I recently read this article published by The Grio, entitled '
Should White Women and Latinas Battle Black Reality TV Stereotypes'. First off, in reading the title of this article I was a bit confused, and didn't fully understand the premise of the article until the very end. Perhaps that's because as a young black women I never think about the battle of 'black reality tv stereotypes' let alone who should stand up for them.
To sum up the article, the author makes a point to say that reality TV shows, such as
Mob Wives,
Basketball Wives, Shahs of Sunset, and
The Real Housewives of Atlanta, are perpetuating negative stereotypes of the black women, and women in general to the pubic. She goes on to speak with Kaolin, a member of the National Organization for Women (NOW), a feminist women's group, who states that all women, in particularly black women should be outraged by the portrayal of themselves on reality television. And furthmore women of all races should stand up against it. She gives examples of the Basketball Wives and The Real Housewives of Atlanta. In Basketball Wives, the Latina character of Evelyn is far from a role model, and as I've discussed in previous blogs the Housewives from Atlanta are no where near praise worthy.
She solidifies her point however to say that the only women that has it together on The Real Housewives of Atlanta is Kim Zolkiak. Kim is the only real married house wife, who tends to avoid drama, she is portrayed 'too busy to recognize the nuance of racism', Kim is also white. The fact that the only white 'character' on the show is living the happy life is something that all women should be upset about, and Nigerian writer
Chimamanda Adiche, comments on the dangers of one story, portraying African American women, she states
"When all we have is one story or one representation of us, everything we do is judged by that standard. Because there are so many representations of white women, when a single white woman does something negative, it is not representative of the entire race. We have so few stories that everything we do becomes representative of everything we are.The key is balance. We need to have more stories, more often, and in various forums so that people can begin to see the beautiful complexity that is black women. Adiche also reminds us that stereotypes aren't untrue necessarily -- it is just that they aren't all that is"
I whole heartedly agree with the above statement. Growing up in California, going from one of ten black girls in my graduating class of 300, I always felt like I was representing not just myself, but my whole entire race. If I didn't graduate, if I didn't get good grades, if I ended up pregnant, that was not just on me, but on my entire race, because we (meaning everyone), are forever judged by the other races and people around us. Living in Atlanta now, where the black population is far from scares however I do feel like more of an individual and less of a representation, but the reality of it is, each black person, as individuals, is a representation of 'black people' to someone. But doesn't this work with other races as well? Can't I as a black girl see a white girl, and be just as close minded as anyone who buys into black stereotypes?
Though I do agree with the article on the level of equal representation, I have to point out that in comparison with other shows on network television, that feature plenty of 'white bimbos', their point is flawed.
The Real House Wives of Orange County, Mob Wives, Dance Mom's, The Real Housewives of New Jersey, all feature WHITE American women, that are far from perfect. That fight and act just as ignorant as any black or latin american on Basketball Wives or Real Housewives of Atlanta. As an African American women, I look at how far we have come through our portrayal on television and the media, and for the most part I am content. The article ends with the effect shows such as House Wives is having on our youth, in particular our black youth, however I feel that that is a separate broader issue all together.
