tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6768970825901899048.post2985632418384379149..comments2024-03-22T03:15:31.795-04:00Comments on Waiting 2 Speak: Sing a Black Girl's Song: Body ImageK.Irishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01570693697177280683noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6768970825901899048.post-72868116919749060972008-04-27T02:49:00.000-04:002008-04-27T02:49:00.000-04:00On one hand, I want to cry. It reminds me so much...On one hand, I want to cry. It reminds me so much of the "doll" tests.<BR/><BR/>But on the other, I'm glad you're challenging them. Please, please keep doing so.ellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01867952598756889997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6768970825901899048.post-241928402328612282008-04-26T23:02:00.000-04:002008-04-26T23:02:00.000-04:00be fun pad (*huge smile*),Thank you for the advice...be fun pad (*huge smile*),<BR/><BR/>Thank you for the advice. I need to get better at asking questions AND not letting them off the hook, as you say, because I think I let them slide sometimes. Partly because I feel so ill-equipped to address their concerns. AND I'm wary (nervous, embarassed) to point to my own experiences with those very same images.<BR/><BR/>But coming to them out of my personal experiences with body image will have to be the way to address both of those. I'm going to have to get braver--big time braver. <BR/><BR/>*sigh*, time to search through some more Essence magazines....<BR/><BR/>Thank you :) Come again!Kismet Nuñezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17605124277457374528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6768970825901899048.post-22284976763667317952008-04-26T20:21:00.000-04:002008-04-26T20:21:00.000-04:00start asking questions, and don't let them off the...start asking questions, and don't let them off the hook. Wait patiently for them to answer you.<BR/><BR/>so by questions--I mean--doing something like when they are all grabbing for the lighter/white representations--say, "hold up hold up hold---let's stop a minute. What do you see in these pictures?" Then go from there--why do you like these pictures? What makes you feel happy about these pictures? Is there anything that makes you mad or sad? Do you wish you could be like the women in these pictures? Why or why not? Who do you think *made* these pictures? Why do you think that they made them? Do you think everybody looks like this? Why do you think that they choose women who look like this if not everybody looks like this? Etc etc etc. Then use the pic's of the darker skinned/black women and do the same thing.<BR/><BR/>Make them think about this--and your gonna get a lot of girls who are going to say "i dunno" or not want to talk about it--so Start off with the easier questions and be *really* encouraging about their responses. <BR/><BR/>When you start working with the images with the darker skinned women--be *really* prepared to share a bit of yourself. Tell them about when you felt uncomfortable with your appearance. Or what you felt like when somebody made fun of your appearance. Or when you saw the pictures and felt happy and wonderful because at last there was a woman who looked like you--and they may shut down here, and not want to admit anything--cuz kids are just like that--but you may get one or two girls who say something, and that will inspire others as well. And if you don't--at the *very* least, slowing them down and forcing them to think through some questions will make them actually think about what YOU say, you know? store it away and remember it when they're ready to hear it.<BR/><BR/>Another thing to consider as well--just so you don't get too frustrated with yourself--lots of times kids at that age are attracted to bright shiny objects and stuff that is really familiar to them. so they will use light skinned images because that's what they're *used* to seeing. I mean--watch BET or read Latina! and you see light skinned ambiguous looking women, you know?<BR/><BR/>So they're gonna take what they're used to, to the point of actively rejecting what they're NOT used to. <BR/><BR/>I had this same issue with some young women who I am really close to--and it breaks my heart to seem them do certain things--like one of them *always* picks blond white women to be their "avatar" thing when she is online or playing Wii--I've asked why and she says because she things "yellow hair is pretty". I have to totally stop myself from shaking her and saying, baby, BLACK HAIR IS PRETTY TOO!!!!--but I've learned that the better thing to do is give her the tools to figure that out herself. give her the questions to ask when she looks at something, you know?<BR/><BR/>anyway. i could go on and on! :-)<BR/><BR/>i'm looking forward to hearing more about this--AND--their artwork *IS* very beautiful. they have a great sense of style.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com