Saturday, December 20, 2014

I Blame Kanye

First of all, I'm not going to repost any pictures of Kim Kardashian's Paper Magazine cover shoot because there are already plenty of photos of her on the internet. However, I will say that, in light of these photographs,  I find it highly ironic that she was offended when this dude showed up at the Vienna Opera Ball and mocked her black husband.

Photo :Perez Hilton
Poor thing was so caught off guard by the realities of racism that she went home and penned a blog post in which she talked about recognizing the impact that having a "mixed" daughter had on her racial consciousness.  She referred to the murder of Trayvon Martin and said " I realize that racism and discrimination are still alive, and just as hateful and deadly as they ever have been."  Although, I found it hard to believe that Ms. Kardashian never had to deal with the issue of race when her two ex-husbands (and multiple boyfriends) were black, I was kind of touched by her naiveté.  I thought that it was brave for her to address the issue of race directly on an episode of The Kardashians when so many serious issues are presented through a hazy cotton candy-like filter (i.e. Lamar's crack addiction and Khloe's co-dependency) on that show.

Photo: Instagram
Nevertheless, I am realizing that I gave Kardashian-West too much credit.  After viewing her attempt to "break the internet" with her greased up body and confusing bun (the one on her head)- I have one question.  What is  the difference between this fool comedian dressing up in blackface, and Kim Kardashian-West recreating this 1976  photo wearing a sequin black dress like a second skin?  
(It must be nice to have blackness that you can slip on and off as it suits you).

Photo: mtv.com
Does Ms. Kardashian-West not realize that she is a white woman imitating a black woman acting out a white man's fantasy of black sexuality?  Didn't her publicist or manager tell her that the original photo was shot by John Paul-Goude, a man who photographed Grace Jones in a cage and named his book "Jungle Fever."  Why didn't anyone (Kanye) educate her about Saartajie Baartman, the Khoikhoi woman who was brought to Europe, examined like an animal, and exhibited in freakshows because of her ample backside?

Photo: westminster.gov
I could care less if the pictures were photoshopped.  I am not of the opinion that, because Ms. Kardashian-West is a mother, she does not have the right to pose nude.   She has an enviable body and after months of being called a "whale" and a "couch" during her pregnancy, I would want to show off too!  However, despite efforts to  slick her baby's hair down, it's clear that she has a black child who is going to have questions about her mother's choices when she grows up.  

Photo: EOnline
Historically, blacks headed North and West in their pursuit of freedom and respect, but how is this child going to move in that direction with a mother who is  still a slave to her own narcissism and racial privilege?  Pure foolishness!

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