Firstly, I find it MINDBLOWING that these cakewalk/ragtime instrumentals actually had covers like that. I love ragtime and it is so sickening.Moving on to Oprah, Oprah is extremely important. Not just proof that black people the world over can make it in a fucking racist society, but she is proof that hard work and determination do actually count more than looks in certain context. I do not think she is a Mammy and she does create opportunities for black people. She has kept it real in many aspects of her life (I especially love the fact that Stedman or whatever her man’s name is is Black).
Oprah is brilliant and I am sure when the time comes when/if she passes, many people will come out in their droves to pay hommage to her.
Also the image of the Mammy is a stereotype created by white racists in order to desexualise the black woman. I do not think it is something that black people created in order to be put down. We have gone through such strife. That image was used to make us think that black women were not beautiful etc. To me, it is an artificial image. Of course it was made very real then when the racists were controlling shit but I just find it redundant now because we now must control the images that are circulating of us. I think Oprah is working hard to that too. In theory, the idea of her school was fantastic as she was trying to give black girls in South Africa the chance to be something in a country that sought to oppress them.
Man…you struck a nerve! This is a woman who rose from nothing to being a billionaire by working her ass off! She didn’t accept less than who she was, she climbed out of the bottoms and now owns the world she lives in…
Mammy? I think not! I think Oprah is probably one of the most brilliant businesswomen we will know in our lifetime; she found an audience and caters to them and gets them to buy into HER world…that ain’t being a MAMMY; that’s being smart and running a business!
Gayblackcanada
I never really have thought that about Oprah; though I know a lot of people do.
I think she’s a shrewd businesswoman.
Firstly, I find it MINDBLOWING that these cakewalk/ragtime instrumentals actually had covers like that. I love ragtime and it is so sickening.Moving on to Oprah, Oprah is extremely important. Not just proof that black people the world over can make it in a fucking racist society, but she is proof that hard work and determination do actually count more than looks in certain context. I do not think she is a Mammy and she does create opportunities for black people. She has kept it real in many aspects of her life (I especially love the fact that Stedman or whatever her man’s name is is Black).
Oprah is brilliant and I am sure when the time comes when/if she passes, many people will come out in their droves to pay hommage to her.
Also the image of the Mammy is a stereotype created by white racists in order to desexualise the black woman. I do not think it is something that black people created in order to be put down. We have gone through such strife. That image was used to make us think that black women were not beautiful etc. To me, it is an artificial image. Of course it was made very real then when the racists were controlling shit but I just find it redundant now because we now must control the images that are circulating of us. I think Oprah is working hard to that too. In theory, the idea of her school was fantastic as she was trying to give black girls in South Africa the chance to be something in a country that sought to oppress them.
Team Oprah!
Man…you struck a nerve! This is a woman who rose from nothing to being a billionaire by working her ass off! She didn’t accept less than who she was, she climbed out of the bottoms and now owns the world she lives in…
Mammy? I think not! I think Oprah is probably one of the most brilliant businesswomen we will know in our lifetime; she found an audience and caters to them and gets them to buy into HER world…that ain’t being a MAMMY; that’s being smart and running a business!
@MarvalusOne — you took the words right out of my mouth!!