Uncensored: Is Chester French's Black Girls Video Problematic?

So here's my issue: I think I quite like this song, but I'm not sure if I should.

I hadn't heard of Chester French before I found this video, so I don't know if this is within the expected range of where her music and imagery usually falls, but it feels a little uncomfortable to me.

Chester French's Black Girls video is beautifully shot (and NSFW so watch out!) but the premise makes me bit uneasy. The song is about loving (and sleeping with) black women, because they're so uniquely beautiful. Awesome right? Maybe not.

My problem with the video is that it seems to exoticize and fetishize black women, even though the lyrics say that's exactly what it's trying not to do. In the video, French is seen flirting with and kissing (among other NSFW things) a gorgeous black woman. There's nothing wrong with this in and of itself. People have sex.

However, I'm not sure how the nakedness of black woman adds to the narrative of her beauty. The portrayal of the sexuality of black women at the hands of white counterparts has a long, sad and negative history, and it can be painful to be reminded of the objectification that many black women face even today.

Necessitating that this gorgeous woman be naked in the video, places the emphasis squarely on her sexuality. That says to me, "Chester French likes black women because she thinks they're hot." Not "Chester French like this black woman because she's likes her personality and she's an awesome person to be around." Suddenly, the narrative is all about how sexy this woman is instead of about why French would be interested in her in the first place.

Then come the actual lyrics. The second verse reads:

Well I have tried to taste the rainbow in my life
I've sampled many different flavors I enjoy
It's not to say I wouldn't settle down with Sally
Dilly dally with her heart like it's my toy
I've been to England a few times
And it's common over there
Plus the whole world's turning brown and who cares

And there's my problem. A black woman is a person, not a novelty. She is not one of many to be "sampled" so that you can choose your favourite. I dislike the idea that interracial relationships should happen because they're hip. They should happen because race ceases to become a considering factor in the viability of a relationship.

I highly doubt that French meant to offend, and I can honestly say that the video is gorgeous. The problem is that I think the video ignores some very important social problems and prejudices, and I'm not sure if I'm okay with that.

What do you think of the video? Am I reading too much into this? Or am I right to feel uneasy? Let me know in the comments below.

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Uncensored: Blogging HBO's Girls

I'm giving in. 

Since Girls premiered on HBO back in April, I've heard everything from praise to condemnation for the show. Some say the show's creator Lena Dunham is the "voice of a generation", others say that the show is whiter than white bread, and that it's a problem.

Since I was still in college when the show premiered, (and really, I was already watching too much TV) I decided that I was going to let this show pass me by. I wasn't going to watch. And since so many other sources had endlessly catalouged all the ways in which this show was ignoring me, a young, college-educated,  twenty-something female (who wanted to be) living in New York, and was BLACK, I figured, why support a show that doesn't support me?

But then I caught an episode. Episode 2: Vagina Panic to be specific. And it was hilarious. From "all the stuff on the side of condoms" to "throwing the best abortion ever", I was reminded so much of all the non-PC conversations that I have with my girlfriends in the privacy of our own little sphere of the world.

And I won't lie; the stark whiteness of the protagonists did bother me. It was definitely in the back of my mind. But what was in the forefront of my mind was the witty dialogue, the utter ridiculousness of half the things coming out of Lena Dunham's mouth, and the all too familiar situations surrounding sex and relationships.

Dunham's Girls might not represent every part of my personality, and I may not relate to every situation these girls find themselves in, but I can relate to the twenty-something experience, and so far, it looks like the show delivers on that, if nothing else.

I'm looking forward to watching (and writing about) the rest of the season.

Away I go!

*****

PS: My Girls recaps will all be posted under the Uncensored tag. I've been saying for a while that I wanted to include more of myself in this blog, and I think this a great solution. Uncensored will be all the stuff that may not necessarily be PC, or in line with what a fashion blog might post, but it'll be my spot to rant about things that bother me. I'll be sneaking my feminist flag in there at some point. Sometimes it'll be NSFW, sometimes it'll be controversial, sometimes it'll be politics, and sometimes it'll be straight feminist fare. But it'll be all me, all the time. 

Additionally, I have a lot of opinions on a lot of things, and I've never felt like I was able to post them here, in my own space, which is utterly ridiculous. Every girls needs a safe space to say words like "fuck" and "vagina", and generally swear to the high heavens without having to worry about the pearl clutchers. This is mine. I'm posting Girls here because just one episode has let me know that I'm going to need a safe space to talk about dirty things and say dirty words. When I'm made it through all 10 episodes, I'll move on to other things. I'm weirdly excited. :)

Multimedia: Mizery Loves Company

This was my final project for my multimedia class. I had the most fun working on this, and I was able to explore a culture that I've been fascinate by forever. Mizery was an amazing performer and an engaging person, and I'm so glad that I got to meet her and talk to her about her experiences.

Multimedia: A Moment in Chinatown

This was the second project I did for my multimedia class. I found it to be a TON more difficult that the last one, mostly because the idea was more abstract. It turned out okay, and I got an A, but I'm not over-excitedly proud of it! Considering it was my second time using Final Cut, I think I did pretty well.

Multimedia: Maya Jimenez: A Profile

This is the first project that I did for my Multimedia class last semester. We had to split off into pairs, interview and shoot each other and put together a 3 minute profile of their ambitions as photographers. I had a ton of fun doing it, and I learned how to use Final Cut Pro, which means I have a useful and marketable new skill. It was fun, and I'm glad I took this class.

Enjoy!

Awkward Black Girl: I'm awkward and black

If you haven't been watching this show, you need to start.
It's AMAZING.
It's funny and intelligent and relatable and everything that you'd look for in a great show.
And yes, the protagonist is black.
Catch up on season one here.