by Dr. Boyce Watkins, YourBlackWorld.com
I just finished an interview with WHUR radio in Washington DC (you can listen by clicking here). The topic was an article in Psychology Today by Dr. Satoshi Kanazawa, a Professor at The London School of Economics. In his commentary, Professor Kanazawa seemed to argue that higher levels of testosterone make black women less attractive than women of other races. He also cites high testosterone levels as an explanation for why black men might be perceived to be more attractive.
Of course, black women around the world shut down the Psychology Today website after hearing the results of Kanazawa’s argument. One has to remember that this is the same professor who also said that people in sub-Saharan Africa are in poverty because they have lower IQs. Well, considering the source, I don’t give much credibility to what the professor has to say. Black women who are offended by the professor’s comments may just want to step aside and allow Kanazawa’s colleagues to eat his career alive.
The professor’s remarks hit a deep place for African American women, who are consistently maligned by the world for not being quite as appealing as the 80-pound blonde that is shoved in our faces in most Hollywood blockbuster films. They are insulted by black men, like NFL star Albert Haynesworth, who said “I don’t even like black girls,” when he was accused of sexually harassing an African American waitress.
One has to take a moment to reflect on just how sick it is that there are thousands of black men just like Haynesworth who act as if they would rather date a Pit Bull than a black woman. How insulted their mothers, sisters and daughters must feel that these “men” have somehow decided that black women are not worthy of the respect they show to women of other races. I recall a consultant for the NFL telling me that when he met with all the wives of the players on a particular team, there wasn’t one black woman in the room. Now, this was during the 1980s, where white women were truly a trophy to behold for many black male athletes. But the truth is that there are still quite a few brothers who’ve decided that black women should be placed in the back of the bus of attraction.
While the remarks of Professor Kanazawa are certainly problematic and should be readily dismissed, it’s important that black men become part of this conversation. An overture of outrage on behalf of black women might make black women feel a little better to know that they don’t have to fight these battles alone. While we certainly know that no one is perfect, the reality is that the imperfections of black women seem to get a spotlight that is a bit brighter than everyone else. It must be accepted, however, that similar to black men, some black women must also understand the value of personal growth and self-development to overcome the damage that was done by historical oppression. In other words, being a beautiful woman is not as important as being a beautiful person, and this is something that we must reiterate to our little girls.
When it’s all said and done, the conversation about Professor Kanazawa is effectively over. But we must continue the discussion that advocates on behalf of women of color to ensure that they receive the respect they deserve in all segments of society. Additional ownership of black media outlets might also help to create a world where every talented black female actress does not have her opportunities trumped by the anorexic white woman that the world has chosen to idolize (like the ridiculousness of Angelina Jolie playing Cleopatra in an upcoming film). There are different ways to express beauty and every culture has it’s own swag; black women possess a swag like no other.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Professor at Syracuse University and founder of the Your Black World Coalition. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.
