I often wonder why so many black men hate on Oprah so much. Well I guess she is not in the physically beautiful league of a Pam Grier, Lena Horne, Halle Berry, Vanessa Williams, Janet Jackson etc. The above women among many others are the women black men tend to hold up as attractive. It seems that most black men think that physically both Oprah and Whoopi for example are as attractive as a donkey's behind. I think both these women are beautiful in their own right and therefore I don't agree with these men but I understand. In the real world it is in this way most men's preferences are shaped. So I concede on the attractiveness quotient bit.
Oprah however is a woman who, like many black women even if they are only successful at having raised some kids into upstanding contributing citizens, has done wonderfully well for herself, by herself and most importantly with lots and lots of hard work. She has achieved and achieved big and is a mover and shaker in the world. So why no credit for that? Why do most men have to hate on the sistah so much?
Granted I don't agree with everything Oprah espouses. I often find that her politics and mine are diametrically opposite but I understand. I understand her environment, where she has come from and what she has to do achieve. I forgive her because she always intends well and I recognize the good things she does, the good part of all her work that outweighs the bad for the most part.
Does this hate of Oprah by some black men stem from the same place that gave and continue to give Alice Walker good licks for her work in Color Purple, or Toni Morrison in Bluest Eye or Terry McMillan in Waiting to Exhale? It appears once you start to open up the discussion of how men (black men more so) treat their women and ask questions of these men and the status quo, you become public enemy number one?
It seems that black women no matter how successful must bare whatever is her assigned role in private and grin but remain silent in public. Why can't black women with strong voices raise questions about incest, rape and child sexual abuse where the black man is the perpetrator? Why can't they talk about the type of black man who will knowingly father a child and leave the woman holding all the responsibility for it? The type of black man who will start a family and then just ups and leaves never looking back. Why is it blasphemy to talk about black women's experiences at the hands of unreasonable, mean black men (husbands, fathers, boyfriends etc)just because they hold the purse strings? Why is it taboo for women who have powerful voices to deal in the open with violence and abuse suffered by black women at the hands of black men?
I have come to believe that it must be for this reason that some black men hate on Oprah so much. It can't be that they think that she has sold out; there are tons of sucessful black men who care jack shit about black people, who have done fuck-all for any black person after they arrived and they are adored among other black men. They are held up for all they have accomplished.
So what gives?
Comments
I just find she exerts a scary amount of influence on her followers and reminds me of jim jones in that if she told her fans around the world to drink the red koolaid they would without question.
I guess some might say I'm hating but should be happy to see a black person have that much influence but to me anyone black, red, yelloe, white with the influence she has is kind of scary
Am not a fan of the current show which has gtten too fluffy in my opinion.But,mad props to Oprah for achieving what she has,
#1. She is black and intelligent. (not mixed, like Halley Berry or Alicia Keys)
#2. She is powerful and respectful. Who can tackle Oprah? I believe black men would rather see Halley get an Oscar for screwing on television, than to see Oprah win a Noble Peace Prize........
#3. She brings to light real abuse issues be it white, spanish, or black. Black men do not want a powerful, intelligent, influential black woman, bringing up any issues about down low, domestic abuse, incest, none of the above. I think for the most part because black men already have a hard time in society, they feel that Oprah is making it worse by talking about these issues.
#4. Last, I think that the ones who hate Oprah are probably guilty of one of those traits. Think about it.............Why would an intelligent,good character, not abusive, doesn't live a down low life style, not a molester, not a criminal, and highly educated black man ...is going to hate Oprah?
People sometimes just hate what they are guilty of........always seems to be that the hater is usally guilty of the crime or envies the person delivering the message. Wishing they had the lifestyle of Oprah.
#1. She is black and intelligent. (not mixed, like Halley Berry or Alicia Keys)
#2. She is powerful and respectful. Who can tackle Oprah? I believe black men would rather see Halley get an Oscar for screwing on television, than to see Oprah win a Noble Peace Prize........
#3. She brings to light real abuse issues be it white, spanish, or black. Black men do not want a powerful, intelligent, influential black woman, bringing up any issues about down low, domestic abuse, incest, none of the above. I think for the most part because black men already have a hard time in society, they feel that Oprah is making it worse by talking about these issues.
#4. Last, I think that the ones who hate Oprah are probably guilty of one of those traits. Think about it.............Why would an intelligent,good character, not abusive, doesn't live a down low life style, not a molester, not a criminal, and highly educated black man ...is going to hate Oprah?
People sometimes just hate what they are guilty of........always seems to be that the hater is usally guilty of the crime or envies the person delivering the message. Wishing they had the lifestyle of Oprah.
Don't dare be intelligent, confident, of your own mind and making, and daring to live your best life instead of allowing yourself to be downtrodden, used or abused. You'll feel the wrath and contempt of many a brother out here with a quickness.
And just like Oprah, I carry on, undaunted.
Most of my life i have been told I act white and that bothers me. I know what it means to be black in America.Oprah makes me feel like she hates us. she puts us down and does not appricate us
The backlash from a notable portion of black men is probably because Oprah brings up issues which black men KNOW needs fixing within themselves. I think Oprah wants to see black people rise up from the bottom of the heap and succeed in all walks of life, but in order to make that happen one needs to confront oneself, become aware of one's weaknesses and commit to change. Who enjoys facing up to their own weaknesses?
If Oprah, who is constantly ranked as the most powerful and influential woman in the world doesn't try to inspire black men to do and be better than who else is there? Maybe she's hoping to pass on or share that responsiblity with Barack Obama now.
Vilifying all black men for the crimes of some. The media does that already, you see a black male do wrong, we all get the backlash. It is unacceptable form them,Why should we accept that from her too.
You know I would like to see a show, where she has ordinary black men on her show taking care of business. Nobody famous. And that crap about not bringing rape,incest and abuse, down low and any other crap to light, is bull. It has always been a subject for discussion. But to single out black men only, instead of men world wide.