Thursday, July 12, 2007

Don't Call Us Out of Name

A reference to this book by Lisa Dodson. Yes, I think you should read it. (I've lost my copy now that I'm thinking about it).

But also a reference to TMZ.com's calling Beyonce a "roboho."

And when they are confronted about it?
As to accusations that our comment was racially motivated, TMZ has humorously called into question many celebs for wearing racy outfits -- regardless of their race. In the past, TMZ referred to Victoria Beckham, aka Posh Spice, as "poshtitute," Hulk Hogan's daughter a "working girl" and called Lindsay Lohan's trashy ensemble a "HO-rror." A tight mini-dress is a tight mini-dress! Even Kid Rock got a humorous "ho" reference in a December 2006 story, and last we checked, he was neither Black nor a woman.
Got that? Since their racism is equally matched by their misogyny, what the hell are people complaining about? Oh, and since they "humorously" called a white man a ho, all the sting and insult is removed from their use of the word. But isn't saying, "We used the term for Kid Rock and didn't mean anything by it" sort of like admitting you know full well that use of the term just may imply something?

And why that word? If they were really aiming to use some innocuous term to critique her outfit, then why not use some innocuous term to critique her outfit?

Oh, and they fall back on some tried and true tropes:

1. Can't you people take a joke?
While others may have used the term with maliciousness -- we clearly did not. It was a humor piece... it is clear that the only thing more subjective than what is fashionable, is what one finds funny.
2. But, but... it wasn't our intent to offend!
Isn't the context in which a word is used almost as important, if not more so, than the actual word?
3. We will not be constrained by political correctness.
With everything serious going on in our world, if you can't make fun of something as superficial as awards show clothing, then what can you make fun of?
And the biggest piece of bullshit?
... please note that we called Beyonce's performance outfit "roboho" not Ms. Knowles herself.
Can y'all see my eyes rolling backward?

4 comments:

Kismet Nuñez said...

Elle,

Everything you wrote was very on point. It is EXTREMELY frustrating to me how sexism crosses race lines without being deconstructed.

See the post @ ROBOHO on Latino Pundit.com and the comments about TMZ.

I guess I often hope (too much) that folks who see themselves as racially conscious will also think about being gender conscious....

Anonymous said...

yes yes yes.

We used the term for Kid Rock and didn't mean anything by it" sort of like admitting you know full well that use of the term just may imply something?

exactly!

wwwmama said...

I love how you break this down.

Gwyneth Bolton said...

Great post, Elle!

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