It's In Their DNA - The Jamaican Olympians

Why is it that whenever a group, other than caucasians, completely DOMINATE an activity, the mainstream media has to link it to some genetic predisposition???

Today, I read an article in Slate, 'explaining' why Jamaicans run so fast. (Article originally posted on 8/18/08) I looked at the title Jamaican Me Speedy with the side-eye, because I knew nothing good this way was gonna come.

Jamaica is a poor, tiny nation about half the size of New Jersey. What makes its people such champion sprinters?

Uh - could it be that they work their @sses off, eat a healthy diet of mostly non-processed foods and are dedicated to achieving their goal, or in this case their GOLD??

Nah, that couldn't be it, it must be something genetic...because we know black people don't work that hard...especially Jamaicans. They're too busy drinking rum and winding.

Then, the article goes on to talk about some study that was done in the 80s that showed a trait in West African students, that allowed them to run faster. Now, imagine if I said that there is a trait amongst American East Coasters. You would look at me like I'm crazy. In your mind, you'd think, all East Coasters aren't the same. That's ridiculous Penni.

But, for some reason, people act like Africa, the continent is one big homogenous country...except for Northern Africa which sometimes 'passes' for middle eastern. (I've got more to say about that, but I'm trying to be focused here.)

The article does NOT go on to explain why the American black people were left in the Jamaicans' dust. Aren't their ancestors from the same 'West Africa' as the Jamaicans?

Check out the article yourself and sign in to leave a comment over there. Let The Explainer know that his/her article is some racist fragglenackle!

Edited 8/20 - Nadra over at Racialicious wrote about this too. Check it out.

Holla

Penni

p.s. and while we're on the subject, am I the only one that wants a t-shirt with a thunder bolt on it in honor of Usain Bolt??? Dude is like lightening!

African American Water Torture

So, there's this guy that I went out with a while ago. He was really nice, helpful, smart, good job, all the stuff a woman looks for. But, homeboy didn't even get to first base.

Talking to him was like sitting outside in a torrential downpour that happened one drop at a time.

Here's how today's convo went...

'How's your day going?'
'Pretty good, no complaints. Yours?'
'Yeah, I'm good.'
'Good.'
5 minute pause

'You have big plans for the evening?'
'Nope, no 'big' plans.'
'Ok, how about medium? LOL'
I'm not making this up, y'all!
'Nope, I'm chillin.'
5 minute pause

'We should have lunch or dinner or something soon.'
'Sure.'
'Great. Whenever you are up to it. *wink*'
'ok.'

Just ask me out already!

This is the kind of guy that would ask you if he could kiss you. (and not in that BIG kind of way.) Dayum, if you have to ask, then maybe we don't need to be kissing. Are you going to ask me if it's ok to whip it out too?

Cheese N Crackers!

Isn't there a medium? One where the guy is not a player and not slow?

Holla

Black and White People Make Pretty Babies

That is what he said.

We were sitting on his couch, looking through his photo album. In it, I found a series of pics of a blonde haired little boy playing with his son. He told me that blondie is his nephew.

Was that pride in his voice?

"Really? Is your sister white" I said.

"No. She's married to a German guy."

He looks white doesn't he?

I picked up the pic and looked at it closer.

He actually has 'black features. The blonde hair threw me off. Not many black people have cornsilk colored wavy locks. Even his very fair complexion doesn't take him out of the 'black' category.

So, then he commented about how cute the little boy is. I agreed.

Then, he said, 'I've always thought that Black and White people make the prettiest babies.'

I burst out laughing.

He wanted to know what was soo funny.

Surely he had to be joking.

Apparently, he was not.

So, I engaged him.

'Why do you think biracial children are so cute?'

'I know what you're going to say, it's because of the hair and skin color. But, that's not it. I think the mixture of the features is really cute.'

'Really?'

'Yeah! But, you're 'Miss Natural', so you probably won't agree.'

Before responding, I had to replay all of our interactions through my mind's eye. When we first met, he said that he didn't like natural hair on black girls. I explained to him my philosophy about black girls learning to love what they are, without alteration. He knows I'm quite passionate about it.

Eventually, when he saw my hair in its natural state, he said that he liked it...that it wasn't like an afro. Could it be because my hair product mojo was working well that day and my curls weren't frizzy like they are right now? He's also commented many times about how beautiful he thinks I am. Could it be because my nose and lips are narrower than his, the strong reddish hue in my skin or because my eyes have a subtle epicanthal fold. To him, am I just pretty for a brown girl?

I snapped back to the moment.

I told him that he's not alone in his thinking. Mainstream America thinks that a person that is just a little bit black is attractive. That 'je ne sais quoi' is African. He denied that was the case. I reminded him about the black man's obsession with Kim K (who - while Armenian, is still considered white by my company's EEOC department), J. Lo, Vida Guerra and the bevy of other non-black 'models' that have graced the cover of black men's magazines advertising their very African assets.

I'm not hating, pretty is pretty, and I know that there are alot of black men that find black women, that look like them, attractive and desirable. I was just trying to get THIS black man to think about WHY he thought a particular set of physical attributes are more desirable.

Alas, I dropped it. I've learned to pick my battles. I certainly can't get a grown man to see the world differently all in one conversation.

Then, as if to prove he's not whitewashed, he said, 'It's not like I'm caught up on white people. I actually think Asians and Blacks make really cute babies too!'

*DEAD*

holla

My Best Side

Remember back in the day, before you'd take a picture, you'd say to the photographer, 'Wait, make sure you get my best side.' and then you'd proceed to turn your face from side to side, testing out your right, then, left profile.

Now, when a woman wants to get her best side photographed properly, she turns away from the camera. Yep, you guessed it, she turns away from the camera, props her booty up and then tries to turn her head far enough toward the front so that enough of her face is in the picture to identify the proud owner of that illustrious backside.

WTF?

Even girls with noassatall are doing this now. I saw a pic of Hef's girlfriend Kendra the other day online. Poor thing, had her back arched so much she darned near looked like a boomerang. I thought her little bobble head would surely pop right off after that much tension.

Imagine the kindergarten class photos that are a result of this trend: Most of the little boys are smiling (we all know boys stop smiling in photos somewhere around middle school) and all of the little girls are facing the back of the room.

I won't go on my rant about the ubiquity of misogynistic music videos, poor self esteem and similac. You all know the drill.

I'll just say STOP IT!

As my grandma would say, 'Have some pride about yourself!'

Are your assets really your best side?

Holla

U-N-I-T-Y Moment

I just had a black woman unity moment at work today. I was walking behind this attractive well-put together woman in my office and I noticed that the zipper on the back of her skirt was bursting and I could see her slip underneath. Just as I noticed this, I heard this bitter catty black woman in my office remark to another woman about the impending hole while making no effort to inform the affected woman. Ms. Bitter said, 'Yeah, she's been walking around like that all day. It's only gonna get worse.'

I was incensed. I tapped the woman with the wardrobe malfunction on the shoulder and discreetly informed her of the situation. Then I proceeded to help her fix it. I've only seen this woman in passing and I don't even know her name. But, all I could think was, if it were me, I'd want someone to help me out.

I swear black women are our own worst enemies sometimes. I can't count the many times I've heard women make disparaging remarks about other women. Remarks such as,

'I can't stand to hang around women.'

'I'd rather be friends with guys, they are less drama.'

and my personal favorite...

'Well of course she looks good, she's like a food nazi. I
can't be worried about watching what I eat all the time. Plus only a dog wants a
bone.'

Why don't we realize that when we make a nasty comment about someone or attempt to lessen another woman's accomplishment, we are really disparaging ourselves? When you're happy with yourself, you're going to see the good in other people. You won't feel the need to disparage someone else. When you're a good girlfriend, you'll want to be friends with other girls.

Y'all know I'm a girl's girl. I like hanging out with guys, but, there is a reason that God made us different. A guy isn't going to obsess with you for hours about why 'he' didn't call or if those shoes go with that dress. They just aren't wired that way. My girlfriends have had my back for most of my life, but, my guy friends roll out when they get married or a new love. Even when I'm involved, I'm still tight with my girls. That's just the way it's got to be...for me.

So, I'll close this post with a suggestion...the next time you see a pretty woman walking down the street with a jacked up outfit or some other 'flaw' and you notice that it makes you feel a little bit better. Look inside yourself and figure out why her fabulousness makes you feel threatened. Then, acknowledge that there is room on this earth for more than one hottie. Her steam doesn't cool yours.

Holla