All in All

I chose black women and body image for the topic of my blog because I think it is something that effects people in my culture, which is women and being black. I think it is important that I give my opinion because after looking for other blogs to follow I have come to realize that there aren’t many. I had to search though pages and page of information to find one piece of insightful information.

Community feministing.com is a site that takes everyday issues women face and talks about them is a way that normal people (people who are not exports on a subject) can understand. The blog I saw was about a bi- racial identity talk on, of course, the Tyra Show.

Motleymoose.com does blogging through a political standpoint. This blogger, Denise Velez talks about how Michelle Obama’s skin color plays a significant role in today’s social society. Velez says that Obama is the new face of Black American women.

MadeMoon Blog is an interesting blog because it takes what I believe and puts it in to a perspective that other would understand, although this blog is very shot, I think it is effective.

Adland Tv has a blog that displays different after thoughts and feeling on commercials. The one I chose was one on the dove “real beauty campaign.

Genuine imitation is all about fashion, but it also talks about other important issues within celebrity media. This blog site helps tie in everything I was trying say about the Bad Girls Club.

Day2Day happened to have a blog about on of my favorite music artists, Ne-Yo. This blog talks about his song Miss. Independent and expresses what it means to the author.

I think this topic is important to talk about so that women and black women especially can get their voices heard. I also think it is interesting how the media plays a role in the way people think. I think it is time for people to start thinking on their own. It might be too late with the media’s heavy influence.

America's Next Top Model

Tyra Banks is well known for being a supermodel and hosting her own talk show, but she also has another show called America’s Next Top Model.

Throughout the show Banks trains the girls on how to use their bodies to model. Banks shows them different angles and poses and reminds them to practice what looks good for them. I am not really a big fan of Top Model nor am I a fan of modeling (they tell me I’m too short), but I was flipping through the channels and I come upon an episode. One of the girls apparently gains about 10 pounds and gets eliminated.

This girl was SKINNY! So maybe she gained a few extra pounds, so what…I think too much pressure is put on models, which is why I would prefer not to be one! People have to understand that no body looks the way these models do unless they do it to themselves. Some starve themselves to fit the clothes on runways; not all, but some do! To me it seems like too much work and not enough food.

Shades of Blackness

In the days of slavery, it was common to have the darker slaves outside working the fields and picking cotton while the more light skinned slaves were allowed to be inside to cook and clean, away form the elements. I am not by any means saying that the light skinned slaves had it easier than the dark ones; but I am saying it was different. I wonder if this is the reason why there is still segregation with one race.

Even today there is resistance to those of darker color. Has our perception of color changed? Many people, black people included still think having dark skin is unattractive. Do people of different skin tones and backgrounds affect people? While talking with some friends, I asked them if complexion had any effect of their personalities. One f my dark skinned friends said, “ I still feel like I have to compete those lighter than me. I feel like I am considered less of a man and even less attractive than some of my mixed friends.”

When I think about this issue, I remind myself that Blackness is Beautiful. I believe god made each of us in his image; therefore no one is more beautiful or handsome than anyone else. As far as skin tone goes, I still do not understand why those who are dark despise it. I am personally attracted to the darker skinned man. ☺

"My black is BEAUTIFUL!"

TZone

My role model, Tyra Banks created a summer camp called TZone for young girls in 1999 to inspire them to live to their full potential. The girls learn though enrichment and leadership at the week long camp. I think Banks is doing a great job influencing kids to be what their hearts have always wanted to be. Banks explains that when she younger she felt awkward and didn't really fit in with other girls her age because she looked different. I believe it is very inspirational as a black woman to encourage black teen to love themselves and each other. Banks has now turned her camp into a foundation so that she can reach girls from all over the world.

“TZONE is not a place – it is a commitment to empower girls to be fierce, focused and in control of their futures.”-Tyra Banks

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

At last week's Academic Symposium, many other students presenting English Composition essays wrote their papers on how the media has shaped the way we see beauty. After listening to these presenters, one specific one caught my attention.

Victoria Hoppes, freshmen education major, reminds us that beauty is determined by the individual. Not everyone's idea of beauty is the same. For example, you might think blue eyes are dreamy, but I prefer brown. It is always good to be reminded of the difference we do have.

Dove Ads Campaigns

The soap company Dove, has been known to have one of the only media campaigns that shows "real" woman in the commercials and advertisements. These women are not models, but regular woman of all races, shapes and sizes. According to the dove web site, “At Dove, we want to help free ourselves and next generation from beauty stereotypes.” Dove goal is to reach 5 million lives by 2010.

I think this a great idea. I think Dove is doing a great job of helping build esteem by seeing woman model for a company when the ladies look like them. Dove also provides a girls only section which provides facts about healthy body nutrition and feeling good about yourself. I think more companies should think about follow this example.

The Bad Girls Club

Lifetime's sister network Oxygen just wrapped up its second season of the its reality television show the Bad Girls Club. Like all other reality shows at the end of a season the cast comes back for a reunion show to talk about the shows past events.

This particular reality show is about being misbehaving, fighting, cursing, drinking and having sex .Lots and Lots of sex.

When I think about this show I wonder why these grown women exploit themselves on television for all of America to see. Do they think about future careers? Husbands? Who would want to be with a woman who fights at the drop of a hat? Who would want to employ a daily drunk? I believe these women are insecure about themselves, but in their mind, what they are doing is right.

To me it's embarrassing...