Have Some Nigger Cake: The Impossibility of "Revamping" Derogatory References

My post yesterday was a very labored one because there was so much anger going on while I was writing it that I had to edit a lot of my first thoughts.  I wanted to convey my anger, disappointment and revulsion about Makode Linde's decision to create a racist cake "sculpture" (that depicted a racist caricature of a Black woman in black face) without distracting from emphasizing his assault on Black female identity as his means to an end.

I will not presume to know what Mr. Linde was thinking when he decided to start creating a series of blackface art".  But I will say that there is not one part of me that believes that he didn't know what he was doing when he created that repulsive cake that has now been circling the internet as "the Nigger cake".

He was obviously trying to be provocative but it was at Black women's expense and somehow I don't think that showing insensitivity towards women is a positive when you're supposedly addressing the horror of female genital mutilation (which occurs in places other than Africa), as he stated originally.  His creation has allowed yet another degrading image to become attributed to Black female identity.  All Black people should be angry about that, not just Black women.

Mr. Linde, a 30-year-old Swede with an African father, explained that the screaming cake was part of a series of works he calls “Afromantics.” His intention for the works, he said, is “revamping the blackface into a new historical narrative and sort of lifting invisible prejudice to an exaggerated level, where it’s becoming over-obvious and in a way more in your face and easier to talk about.”

He initially said that he created the cake as a way to bring attention to female mutilation and now he wants to "revamp blackface" so that we have new and improved racist imagery to deal with as Black people.  (Gee, Thanks.)  There is no way to revamp blackface or the word nigger for a more palatable consumption.  They will always incite anger and pain because they represent the rabid hate that is an atrocious reflection and indictment on our white supremacist society.

Mr. Linde also said, “In my art, I’m more like questioning the different images of blackness. I’m not illustrating real black identity. I am illustrating ideas, or concepts, or patterns that surround ideas about black identity.”      

What questions?!  There has never been a question about why the different racist images or names for Blackness exist in this society.  Mr Linde should be honest and say that he wanted some notoriety by any means necessary (no pun intended).  If he really wants to break new ground for a new historical narrative to draw attention to "invisible prejudices" then he should take the pictures (of all those participatory smiling white faces) from his event and turn that into art.  Of course that art won't be shown in Sweden's Museum of Modern Art, but at least that art would be highlighting the real problem.

Racism is a societal defect that was created by morally and mentally corrupt people.  Mr. Linde can't correct a defect with something defective.  Black face already existed, there was no need for "new black face".

We live in a white supremacist structured world and the only way to combat that is to stop placating white society.  Those that indulge in the cruelties of racism need to be called out on a daily basis if necessary every time that they do.

[Source]

Apparently Black Woman Mutilation In Black Face Makes Great Art and Dessert

I am so beyond angry and tired of seeing Black males creating and participating in the continued pursuit to crush the Black female identity.  To simply say that I became ill when I saw this garbage on the internet would be a huge understatement.  You want to believe that the males that do this can't possibly be that stupid but they really are.

The diseased mind of Swedish "artist" Makode Linde thought that it was a good idea for him to create a cake in the racist caricature form of a Black woman (with him as the head of the cake in Black face) to draw attention to female genitalia mutilation.  Watching a collective of white people walking around gawking at his creation was completely appalling and reminiscent of the tragic life of Sarah Baartman.  By allowing those grinning white faces in Sweden the opportunity to cut into a cake of his degrading representation of a Black woman, Linde showed the world that he has no respect or empathy for Black women in the process.

His supposed desire to draw attention to the cruelty of female mutilation with this exhibit was lost from the moment he decided to represent the horror of female mutilation with a damn cake!  A cake that was first sliced by the Culture Minister of Sweden, Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth (who should be fired) while she grinned and giggled for the cameras and at one point fed Linde some of the cake.

<--Yes they were that stupid, vulgar and insensitive.  Where in that display of glee was there any real understanding of the tragedy of female mutilation???  The imagery this "art" installation evoked was one of horror and pain.  This was not "art" to teach and inform, this was mockery of Black women and racism, plain and simple!

Can we please pay attention to the fact that Linde decided that the color black was to be used as the skin tone of this degrading spectacle and not the color brown.  Black is a race designation of people and the various shades of brown represents skin tone!

With "brothas" like Makode Linde you know that Black women are own their own and need to always be on guard.  Those that are socially perceived as the closest to you in society will sacrifice you on an open fire if the price is right.  I am tired of ignorant self-hating Black males objectifying and disparaging Black females as a source of social, financial or political gain.  Makode Linde proves that the sickness that has infected the Black male collective doesn't have borders.

What other race of male publicly creates and defends this type of degradation towards the women in their racial group?  If lost Black men don't get some self-respect and start protecting and defending Black women they will cease to exist.

Take a look at the YouTube video and the comments if you can stomach it.  This F-O-O-L has the nerve to make screaming sounds (which sound more like a comedic yelp) as the cake is cut.    

If My Support Is So Important...

Try creating films that I want to see!

While reading my Google reader there was a post that popped up from Clutch and the title was "We Still Need to Support, Think Like A Man".  *falls over laughing hysterically*

How about creating films that don't dismiss and demean Black women and then turn around imploring (and often times demanding) that we spend our money on it.  I refuse to spend one dime of my money to help Steve Harvey keep his third wife or to help Kevin Hart remain relevant.

I knew that the articles about why we (Black women) should support the film Think Like A Man were on the way since it is being released on Friday.  But to see this article written on Clutch (a online magazine that promotes itself as being "for Black women") was too much of the ridiculous all within a couple of paragraphs.

Since Clutch has now removed this ridiculous article I have included what I received below.
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We Still Need to Support, “Think Like A Man”

from Clutch Magazine by Risa Dixon

The movie based on Steve Harvey’s book, “Think Like A Man,” comes out in theaters this Friday.  Despite personal views, it still needs our support. Many may not agree with the premise of the movie (myself included), but it is a film with a majority black cast. Not seeing the movie because you don’t like the book will not only hurt Steve Harvey, but the other black actors in the film as well.
We need to support all black films so that Hollywood continues to give funding for films with black actors. I know some of your may say you don’t like the caliber of the majority of black films that come out, but the more we support them the better they will get with time. Boycotting will actually do more harm than good in the long run.  Going to see this film and other all black movies will show the purchasing power of the Black community. It will show that it pays to have movies that have black actors and that deal with issues that our community has to encounters every day.
We can’t complain about the lack of Black actors in movies and then not support movies that do have an all Black cast.

Will you go see it?
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I wonder if the author really believes what she wrote or she was just looking to get page clicks.  Either way she might want to "phone a friend" before hitting the publish button next time.

White Privilege Wins: L'Oreal and Beyonce Continue to Give Black Women the Finger

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

(H/T Ankhesen Mié)

Apparently Black/African American is not acceptable enough to L'Oreal and Beyonce.

L'Oreal and Beyonce continue their marketing affiliation by insulting Black women again with their racist advertising campaigns further solidifying their disdain for the Black female identity.  Their preferred clientele (read: white) apparently doesn't appreciate or purchase products that use people that don't look like them in the advertising.  When white people say that they are white there is NO ONE is expecting or requesting an ethnicity breakdown.  WTH.  Just another example why elementary and secondary education shouldn't have to suffer white fairy tales disguised as history.

White privilege derived racism is the primary factor that permits L'Oreal's blatant and racist disregard for Black women who spend between $7-$8 billion dollars on cosmetics annually.  They don't change because they haven't had to change in order to continue receiving our dollars.  We show them every time we purchase their products that they don't have to respect us or show reciprocity.  They take us for granted because we have allowed them to.

This is not the first time that L'Oreal has shown their predilection for racism within their company and through their marketing and advertising affiliation with Beyonce.  But I bet like me, a lot of you continued to purchase their products. (Dark and Lovely, Roots of Nature, Optimum Care, Garnier, Maybelline, Redken, Mizani) An insider tip that L'Oreal can take directly to their advertising departments; Black women purchase cosmetic products from more than just the one "ethnic" directed line that they now own.  Black women spend a lot of money in a variety of areas!  We control the majority of the expenditures in our households just like other women who are making the decisions about where that money goes.  We can choose to show them why they should pay very close attention to ALL of the women that purchase their products by being more discerning.

As L'Oreal continues to assault their Black female consumers by choosing to overtly reject Black female identity in their advertising, Beyonce cosigns making sure that her check has cleared.  WIBP (White Identified Black People) like Beyonce and her peoples propel the institution of whiteness forward every time they give it a pass in order to get paid. *cough*  Carol's Daughter and Steve Stoute???  Lord build a bridge for lost Black people to find their way back to common sense.

Putting a spotlight on the mindless consumerism within the Black community is something that I have been planning for a while.  We spend a trillion dollars each year and too much of that is done without any forethought and with little to no expectation of these companies showing respect and reciprocity in the way that they produce, market or affiliate themselves with us.  Enough. Of. That.

Respect Black is calling out L'Oreal and Beyonce by saying, "I would rather choose No Brand over Your Brand™".  L'Oreal and other companies just like them must choose to show the same respect, effort and consideration towards Black women as consumers or they should lose us forever.

I realize that opting out is not a small endeavor.  I am a product junkie veteran and I have (for close to two years) paid attention to everything that I consume and because of that effort I have been able to wean myself from my mindless product consumption.  Just go through your house and add up the value of everything that you have purchased in just the last couple of months (the items that you use as well as the ones that you don't).  If you are traumatized afterwards then take action.

It is hard to accept at times but as Black people (in a world preoccupied with whiteness) we have to be cautious and discerning in everything we support with our time, money and effort or we invite a larger disconnect and more blatant disrespect.  In a world that lauds whiteness as the ultimate and the norm there is no choice but to push back hard against the idea that we aren't important parts of this world. 

I am a woman who sees nothing wrong with my Black female identity and I continued to purchase products from L'Oreal and companies like them that don't care about Black women specifically as consumers.  I gave them an unlimited invitation to my wallet without reciprocity.  I no longer allow myself to consume without thinking and I definitely will not spend another dime with companies that disrespect my Black female identity and don't value me as a consumer. 

One step at a time.  "No Brand over Your Brand™".