Posts Tagged ‘Stereotypes’

So this week Baller Alert reported that Khloe Kardashian (Kim’s younger sister) is set to marry NBA Baller Lamar Odom this Sunday (9/27/09) after only ONE month of dating. Of course, most people’s reaction to this news has been mocking. Here’s Khloe, a serial baller-dater and Lamar yet another baller who didn’t make the mother of his children his wife in all the 12 years they were reportedly together. Other media outlets are already reporting that Lamar and Khloe will have a spinoff show after their wedding is taped on “Keeping Up With the Kardashians.” All these rumors and the circumstances surrounding their relationship don’t exactly give anyone the feeling that this is going to be a lasting union.

khloe and lamar hold hands

But what do we know?

I will be honest, I could absolutely envision myself doing something like this. Since I’ve never met anyone that the shine didn’t wear off of within two weeks, on some level I feel like a month would be long enough for me to decide that I was willing to make it work with the first man who is respectful of men and can hold my interest longer than two dates and one disagreement. I’m not saying I would be in love with him. I’m not saying that I would know or understand him. But what I am saying is that I think it’s possible to just have a “feeling” about someone.

I don’t believe that love, honesty, or respect keep marriages together on a whole…I think that a genuine willingness on the part of both parties to make a relationship work is what keeps a marriage/relationship together. From that dedication grows the love, honesty, and respect that allow two people to be happy together.  How many of us know two people who love each other yet one or both always have one foot out the door? You have to want it.

Maybe Khloe and Lamar are having a publicity stunt moment. Maybe they’re getting married because they both have business ventures that they can help each other with. Or maybe they’re getting married b/c fuck it, they’re young and it seems like fun idea.  Doesn’t everyone have a different idea of what marriage should be?  One person’s idea of marriage might be love and romance, another person’s reason for marrying might be soley to have a family.

I find this union between Khloe and Lamar intriguing and confusing on many levels…the marriage within a month of meeting is the least of it.

Read more: www.singled-out.net |twitter.com/sojdanielle |facebook.com/jdanielle

Today in Singled Out Week of September 1st

Wednesday, September 2, 2009
posted by J Danielle

Portrayals of Single Women by Tyler Perry, letters to Perry and to all Black men, and a discussion on whether you could be single forever

Letter love: SingleinAtlanta’s blog posts a letter to all black men from all black women and The Beautiful Struggler writes in Open Letter to Tyler Perry.

I have MAJOR issues with Tyler Perry’s Portrayals of women, in particular SINGLE BLACK woman. In Perry’s world, single black women are all struggling with children and drug habits or success has made them so arrogant and classless a man would never want to touch them. In either case, all we need to do is find a man who will rescue us.

Courtney Young writes a wonderful article on Perry for The Nation (my favorite magazine) and does a GREAT job of capturing many of my feelings on Tyler Perry and his work.

Tyler Perry’s “Daddy’s Little Girls” gives me the same feeling that this stereotypical, over the top and extremely offensive video I ran across on facebook originally uploaded to DimeWars provided me with.  To some it will be hilarious, to others like myself, it will be disturbing.  The video is entitled “The Adventures of Tameka the Arrogant African American Professional Who Can’t Keep Man.”  Darn, the title gives it all away!

Over on the blog, the newest article is on whether or not you could be Happily Single forever. I am curious to hear people’s thoughts. I hear some people say it they’d be fine, others like me…not so much.

I believe that black women are not angry that black men choose to date women of other races. I believe that black women are jealous of the fact that black men have more freedom than they do to make such a choice.

When black females snipe about interracial dating it’s usually because traditionally black men have BLAMED black women for their DECISION to date interracially. And, most importantly, because men of other races don’t pursue black females like white and other women want pursue black males.

Basically black females have displaced jealousy that comes across as anger.  If Roco, Matt, Juan, Giovanni, Kamir, and Biff were dating pursuing black women in HEAVY numbers you wouldn’t hear a PEEP out of black women when it comes to black men dating outside the race. Black girls wouldn’t have time to comment, they’d be too busy sampling all the tasty flavors.

But alas that is not the case. Black men in America are held up as the standard of masculinity. Everybody wants to give people dap and listen to Jay-z cause the cool black guys around the corner are doing it. Unfortunately, black women aren’t held up as the standard of femininity. It is very difficult for black women to overcome the personality stereotypes.

Photo via cdn.theurbandaily.com/

Photo via cdn.theurbandaily.com/

There are plenty of relationships in which women bring the chocolate to the party, check this post over at balleralert.com for a taste. But the fact remains that those “other” men are not approaching or as interested in black women as their women are in black men.

In other words, it’s not fair!

Back men contribute to this problem by picking up the degrading language in rap songs and speaking as though they are living a similar lifestyle. I can forgive many rap stars for their words because they actually live the life they are talking about. They actually are approached frequently by promiscuous females. They actually are aggressively pursued by girls who want them just because of their fame or money.

But most men aren’t dealing with these types of women.

Photo via Vibe.com

Photo via Vibe.com

Yet too many black men speak as though they live the lifestyle of some famous rapper or well-known professional athlete. Too often I hear men with no gold complaining about gold diggers. Men with no group criticizing groupies! Men who are in need of sex calling women whores. I often wonder what they even know about it??

The answer is NOTHING.

Nevertheless, when black women see a black man with a woman who isn’t black, they should train themselves not to care.  That includes when you view a blog on Terrell Owens or any other eligible celebrity black bachelor and his latest non-black conquest. Keep your comment to yourself. You will feel better and be better for it. Not all black men who date interracially believe negative things about black women, and if they do, that’s an issue for them to figure out, not one for you to point out. Chalk it up to a loss. On the other hand, black men must stop putting black women down to defend their choice to date interracially. The truth is it’s not headscarves, values, morals, or attitudes that make black men date outside their race. It’s simply a personal choice that doesn’t require defending.

Finally, black women should aggressively explore other races of men as potential mates to assist in ridding themselves of that “All the black men are gay, taken, or dating women of other races” feeling. I recommend the, “if you can’t beat’em, join’em” approach.  Try happy hour with the white people. Do brunch at the Asian fusion restaurant. Show these South Asian men how sweet and nice you are. Check the “race doesn’t matter” box on your Eharmony profile.

Everyone should know that black women are approachable, generous, and know how to work with their men and support them so they can reach their dreams, just like any other race of women. Remember when the First Lady was first introduced to the public? Certain groups of Americans were determined to paint her as an angry person. She refused to let it stick, so should you.

Anyone who says the numbers of marriageable black men in this country aren’t low is a damn uneducated fool.  However, a black woman’s power to increase the odds of her getting married and bearing children within a marriage is in her own hands. Though it may require thinking outside of the box…or at least checking a different one.

How My Dog Is Just Like a Man

Friday, August 7, 2009
posted by J Danielle
Kai the German Shepherd

(Kai…my german shepherd)

1. He misbehaves even though he knows I will put him out–he literally runs out of the room when I say “Out.”

2. After I put him out, he sneaks back in when I’m not looking. Sometimes he actually puts his head down and looks away as though that makes him invisible.

3. When he’s bad, he immediately apologizes by trying to be affectionate. This can include trying to lay his head on my chest.

4. If he makes me really mad he’ll go away for a while and then come back later and act like nothing ever happened.

5. He brings me things I don’t want (dead fish heads or trash), and if I don’t pretend to like them, his feelings get hurt.

6. He unknowingly takes more than he gives.

7. He walks around looking for shit to get into and won’t rest until he finds something.

8. When he meets girls, he immediately tries to hump them.

9. Once he realizes he can’t destroy something, he doesn’t want to play with it anymore.

10. He’s aggressive towards most men, friendly to some, but LOVES every woman he meets.

11. He immediately falls in love with anyone who brings him food or treats.

12. When he doesn’t want to do something he pretends to be sleeping or too busy eating.

13. When I leave the house he pretends to be upset when really he can’t wait for me to leave so he can sleep or do his own thing.

14. After being reprimanded repeatedly for making the mistake he is still confused about why I’m upset.

15. When he doesn’t like something I’m doing he moans and groans about instead of just getting up and leaving the room.

16. He relaxes by playing with balls—this can include tennis balls and footballs as well as his “natural’ ones.

17. He knows he’s too cute to stay mad at.

18. He always feels affectionate in the morning jumping on the bed with me and wanting to be petted and hugged; he’s also really aggressive with it trying repeatedly after being shot down. If I’m not in the mood, he cops an attitude and leaves the room.

And the final reason my dog is just like a man…

19. For some reason, I refuse to give up on him.