Two recent and one not-so-recent photos of three young women that I know and love have surfaced on social media, leaving me a bit shocked and bewildered due to their physical exposure and the fact that the photos are available for the world to see. Am I being foolish and old-fashioned?
In 2023, it seems that a non-nursing woman’s breasts are no longer thought of as sexual body parts designed to attract a sexual partner, but merely as body parts as common as your nose or your eyes to be viewed by everyone – but for what purpose?
I know this trend didn’t start in 2023; it’s probably been around for at least a hundred years by now, but it is more recent in the Black community that women have been deliberately exposing their breasts (and other body parts) in public display in the attempt to be seen as sexy. Why are we now so pre-occupied with sexiness? Are women following their own natural inclination, or simply following the lead of their idols who let it all hang out for the sake of satisfying the holder of the dollar? Is that the natural purpose of sexiness?
Some would criticize this behavior saying that the young women I referred to are calling attention to themselves by sharing their photos with the world on Facebook and that by doing so, they are likely to promote unwanted predatory responses. Such criticism would advise that this behavior be avoided for their own benefit. While unwanted attention is certainly a potential repercussion, I would argue that a deeper reason for a Black woman not baring her breasts to the world should be more personally relevant and more psychologically entrenched.
Imagine the year 1723, a mere 300 years ago. Imagine a ship being pulled into the harbor in Charleston, South Carolina containing your great ancestor mother who managed to survive the journey from the west coast of Africa to Barbados, then on to South Carolina. Imagine her journey on those ships being the target of rape and degradation. Imagine those perfect breasts being torn from the mouth of her hungry child who was then tossed aside like litter. Imagine those breasts being forced to suckle and feed her tormentor’s heinous desire.
Imagine your great ancestor mother’s terror, her shame, her indignation as she is brought up from the hold of a ship and stripped naked before the white man’s world to be fondled and pinched and prodded like an animal that she was purported to be while that man looked on with fiendish glee at the enormous potential of his income or his bed. Can you imagine? Can you feel her pain?
Have we become so liberated that it is becoming to willingly offer up our beauty to this same world with no thought of our ancient ancestor mothers? Is there no value to modesty anymore?
And just when I thought I was done writing this piece, a most disturbing video circulated on Facebook. Have you ever watched the Westminster Kennels Dog Show? There she was, a well-endowed sista with bouncy breasts and swiggly hips dressed, or should I say half-dressed in white being led by the hand by her man around the perimeter of some arena for all to see. I practically cried when I saw this Daughter of Ethiopia being displayed like a piece of property much like the thoroughbred dogs that get led around Madison Square Garden and other showplaces, on a chain, not quite able to keep up with her owner in her too-high high heels, with not even as sturdy a gait as all those dogs.
Mother of the Universe, reclaim your dignity and your respect. Rebuild your NATION.
RADIO GILLIE 