So, my friends and I made a hilarious parody video of some of our favorite 90s artists and songs. Check it out on YouTube below. We received a lot of positive feedback and got a lot of views and shares on Facebook, 3.8k views and 77 shares. Check the Facebook post out below. Please continue to share and support. We appreciate it.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10207646411937740&id=1214841111

However, we also received a lot of negative feedback. I have no idea how this blog found our picture lol, but they did. My friend tagged me in it on Instagram and the comments were very ugly. A lot of the group names that people came up with likened us to thieves, "thots", stated that we had STDs, usedpublic assistance and the list goes on.

1) We're not from Alabama!

2) We understood that we would be subjected to public scrutiny and in part, we welcomed that. Our wigs, glasses and clothes were deliberately chosen to get a reaction from people. We wanted to liken our appearance as much as possible to the women and era that we all know and love.

3) We also understand that the nature of that particular blog is that of ridicule, shame and bullying. Many of the posts on their Instagram to stir controversy and gossip. Fine.

4) What struck me is that, many of the names that people came up with weren't because of the wigs or glasses or clothes but because we were black. Even worst, they were coming from other black people. Here's an excerpt from what I commented on my social media account:

"I could understand scrutinizing our wigs, we meant for it to be funny but to associate us with thieves, "thots", stds, public assistance, etc. just based off of our appearance and largely because we are black, is something else, a deeper, rooted issue within the black community. This is one of the things that black women, no matter your level of success, education , economic status, no matter your appearance, are subjected to. It's not just jokes. These are ideas and micro aggressions that literally has the ability to dictate how someone else would treat us. I encourage all of us, but especially black people to stop policing ourselves and eachother. Stop insulting eachother with stereotypical, racist driven ideas. Continue to support one another and uplift eachother. Lastly, share this video because we're trying to meet Oprah and em'. Thanks for all the love thus far guys."

If this is how we see ourselves and each other, we have deeper issues and one cannot simply disregard it by saying, "its just a joke". Because, it is not. Beliefs and how one thinks ultimately dictate their actions. If one feels that black women or black skin represents thievery, worthlessness, promiscuity, etc. then black women, regardless of our status, will be treated as such blatantly and inadvertently. And I say inadvertently because its already part of a lot of peoples subconscious to treat people of darker hue that way.

If you SIMPLY SEE a black child and think "this child is bad", there's something wrong.

If this child hurts himself and you are less likely to help this child or offer comfort, something is wrong.

If you SIMPLY SEE a black man and your heart beats fast and you want to avoid his whole being, there's something wrong.

If you SIMPLY SEE a black woman and assume she is on welfare, has many children and is a thot, something is wrong.

No one would know, from that one snapshot or from that video that we were college educated women. No one would know that none of us have children. No one could know if we were dating. No one would know of our academic and personal achievements. NO ONE WOULD KNOW.

But the thing is, I didn't and shouldn't feel as though I EVEN NEED to use these accolades as justification to be treated better or better regarded because regardless, if we had children or not, if we're "free" with our body or not, if we're unemployed or not, it DOES NOT excuse the stereotypical, racist ideologies that were tacked to us from that one picture. If we fit the stereotypes, we still shouldn't be treated as less then.

I see that we still see ourselves through the eyes of the oppressor. I see that we still have issues with treating each other with respect, love and admiration. I see that we still have issues with protecting each other. I see that we still have issues.

Black people but black women especially, are constantly bombarded with messages and actions exclaiming that we are not worth it, we are less then, we ain't shit. We are always compared to other women and given "advice" on what to do better. On top of the daily stresses of the world, we cant even be black in peace.

The last part of my message was to encourage each other,

Black men and women, lets continue to respect each other in our entirety.

Stop policing ourselves and each other. Be who you are the best way you know while continuing to strive for growth and healing.

Stop insulting eachother with stereotypical, racist driven ideas. because these ideas become action and insult on ourselves and others who look like us.

Continue to support one another and uplift each other. We need love, healing and support. Self love is the best love and in loving yourself and your black skin, kinky hair, full lips, beautiful figure, smooth swag and deep rich history, we love each other.

Lastly, love us by supporting this video because we trying to meet Oprah and Em'.

Until next time. Peace and Love.