The story of this woman inspired "Venus", my digital print of a woman's sillheoute against a repetitive image of Sara Baartman.
The black woman's ass has been the epicenter of the black feminine experience. It is a source for both pride and shame. Our back side often determines our self esteem. Sometimes it attracts the attention we want, sometimes not. For years we have been celebrated, exploited, ostracized, duplicated and showcased for those extra layers of fat.
Some people may not think that it is that serious but, just like skin color or "grade of hair", body image issues are serious in the African American community. Being too skinny, or too fat, or too flat chest, or not enough ass are issues that little black girls have to deal with growing up.
As a young girl, I was subconsciously aware of what I was holding. Hell, everyone in my family had ass! But like many girls, I became a sexual object to boys and grown men alike once I hit puberty. I learned that values you posses are sometimes ignored by men in lue of physical attributes. Unfortunately, many little girls forgot they are something more then a sexual creature and become the target for unhealthy relationships.
Men may not understand the effects of being dehumanized as nothing more than a hunk of meat has on a woman. In fact, men may think it is okay to make loud comments, and sometimes even grab at you because it is what they see on TV; they don't ability to separate what is appropriate in a fantasy world (i.e. rap videos, pornography), and what is appropriate in the real world.
That being said, every young black woman should know who Sara Baartman is and discover the difference between being appreciated for her beauty, or being reduced to a pair of jiggly cheeks.
