Black Culture

The art of the Sawos at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC

Photography by Liesl Marelli

Photography by Liesl Marelli of Girona Consulting. (All Rights Reserved)
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The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the world’s largest and finest art museums. Its collections include more than two million works of art spanning five thousand years of world culture, from prehistory to the present and from every part of the globe. Founded in 1870, the Metropolitan Museum is located in New York City’s Central Park along Fifth Avenue (from 80th to 84th Streets). Nearly five million people visit the Museum each year. (information courtesy of: http://www.metmuseum.org)

About the Art:
The art of the Sawos, Iatmul, and neighboring peoples in the Middle Sepik region of northeastern New Guinea is primarily associated with their impressive men’s ceremonial houses, which are seen as the embodiments of primordial female ancestors. The triangular gables at either end of Sawos and Iatmul men’s houses rise into steep peaks crowned by separately carved wood finials that depict human figures with birds, usually eagles, perched above them. Local interpretations of this imagery vary. In some instances, the human images are said to represent enemies subdued by the power of the village’s totemic beings. In this interpretation, the bird symbolizes the village’s martial strength, which in former times assured victory in war. According to other accounts, the finial images represent the dual nature of the primordial bird-men and bird-women, who originally created the sacred musical instruments, consisting of bamboo flutes and slit gongs that were kept within the ceremonial houses and played a central role in ritual life. (Information provided by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, http://www.metmuseum.org)

I have always tried to be true to myself, to pick those battles I felt were important. My ultimate responsibility is to myself. I could never be anything else. Arthur Ashe

A White Woman’s Opinion of a Black Woman

This is Soooooo worth reading to the

end…dont let the long text discourage you, its truley worth it…………Enjoy

It seems that an article was written to Sister 2 Sister magazine by a Caucasian woman who requested a response from black men. I’m so glad she got what sheasked for (and more) !!!

Dear Jamie: I’m sorry but I would like to

challenge some of your Black male readers

I am a White female who is engaged to a Black male-good-looking, Educated and loving. I just don’t understand a lot of Black females attitudes about ourrelationship.. My man decided he wanted me because the pickings amongst Black women were slim to none. As he said they were too fat, too loud, too mean, too argumentative, too needy, too materialistic or carrying too much excess baggage.

Before I became engaged, whenever I went out I was constantly approached by Black men, willing to wine and dine

me and give me the world. If Black women are so up in arms about us being with their men, why don’t they look at themselves and make some changes.

I am tired of the dirty looks I get and snide remarks when we’re out in public.. I would like to hear from some Black men about why we are so appealing and coveted by them. Bryant Gumbel left his wife of 26 years for one of us. Charles Barkley, Scottie Pippen, the model Tyson Beckford, Montell Williams, Quincy Jones, James Earl Jones, Harry Belafonte, Sydney Poitier, Kofi Anan, Cuba GoodingJr., Don Cornelius, Berry Gordy, Billy Blanks, Larry Fishburne, Wesley Snipes…

I could go on and on. But, right now, I’m alittle angry and that is why I wrote this so hurriedly. Don’t be mad with us White women because so many of your men want us. Get your acts together and learn from us and we may lead you to treat your men better. If I’m wrong, Black men, let me know.

Disgusted White Girl, Somewhere in VA

RESPONSE

Dear Jamie: I would like to respond to the letter written by A Disgusted White Girl.

Let me start by saying that I am a 28-year old black man. I graduated from one of the most prestigious universities in Atlanta, Georgia with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Management. I have a good job at a major corporation and have recently purchased a house. So, I consider myself to be among the ranks of successful black men.

I will not use my precious time to slander white people. I just want to set the record straight of why black men date white women. Back in the day, one of the biggest reasons why black men dated white women was because they were considered easy. The black girls in my neighborhood were raised in the church. They were very strict about when they lost their virginity and who they lost it to. Because of our impatience to wait, brothers would look for someone who would give it up easy without too much hassle. So, they turned to the white girls. Nowadays, in my opinion, a lot of brothers date white women because they are docile and easy to control. A lot of black men, because of insecurities, fears, and overall weaknesses, have be come intimidated by the strengthof our black women. We are afraid that our woman will be more successful than us, make more money than us, drive nicer cars and own bigger houses. Because of this fear, many black men look for a more docile woman. Someone we can control. I have talked to numerous black men and they continuously comment on how easy it is to control and walk over their white women. I just want to set the record straight. I want A Disgusted White Girl toknow that not all successful black men date white women.

Brothers like Ahmad Rashad, Denzel Washington, Michael Jordan, Morris Chestnut, Will Smith, Blair Underwood, Kenneth ‘Babyface’ Edmonds, Samuel L. Jackson, and Chris Rock all married strong black women And, to flip the script, there are numerous white men, in and out of the spotlight, who openly or secretly desire black womenover white women.. Ted Danson, Robert DeNiro, and David Bowie and Robin Thicke, to name a few..

I just don’t want a disgusted white girl to be misinformed Stop thinking that because you are white that you are some type of goddess. Remember, when black Egyptian Queens like Hatsepshut and Nitorcris were ruling Dynasties and armies of men in Egypt, you were over in the caves of Europe eating raw meatand beating each other over the head with clubs. Read yourhistory!

It was the black woman that taught you how to cook and season your food. It was the black woman that taught you how to raise your children. It was black women who were breast feeding and raising your babies during slavery.

It is the black woman that had to endure watching their fathers, husbands, and children beaten, killed, and thrown in jail. Black women were born with two strikes against them; being black and being a woman. And, through all this, Still They Rise!

It is because of the black women’s strength,elegance, power, love and beauty that I could never dateanyone except my black Queen. It is not just the outerbeauty that captivates and draws me to them. It is not thefact that they come in all shapes, sizes, colors and shades; it’s that I love them.

> Their inner beauty is what I find most appealing about black women.. Their strong spirit, loving and nurturing souls, their integrity, their ability to overcome great

obstacles, their willingness to stand for what they believe in, and their determination to succeed and reach their highest potential while enduring great pain and suffering is why I have fallen in love with black women. I honestly believe that your anger is geared more toward jealousy and envy more so than snotty looks. If this were not so, then> why do you continuously go to tanning salons to darken your skin? If you are so proud to be white, then why don’t you just be happy with your pale skin? Why do you continue to inject your lips, hips, and breasts with unnatural and dangerous substances so you can look fuller and morevoluptuous?

I think that your anger is really a result of you wanting to have what the black woman has..

BOTTOM LINE: If I were looking for a docile woman, someone I can walk over and control, I would give you a call. But, unfortunately, I am looking for a Virtuous Woman.Someone that can be a good wife and mother to my children. Someone who can be my best friend and understands my

struggles. I am looking for a soul mate. I am looking for a sister and; unfortunately, you do not and CANNOT fit the bill.

No offense taken, none given. Signed, Black Royalty

“The Cuba Prostitute” Review

While visiting one of the sites I check at least twice a day, Worldstarhiphop I stumbled upon The Cuban Prostitution. When I see a video gallery of what I perceive to be a a woman by birth and “must be 18yrs Or older to view”, I pay close attention.

I figured this documentary would have limited commentary or meaningful transitions and a collage of random beautiful Cuban women then photographer assumed were prostitutes.

(I’m mean, the impression many major media outlets sends to developed countries of developing countries is that prostitution is one of the only ways women can survive within the government system.)

I like beautiful women especially if they are going to behave in ways that only adults should have the right to see.

To my surprise this was actually a semi-insightful documentary due to the non-sexualized conversations between the “prostitutes” and the reporter. The documentary was actually built around the effects of Capitalism and Communism upon the everyday citizens with a focus on women.

I’m not hear to praise this documentary or deem it credible because I found it a bit unethical according to most formal journalistic guidelines due to the sexual relations between the women and reporter. I was also bothered by the amount of alcohol the reporter consumed while documenting this experience. The documentary did feature some artistic qualities during the reporters one night with three women.

I wouldn’t classify this piece as a documentary to be referenced if one were doing a research paper due to the advantageous and flippant behavior of the reporter but with so little viable information coming out of Cuba, I’m sure many will deem this credible.

The Cuba Prostitution Documentary from Travel Bum on Vimeo.

Alaalo (Someone Has A Story)

http://vimeo.com/33946245

This is a short film by a Pratt Institute student, David Adeogun, titled Aláàló (Someone Has A Story). The password is Select Review. The film deals with a group of young African American children and their mentor, and their various struggles as young black people in a culture where Africa is hardly talked about. A coming of age story, Alaalo is beautifully shot, and uses imagery that evokes the majesty of black culture.

The Thing About A Black Woman

Passion. It’s all about passion. The passion in their eyes when they connect with mine. The passion in every drop of color in their skin as the sun hits it just right. The passion in their natural hair; so strong, so symbolic. The passion in their lips as they speak their beauty into existence & kiss me sensually in hopes of telling me a love story. The passion in their walk whether or not it be as confident as a cat. The passion in their curves. Breast, hips & ass respectively gently tantalizing everyone that comes across it in its rarest form & leaves them at a complete & utter loss for words. The passion in their thoughts of social consciousness & saving the world as well as in their aimless mind wandering like that of a teenage girl. The passion in their love that makes one yearn for their attention, just a name’s mention. The passion in their love making that can put both of yawl to sleep after reaching the climax at the peak of insanity. Their passion in their being, their simple existence of the possibility of seeing.