Subject: Thickness
I would like to respond to the Partyline column regarding the Big Butt. Let me start off by saying, Mrs. or Miss Carmichael did state that this is her opinion. Now, I’m giving mine. Some of us men are Thick-lova’s. I’m not saying a relationship should be based solely on thickness, but some us view thickness as eye candy. Also, the hypocrisy must cease. When some of you women view LL Cool J or those black male Chippendale dancers, I’m sure that their intellect is your main focus. In closing, whereas some men feel that Halle, Appolonia, Christina Milian are the ultimate eye candy, some of us prefer Thelma from Good Times, Buffy The Body, K-toy or Melissa Ford.
L.J. Brown
Response to ‘Thickness’
I really believe that Mr. Brown misinterpreted my comments, regarding the limited view of black beauty among women. It is very ironic that he titled his letter Thickness. I recommend that your readers review a poem on the Experience Jill Scott Live CD. She titles the poem The Thickness. And she discusses a young woman that she witnessed walking down the street scantily dressed. Jill Scott begins the poem describing the woman as young and describes every body part. Jill goes deeper and envisions the inner beauty of the young woman and the apparent consistent exploitation of black women. She discusses the ever-present sexual exploitation of women in videos and in other media outlets. Afterwards she says some powerful words that I will ask Mr. Brown and other readers to digest: “She’s been degraded, sexually exploited, not celebrated, saturated with self-hatred. Cause every time she turns on the TV what does she see big’ol booties, and it don’t even have nothing to do with the song, thus her definition of beauty. Oh Lord, let her recognize the magnificence you’ve created. Lift Her. Lift Her. Lift Her. Let Her be elevated.”
Jill closes with these words, CAUSE SHE IS SO BIG, SHE’S SO BIG, SHE’S SO BIG.
My letter was simply calling others to view black beauty as more than body parts. I see nothing wrong with celebrating the thickness of black sisters. But in the eloquent words of Jill, there is so much more. There is also a history of portraying black men sexually, but the constant sexual portrayal of black women is so sickening at the present time, that it frightens me.