Normally when I wake up in the morning after I have groomed myself and had my breakfast I check some of my favorite internet sites to get updated on the newest events in the world like most people these days. For me this regiment includes checking out CNN, the New York Times, the Final Call, my Facebook inbox and All Hip hop.com. One of my favorite sections of All Hip Hop.com is the Illseed rumor section in here I find some of the latest rumors and gossip in the Hip Hop industry that even if the information is not 100% accurate it will always make me have a morning chuckle. However today I saw something that to me was no laughing matter and I believe that you will agree.
This morning I noticed a video that was posted from an interview of Karrine "Superhead" Steffans in which she was promoting her newest book "The Vixen Manual". Anyone familiar with the hip hop world over the past four or five years is undoubtedly familiar with Ms. Steffans reputation as she has written about her past sexual encounters in her two previous books and many others may have even watched some of the adult videos that have been put out with her in some precarious positions (no pun intended). To my knowledge although she has not lived what some may call the most sexually moral of lives, she has utilized her new found fame and fortune to try and warn younger women about the dangers of the entertainment industry for young women who don't recognize their true value and worth in society.
What offended me most about this particular interview is the initial naivete of the interviewers. The anchors on "Good Day Sacramento" were initially a little naive as to what the book is actually about and although I admittedly have not read the book either I would make it a point to read at least a section of it before I interviewed the author on television in front of potentially the entire world. After the initial question was asked I believe the entire interview went down from there. The issue I have is not just that the anchors had very little journalistic integrity but that they began to judge her. Marianne McClary noticed the band that comes with the book to prevent people from reading it before purchasing, mocking Ms. Steffans all along. After the former video vixen gave the interviewers a piece of her mind Co-Anchor Nick Toma cut the interview and afterwords he proceeded to say "she was a rump shaker in a bunch of videos, enough said". This poor excuse for a journalist failed to mention the fact that she is also a New York Times Best Selling Author. The whole incident lasted less than four minutes.
I posted the video below so that my readers can watch it and call me on any inconsistency in this article. When it comes to sexuality it is no secret that America and this interview operate on racial double standards. In the interview Ms. McClary states the book should be in the adult section of book stores but fails to acknowledge that as Karrine maintained that it is a book intended for women in their twenties, committed couples and married people. The book may have some sexually explicit depictions and information in it, and some material may not be suitable for readers under a certain age but again the book was not intended for everyone to read.
This leads me to why I decided to write about this topic in the first place and the title of this blog post. I believe there is a sexual double standard when it comes to Black women. The anchors indicted her for her book and failed to mention that Cosmopolitan Magazine and many other publications aimed at women has an entire section of its website dedicated to sexual wellness, positions, and intimate relationship advice. The fact is no matter what your racial or political background sex is in some way a factor in your life.
While writing this post I made my first ever visit to Women's Health Mag.com where on the sex in relationships section one of the headlines read "Get it on outside". One could construe this as the magazine encouraging readers to break the law and partake in lewd acts in public places, but is there an outcry from those with power in the media? Of course not. The fact is that in the eyes of the American media it is acceptable for white (so-called) mainstream women and men to express and share information about sex and relationships but for a Black woman to step out and do the same is worthy of her being degraded to a "rump shaker in a bunch of videos". In some odd way I believe as Dr. Frances Cress Welsing teaches this is the so-called mainstream white american sick fascination with Black sexuality and fear of genetic annihilation. While I do not believe that Karrine Steffans sexual past and deeds make her worthy of her being compared to Harriet Tubman, I do believe that she has something very important and powerful to say when it comes to Black male/female relationships and wealth in America. It is sad that CW31 is too dumb to see it.
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5 comments:
wow man. they treated her like an unhuman child. that was inappropriate for so many reason and went beyond a sexual dobule standard. gotta be proud of karrine steffans, it seems as though shes come along way.
I agree, but then again I also understand why the interviews came to the conclusion that they did. I am not a fan of Karrine Steffans' past, and have yet to understand how Black women find that type of industry enticing, but I understand her goal. The title and cover is confusing to the eye of a person browsing in a book store. She used a slightly sexual photo of herself on the cover just like previous books. Also, the font used in the title is consistent with the other books. Even the tone of pink has been carried over. The title, The Vixen Manual: How to Find, Seduce, and Keep the Man You Want could easily be scene as something to be read by a woman only interested in how to keep her man happy in the bedroom.
I agree with your thoughts on the double standard, but at some point you have to be smart on how you market yourself visually. If she wanted to move in a slightly different direction, then the design of the book jacket should have shown this. Perhaps another almost naked photo of herself was not the best choice. Just, because book includes sex does not mean you have to sale it on the cover before the reader opens it. I understand she is carrying over her brand, but it could been designed in a better, which could show the link and also separation from the previous books.
Yes, the interviewers should have read the book. There is no excuse. Also, his last comment was distasteful. I see this as a lesson also though. The design of your book very important. Even if someone has not open your book the title and book jacket should give them some clue as to what it is about.
I find it quite interesting that the interviewers did not really care that they had not read the book. That is crucial when evaluating anyone in that type of setting. To think you can get by without it is hilarious.
I just watched this video before stumbling upon you blog... then after reading your blog, I searched some more and found this video - which was another interview done days earlier on The Today Show.
http://www.boobootv.com/2009/07/15/karrine-steffans-superhead-on-the-today-show-2/
HUGE difference in professionalism for both shows (it's no wonder CW/The WB has very few news crews nationwide). The womeon on the today show, in the same manner, peeked at the book, not necessarily reading it front to back - but they showed clear respect, first for the author and also for the literature. They were curious, but careful, not prejudice and biased. Also they were much more socialble.
The CW31 morning show anchors wanted to have a personal laugh and really didn't care... who blatantly says at the BEGINNING of an interview that they have 2.5 minutes left, and then "I'm going to make an executive decision" - very pompous.
In all seriousness, ethnicity and culture was a big issues between my comparisons of these two interviews on the same book, with the same author. It's 2009, but people are still living in the past and obviously living/judging based on what has (or hasn't) been accomplished career-wise.
I wonder what would happen is Judge Joe Brown was interviewed by CW31... his past deals with crime, though he repented and became a prevayer of the law (instead of a law breaker).
I saw that video after posting the blog.... Excellent points
wow. if u don't mind, i would like to post this on my blog. that was really sad in the way they were treating her.
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