I finally figured it out. I am tardy to the party if you will! But I figured out why black blogs only talk about "ghetto" names, poor black class, out of wedlock children, rap, low expectations and bad parenting. These are all important issues that have a negative impact to be sure. And I have no problem with discussing the SOLUTIONS to these issues.
But guess what? Obesity has a negative effect on black people too and I don't see an abundance of conversation about healthy living. Why? Could it be that the black cyber intelligentsia does not want to have a conversation on any topic that they are not able to look down and lecture people?
Could it be that the issue hits too close to home and they will be the student instead of the teacher? They will have to take the criticism and brutal truth instead of dish it out? If you notice, you will see they never talk about issues where they aren't standing on the moral high ground.
Look at the way they circled the wagons with the weight issue surrounding surgeon general nominee Dr. Regina Benjamin. The black cyber intelligentsia, particularly black women, were offended that her weight would be brought up at all. The justifications for why she might not have to lose an extra pound or ten were laughably pathetic. It was the picture. It was the angle. It was her bra. She is the face of the healthy movement in the country at a time when we are talking about healthcare reform. I don't care what they reform, it won't mean a thing if Americans don't reform their own habits. How about some personal responsibility for that? And let's be real if you went to a gym and had to choose a personal trainer between Terrell Owens and William "The Refrigerator" Perry who are you choosing?
Yes, it seems that there may need to be some tweaking of the standards and measurement of who and what is healthy.
In a study presented at the Endocrine Society’s 91st annual meeting in Washington DC in June 2009, researchers found that the conventional methods to measure obesity, BMI and waist circumference, did not accurately measure total fat mass and abdominal fat status in African-Americans. DEXA-measurements of 93 adults, 53 of which were African-American, found that body fat is likely to be lower in blacks than in whites of the same weight and height. (source)But that doesn't change the fact that there is a serious health problem in the "black community." Diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, joint problems, back problems and a declining basic quality of life.
Thanks to Michael Baisden I know a few more people are going to say its not their fault because its the hormones in the foods. Mmmm hmmmm, okay but that's more eye-rolling than someone blaming "The Man." I don't want to pay for your diabetes anymore than you want to pay for my kid. So shape up!
They claim their behavior and attacks are fueled by their love of black people; it is because they care. No, its fueled by their arrogance. Its not tough love, its down right condescension.
Links:
Obesity: Another Pathology Black People Defend
I Lied And The Black Cyber Intelligentsia Sucks
Black Cyber Intelligentsia Has Become the Mainstream With Its Demands on Poor Black People
8 comments:
Good eye and assessment of the so-called "Black Cyber Intelligentsia". I think often what "certain people" do in their critique is overlook the bigger picture. We're so quick to defend our own and in another breath stomp all over them. I'm not gonna lie, I'm hypocritical like that too.
LOL
Checkout this post I did on obesity. The debate got very heated at times.
http://rippdemup.blogspot.com/2009/06/say-it-loud-im-fat-and-im-proud.html
Lemme know what you think.
I read and responded to your post on weight. I completely agree!
Looking in the mirror is not easy. Most of us have to learn later in life to do it.
Obesity is one of those issues that cut across race, sex, and class. You cant point your finger at it in a condescending way with out shooting your self in the foot. Sad because as you pointed out many health problems that effect black people are related to diet and weight.
You're so right. I've been doing some research on black people and mental health. For some reason, we do not seek professional help even when it becomes painfully obvious that we should do so. I'm just looking for the proper angle to approach the subject matter.
Mike, life would be a lot better for so many of us if we were serious about weight and diet.
Max, my last year in undergrad I almost let going to law school slip through my fingers. Everything I worked hard for and I wasn't even willing to finish the last few steps. And it wasn't about taking a class or a test, it was just finishing my applications and mailing them out.
I went and saw a therapist and told her that in all honesty the only reason I made it to my appointment was simply to check something off my long list of things to do.
I was in tears all the time and I didn't know what to do. Black people feel mental health is either weakness, a white thing, or both.
Its hard to expect people to "do better" when they are struggling with issues they don't understand. It takes over everything: self-esteem, motivation, career, family, decisions to engage in unsafe sex and in some cases even hygiene.
I look forward to reading what you have to say about mental health.
Symphony,
This is my first visit to your blog site. I have to say that I totally agree with you on dealing with the issue of obesity within the Black community. I have debated about posting on this subject. I know that weight is a touchy subject for many people. But, I also know from working with young children that it is a major problem in our community. I have written all around the subject-but now that I consider your points, it will certainly be one of those subjects that I will directly approach.
As far as mental health-I've had mental health help. I could care less what anyone thought about me seeking help. The level of stress that I was under at one time was wearing me too low. I found that talking to a person who was not close to me did a sista some for real good. It is always a mind boggler to me about when we inject the White card into a situation. Being mentally well should be a top priority.
msladydeborah,
Thanks for stopping by my blog.
I would love your take on obesity within the black community.
Good for you for being smart enough to know you needed to talk to someone about what was going on in your life. Sometimes the people around us are the reasons we're going to see a therapist, lol. And some of the others are too ignorant to know good mental health is real.
Well I write a whole blog on weight issues and Black Women called Sweet Potato Pie - but your point is definitely well taken - though I think your take on the Surgeon General is/was off.
The woman hardly looked obese, maybe a little pleasantly plump but hardly so large it should outweigh her near saint status.
The attacks felt like "well we have nothing else to complain about, so..."
On another note you crack me u about the black cyber intelligentsia
I regularly get flamed out of blogs fo pointing out all of the things you mention here - I long ago came to the conclusion that folk care less about actual solutions to problems but instead enjoy the process of patting themselves on the back for not being like "those negros"
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