(Subtitled – Where da Bouge At?)
So as I've been exploring the bougie culture, I've been looking around and I have a few observations:
- When did our TV Bouge Icons (Tisha Campbell as Gina on Martin, Phylicia Rashad as Claire Huxtable on the Cosby show), turn into these chicks? (This is Tiny and Toya of the BET show Tiny&Toya, Tiny is married to rapper T.I. and Toya is rapper L'il Wayne's Baby Momma)
- As mentioned by Glen Antoine Palmer of The Gentleman's Standard, why aren't more of us vacationing here? BougieSis and I go to resorts like this once a year and more often than not, we can count on one hand the number of cocoa people there. Vacation specials, people. You could go here for much less than a weekend run to Vegas. Expand horizons.
- When did movies like Madea Goes to Jail replace movies like Love Jones? I miss a meaningful relationship-based film with a smart black cast and slamming soundtrack. Don't get me start on the Tyler Perry of it all.
- When did cutting edge black music go from Fulfillfness First Finale to Port of Miami? Okay so Rick Ross is on no one's "cutting edge" list but ya'll take my meaning.
- Why are books like Thug's Passion taking up Barnes and Noble shelf space where books like Waiting to Exhale need to reside?
- When did our great thinkers/speakers go from Marcus Garvey and WEB Dubois to Tom Joyner and Steve Harvey? No, I don't have (major) issues with Steve Harvey, I just question his qualifications to sit on a CNN panel.
We're losing ground in the battle of images and context in popular culture. I don't expect to see all bouge all the time but we have GOT to do better. With the exception of the Obamas, we have a scant number of bougie heroes in the spotlight.
Am I being too intolerant? Should I adobt a more 'live and left live' attitude? Thoughts?
10 comments:
Looking at the evidence side by side does make you sense a real downturn in the black culture being shared these days.
Gina?
Gina was a hoodrat!
But where is the line between: Bourgeous and Pretentious?
Where is the line between being aspirational and being oneself?
@UBJ - Gina was not that hoody. Steps above Tiny & Toya. As for the line, that's a post later in the week - When Good Bouge Goes Bad ;-)
i knew "we" had a problem on our hands when i saw DL Hughley with his own show on CNN. DL!!! at first i thought SURELY this has to be a joke. CNN has roland martin FILL IN for c.campbell, but then give DL his own show?!?! *sigh*
and not sure when comedians and rappers became icons that can speak on behalf of the black community either.
Does this signal a slow decline of our culture? Or does this simply signal that we still have not learned to take charge of the images of ourselves promulgated by a media that simply wishes to make money and more money?
The standards in our community as a people are falling lower and lower (just like teen boys pants). But if you speak against, Heaven help you. Where are the Cosby's? Where is a Different World? Where is Touched by an Angel? Let's face it its about the dollar bill and until someone speaks up 'we' will keep falling down.
Don't get me start on the Tyler Perry of it all
What's wrong with Tyler Perry other then he seems to be the only black selling producer at the moment, where is Spike Lee and John Singelton? Why aren't movies being made from some of the best black books I've ever read? I would like to see The Bluest Eye on the big screen.
What if all the bougie got together and financed production studios? Intelligent life is lacking because the intelligent tend to leave and not return to lend a helping hand, but can't really blame them because most time 'we' as a people are like crabs in a barrel but there are some who just need a hand up. I say put your hand out and if someone reaches for it snatch them out and keep it moving.
(Cousin V)
To be honest, Gina got hood-ier (made it up) the longer she stayed with Martin. She didn't start out like that.
I was just thinking about this. It's just another reason I've given up watching tv. It's just too depressing. And these images are being filtered across the world. I can't tell you how many destinations I've been too where people have preconceived notions about me based on what they've seen on tv.
This article will also shed some light on the situation: http://www.theroot.com/views/american-embrace-ignorance-and-why-blacks-need-let-go
I don't put black people under the same umbrella. We are all black or of African descent and that is about it. I love diversity; I don't like one-sided things. With that said, I have no problems with Tyler Perry, Rick Ross (err), Tom Joyner, Steve Harvey (hmm)....LOL What I do have a problem with is the lack of diversity. Period. Oversaturation is never a good thing. It really isn't. Would I want to see bouge all the time...no..Would I want to see hood all the time...no..because black people are more than hood and bouge. We are diverse. No race can easily fool people like us with our diversity. For example, a black woman start speaking Spanish in a grocery store and customers' "mouth drop" (wink). I love us.
Disclaimer: I am not saying other races are not diverse. :)
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