This post is not an attack on a specific blogger. It is not my intent to start some blogger war. I am too pretty and smart to fight. I prefer strategy, but that’s me. If my words seem harsh forgive me. I am an INTJ from the Bronx so I am blunt. Honesty, this post comes from the same place where the plea towards Black beauty bloggers came from. It is from a place of love.
That’s me pondering in all my melanin.
A few days ago, Awesome Luvvie wrote an impassioned plea on Twitter towards Black beauty bloggers. In fact, she Storfiyed it here. Other writers have consigned her thoughts. A few have disagreed. Those who agree with Luvvie basically called on Black beauty bloggers to take part in their brand of social justice activism. While I understand their reasoning, I believe Black beauty bloggers are participating in social justice without others trying to force them into doing it the way they want. Black beauty bloggers are doing it their way. That’s the way it should be. I will explain how and why bloggers who criticize Black beauty bloggers are wrong later. First let me knock down some really bad assumptions.
Just because you don’t see Black beauty bloggers picketing, getting gassed on the streets or showing up in all over the media like others do, it does not mean they are not participating. Just because you don’t see them hobnobbing with celebrities, it doesn’t mean they are not participating. Just because you don’t see them getting beat by the police or climbing poles, something most y’all ain’t never done or will do, it does not mean they are not participating. Just because you don’t see them sacrificing their mental and physical well-being at the altar of your definition of Black activism, it does not mean they are not participating.
First of all, we have no clue what these women are doing. Secondly, have you asked the same of the Black men’s sneaker and hip hop blogs? Have you stepped to nonBlack beauty and other bloggers who are our so called allies? If not, why not? Why do we seem to demand loyalty oaths of Black women, but not the same of others? Did you demand these entities focus on Black women’s issues? Finally, who are we to tell a Black woman what to do with her space? After all, it is her space. If you ain’t singing her checks, paying hosting fees or getting her opportunities why are you trying to regulate her? You know what? It’s 2015 and I was wrong. I thought Black women were free? From the looks of things I guess not.
Alright back to the task at hand. Every single day Black beauty bloggers are fighting against racism. You may not like how they are doing it, but they are. They are fighting against racism by being simply being Black beauty bloggers. That is a revolutionary act. Imagine being told for 400 plus years you are not beautiful, your Black beauty does not exist or should be ignored. Heck, some people just found the beauty of our natural hair after being told for centuries that our natural hair is unmanageable or something to hide. Well guess what? Black beauty bloggers are showing Black people that we are beautiful. By making Black people, specifically women see, accept and love their beauty in a White supremacist world that tells us we are not beautiful they are fighting against racism.
One more thing; I keep saying this, but I am finally done. I get called all kinds of names, my page has being shut down, I have been stalked by racists, I’ve been called all kinds of ugly even though the devil is a lie and I even received death threats for talking about Black women’s issues. I can’t imagine the nastiness these women see in their inbox and in their spaces for simply focusing on Black beauty. Think about the letters of rejection from both Black and nonBlack companies telling them their image aka Black features doesn’t represent their company. There is always some ass who tells them they’d be pretty “if only they’d straighten their hair.” How about the passive aggressive, “you are pretty for a dark skin/ Black girl?” These women are constantly attacked in their spaces and are called everything but a child of god by racists and Black people. The thing is you see you will never know this because they have deleted the crap to protect their readers and provide a safe space for Black women.
Like I said, you may not like how they are doing it, but they are doing it the way they want to and I appreciate it. If you don’t like it, start signing their checks, get them sponsorships, give them your free trips to events and start paying their bills. Let me repeat for this for first class seats. Until then your opinion is quite frankly your opinion and nothing more. Here is a quick lesson from organizing 101. As my sis said, “You frustrated? I get it. How about building coalitions with Black beauty bloggers instead of tearing them down?” Flies and honey. It works.
Thank you Black beauty bloggers for ALL the work you do. These attacks only mean your stars are shining brightly while others want to dull your shine. You provide Black women an escape in a world that apparently even some Black people feel Black women shouldn’t have.
A revolution always begins between two ears. How about starting yours today!
Than you! I just did a YouTune video about this
Awesome. Share it here.
On point as usual, Bougie! I understand Luvvie and other activists need to speak out but the last time I checked, a tweet won’t shield black churches and a Facebook post won’t protect black bodies. That means we have to fight hate with whatever weapons we have and if one of those weapons is beauty blogging that uplifts the spirits of millions of black women, so be it. This young black woman certainly appreciates the efforts of beauty bloggers.
Thank you
I saw the rant yesterday and thought it was silly. I don’t look to beauty bloggers, hair gurus, makeup gurus or any other unverified online personality with a following to provide social commentary. Whatever these people think or feel about issues is their business, if they choose to address an issue, fine. If not, that’s fine too.
Exactly.
I left Twitter because of the cliques, pseudo intellectuals and selective faux outrage and found my utopia of peace on Tumblr.
There were very few people of the so called Black Twitterati I followed because I found many of them to be bullies and childlike and Luuvie was one such individual.
I’m not looking for leadership and nor their faux inspiration because they showed they were only trying to get their brand out to the public in the guise of semi-pro blackness. I saw her at Essence and kept moving.
She has no idea what these women do to uplift their communities when they’re offline and those who are often the loudest are the most fake, contradicting and hypocritical because those who uplift don’t often tell the world of their good deeds.
These women can grieve in the manner in which they choose and I haven’t heard her loudly denouncing the rampant crime and murder in Chicago. Her and the other so called influential black bloggers are relatively silent on this, but you and others aren’t.
It’s sad that once again, we choose to oppose one another instead of stand together. You make an excellent point for the beauty bloggers. Black women are just now at a point of recognizing and accepting their beauty. and getting the world to accept it. This is a revolutionary act. The women that oppose Black beauty bloggers failed to realize how important this is to us. Beauty bloggers do not have an obligation to use their platforms to speak out on political issues. That is not their calling or their vision. There are so many others whose mission is to speak on issues like racism, etc. Black women have come to glorious era of self empowerment and I think that we will see spectacular results from it. Why spoil it with naysayers who have no authority to dictate what a beauty blogger says or does not say? Thank you for sharing this with us- don’t give up. We have to keep fighting this battle to overcome the campaign against Black Women. You are doing a monumental work that is transforming many, many women. Bravo!!!!
That’s right, correct that mess! Thank you for being quick to uplift, rather than tear down. You are absolutely right about beauty bloggers doing their part in our struggles. I hope this message is spread across the black blogosphere.
Well said indeed. You amazingly expressed the pressures felt by many of having to prove or show their every move in order to satisfy fitting into a type of mold of ‘Blackness’. , was, fortunately unaware of the debate occuring amongst the bloggers or tge article mentioned, but I applaud your passion on this topic and use of expression. BRAVO Bougie..Bravo!
I am nearly sixty-six, and am very inspired by the young bloggers who teach me about beauty and self-care and self love. You simply are a boon, and I wish there were similar sources for mature black women.
Love it! Everyone has their unique gift, and we need to STOP guilting black women to enlist in other folks’ version of ‘the struggle’
Ugh, this annoys me to no end. It’s their blog and they can do whatever they want. If you don’t like it, don’t support them and keep it moving.
Hey great article I just started my own blog and I am also a black girl could u all check it out please I just stasrted it so it needs a bit of work but I’m new this so would be great if people shared and followed nancillianna.tumbrl.com and my slogan tumbrlis fabulously can come cheap
You provide Black women an escape in a world that apparently even some Black people feel Black women shouldn’t have.
This is everything