Source: Iamsupergorge.com

I must have retired under a rock after posting the photo of Beyonce holding Blue Ivy yesterday. I browsed the comments section later in the day and saw how nearly everyone remarked how much Blue looks like her daddy, Jay-Z, followed up with admiration for how adorable she is, but elsewhere on the net, folks were having a totally different discussion.

I wouldn’t have known had I not traveled over to Clutch and seen an article by Jessica C. Andrews questioning what the Blue Ivy backlash says about us. Her post subsequently took me over to Colorlines and a discussion on the same topic by Akiba Soloman, and between the two articles I came away with these startling reactions to the 7-month-old’s photo:

Beyoncé really screwed up, having a baby by Jay-Z. His nose and lips are never going to look right on a girl.

“Thats gonna be one ugly n****a baby with big A$$ lips and a dirty A$$ weave.”

Nappy-headed kid. Wish Beyoncé had married a nice-looking man instead of Jay-Z.

I’ll just be real about something for a minute. It’s a rare person that finds Jay-Z attractive outside of his money or status and I don’ think that has much to do with having so-called black features. A lot of people questioned how he could pull someone like Beyonce simply because she’s been painted as the most beautiful woman in the world, and him one of the most unattractive rappers on the scene. I’ve never taken the criticism against his physical appearance as some evidence of anti-black self-hatred, but more something to do with aesthetics; however the way in which people have criticized Blue Ivy because of the traits she shares with Jay-Z call that opinion into question.

Before anyone ever saw Blue Ivy, or even knew Beyonce would have a child one day, there were jokes about what their kid would look like because of Jay-Z’s strong masculine features but what there wasn’t at the time was derogatory comments about their child being a “n***a baby” because she might inherent his large lips, cheeks, and nose, or god-forbid his coarse, “nappy” hair. But that is where we sit today, criticizing a child because she doesn’t fit the same beauty ideal we criticize her mother of falsely living up to on a daily basis. How does that work?

Some commenters on Clutch felt a lot of the backlash is rooted in the general love-hate relationship people maintain with Beyonce. And I agree. On some level everyone is in awe of her success, her work ethic, and all that she has been able to attain but simultaneously we’re tired of having her accomplishments—including possibly her child—thrown in our face; and so, we lash out. But what’s telling here is that the comments aren’t of the usual “who cares,” “why should I care,” IDGAF variety. They are laced with remarks about her hair texture and characteristically black lips that insinuate some level of disappointment that after waiting for five months to get another glimpse of Blue since we first laid eyes on her button nose, soft wispy hair, and tiny lips, we were presented with a so-called nappy-headed baby who would no doubt be so ashamed of her hair texture one day she would have to wear weaves and who could never possibly be attractive because of her wide facial features. That’s just not a diss to Jay-Z or Beyonce’s choice in a father, that speaks volumes about our narrow ideals of beauty and how as much as we bash people whose style choices we think hint they don’t really want to be black, we don’t really want people—possibly ourselves included—to be black either. As Demetria Lucas wrote in her post on Essence:

“If some of us are very honest, we’ll acknowledge that there are only certain “Black” physical features that we as a collective find attractive. Curves? A blessing and curse. Full lips? Eh… depends on how full. Broad nose? On women, not at all. On men? Some get a pass, but not Jay-Z. Kinky hair? Not so much. There’s a reason most Black women “prefer” perms and even a lot of natural girls spend an inordinate amount of time and product trying to reconfigure their coils into curls.”

What’s unfortunate is that the parameters of what’s acceptably black are getting narrower and narrower and the age at which we start criticizing those outside of those boundaries younger and younger. I imagine there’s someone out there joking that Beyoncé should slap a perm on 7-month-old Blue Ivy’s curls to snatch that n***a texture out of it, though she’ll have to wait until she’s at least 16 or so to have that nose problem corrected. What a pity. And even then, the droves will be lined up to assert that she hates herself and her black features so she had them “whitened.” This from the same black people whose comments suggest they would likely do the same if they had the money, but for now they’ll just sit behind a computer screen taunting babies who hopefully won’t have access to this type of foolishness until they’ve come to a point in life where they’ve developed a healthy sense of self-esteem about their blackness in all its variety. No one says you have to think Blue Ivy is an adorable, cute, precious baby doll, but when you suggest that it’s her black features that keep her from attaining those titles, that’s when the problem goes way beyond hatred of Beyonce to hatred of self and possibly your own blackness.

Brande Victorian is the news and operations editor for madamenoire.com. Follow her on twitter @Be_Vic.

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Source: French24.com

In America we’re used to events, competitions, and celebrations that openly recognize black beauty but in France that type of movement isn’t nearly as widespread or as accepted. As the country’s capital city of Paris prepares to host its first ever ‘Miss Black France’ pageant tomorrow, questions over the necessity and the effect this event could have on race relations are brewing.

Despite having the full approval of the French Representative Council of Black Associations (CRAN), the organization’s founder and president Patrick Lozès said the pageant is hardly “progressive.”

“This logic is detrimental to the values of French society,” he said. “If I think that there are not enough Black people in the most prestigious schools and companies, am I going to go create establishments exclusively reserved for Blacks?”

Historian Pascal Blanchard, a specialist in immigration at France’s National Centre for Scientific Research, agrees and went so far as to call the initiative “stupid” and “dangerous.”

“I know that in the US, there are ethnic beauty contests. The fact that they’re tolerated doesn’t change my mind,” he said. “Anytime that anyone, no matter where in the world, talks to me about a contest reserved for a specific racial category, I hit the roof!”

Lozès went a little off center when he talked about concerns that the pageant could make people more defensive considering the country is on the brink of receiving results from the first round of it’s presidential election, saying:

“I’m afraid that all of that will make French people even more defensive at a time when the National Front is more popular than ever. It’s a contest that stipulates that white women are not welcome, which is very disturbing. This initiative could be perceived as a hostile event that will further erode national unity.

“Everything possible must be done so that these people recognize themselves as French, and not as Black people living in France,” he added. “We can’t start having ethnically exclusive contests if our ultimate goal is to have all-inclusive national contests. It’s a serious strategic error.”

I hardly think the contest expresses the sentiment that white women are not welcome but the point of presenting a united French nationalist front in the midst of recognizing black women is an interesting one. That’s all promoter Frederic Royer wants in the first place:

“The purpose of this beauty contest is to shine a light on the many Black women in this country who are rarely given any media attention,” he said. “The Miss France competition is not nearly representative enough of modern France.”

That’s a point non-black women would simply never understand.

Do you think naysayers have a point about the downsides of the pageant?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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When the seasons change your closet shouldn’t be the only thing that looks different. In the makeup world there are a ton of options to keep your look fresh, fun and dramatic (for you night owls). In fact, this fall it’s all about drama with rich color coming back to lips and eye shadows that pop. Here’s a list of the ten hot looks that will keep your face glowing, even in the cold.

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“Take responsibility for yourself because no one’s going to take responsibility for you.” – Tyra Banks

Tyra Banks is a rare model of any color who has been able to successfully transform herself after the end of her career on the catwalk. From TV to the online world, Ms. Banks has certainly taken responsibility for her life and career, using her talents and hard work to make new opportunities for herself. Now with the success of her first novel, “Modelland,” Tyra is truly showing the world that there is no limit to what you can do if you patiently apply yourself. Do you take total responsibility for your success? I bet that if you look at the details of your life with a caring but critical eye, you will find many ways in which you can make a deeper investment in your future by taking on a little more responsibility. Tyra Banks is a wonderful example of how you can make the most of your present skills by applying yourself to your goals for your own benefit in a positive way.

Stay inspired Madame Noire women!  Have a wonderful day.

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{Inspiration}

And in my own life, in my own small way, I’ve tried to give back to this country that has given me so much. That’s why I left a job at a law firm for a career in public service, working to empower young people to volunteer in their communities. Because I believe that each of us – no matter what our age or background or walk of life – each of us has something to contribute to the life of this nation. -Michelle Obama

{News}

• First Lady Michelle Obama is under attack for the cost of her June goodwill trip to Africa — and the White House defends her. {ABC News}
• Hermain Cain calls himself “black walnut ice cream” on Fox. {Mediaite}
• Hank Williams, Jr. is “sorry if he offended anyone” by his remarks about President Obama. {USAToday}
• Obama signs key bill to keep the government functioning. {NPR}
• The first African-American reverend has been chosen to head the Josephite Catholic order. {The Washington Post}

{Gossip}

• Kimsha Artest explains why she left “Basketball Wives L.A.” {Entertainment Rundown}
• Nas confirms that an Amy Winehouse song was about him. {Hip Hop Wired}
• “Playboy Club” starring Naturi Naughton already canceled! {Bossip}

{Fashion.Beauty.Love}

• Rihanna gets naked for Emporio Armani. {Necole Bitchie}
• What is the “Claire Huxtable Code”? {Jezebel}
• Black female artist mixes hair and art — literally — to create unique treasures. {The Philadelphia Enquirer}
• Black stay at home mothers who go against the grain. {The Huffington Post}

Stay juiced-up today!

(Rolling Out) – SoftSheen-Carson, a subsidiary of L’Oreal USA, is a brand that African Americans have come to know and trust over the years. The company produces popular brands such as Dark and Lovely, Roots of Nature and Optimum Care. Angela Guy is the senior vice president and general manager of SoftSheen-Carson and has helped take the company to the next level during her tenure. Over the years, Guy has been responsible for expanded distribution, developing strong relationships with retailers and helping to solidify the organization’s position as the leading brand in the ethnic beauty market. Rolling out caught up with the busy executive to see what it takes to run such a successful brand.

Read More…

(Amsterdam News) — Midway into a conversation with Michaela Angela Davis, she suggests a slight case of self-deprecation and cracks a warm smile as she comes to grips with her impact on young women.  ”It’s not until moments like this when you kind of pause, look at what you’re doing, and go, ‘Oh, I really might mean something to somebody.’ I just still feel like I’m so frivolous,” she says, laughing.  Contrary to the matter, Davis is far from frivolous. The self-described “image activist,” who has worked as a stylist, editor and cultural critic, has made it her mission for the past several decades to promote self-esteem for Black women. Davis has successfully balanced creativity and feminism to encourage conversation.  In fact, her new novel that’s in the works, “The Revolution of Happiness: A Book and Digital Conversation Project,” is a culmination of “honest and innovative cross-generational conversations with revolutionary-thinking Black women about disturbing the pain that has burdened or molested our natural exquisite selves.”

Read More…

Heading down to this year’s Essence Music Festival? We are too! Madame Noire’s Managing Editor Demetria Irwin will be hosting a beauty suite with African Pride on July 2 and you are invited, Madame! Take a break from that New Orleans humidity with this exclusive invitation to complimentary  mimosas,  massages, food and good company of course.

And…

Read the rest of this entry »

(The Root) — The upcoming documentary Dark Girls explores the deep-seated biases and attitudes about skin color that are experienced particularly by dark-skinned women, outside of and within African-American culture.  While the issue certainly isn’t brand new, this approach appears to be. Colorism traditionally arises in an adversarial fashion: Someone accuses someone else (a director, a magazine editor, perhaps all of Hollywood) of embracing unfair standards of beauty that exclude many black women. (Just today, Osama bin Laden’s former mistress Kola Boof took to Twitter to attack rapper Wale for perpetuating dominant standards of beauty in his music video for “Pretty Girls,” calling him self-loathing.)

Read More…