UGa Chi Phis declared 'open season' on black women?

[GA-Beta]

(Nasty column in the local newspaper)

Black women demand respect

By MELODY McCLOUD
Published on: 09/12/06
Why are black women so increasingly ignored, abhorred, disrespected and rejected in this country?
Who declared "open season" on us, and why?
Increasingly over the past decade, the media have projected images of black women as battered about, cast down, kicked aside, ignored, denigrated and disrespected at the will of all who take delight and sport in doing so. It is tantamount to a public flogging in the modern-day town square — the media, the Internet, TV, movies and music videos.
The latest venue? The University of Georgia in Athens, where Chi Phi fraternity pledges flashed naked images of black women to passers-by. Why? Because they could. It's acceptable sport in the 21st century. They're just black women; who cares? One student told a reporter he thought it was funny. It's not.
The late comedian, Rodney Dangerfield, enjoyed a lifetime of fame and fortune and received many a laugh saying, "I don't get no respect." Many of today's black women may feel Dangerfield's battle cry is one they, too, can claim. But hardly any are laughing.
More and more, black male models and actors are readily cast opposite white and Hispanic women, to the blatant, total exclusion of black women. Magazine ads frequently engage colorism — favoring light-skinned blacks over brown-skinned ones. Lighter black women often get the sexy ads and poses; they're positioned to look soft and desirable while brown-skinned women are posed stern, frowning and even masculine with bald heads.
It also seems that the media are ever eager to show black women as "crazy " — think U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga.), model Naomi Campbell, Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth of the TV show "The Apprentice" and others — but won't allow others to be heard or seen. It seems, "well, there's Oprah," so that's all the room they'll allow for "good" black women.
Sadly, too, those blacks in position to present black women in a better light, including Oprah, often fail to do so. Tyler Perry and Martin Lawrence, more so, get rich on the image of the fat, gun-toting, loud black granny.
Shonda Rhimes, the black female creator/producer of "Grey's Anatomy," has the black male character sleeping with Asian Sandra Oh (who brushes her teeth in the kitchen sink), while Chandra Wilson, the lone black actress on the show, is "the Nazi."
And MTV — whose president, Christina Norman, is a black woman — recently aired a cartoon to young Saturday morning viewers entitled "Where My Dogs At," which had black women squatting on all fours, tethered to leashes. In 2004, U.S. Army reservist Sgt. Lynndie England subjected Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib to the same denigration and was convicted and sentenced to prison. Where is the justice for black women?
Someone must speak out against this societal poison. White women aren't going to say anything because they readily benefit from negative images of black women. Many white men — media executives, and obviously some UGA frat brothers — are having too much fun and cash flow at the expense of black women's dignity and social value; and sadly, many black men are inexplicably silent, standing on the sidelines.
This year, I wrote Marc Cherry, creator of the hit show "Desperate Housewives." Normally, to see a black woman get a recurring role in the No. 1 prime-time network program would be a major coup, a step in the right direction for American media and black imagery. But alas, once again, the lone black woman — on a show that mostly deals with sexy, alluring women with kinky trysts and family matters — is portrayed as a psychopath who chains her son in the basement.
I suggest congressional hearings to effect a tangible change in the depiction of women in music videos. Black women who participate in such videos must stop; there are better, more respectful ways to gain acceptance. Black men need to step forward: Say and do something. Honor your women. Speak to young boys.
Black film and music producers need to be socially conscious and think what effect the images they set forth have on the community and the world. White media and ad executives must advance past colorism; they also need to cast black actresses and models of all hues in loving, desirable roles.
White parents need to stop teaching racist attitudes to their offspring. And UGA students need to find something else to do in the town square. Denigrating and disrespecting black women is not a sport. It's sad that members of the Chi Phi fraternity think it is.

Dr. Melody McCloud is a physician and writer living in Roswell.

[AlphaFrog]

http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...ad.php?t=80549

[macallan25]

White parents need to stop teaching racist attitudes to their offspring.

I love it. Good Lord.

[Elephant Walk]

Black parents need to stop teaching racist attitudes to their children.

[Tom Earp]

OMG the article is over the top.

Diann Carrol was the first Black Female star to be kissed by White Male Star.

I also beleive Captain Kirk , Kevin Costner were a couble of others. James Shatner may actually a first on a TV series.

If a women looks and acts pretty, they will likely be more apt to be looked upon with favor.

Not everyone is A raving beauty are they?

But isnt it in the eye of the beholder!

[macallan25]

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

Black parents need to stop teaching racist attitudes to their children.

Agreed.

[DSTCHAOS]

Uh oh...can "socially unconscious GreekChat" handle another thread on race (and its intersection with gender)?

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Tom Earp

I also beleive Captain Kirk , Kevin Costner were a couble of others.

Captain Kirk and Kevin Costner kissed? That's hot.

Sorry Tom, I couldn't resist.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Captain Kirk and Kevin Costner kissed? That's hot.

I had a crush on Kirk.

[Tom Earp]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Captain Kirk and Kevin Costner kissed? That's hot.

Sorry Tom, I couldn't resist.

Your welcome!

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by Tom Earp

OMG the article is over the top.

Translation: This is off the hook!

Diann Carrol was the first Black Female star to be kissed by White Male Star.

A complete sentence. *faints*

I also beleive Captain Kirk , Kevin Costner were a couble of others. James Shatner may actually a first on a TV series.

Captain Kirk kissed Kevin Costner. Difficult because James T. Kirk is fictional and Kevin Costner is, as far as I can tell, real. James Shatner does not exist either.

Kirk and Uhura's kiss was the first interracial kiss on a TV series. (AFAIK)

If a women looks and acts pretty, they will likely be more apt to be looked upon with favor.

Only pretty women are liked. (When I find a women, I'll let you know

Not everyone is A raving beauty are they?

You all aren't so hot either, are ya?

But isnt it in the eye of the beholder!

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, isn't it?

/Translations not guaranteed for any reason.

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

Uh oh...can "socially unconscious GreekChat" handle another thread on race (and its intersection with gender)?

"Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy night!"

[EE-BO]

This is just the kind of article I was afraid would come as a result of this incident.

In many respects I agree with what ElephantWalk said above- the mistrust and racism runs both ways and is counterproductive for all.

One can argue an imbalance in the ability of some races to oppress other races, but when it comes to racist feelings that generate mistrust and conflict, everyone is guilty. It is a human thing- born in fear and isolation.

This is one of those "life ain't fair" situations folks. Those 7 guys, Chi Phi at UGA, the Greek system at UGA, and the Greek system nationwide just took a hit over an incident that was likely not nearly as maliciously crafted as it has been portrayed in the media.

I expect most people who have read the article have the same positive or negative feeling about Greeks that they did beforehand- but surely some folks have gone over to the negative, or at least had negative feeling re-enforced.

The author of this article has pointed out some specific examples of media portrayals of black women as caricatures of a dominated figure- but she has failed to point out that the media hype over this incident (including her article) is part of the problem.

Race is a sensitive issue and this is one more case where an inappropriate incident is being elevated to an extreme level in order to further a much larger agenda. Notice that the author of the article mentions getting Congress involved in the solution to the portrayal of black women in music videos. It is not just about Chi Phi.

When incidents like this are used to frame the national debate, it just further separates both sides.

To put it another way- I have been out of college for a few years now. I have lived and worked in the real world. Black women as a group in the US, especially the significant percentage who are single working mothers, ARE in a very bad position that is not entirely of their own making. This is a very real and urgent problem that needs to be addressed.

But using the bad decision of some kids to make that point does nothing to further the cause. It just creates resentment.

In the end, however, this all started when those 7 guys made a decision to do something very inappropriate that they should have known would draw this kind of attention. And yes, they MADE that decision. You can only use the "I was forced to" (i.e. the hazing) argument so far. At some point you have to make your own decisions about how your actions will reflect on you and those you associate with- regardless of whether others are trying to influence those decisions.

I do not think, based on the facts known to date, that Chi Phi has been fairly treated in this article. And this will not be the last mention of it I fear.

But this is the reality that could have been forseen.

The Risk Management issue here is that any fraternity needs to gather its pledges together the DAY they are formally tapped in and let them know the ground rules. Not just the rules of how to conduct one's self, but the rules about who is allowed to give orders and who to approach among the officers if something like this incident is ever ordered.

We may never know if these guys did this on their own, or were prompted. But the risk management approach I mention above should deal with that assuming the chapter does not consider this action acceptable.

[AGDLynn]

On a somewhat related note, today at work, a lady on the phone told me that she wanted to talk with a "black person" because I didn't seem to be too concerned about her problem....this after she kept insisting that she moved to WA State because a certain GA county's law enforcement agency and district attorney were out to get her. She kept saying that she was off her meds (yea, I can see that, lol.). I was trying to help her but she wouldn't give her name so I could look up her case!

I told her how did she know that I wasn't black. She said that "I sounded white". so I transferred the call to my co-worker. The caller then told her that she wanted to talk to someone older. P said what was "young"? The caller said "25". P is just a few years shy of 60, lol.

It doesn't matter to me if you are purple with pink stripes and orange polka dots. If you don't give me your name, I can't help you. (Don't blame me if you got arrested!).

[BabyPiNK_FL]

My best friend is a Chi Phi and we are both black, this is a real shame. But one person does not speak for all, etc. etc. etc. Hopefully, they will A) get kicked off campus and B) personally learn from this experience.