Twerking (Watch yo Damn Mouf, Pt II

I haven't attended an event with a Black historical focus and in so long.Howevrr I had a topic thatook me all of last month and up until now to think about. Which is why Black History month got away from me. That does have a big effect on me in terms of my overall socializations, particularly being an artist and a Black feminist researcher. I almost feel like people who are able to go to these public and A-List gala events are treated like finalists. I personally don't think I've gone to any Black or feminist-focused celebrations since I lived in Jersey. That is very different for me. The difference is being down South. I found events that showcase different dimensions of our Blackness are less accessible living down here in this state (I live in Florida now). Black people don't show each other any real loyalty toward each other unless they have been Black business. However, I fond the locals try much harder and have many more challenges in terms of gaining or give ving the same type of support. Rarely do I hear about any local feminists or Black history celebrations unless they are in February either. Not only a division of the cultures but African traditions such as African dance are not being incorporated into more events hosted by people deeply rooted in Tampa's Black Business community. Yet everyone from this segment of people dress up in African attire once or twice a year because they can afford the clothing and put on the events. This could be why the woman had such criticism for me and the girl in yellow. If she has no source of reference how would she or anyone she knows have knowledge on the subject? I also noticed how some of these so-called well to do young women like to kick young women's backs in because they like to release videos of themselves twerking. In fact one of these well to do young women accused me of being some sort of lowlife on Facebook in front of her peers because I supported the moves of the pretty girl in braids and a yellow jumpsuit. It took me all of last month to extend the dialogue better because her response to me was shit. The Black woman who judged me thought women who twerk, and I, a feminist with a Master's degree, don't have much going for ourselves. Bitch really went there. Keeping my sentiments chill with these bitches down here (down South) who spew their ignorance about the activity of ancient peoples compelled me to write about twerking. I noticed she proved another point I actually made in a response to her as I gave a last word on the subject before I unfollowed her ass. So First imma address this bitter bitch complaining about a fully clothed girl twerking; my stating she was just having fun and, that twerking is part of African, Caribbean and Trap cultures. The part I initially explained was that twerking is not new to Africans or Black people. It has always been a part of African dance. Twerking can yes, be seen in recent decades. But it goes back in African history during the 1500s according to https://www.britannica.com and My first reflection on an exciting Hollywood display of African dance was in "Coming to America" (1988). Secondly, I recognized the dance at a neighbor's wedding reception I attended with my ex-husband. Yes he twerked. Right up on my ass. That was 25 years ago. So I am familiar with the dance from being familiar with Afro-Caribbeans including my own ex-husband. Next,three years later, Ciara was the first entertainer I saw on the video Goodies" twerking in 2004. Mind you she didn't twerk through the whole song. Yet others would call twerking by other names like the "booty shake," as in "Crazy In Love" by Beyonce when it came out around the same year. I made it a point to discuss media informing Black women's identities and our appearances being problematic. This second point intersects with the reason why I am so proud of Black young girls I see twerking today. Thinking we were at least Facebook "friendly" I even expressed my love of seeing my favorite entertainers who twerk today with the woman who tried to call me out. Sure. I shared my faves over the last couple of decades with this hateful chick. Nikki Minaj, Amber Rose, Cardi B, Big Freedia (Queen of Bounce) and the original Queen of Rap L'il Kim doing the "Thong Song" (How Many Licks, 2000). I thought I was having a meaningful adult conversation but this ho tried it. Not only did she blow up on me; this mouthy bitch now had blonde weave, which apparently made her feel a need to attract a bunch of support from men on the subject. After looking closely it appeared that she didn't mind the attention she got on her page for her likes about the new hair color. Yet she didn't enjoy letting the much younger girl with the tight twerking skills getting any. Several of her male peers agreed that the girl was just having fun. Yet she came for me. As far as I was concerned her dumb assed comments about me and the young women I still support have more to do with being a hater; not having something that has to do with enjoying womanhood. Twerking is about having fun not getting a man as she tried to elude to. But changing her appearance profoundly then calling other women low who are having fun than you, does show me how desperate she was for her male peers to look at her. Changing her hair color from brown to blonde so that you now look like she looks like Miss Piggy not my idea of having fun or being daring. This is the second point I didn't bother to pinpoint but made reference to in my final post. However I did state that Black women are not immune from the affect of media on their appearances and their identities.If you look closer to Niki Minaj that's one thing. But if you are acting like you are not okay being the Black woman you are...I sense hate. I senseed by her comments she hated me, the girl in yellow teerking , and herself. That's internalized hatred. This ho didn't need to spew that shallow shit my way, though. Nor did she need to make janky-assed assumptions about me or these girls who are far from being the mature woman I am. These young girls are young and just having fun shaking their asses on camera. The way this bitch came for me I could tell this bitch needed all those likes or more. That's what strip clubs are for. Not Facebook. Obviously this ho lives under a rock and is happerier making other Black women feel ashamed. She damn sure doesn't have anymore going for herself than I do. Fuck that bitch. She needs to improve herself from the inside. Secondly, she should respect her elders. It was a waste of my breath trying to educate her on the history of twerking and African dance. I don't think she realized that I am closing in on 60 years old so she took my knowledge on the subject as talking out of my ass. I tried letting her know that speaking on the history of African Dance might not be something she or any of her 40-something peers really understand. I mean how would they know if they had no historical reference? So I explained. I treated her nicely. But her judgy ass clearly did not hear the history lesson. Everyday I notice most people I will probably end up unfriending soon choose quotes from the dumbest sources and expose people doing the stupidest clips so they can be taken seriously. They point fingers and want to collect likes. They judge because they want to be able to do what others do. And this chubby 40-something year old woman wants to twerk. And whether she accepts it or not her identity is shaped by the very people she says she hates. Her stankin' ass ain't fooling nobody! So, hey! I appreciate my own beauty, sense of self and ability to resist taking myself too seriously. This is why I unfriend and unfollow most people. I firmly beileve everyone deserves love. But a person like this woman has to learn a more appropriate way to get attention. Instead of talking shit about and speaking ill of educated women like me and young happy Black women who twerk find her own happy place. Instead of hating and getting likes from them niggas she knows find a Black travel agency to book a two or three day excursion to Vegas for her and her friends if she has any. Then, hit Chocolate City. Instead of whining she needs to get real about her unmet needs as a living breathing woman and get creative. Stop acting like she don't need to be loved whether she twerks or not! And leaver the twerkin' to the twerkers! Luv to U & Me, Ms.BBB 😘 References: African Dance (n.d.) https://www.britannica.com/art/Africandance Kiata, Mukau (2020), Sexualizing the performance, objectifying the performer: The twerk dance in Kenya. TandFonline: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10130950.2020.1773286?scroll=top&needAccess=true&role=tab