Center stage, we have the beautiful and innovative Beverly Bond, creator of Black Girls Rock, whom should be solely focused on a smooth and successful show, but by her OWN efforts and self validation and not by the likes of those whom are being critical, just to be critical, is having to deal with a face palming left field attack from salty white women and men who just HAVE to go against the grain. The #whitegirlsrock slander on the social media site Twitter is one of many reasons of what is wrong with this world. Instead of choosing partake in the ceremonious appreciation of women, “people” (and I use that term loosely) would rather be contrary and try to dismantle the pride and self love of a population of people who, historically, have already suffered insurmountable oppression and indignities for simply being human. And for obviously being powerful. It’s no secret that “White America” has always had an issue with us having our own. We as African Americans know this to be a fact! If anything has black attached to it it’s deemed as “racist” and “the reason why we aren’t equal” fully neglecting that fact that they created this division in the first place!!! Somehow, having something “black” associates with “all other cultures don’t matter just us.” This line of thinking is completely false. Having something “black” has power and unique qualities attached that Europeans and otherwise can never understand. This doesn’t mean that White, Indian, Asian, Latino or Samoan women aren’t special either. But that doesn’t mean that Black women aren’t either. Furthermore, why should my celebration of ME offend YOU? I’m sure if you were more secure within the history of your own heritage you wouldn’t but there’s no way you can’t because that underlying will always show in one form or another to rear its ugly head. There was a point in time where we could not be detached from being black…Where we were considered to be “colored” “black” “negro” and nothing more. And they made sure to engrain that perspective into the minds of our ancestors, our grandparents. So how oh HOW can we NOT celebrate our blackness now? Our effortless beauty, that’s constantly being cheapened through false imitations only to be ostracized at the glimpse of any self pride in it? #WhiteGirlsRock held no point, obvious. It was callous, childish, self righteous and downright ignorant at best. It was a direct shot at the guilt that has been upheld from the separation that has been drawn even before the Jim Crow era. It was tasteless, rude, and was quickly defended by the ever present Black Twitter and later through a candid and eloquent blog post by Beverly Bond herself. So yes, you CAN go on ahead create a “White Girls Rock” award show, but why would you be doing it? Have you been torn down as a white woman basically since the day you were born? Being judged, ridiculed, and stereotyped unrightfully by people you don’t even know? Were you taught to hate your skin, your hair, your vernacular, your walk, the very essence of you from years of systemic oppression deriving from the generation of your great grandparents? Considered a second class citizen? Not given a chance to also celebrate your womanhood as white woman? No? Oh, I didn’t think so. So again I ask, what would be the need for you to be celebrated in that way, when you’re in every magazine, billboard, TV show, movie theatre, social media outlet, documentary, and every award show you can think of…even our own? But thankfully, Black Girls Rock, BET Honors and many programs shall go on to continue with the tradition, and celebration of Black women and men with or without European concerns or opinions. And that’s the punch line, and if you don’t get it, I feel sorry for you. Power. **The blog post is dedicated to the powerful and beautiful Sandra Bland, another extraordinary black woman. Rest peacefully Queen. We will find justice, I know it.
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