The P.O.S.H. Life (Pursuit of Strength & Health)

Sometime around 1810, in London, Baartman was convinced to participate in a sideshow where she was billed as the most "correct" specimen of her race. Baartman was kept in a cage, while onlookers gawked, stared, poked, and, prodded her backside. She was made to sing, and dance in "native-garb" around crowds of white patrons. Her participation in the show caused a rage of curiosity regaring the Black Woman's backside and after death Baartman's labia and genital organs were dissected and compared to that of monkeys. Her skeleton, brain, genitals and full plaster casts of her body remained in the collection of Paris' Museum of Natural History until 2002 when they were returned to South Africa for a proper burial. Baartmans's body became the brunt of political, comedic and scientific comment, thereby, placing the backside of Black women in constant comment as it remains today.

It appears that we have not progressed a great deal regarding the exploitation of women. It would seem that we congratulate it instead. I saw this image of Buffy and immediately thought of Baartman. Buffy's measurements are 36-24-45 and are extreme like that of Baartman. Her ass is more talked about than any other black woman I can recall. She has appeared in several magazine spreads, videos, and is all over the web scantily clad and showing off her assets (no pun intended). It appears that Buffy feels her work is empowering to Black women.

She claims she has never exercised until 2007 and her diet consists of sweets, fried chicken, and Southern-fried porkchops. Additionally, she claims she drank supplement shakes to gain weight. (No that doesn't mean protein shakes which build lean muscle). She even admits to some of her photography being airbrushed, including her most talked about King magazine cover. She shows flawless skin and a honey glazed complexion with zero flaws.

It appears we have learned nothing from the story of Baartman and, in fact, glorify all the hardship experienced in her life by exploitation of the Black woman's figure. In fact, there are so many young black women running around trying to achieve Buffy's figure to try and appeal to Black men. Buffy is not the only video-vixen we celebrate. As the years pass, we always find someone to replace her. Melyssa Ford and Karrine Stephans are notorious vixens idolized for their "sexy" frames. There is a video on youtube of Buffie clapping her butt cheeks which would fit right in with the turn of the century side shows.

Sex sells, yeah yeah I get that, but what are we telling Black women? Don't work out- be like Buffy and you too can have a bomb backside. Stock up on that KFC and Kool-Aid while you sit back and catch some 106 and Park. Every Black Woman isn't built like Buffy. But dammed if we don't equate our big-behinds to hers instead of hitting the gym. Most women with behinds as big as Buffy's do not have the measurements of 36-24-45. Most of us with a size 45 behind have stomachs and thighs of equal proportion and we don't get to airbrush in our every day lives. Point me to a 45 inch behind that doesn't need to hit the gym. I bet you the odds are one and a Buffy. However, we are the first to scream we have ass with no concern for the tire around our middles accompanied with a side of heart disease. We have yet again, placed the Black behind on an unobtainable pedestal. Yay for us...go be like Buffy!

The pages of Sara Baartman's life are screaming. We glorify what she died for and the hell she experienced. We need to do better.

Thoughts? Comments?