The gorgeous Naomi Campbell. Model and business woman
Nothing makes me more angry than Black women buying into the race based looks hierarchy. You know that gosh darn totem pole. When I hear people and it’s mostly Black people say that “Black Women are at the bottom of the totem pole” it’s like hearing Freddy Kruger’s nails on a chalk board. I want to beat some self-pride in them with a stupid stick. So instead of getting violent I am about to do my duty and set that totem pole on fire and then extinguish it from your memory.
First of all let me explain what a totem pole is. According to Merriam-Webster totem pole is:
“1 : a pole or pillar carved and painted with a series of totemic symbols representing family lineage and often mythical or historical incidents and erected by Indian tribes of the northwest coast of North America. 2 : an order of rank:hierarchy.”
Alek Wek is a model and a business woman who happens to be gorgeous!
The race based beauty totem pole is nothing more than an artificial social construct created by people to benefit themselves. Meaning it’s not real. It’s man made and there is no scientific basis behind it. Think about it, if you live in Europe, the America’s or places that dealt with European imperialism and white supremacy you will probably live in a society that recognizes eurocentic features. If you don’t live in these places your cultures standards of beauty are probably different. Remember that just because you happen to live in eurocentric society that does not mean our afrocentic features aren’t just as beautiful. They are. So we must create our own spaces to acknowledge it.
Think about it this way, if you live in a society where your culture is the dominate culture wouldn’t you promote your image first and foremost? What fool if they had the chance wouldn’t promote themselves unless they have serious self-esteem issues or have the modesty of Mother Theresa.
Actress Nia Long is gorgeous!
Have you ever heard the statement that if someone says a lie many times that they will eventually believe it is true? That is what is happening now and that is all the racial beauty totem pole is. It is lie. WE ARE NOT INFERIOR! We are not on the bottom unless YOU believe you are. So stop saying it. Black women are beautiful, intelligent, and amazing. We come in every shape, size, and color. We are from every corner of this globe and speak many languages. We are the original daughters of Eve and a reflection of her beauty. So do me and most importantly yourself a favor. Love yourself and embrace your Black beauty. ”God don’t make ugly.” Today take a moment to look in the mirror and appreciate god’s creation. Appreciate and love YOU!
Remember a revolution always starts between two ears. Start yours today. – BBG
Beautiful video!
Just because you think these women are gorgeous, doesn’t mean the mainstream thinks so. Hence, the hierarchy. Black women will believe there is a hierarchy because they see they are at the bottom.
The hierarchy is not real unless you believe it is real. Once you realize that it is not arbitrary but propaganda and a product of white supremacy and colonialism you will see it’s a lie
I love the way you think!
I love this post because (though I do not think it is real) the point is whether the beauty hierarchy is “real” or not who benefits from black women believing that they are at the bottom of the beauty totem pole? Surely not black women! We have to push our own images to the top because we will like each other and ourselves better and have higher self esteem. Go black women!!
With all the controversy about Django, it
was refreshing to see a black woman get to be the prized damsel-in-distress!
Good post but I have one clarification. On a totem pole the position accorded the most respect is at the base, as in the most revered, respected, the oldest, wisest etc. Are you catching my meaning here? It was the ignorance of outsiders who assumed the lowest person on the totem was least important. Those at the top were the least important, particularly with regard to family totems. So yes, I AM at the bottom of the totem pole with respect to beauty because I am descended from the mother of all humans…an African woman. Just saying. . .
The racial hierarchy is not propaganda but real. Black women dating online were less likely to find men of other races interested in them compared to white women. Just the way it is. White women are seen dating every other race. In fact I even saw a chinese man online saying white women are attracted to him. Why was this a big deal? They are at the top of the totem pole. The most valued in society.
As black women we need to change our mindset about beauty standards. I would start by acknowleding that we live in a society where the most powerful determine what is acceptable and what is not. Beacuse white people generally are the most powerful and influence various aspects of various socities including beauty and appeal, the message that has been propagated is that white women are the most beautiful followed by other women (hispanic women, asian women) and black women feature last (sometimes they do not feature at all).
As you pointed out BBG, the racial totem pole on beauty is a social construct. From that premise I would say we as black women need to understand that there is no one size or standard when it comes to beauty and that we black women are beautiful and we should reinforce this personally and generally by telling ourselves and those within our spehere of influence how beautiful they are inside and out e.g. daughters, sisters, mothers, friends.
We also need to represent our beauty in the mainstream ourselves. Ensure young and older women see representations of themselves in the mainstream and alternative media in magazines, movies, adverts, books. We should tell our own stories, create our own narratives and reflect our diverse beauty instead of leaving it to somebody else.