONG AS YOUR SELF ISNT A DYCK[/r]
**....Someti | |
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BSK3478 said: Harlepolis said: I was shocked to hear with my own ears in this VERY day & age of 2008 - some black women(That'll be the day when I call those ignant ass heffas sistas) refer to the natural as a "plantation throwback"
And they WERE serious too slave mentality is a mutha,,,and ALOT of black folks are still suffering from it to this day, sadly.i have a 'fro, and i just gotta say...whatwhatWHAT??? that's another thing, i don't get how some people think of black folks' natural hair as dirty or uncultured. it totally is not, it's absolutely beautiful!Agreed. 
Just an early warning alert. Chris Rock has got a docu-comedy about the "Hair" thing coming out very soon. Don't miss it. It's a funny and simultaneously rather sad commentary. Great post Miss Harley. tA  Tribal Disorder
http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431 "Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all." | |
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I'll have to look for this  Any info on when it will air??   I never met you, but I LOVE you & I will forever!! Thank you for being YOU - my little Princey, the best to EVER do it | |
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theAudience said: BSK3478 said: i have a 'fro, and i just gotta say...whatwhatWHAT??? that's another thing, i don't get how some people think of black folks' natural hair as dirty or uncultured. it totally is not, it's absolutely beautiful!Agreed.
Just an early warning alert. Chris Rock has got a docu-comedy about the "Hair" thing coming out very soon. Don't miss it. It's a funny and simultaneously rather sad commentary. Great post Miss Harley. tA Tribal Disorder
http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431 Yep, I'm on the look out for "Good Hair - Bad Hair"  | |
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