Read This Week
I slacked on my Read This Week feature last week because like many, I have been watching the Olympics, and enjoying the successes of so many talented athletes. Of course, Black success does not come without hatred and negative commentary, despite the fact that negativity CANNOT truly erase excellence. These two articles are good reads:
The Truth Behind Serena Williams and The Crip Walk by Nikki Lanette is a great article that explains the history of the dance that Serena did when she won gold. Naturally some media (read: White people) were bothered by her doing anything that even remotely connects to Blackness at her level of excellence. You see, most people (even some Black people with internalized White supremacy issues) believe that excellence makes Black people “transcend” (read: should quickly abandon) Blackness. Apparently, not Serena. Heh.
Gabby Douglas Thanks God…Why Is This News? by Anthea Butler is a great read. Butler defends Gabby in reference to an article posted on Salon. Gabby, like MANY MANY MANY athletes, performers and other famous people thanked god when she won the all-around gold medal in gymnastics. This is what many believers do. The issue is not even about theism vs. atheism, but people seeking to bash a young Black girl in the way that they do Black women. Period. Gabby thanking god is not nearly as big of an issue as the homophobia and carbohydrate parade that occurred at Chik Fil-A. Now if we are going to talk theism v. atheism, let’s talk about it. But on the back of a teenage girl who BESTED the preferred White athlete is quite suspicious to me.
Whiteness Is A Fuckin Trip by @sonofbaldwin is a great read. It is about how once again, the media predictably frames a terrorist act by a White man in a way that focuses on some other form of “White male greatness,” distracting from the fact that one of the Sikh men was a true hero and died trying to stop the terrorist. I am truly disgusted with the way crime and sports are portrayed via media. These two areas are the absolute worst, though where media and minority status crossroad is always terrible. @sonofbaldwin goes IN…as usual.
I also really loved this article that I first read a few weeks ago.
To Whom It May Concern: We Don’t Need Your Validation Anymore by Britini Danielle at Clutch is a great read. One of those uplifting, empowering and truthful reads for Black women.
Stay tuned for next week’s suggestions! It will be the 10th Read This Week post!
