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African-American nonsense
DIANE ABBOTT
Sunday, March 09, 2014
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MCQUEEN… some African-American writers are complaining that he is not qualified to make a film about plantation slavery At right: NYONG’O… a wonderful actress
THERE is no question that the star of this year's Oscars was the dazzling Kenya-born actress Lupita Nyong'o. She carried off the best supporting actress Oscar for her role in the film of the year, 12 Years a Slave.
But what really captured the media's attention were her charm, exquisiteness and smooth dark skin. In an era when the archetype of black female beauty is Beyoncé, with her light brown skin and blonde weave, Lupita could not look more different. She is slim but not voluptuous; dark-skinned, and sports a short Afro. Her looks are a world away from the traditional Jamaican "browning".
In fact, it is difficult to see how Lupita could have been given a starring role in any film cast and produced in Jamaica. But her photograph has been everywhere, with Lupita looking effortlessly stylish and glamorous. She has even been dubbed Hollywood's new "it" girl.
Lupita is well aware of the significance of a woman, with skin as dark as her own, being feted by the mainstream media. She has said: "I too remember a time when I would turn on the TV and only see pale skin. I got teased and taunted about my night-shaded skin. And my one prayer to God, the miracle worker, was that I would wake up lighter-skinned.
"The morning would come and I would be so excited about seeing my new skin that I would refuse to look down at myself before I was in front of a mirror, because I wanted to see my fair face first. And every day I experienced just the same disappointment at being just as dark as I had been the day before.
"I tried to negotiate with God. I told Him I would stop stealing sugar cubes at night if he gave me what I wanted. I would listen to my mother's every word and never lose my school sweater again if He just made me a little lighter. But I guess God was unimpressed with my bargaining chips, because I never woke up lighter."
But there has been an undercurrent of some negativity about her from some black Americans. Mostly it is online and on blogs. The argument is that Lupita is not really "black". Lupita is obviously a lot more physically "black" than many African-American actresses. But the thinking behind this bizarre argument is, apparently, that to be authentically "black" you have to be American.
This ludicrous argument is just straightforward American cultural imperialism. But it is put forward by otherwise intelligent commentators. They try to support their argument by claiming that Lupita's education (she studied at Yale) and the fact that her Kenyan parents are professionals make her an inauthentic black person.
One writer, Stacia L Brown, said, "For her (Lupita), blackness, in a context of white American oppression, is a role. It is not intrinsic to her identity." This is clearly nonsense. And it is sad that some African-American commentators seem to believe that, to be authentically "black" you have to be a member of the underclass. Yet I have seen this argument all over the Internet.
In parallel with this, some African-American writers are complaining that the director of 12 Years a Slave, Steve McQueen, is not African-American and therefore not qualified to make a film about plantation slavery. McQueen is from Grenada in the West Indies and has lived most of his life in Britain.
However, his American critics seem to be unaware that the West Indian experience of slavery exactly parallels the American experience. In fact, the only difference between McQueen and his critics is that his ancestors disembarked from the West African slave ships one stop before theirs.
It is unfortunate that some African-American writers are unable to enjoy the success of 12 Years a Slave and Lupita Nyong'o. But it is still an extraordinary film and she is a wonderful actress.
— Diane Abbott is the British Labour party MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington
www.dianeabbott.org.uk
DIANE ABBOTT
Sunday, March 09, 2014
Print this page Email A Friend!
MCQUEEN… some African-American writers are complaining that he is not qualified to make a film about plantation slavery At right: NYONG’O… a wonderful actress
THERE is no question that the star of this year's Oscars was the dazzling Kenya-born actress Lupita Nyong'o. She carried off the best supporting actress Oscar for her role in the film of the year, 12 Years a Slave.
But what really captured the media's attention were her charm, exquisiteness and smooth dark skin. In an era when the archetype of black female beauty is Beyoncé, with her light brown skin and blonde weave, Lupita could not look more different. She is slim but not voluptuous; dark-skinned, and sports a short Afro. Her looks are a world away from the traditional Jamaican "browning".
In fact, it is difficult to see how Lupita could have been given a starring role in any film cast and produced in Jamaica. But her photograph has been everywhere, with Lupita looking effortlessly stylish and glamorous. She has even been dubbed Hollywood's new "it" girl.
Lupita is well aware of the significance of a woman, with skin as dark as her own, being feted by the mainstream media. She has said: "I too remember a time when I would turn on the TV and only see pale skin. I got teased and taunted about my night-shaded skin. And my one prayer to God, the miracle worker, was that I would wake up lighter-skinned.
"The morning would come and I would be so excited about seeing my new skin that I would refuse to look down at myself before I was in front of a mirror, because I wanted to see my fair face first. And every day I experienced just the same disappointment at being just as dark as I had been the day before.
"I tried to negotiate with God. I told Him I would stop stealing sugar cubes at night if he gave me what I wanted. I would listen to my mother's every word and never lose my school sweater again if He just made me a little lighter. But I guess God was unimpressed with my bargaining chips, because I never woke up lighter."
But there has been an undercurrent of some negativity about her from some black Americans. Mostly it is online and on blogs. The argument is that Lupita is not really "black". Lupita is obviously a lot more physically "black" than many African-American actresses. But the thinking behind this bizarre argument is, apparently, that to be authentically "black" you have to be American.
This ludicrous argument is just straightforward American cultural imperialism. But it is put forward by otherwise intelligent commentators. They try to support their argument by claiming that Lupita's education (she studied at Yale) and the fact that her Kenyan parents are professionals make her an inauthentic black person.
One writer, Stacia L Brown, said, "For her (Lupita), blackness, in a context of white American oppression, is a role. It is not intrinsic to her identity." This is clearly nonsense. And it is sad that some African-American commentators seem to believe that, to be authentically "black" you have to be a member of the underclass. Yet I have seen this argument all over the Internet.
In parallel with this, some African-American writers are complaining that the director of 12 Years a Slave, Steve McQueen, is not African-American and therefore not qualified to make a film about plantation slavery. McQueen is from Grenada in the West Indies and has lived most of his life in Britain.
However, his American critics seem to be unaware that the West Indian experience of slavery exactly parallels the American experience. In fact, the only difference between McQueen and his critics is that his ancestors disembarked from the West African slave ships one stop before theirs.
It is unfortunate that some African-American writers are unable to enjoy the success of 12 Years a Slave and Lupita Nyong'o. But it is still an extraordinary film and she is a wonderful actress.
— Diane Abbott is the British Labour party MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington
www.dianeabbott.org.uk
Paul Marin -19 is one thing, 20 is a whole other matter. It gets even worse if they win the UCL. *groan*. 
05/18/2011.MU fans naah cough, but all a unuh a vomit?-Lazie 1/11/2015
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