February 2014
Be You. Uncompromised. 100%
Beauty Is‌ As Beauty Does. Projects that project beauty from the inside out
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A look behind the Skin Deep music video A Look at the Evolution of the Image of Black Women
SKIN DEEP Where does the saying come from & what does it really mean?
SKIN DEEP
Where does the saying come from & what does it really mean? It was 1612 when the words “Beauty is only Skin Deep” were first penned. The conjurer of this phrase was Sir Thomas Overbury and both his intent and his words have been transformed almost as much as the concept of beauty itself. In 1612, Overbury’s best friend had fallen madly in love with another man’s wife. In a last ditch effort to persuade his friend, Overbury scribed a poem entitled “The Wife” where he set about explaining the purpose of marriage and the values of a good wife. In the poem, he wrote these famous words: “And all the carnall beauty of my wife is but skin-deep…” But what did he mean?
Overbury was concerned with his friend being lost to lust and the idea of beauty and desire only to find that the object of his affection is just an object of his imagination. Though the phrase originated with Overbury, his point did not.
Centuries earlier, a wise man penned these words: “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.” (Proverbs 31:30) In both instances, these words of caution were written to advise men not to fall for the appearance of beauty at the risk of missing the true substance of beauty, but what is a woman to do with words like these? After all, no woman wants to have her husband write about her that her “beauty is only skin deep.” Well, here are some feminine friendly takeaways from this maxim.
How We Girls Can Apply The Lesson of “Beauty is only Skin Deep” 1.
Don’t let the superficial judgment of others penetrate your skin. Sadly, people today still get caught up in appearances. You however don’t have to let that define who you are.
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There’s nothing wrong with being charming or beautiful, just make sure that it’s not a mask. Your charm should be authentic and your beauty should remain after people have gotten to know the person inside.
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Attractiveness is meant to have depth. The more people are exposed to you, the more they should be drawn to you. Add depth to your beauty with knowledge, spirituality, patience, love, kindness, graciousness, good humor, and other qualities that make people want to grow deeper with you. (Or follow the list in 2 Peter 1:5-8.)
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Do your best your remove secret or subtly unattractive characteristics such as bitterness, selfishness, rudeness. Fortunately, these are attributes most people don’t wear on their sleeves, so if you are struggling with them, you’ll likely have time to work on them without exposing yourself to everyone.
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You’ve heard the idiom, “Never judge a book by its cover;” well, because we know that people do, let’s try to make sure the cover gives clues as to what’s on the inside. Be open! Your facial expressions and the way you carry yourself can be seen as advertisements for your current state of mind or personality. If you’re wearing a sour look, ask yourself why. If that’s your natural expression, ask yourself why. Then ask yourself, “Would I like to spend time with someone whose natural state of being is sour?” Work on advertising the person you really are.
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Don’t fall for the okiedoke, either. Many men look good on paper or even in person, but before you give your heart away, know that you know who that man really is. It’ll help keep that smile of yours in place.
Booking@MahoganyJones.com
Black Beauty in American Psyche
In the Black community, Blacks have always had our own definitions of Beauty. However, in mainstream media, only certain stereotypes and archetypes of Black women could be seen. 9
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These “accepted” images worked to shape America’s impression of Black femininity or lack their of and were often consciously or subconsciously compared to the ideal white woman.
Today the media still subscribes to a certain narrative of what Black beauty and femininity is, still only awarding certain images and limiting others.
American Beauty on Black Psyche
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Read about each woman’s role in defining Black beauty on the following pages.
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Black Beauty in America n Psyche The perception of Black women in America originated from American’s perception of Black women in Africa. Propaganda, even well intentioned (like in the case of missionary work), furthered the perception of Black women as savages, wild and completely different from the ideal white woman. This is how slavery, rape, and domestication of Black women was justified for centuries in America. However, Blacks eventually began changing the face of Blacks in entertainment and media.
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Sarah Baartman (1789 –1815) was the most famous of at least two Khoikhoi women who were exhibited as freak show attractions in 19th-century Europe under the name Hottentot Venus. Baartman’s body was used to set a borderline between the "abnormal" African woman (“wild or savage female”) and "normal" Caucasian woman.
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Dr. David Livingstone (active 1849 -1873) was a missionary to Africa and anti-slavery crusader who encouraged the colonization of Africa as an alternative to slavery. His work in Africa was famously portrayed with pictures like this featuring bare-breasted African women. While Livingston was known among Africans to treat them with respect, the images of Africans that circulated at home did not help provide dignity to Black women.
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Madam C. J. Walker (1867 – 1919), the first female self-made millionaire in America, made her fortune marketing Black beauty like so: “Perhaps you envy the girl with irresistible beauty, whose skin is flawless and velvety, whose hair has a beautiful silky sheen… You need not envy her. Create new beauty for yourself...”
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Hattie McDaniel (1895 – 1952) was the first African American to win an Academy Award. for Best Supporting Actress in her role of Mammy in Gone with the Wind. She reportedly said: "Why should I complain about making $700 a week playing a maid? If I didn't, I'd be making $7 a week being one.”
Lena Horne (active 1933 - 2000) was an African American singer, actress, civil rights activist and dancer of European American, Native American, and African-American descent. Afraid people would mistake her for a white woman, MGM studios appointed Max Factor to create a make-up called "Dark Egyptian", so she could appear as a "Negro" onscreen.
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Black Beauty in American Psyche Whites long held beliefs that Black women were more sexual in a primitive way. Despite carrying themselves with class, simply being found appealing to White men made them Jezebels and villains. As Black women asserted their voices, their pictures in media grew intimidating to White America. Gone were the images of Black women happy to entertain and maintain the homes of Whites. Now news reels showed angry Black women speaking up.
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Dorothy Dandridge’s (1922 –1965) big break came playing an exotic African queen in Tarzan's Peril. Her next big hit was as the seductress, Carmen for which she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress. Before the failure of Porgy and Bess where she was seen as a "sell out", many Blacks looked up to her as one who proved that a Black woman could achieve what a white woman could. Nina Simone wrote "Four Women” about Black female stereotypes, sang "Images” about lack of pride in Black women, yet wrote in her diary “I can’t be white and I’m the kind of colored girl who looks like everything white people despise…” She complained that photographers from Ebony and Look made her ugly.
The Supremes (1959-1977), became the first black female group to embrace a more feminine image. They appeared onstage in detailed make-up, wigs and high-fashion gowns. Motown wanted the Supremes to be equally appealing to black and white audiences to erase the image of black performers as being unrefined or lacking class.
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Eartha Kitt was a star of film, television, recordings and Broadway channeling sex appeal into success. She was best-known for her “devious come-hither” version of Catwoman” opposite Adam West as Batman in the final TV season, 1967-68. Orson Welles once called her “the most exciting woman in the world.”
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Angela Yvonne Davis’s image was shown across the country as a fugetive and was referred to as a “dangerous terrorist“ by the President of the United States in 1970. Yet, the outspoken communist member, black panther associate rallied support worldwide for her freedom and was acquitted by an all white jury in 1972.
BOOK YOUR YOUR SCHOOL
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American Beauty on Black Psyche During the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, certain preconceived ideas of Black women were challenged in the public with the emergence of new figures. Whether playing action heroes, nurses like Diane Carroll or lawyers like Phylicia Rashad, Black girls saw new possibilities and social acceptance. Black women had long broken into modeling, but the 90’s saw more mainstream acceptance and more Black models. Likewise, music was not new territory for women of color, but hip-hop’s controversial image was gaining a Whiter following.
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Pam Grier became famous starring in 1970’s blaxploitation films playing bold, assertive women. As the first female action hero, critic Roger Ebert praised her "beautiful face and astonishing form" saying she possessed a "physical life" missing from attractive actresses. Vanessa Williams was the first Black woman crowned Miss America and the first reigning Miss America to receive death threats and hate mail. She was also exploited when nude photos (that were supposed to be silhouettes) were sold without permission and published by Penthouse. Her crown was forfeited to the runner up who was also Black. While Phylicia Rashad is amazing, her character Clair Huxtable introduced a new type of Black woman to America in 1984 on the #1 sitcom. She’s a lawyer, known for her relaxed confidence, intelligence and class. Despite her elegant toughness and strictness, Clair is silly and a very loving mother and wife. Frequently voted Favorite TV mom. Oprah Winfrey became a nationally syndicated talk show host in 1986. Time Magazine wrote: “Few people would have bet on Oprah… In a field dominated by white males, she is a black female of ample bulk…” Whoopie Goldberg entered film in 1985 with The Color Purple, becoming a household name on Star Trek The Next Generation (1988 – 1993) and winning an Academy Award in 1990 for Ghost. While a Hollywood mainstay, her characters are all asexual and single. She expressed her frustration over sex scenes being edited. Holly Robinson Pete was the female equivalent of Johnny Depp. From 1987 – 1991 she starred on the #1 rated TV show, 21 Jump Street as a cop working youth related cases. As a Black star on a mainstream drama, she epitomized cool with a girl next door quality, toughness and street smarts: American boys’ crush.
American Beauty on Black Psyche As some Black women rose to fame as sex objects others ascended portrayed as asexual. Are the images of Black women that we control and project any better today than the propaganda and stereotypes perpetrated upon black women in the early 1800’s? These fictionalized “women” go a long way at reaffirming the perceived look and personality of Black women… for Black girls and mainstream America.
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Tyra Banks was the first Black woman on the covers of GQ and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 1996. In 1997, she received the VH1award for, "Supermodel of the Year." and became the first African American chosen for the cover of the Victoria's Secret catalog. Halle Berry debuted in “Black” films in 91, but after Alex Haley’s televised Queen and playing a vixen in The Flintstones she’s had mainstream roles ever since, include Bond Girl. She’s the face of Revlon. But it was the brief flash of her breasts in Swordfish that added $500,000 to her fee.
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Queen Latifah is a female hip hop pioneer, but won America over in 2002 as Matron Mama Morton in Chicago. Many of her mainstream roles were sassy, ghetto, or mama figures, before turning to mature roles or an award show host & talkshow host. She became a Covergirl in 2001. Karrine Steffans is just one of many women who created fame through sexually explicit displays in music videos and magazines. She first appeared in music videos in 1999 and wrote Confessions of a Video Vixen in 2005. She hates the name “Superhead” yet keeps profiting from stories that got her the name. Omarosa Manigault came to public attention in 2004 as the controversial, blindsiding, confrontational and alienatory, participant on the reality TV Series, The Apprentice. She soon became the "woman America loved to hate." She disagrees with the "villain" label and says her footage was manipulated. Disney finally granted little Black girls their princess wish with Tiana, modeled after the talented Anika Noni Rose. Her character starts as a strong, working class woman who almost misses love with a lazy prince because she’s goal oriented.
While Tyler Perry is a topic on his own as an actor, his character Madea, is a very popular portrayal of a “Black” woman (created by a man). She is an asexual, gun-packing, beerdrinking, sassy, rude, erroneously religious, mammy figure.
American Beauty on Black Psyche Positive images of Black women in media are becoming more common, yet often their sexuality, strength, or appearance becomes a target in the media.
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As new Black role models emerge pay attention to the roles for which they are celebrated. Are they breaking the mode?
Beyonce separated from the pop star pack as a solo artist in 2002. Far from her church roots, she used alter ego "Sasha Fierce“ to separate a sexy onstage persona from real life. Described as having wide-ranging sex appeal, she became a crossover sex symbol named “World's Most Beautiful Woman“ by People in 2012. She calls herself a “modern-era feminist.“ Gabby Douglas is the first AfricanAmerican Olympic gymnast and won 2 gold medals at the 2012 Summer Olympics. Yet was blasted on social media by African Americans for her unkempt hair following an strenuous physical performance. Nicki Minaj told VIBE “Female rappers of my day spoke about sex a lot... I thought [success meant]…I would have to represent the same thing." She claimed she tried to tone down the sexiness to show girls “nothing is based on sex appeal.” She topped her outlandish outfits with an outrageous feud on American Idol.
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Black women are often celebrated for their “control over their own image” typically a provocative image of sexuality and confrontation.
Michelle Obama, FLOTUS, was raised in Chicago, attended Princeton and Harvard Law School and focuses on being a mom. During Pres. Obama’s 2007 run Mrs. Obama was labeled an “angry black woman” before being redubbed a fashion icon and role model.
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NeNe Leakes appeared on Real Housewives of Atlanta in 2008. She’s a former stripper who married into money that she later turned into reality star fame. She makes no apologies for the more aggressive, confrontational side of her personality but rather makes money from it and is lifted as a black female role model. Kerry Washington is stylish and talented but her character Olivia Pope has been elevated to Wonder Woman without the jet. At the same time her glorified character has a long running affair with the married leader of the free world. Lupita Nyong'o made her American film debut in 12 Years a Slave (2013) for which she received critical acclaim for her acting, but any web search shows she’s also receiving praise for her beauty, poise, and style.
Beauty Is… As Beauty Does Right in the middle of the shortest month of the year can be the longest day of the year if you’re single. Yup, Valentine’s Day. The day that everyone wants to be adored and celebrated. The day that demands romance and beauty. The day that needs plans to keep the “woe is me” feeling at bay if you’re single and ready to mingle. As a single gal myself, I typically throw a party on Valentine’s day for all my single friends. While I may still do that this year, I’m also thinking of doing something bigger and more special. This year on the holiday of love, I’m challenging myself and others to demonstrate love for strangers or those in need… bonus points for showing love to an enemy.
Here are some soul-beautifying projects that you can do on Valentines day…
Make a date with a senior citizen or Sick and Shut-in. You’ll be with someone who appreciates you.
Give 5 minutes to a stranger or give out an encouraging card and compliment.
Volunteer at a shelter or give away gloves, hats, and scarves to people on the street.
Do something nice for someone who has lost a loved one.
BEHIND THE SONG
SKIN DEEP MAHOGANY JONES In 2014 we are still bombarded with the divisive jabs of colorisim. Growing up I remember playing the dozens and the first thing I'd have to defend was my complexion, the second was my weight. I tackled this issue the way I did because I believe that as women, we are vulnerable to judge ourselves by what the images around us tell us what's desirable, acceptable, beautiful about a woman. All media fed me growing up as a darker completed sister was I was good enough to be a "mammy", that I was "strong" aka "aggressive" and that I was "hypersexual" and I fulfilled fantasies of the "exotic" type.
“I was always pit against my lighter skinned And to top it off, I was always pit against my "lighter skinned" Sisters” sisters who were automatically was viewed as "classier,“ "beautiful," "desirable," or the "wifey type." I never understood that those on the "lighter" shade of the color wheel have stereotypes they fight against as well. Which is what led me to invite my sister Insite The Riot to be apart if the song, to share the concerns and speak on behalf of "lighter" shaded African American women who have had to "fight" as well. The point I wanted to drive home is that though of different shades we share the same heritage, and that bond shouldn't be the source of what divides us but unites us, and we should be able to celebrate the varying "spectrums" of our beauty.
INSITE THE RIOT “I experienced some of the light skin, long hair discrimination when I was younger. People often thought I was uppity before meeting me. But the greatest inspiration came from friends and family sharing their experiences with me. I kinda did field research around the issue and pulled out the common themes that were shared. In a since I am telling my story and the stories that were shared with me by other fair skin sistas. I tried to make a few historical references in the verse to lay context for how we arrived at the current issue. Hope this helps.”
“People often thought I was uppity before meeting me.”
Available Tuesday, February 4th