Wednesday, October 19, 2011
#11 Long (and I mean very long) nails
Now, this hole trend of wearing nails very long started back in the 80s when women wanted to be ultra-feminine.
#10 Denzel Washington
Ask any Black woman over the age of 40 who her top ten favorite movie stars are and chances are she will name Denzel Washington among the ten. They don't even refer to him by his full name of Denzel Washington. They just call him Denzel.
The movie star has been popular with African-American women practically ever since he's been on TV and in movies beginning in the late 1970s. Denzel ultimately became a household name in the 80s and 90s, especially after having played one of the leading roles in the Civil War movie Glory (1989), for which Washington won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of "Tripp", the runaway slave in Edward Zwick's powerful historical masterpiece. Ever since then, many Black women haven't been able to get enough of him. You can read more about Denzel Washington by visiting http://www.imdb.com/.
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The movie star has been popular with African-American women practically ever since he's been on TV and in movies beginning in the late 1970s. Denzel ultimately became a household name in the 80s and 90s, especially after having played one of the leading roles in the Civil War movie Glory (1989), for which Washington won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of "Tripp", the runaway slave in Edward Zwick's powerful historical masterpiece. Ever since then, many Black women haven't been able to get enough of him. You can read more about Denzel Washington by visiting http://www.imdb.com/.
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Tuesday, October 18, 2011
#9 Babby daddies
This category is not as obvious as some of the others, but hey, let's give it a shot people . . .
Many Black women have a hard time finding a man. In fact, this problem is so common that sometimes two or there of them will fight over the same man. How common this type of fighting is I don't know. I just know that it happens sometimes. This fighting is very shameful though because many Black women could find another man who would treat them right if they just knew where to look.
That said, when Black woman do find a man, it also sometimes happens that they, in turn, do not know how to treat said good Black man with respect. They often have to separate themselves with said man because of unreconcilable differences. These spearations often happen because the Black man and woman got together for the wrong reasons or they went to fast in the relationship. Oftentimes, the Black man did something or several things that upset the Black woman and she, in turn, just can't take it anymore. Oftentimes, it also happens that the two don't know how to be in a relationship.
This separation beteween Black man and woman leads to the creation of a babby daddy. A babby daddy is simply what the term applies. Someone who is the father of someone's baby. That's it. It doesn't not mean that the two people in the relatinship get along. In fact, it just might be that the babby daddy in questoin is very much an absentee father who doesn't even pay his child support for the baby. Furthermore, some baby daddies don't even know they are a father of a child until someone tells them or a paternity test is conducted say, on the Maury Povich Show.
The existence of so many baby daddies in the United States even prompted someone to come up with a song called "That's Just My Baby Daddy" in which the chorus just repeats the title of the song over and over again. The song pokes fun at the existence of baby daddies by implying that most baby daddies come from the ghetto or poor rural area. However, this is not always the case.
Another type of babby daddy however, is the opposite of the absentee father. This type of baby daddy is the type that makes a baby with a Black woman and after the baby is born the child is 12 ore 13 when the couple actually decides to get married. Why the couple waits so long to get married is somewhat of a mystery. It's a similar phenomenon to those people who date people for 10 or 14 years and then actually decide to get married. They don't even know why they wait so long to get married. Consequently, not all babby daddies are bad. There are some who do actually care a lot.
However, it is probably safe to say that most, if not many, baby daddies are like fly-by-night fathers. This trend in baby daddihood leads to the creation of more and more baby daddies because that is what the children of the babby daddies see as examples of an acceptable form of a relationship. In fact, some African-American children who grow up in poor, less educated households learn from their parents that relationships are, for the most part, not important.
Many Black women have a hard time finding a man. In fact, this problem is so common that sometimes two or there of them will fight over the same man. How common this type of fighting is I don't know. I just know that it happens sometimes. This fighting is very shameful though because many Black women could find another man who would treat them right if they just knew where to look.
That said, when Black woman do find a man, it also sometimes happens that they, in turn, do not know how to treat said good Black man with respect. They often have to separate themselves with said man because of unreconcilable differences. These spearations often happen because the Black man and woman got together for the wrong reasons or they went to fast in the relationship. Oftentimes, the Black man did something or several things that upset the Black woman and she, in turn, just can't take it anymore. Oftentimes, it also happens that the two don't know how to be in a relationship.
This separation beteween Black man and woman leads to the creation of a babby daddy. A babby daddy is simply what the term applies. Someone who is the father of someone's baby. That's it. It doesn't not mean that the two people in the relatinship get along. In fact, it just might be that the babby daddy in questoin is very much an absentee father who doesn't even pay his child support for the baby. Furthermore, some baby daddies don't even know they are a father of a child until someone tells them or a paternity test is conducted say, on the Maury Povich Show.
The existence of so many baby daddies in the United States even prompted someone to come up with a song called "That's Just My Baby Daddy" in which the chorus just repeats the title of the song over and over again. The song pokes fun at the existence of baby daddies by implying that most baby daddies come from the ghetto or poor rural area. However, this is not always the case.
Another type of babby daddy however, is the opposite of the absentee father. This type of baby daddy is the type that makes a baby with a Black woman and after the baby is born the child is 12 ore 13 when the couple actually decides to get married. Why the couple waits so long to get married is somewhat of a mystery. It's a similar phenomenon to those people who date people for 10 or 14 years and then actually decide to get married. They don't even know why they wait so long to get married. Consequently, not all babby daddies are bad. There are some who do actually care a lot.
However, it is probably safe to say that most, if not many, baby daddies are like fly-by-night fathers. This trend in baby daddihood leads to the creation of more and more baby daddies because that is what the children of the babby daddies see as examples of an acceptable form of a relationship. In fact, some African-American children who grow up in poor, less educated households learn from their parents that relationships are, for the most part, not important.
#8 Extensions, weaves, and tracks.
This category is an obivous one for Black people. However, many people outside the Black community are unaware that extensions are products that are commonly used by many Black women, and maybe some men. (Hey, whatever floats your boats . . . I ain't mad atcha.) Many black women use extensions and weaves because it takes a long time for their hair to grow out because of the natual texture of Black hair. However, many rich women, take Oprah for example, can afford to not have to resort to the use of extensions because they can pay thousands of dollars or whatever it cost to get their hair done to their liking so that they don't have to resort to the use of weaves and tracks.
At this point, it is a good idea to establish the difference between weavea and tracks. Both weaves and tracks are a type of hair extension. However, weaves, as the name implies, are hair pieces that involve weaving fake hair into a person's already existing hair or, in the case of someone like Beyonce and other more daring and ambitious people, into the persons scalp. A track is a hair piece that is glued into a person's already existing hair through the use of a special hair glue. If you ever see a Black woman patting her head with the palm of her hand, it's probably because of the glue in her track.
Koreans and many other Asian groups, including African immigrants or other immigrants groups, are aware of this affinity of Black women for fake hair. It is very common for many of the beauty supply stores that Black women go to to be own by one of these ethnic groups. Why is it that few African-American women own their own beauty supply stores? My answer to you is the following: I don't know. They just don't.
Another amazing phenomenon is the affinity of Black women for extensions that are made of real human hair. They prefer Korean, Philipino, and Chinese hair pieces because their hair is supposed to be straighter and it matches the natural color of a Black woman's hair. Human hair is also very expensive. You can learn more about Black women's hair by watching the documentary/movie "Good Hair" starring Chris Rock.
If you are not a Black person and you have a neighbor, friend, relative, or in-law who is a Black woman, you may notice that one day her hair is very short and the next day, all of a sudden, it becomes very long. This is because the Black woman in question has gone to the beauty salon to get her hair extended through the use of weaves or tracks.
Another area of concern is the fact that it is NEVER, NEVER, NEVER a good idea to ask a Black women the age old question "is that your real hair?" The Black woman will become highly indignant and might become highly aggressive with you. Asking this question will always backfire no matter who you are. Even if you are another Black person, this question almost always ends up insulting the Black woman in question. They will usually initially respond by saying "Of course this is my real hair . . . I bought it, so it's mine." Then they might start hollering and screaming and/or simply precede to insult you and try to make you feel as uncomfortable as possible through the use of some crude racially charged joke or by being real blunt with you, in other words, by "keepin' it real."
At this point, it is a good idea to establish the difference between weavea and tracks. Both weaves and tracks are a type of hair extension. However, weaves, as the name implies, are hair pieces that involve weaving fake hair into a person's already existing hair or, in the case of someone like Beyonce and other more daring and ambitious people, into the persons scalp. A track is a hair piece that is glued into a person's already existing hair through the use of a special hair glue. If you ever see a Black woman patting her head with the palm of her hand, it's probably because of the glue in her track.
Koreans and many other Asian groups, including African immigrants or other immigrants groups, are aware of this affinity of Black women for fake hair. It is very common for many of the beauty supply stores that Black women go to to be own by one of these ethnic groups. Why is it that few African-American women own their own beauty supply stores? My answer to you is the following: I don't know. They just don't.
Another amazing phenomenon is the affinity of Black women for extensions that are made of real human hair. They prefer Korean, Philipino, and Chinese hair pieces because their hair is supposed to be straighter and it matches the natural color of a Black woman's hair. Human hair is also very expensive. You can learn more about Black women's hair by watching the documentary/movie "Good Hair" starring Chris Rock.
If you are not a Black person and you have a neighbor, friend, relative, or in-law who is a Black woman, you may notice that one day her hair is very short and the next day, all of a sudden, it becomes very long. This is because the Black woman in question has gone to the beauty salon to get her hair extended through the use of weaves or tracks.
Another area of concern is the fact that it is NEVER, NEVER, NEVER a good idea to ask a Black women the age old question "is that your real hair?" The Black woman will become highly indignant and might become highly aggressive with you. Asking this question will always backfire no matter who you are. Even if you are another Black person, this question almost always ends up insulting the Black woman in question. They will usually initially respond by saying "Of course this is my real hair . . . I bought it, so it's mine." Then they might start hollering and screaming and/or simply precede to insult you and try to make you feel as uncomfortable as possible through the use of some crude racially charged joke or by being real blunt with you, in other words, by "keepin' it real."
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
#7 Blonde/dyed hair
The whole trend of Black women dyeing their hair blond or other colors goes back to the 1960s. I remember seeing a movie with my aunt in which there was a Black nurse who had her hair dyed blond. I was astonished to find out that Black people getting their hair dyed blond originally started back in those days, so I asked my aunt why on Earth did that Black woman in the movie have her hair dyed blond. My aunt told me that it was a way for Black people back in those days to be like white people. Another example of this trend is the fact that back in those days, many Black men were still getting their hair relaxed to straighten it out.
The trend of Black women dyeing their hair came back in full force in the late 1990s when many Black women in the music industry began to dye their hair blond. Originally, this trend was more of a fashion statement than Black people trying to imitate white people; whereas, after the 90s, the trend began to get out of hand with many people making fun of certain Black celebrities who dyed their hair in colors that seemed to them to be outlandish.
Nowadays, it's very hard to walk or drive anywhere in America and not see a Black woman who has her hair dyed blond or some other colors. In many ways, it is still a way for Black women to express themselves and a way to enhance their beauty in the eyes or opinions of others, but in other ways, it's a way for many Black women to pretend they are not "really" Black or 100% Black, which in fact many of them aren't as a result of years and years of interracial relationship dating all the way back to slavery.
Many Black women in the music industry of this new millennium have either caught flack for dyeing their hair certain colors or have simply just further accelerated many people's disdain or lack of respect for such artists. Take the recording artist Nicki Minaj, for example, an artist who has a reputation for displays of outlandish or bizarre behavior that is a part of her persona as a recording artist. She has been seen with her hair dyed in colors such as pink, red, or blue, hair colors that are not possible for any human being on Earth to have. She even had portions of her hair dyed different colors of the entire rainbow all at the same time. However, all of this behavior is acceptable on the part of Nicki Minaj because of the simple fact that she is a "successful" recording artist. Kudos to you Nicki Minaj . . . I mean she does come out with some nice singles every now and then.
When it comes to dyed hair, many Black women take great pains to get it or maintain it. Take the example of Beyonce, she is not a natural blond. No Black woman is a natural blond. However, ever since she came out with the hit single "No, no, no, no," her first debut single when she was a part of the singing group Destiny's Child, she has had blond hair. Has anyone ever noticed this or said anything about this? No, they haven't. Why hasn't anyone said anything about this? Because we're talking about Beyonce. That's why. Also, did I mention the fact that she's always had her hair that way? No one really ever cared about Beyonce's hair to begin with.
The trend of Black women dyeing their hair came back in full force in the late 1990s when many Black women in the music industry began to dye their hair blond. Originally, this trend was more of a fashion statement than Black people trying to imitate white people; whereas, after the 90s, the trend began to get out of hand with many people making fun of certain Black celebrities who dyed their hair in colors that seemed to them to be outlandish.
Nowadays, it's very hard to walk or drive anywhere in America and not see a Black woman who has her hair dyed blond or some other colors. In many ways, it is still a way for Black women to express themselves and a way to enhance their beauty in the eyes or opinions of others, but in other ways, it's a way for many Black women to pretend they are not "really" Black or 100% Black, which in fact many of them aren't as a result of years and years of interracial relationship dating all the way back to slavery.
Many Black women in the music industry of this new millennium have either caught flack for dyeing their hair certain colors or have simply just further accelerated many people's disdain or lack of respect for such artists. Take the recording artist Nicki Minaj, for example, an artist who has a reputation for displays of outlandish or bizarre behavior that is a part of her persona as a recording artist. She has been seen with her hair dyed in colors such as pink, red, or blue, hair colors that are not possible for any human being on Earth to have. She even had portions of her hair dyed different colors of the entire rainbow all at the same time. However, all of this behavior is acceptable on the part of Nicki Minaj because of the simple fact that she is a "successful" recording artist. Kudos to you Nicki Minaj . . . I mean she does come out with some nice singles every now and then.
When it comes to dyed hair, many Black women take great pains to get it or maintain it. Take the example of Beyonce, she is not a natural blond. No Black woman is a natural blond. However, ever since she came out with the hit single "No, no, no, no," her first debut single when she was a part of the singing group Destiny's Child, she has had blond hair. Has anyone ever noticed this or said anything about this? No, they haven't. Why hasn't anyone said anything about this? Because we're talking about Beyonce. That's why. Also, did I mention the fact that she's always had her hair that way? No one really ever cared about Beyonce's hair to begin with.
#6 Oversized White Ts
There are several issues with this entry. For example, Black people obviously are not the only people who wear White Ts. Also, wearing the White T was a very popular part of the style of the 50s and, furthermore, many white people wear white Ts, especially the V-neck White T. I chose, however, to put the White T as an entry to this for several reasons. Among these reasons is the fact, in the 90s up until nowadays, Black people have contributed to the popularization of the White T through street and hip hop culture which are basically one and the same thing.
The populariztion of the White T has made it so that many Black people will wear a white T almost everywhere they go. In addition, the popular form of the white T is not a regular sized T-shirt but a white T-shirt that is made as large as possible for the particular consumer. The fashion statement of the white T is also obvious to anyone who is "hip," meanning anyone who knows about and fits into street and hip hop culture. The most obvious message is that of the persons social class standing.
The white T, as a result, is in direct opposition to the suit and tie. The suit and tie says that I am a part of the "system," which many white T fanatics are basically against. It also says that the person is a conformist and agrees with the values of mainstream America. The white T is not fancy, it's not luxurious, and it's not neat. If you notice a person wearing the oversized white T, it is possible that you may also notice that the T that the person has on is not exactly the most orderly or neat shirt on Earth.
Because of the nature of the oversized white T in street and hip hop culture, the fashion statement is obvioius. The white T says "I am not a conformist," "I am not a suit," "I am not a part of the system or the establishment," and "I don't necessarily agree with mainstream American values." This opposition is evident in the fact that the oversized T is not acceptable wear in corporate America or for almost any job and mainstream society dictates that collared shirts are more acceptable. Just go to any restaurant, office, convenience store, or any place where people are working. You will notice that everyone had on at least a collared T shirt if not a long sleave shirt with a collar. Even mechanics wear collared shirts for Christ's sake.
The popularization of the oversized T is also a direct result of institutionalized racism and oppression, in other words, "the system" that so many people in street and hip hop culture complain about. It's a form of expression. It says that the person is "down with it," "down for whatever," or "hip to the game." All of these phrases basically means that the person is ready for what social situations may come about within the social circles that are a part of in street and hip hop culture.
The populariztion of the White T has made it so that many Black people will wear a white T almost everywhere they go. In addition, the popular form of the white T is not a regular sized T-shirt but a white T-shirt that is made as large as possible for the particular consumer. The fashion statement of the white T is also obvious to anyone who is "hip," meanning anyone who knows about and fits into street and hip hop culture. The most obvious message is that of the persons social class standing.
The white T, as a result, is in direct opposition to the suit and tie. The suit and tie says that I am a part of the "system," which many white T fanatics are basically against. It also says that the person is a conformist and agrees with the values of mainstream America. The white T is not fancy, it's not luxurious, and it's not neat. If you notice a person wearing the oversized white T, it is possible that you may also notice that the T that the person has on is not exactly the most orderly or neat shirt on Earth.
Because of the nature of the oversized white T in street and hip hop culture, the fashion statement is obvioius. The white T says "I am not a conformist," "I am not a suit," "I am not a part of the system or the establishment," and "I don't necessarily agree with mainstream American values." This opposition is evident in the fact that the oversized T is not acceptable wear in corporate America or for almost any job and mainstream society dictates that collared shirts are more acceptable. Just go to any restaurant, office, convenience store, or any place where people are working. You will notice that everyone had on at least a collared T shirt if not a long sleave shirt with a collar. Even mechanics wear collared shirts for Christ's sake.
The popularization of the oversized T is also a direct result of institutionalized racism and oppression, in other words, "the system" that so many people in street and hip hop culture complain about. It's a form of expression. It says that the person is "down with it," "down for whatever," or "hip to the game." All of these phrases basically means that the person is ready for what social situations may come about within the social circles that are a part of in street and hip hop culture.
Friday, September 2, 2011
#5 Louis Vuitton
"What's wrong with liking Louis Vuitton," you might ask. A lot, I might say for reasons that I can very easily explain. Let me just start by telling a story. Once upon a time, in a far away land called the Bronx, a young man was at a laundromat doing his laundry when he happened to notice another might who was maybe five to ten years older, with a Louis Vuitton hat on.
"Well, why would this man feel the need to wear a Louis Vuitton hat just to go to the laundromat," you might ask. Because he wanted to be noticed at the laundromat with his stupid Louis Vuitton hat on. That's why. To top things off, after a few minutes of parading around the rant down (yes, I said rant down, because it was rant down) laundromat in his brand new Louis Vuitton hat, the old man left the laundromat for the sole purpose of going home to put on a different Louis Vuitton hat so that he could parade around the laundromat in that Louis Vuitton hat too.
Let me explain something about Louis Vuitton. I have a big, big problem with them. You might be wondering why I have a problem with Louis Vuitton. "It's a very expensive, high-ended retailer," you're probably saying. That means nothing to me and I can explain why. You see, a couple of years ago, I was watching video fashion daily when I happened to see a Louis Vuitton show on this channel. I was shock, appauled, and horified that it was legal for human beings to parade around in the trash that they put on their bodies in that show. I have to find the trailer for that show because it's just real disgusting to the point that the rating to my blog will only increase simply because of the horrifying things that people will see in that trailer. Shame on you Videofasion Daily! Shame on you Louis Vuitton! You both know better than that!
Now, to get back to my point, Black people love Louis Vuitton. Why? Because it's a very high-end, expensive retailer, because Black people feel that they deserve everything because they want it, and because if something is expensive, nine times out of ten, a Black person will want it. Oh, also, did I mention that Black people love European designers? They may not even be able to pronounce the name of the designer, but they will like it anyway. Hence the tendency say things like "Fa-Sah-Chee" instead of "Ver-Sah-Chee" for Versace. Also, Louis Vuitton is European ergo Black people love Louis Vuitton in droves. Once again I don't mean to say that all Black people love Louis Vuitton, however it is safe to say that, in the U.S., Black people alone probably help Louis Vuitton's revenues remain in the billions.
And another thing . . . many Black people are fashion victims. Many of them will buy things just because it matches with what they have on or just because it was made by an American or European designer. Therefore, whatever Louis Vuitton makes, Black people will forms lines just to purchase these items because they are supposed to have the best things in life. I know Janet, the best things in life are supposed to be free, but evidently somebody lied to you because so many Black people are spending thousands of dollars on the atrocities (see above comments about Louis Vuitton and Videofashion Daily) that Louis Vuitton commits on a daily basis.
"Well, why would this man feel the need to wear a Louis Vuitton hat just to go to the laundromat," you might ask. Because he wanted to be noticed at the laundromat with his stupid Louis Vuitton hat on. That's why. To top things off, after a few minutes of parading around the rant down (yes, I said rant down, because it was rant down) laundromat in his brand new Louis Vuitton hat, the old man left the laundromat for the sole purpose of going home to put on a different Louis Vuitton hat so that he could parade around the laundromat in that Louis Vuitton hat too.
Let me explain something about Louis Vuitton. I have a big, big problem with them. You might be wondering why I have a problem with Louis Vuitton. "It's a very expensive, high-ended retailer," you're probably saying. That means nothing to me and I can explain why. You see, a couple of years ago, I was watching video fashion daily when I happened to see a Louis Vuitton show on this channel. I was shock, appauled, and horified that it was legal for human beings to parade around in the trash that they put on their bodies in that show. I have to find the trailer for that show because it's just real disgusting to the point that the rating to my blog will only increase simply because of the horrifying things that people will see in that trailer. Shame on you Videofasion Daily! Shame on you Louis Vuitton! You both know better than that!
Now, to get back to my point, Black people love Louis Vuitton. Why? Because it's a very high-end, expensive retailer, because Black people feel that they deserve everything because they want it, and because if something is expensive, nine times out of ten, a Black person will want it. Oh, also, did I mention that Black people love European designers? They may not even be able to pronounce the name of the designer, but they will like it anyway. Hence the tendency say things like "Fa-Sah-Chee" instead of "Ver-Sah-Chee" for Versace. Also, Louis Vuitton is European ergo Black people love Louis Vuitton in droves. Once again I don't mean to say that all Black people love Louis Vuitton, however it is safe to say that, in the U.S., Black people alone probably help Louis Vuitton's revenues remain in the billions.
And another thing . . . many Black people are fashion victims. Many of them will buy things just because it matches with what they have on or just because it was made by an American or European designer. Therefore, whatever Louis Vuitton makes, Black people will forms lines just to purchase these items because they are supposed to have the best things in life. I know Janet, the best things in life are supposed to be free, but evidently somebody lied to you because so many Black people are spending thousands of dollars on the atrocities (see above comments about Louis Vuitton and Videofashion Daily) that Louis Vuitton commits on a daily basis.
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