Thursday, July 17, 2014

A response to the Dear White Gays article.

Dear Idiot,


   And I mean that in the nicest possible way.  You are an idiot.  I am sure there are times when you don't want to be generalized with ALL black women.  Heck, I am sure you have about as much in common with Beyonce as I do.  But for some reason you feel all possessive of the current incarnation of what you term "black female culture".  Well, to be honest...it IS NOT CULTURE.  Right now, the ever evolving time and technological innovations that are such a part of every day life are still to new to be considered a culture...it is sub-culture.  Do you honestly think that in a hundred years, people are going to look back at the specific likes, styles, and dance moves of the current decade and say "this is black culture", rather than say the sub-culture of the post-civil rights movement?


  First off, "Blacks" did not invent the Ghetto.  Jews, Italians, Polish, and many other ethnic minorities were in Ghettos long before the Emancipation Proclamation.   Second off, "weaves" are just one form of hair extensions, which there is archaeological evidence of existing since Ancient Egypt.  So if you want to get technical, they are Middle Eastern. Third, ok so Beyonce is popular with Gay Men...so is Lady Gaga, Madonna, Cher, Bette Milder, Liza Minnelli, and of course Judy Garland.  Seems to me, gay men like strong women,with big voices, who appreciate gay men.  I mean, Beyonce did stand up for their right to get married, she is an ally. 

  Finally, I think you need to take a look back on the evolution of gay culture.  Gay men have always had their campier numbers.  There have been drag queens since the 19th century.  Gay men have been calling their female friends 'girlfriend' or 'gurl' since at least the 1970s.  As someone who grew up a minority; female, bi-racial (Native American), bisexual,  and a polythiest/Pagan I observed rather than tried to fit in.  The black women I grew up around remind me more of Michelle Obama than Media or Stella.  When that show Girlfriends came on the air my initial reaction was "Why are these women acting like campy gay men"?  I live in the projects, surrounded by what you would call "strong black women" who dress like drag queens, do nothing but fight amongst themselves, and hate anyone who is not exactly like them.  Much like gay men in the 1980's who were driven by so much fear, and the blame of the AIDS epidemic.


Food for thought.