… Tina Fey said she’s a b*tch, wore the notion with pride and everyone chuckled. Then we move on to Tracy Morgan reminding Fey that black was “the new President.” Everyone laughed again.
I thought that was it, all that line would be worth.
Then I came across a Washington Post profile of 29-year-old D.C. journalist Helena Andrews. She’s single, black and “desperately in search of love.” And she decided to use “Bitch is The New Black” as the title of her forthcoming book (it releases in June 2010). It is to be a satirical look at her own struggles balancing professional success and relationship futility … and women like her in D.C.
She seems like a very self-aware Pedestal Patty. But if you read the small excerpt in the article, she also seems like a talented writer. The book has been billed as a black “Sex & The City” with a “Bridget Jones’ Diary” spin of sorts. The producer of Grey’s Anatomy has signed on to produce a film version of the book, which says something about Andrews’ ability and her story.
It could be a good/interesting read, far removed from an EJD or Zane-type take. But I’m stuck on the title.
If you read the profile, and you should, “Bitch is The New Black” is a fitting way to describe Andrews. She seems to embrace it well. But as a book title it reads like the name Shaquanda Apple Jenkins on a resume sitting in the Microsoft human resources department. It reminds me of a title Tiger Woods needs to purchase for 15 of his friends: “A Ho Needs To Stay In A Ho’s Place.” (Google it. It’s not a joke.)
That was the only real problem that I had with the profile. As I read it, I kept thinking to myself “I know girls just like this. This could be good.” In fact, I know girls who have locked D.C. in as a place to go and “find good black men.” It makes the idea of reading this book that much more comical.
But the profile and Andrews have caught a lot of heat in this blog’s comments. From some of the guys who read the article, you get the idea that Helena might as well go ahead and book reservations for the next five annual singles ski trips.
The lukewarm response comes from the attitude that Andrews gives off in the story and accompanying video (It’s worth watching. Helena has a constant, circular neck roll that reminds me of a fifth grader doing that familiar gym class exercise). Andrews’ personal definition of a winterboo juxtaposed against her inability to find a man she can call her own is astounding. Some said they’d never even friend a woman like her, let alone date.
Others were just pissed at the idea of another “black bitch” tale receiving so much run. But I think it has the chance to be more than that because it’s a good black writer getting the chance to tell a story about someone we all know — someone who has this bitchy, strong exterior, but she’s also full of uncertainty. Sure, people think it’s a story that has been told. But I’m not sure it’s been told that well. If done right, it has potential.
“What I am trying to say about single black women in any urban environment is, you don’t know them as well as you think you do. They may not know themselves as well as they think they do,” Andrews told the Post.
Moreover, it is rare these days that a promising black project that could be well-written gets the green light. That, I believe, should be commended. I can understand complaining about bad black cliches constantly played out in films written by non-blacks.
But when a good black writer gets an opportunity to explore some of her own truths that others experience, I think we should read, watch and listen.
Thoughts?
Article by This May Concern You
Damon is a writer/blogger based in the Kansas City metropolitan area. He started This May Concern You: The Open Letter Blog [http://thismayconcernyou.com] after writing a single open letter to the one person who will neither accept nor deny his Facebook Friend Request. He's still in Facebook purgatory, but the blog has evolved into the place where Stuff White People Like meets Stuff Black People Hate on a plate with sides of moral and social consciousness. The letters are about pop culture, politics, sports and Damon's personal life. Some are serious and revealing. Others are self-deprecating, unabashedly honest and sarcastic. But each one aims to provoke thought and self-inventory.
This May has written 45 article(s) for us.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Black women need to step their game up. They have been saying the same tired ish for 30 years now If you want a Black man figure out what Black men like and become that and here is a hint you can't get it at a university. White girls are growing donks and the Latinas and Asians are choosing , it is a new day in Harlem it is time to compete differently.
From what I read from an article about this topic, I thought she was way off mark. But that's just me. I will say that bitch don't always equal strong, and we Black women may want to re-think using that justification.
"Single, black and desperately searching for love…" Where have I heard this plot before???
The title doesn't bother me at all, as I often like to self-identify as a "Bitch" when I'm feeling particularly feisty, fired up and ready to go. I'm more bothered by the "new" part. From what I've read this sounds "Waiting to Exhale 2.0." Nothing new at all about black women and "I've got everything I need except a man so let me obsess over it" syndrome.
"“I’ve got everything I need except a man so let me obsess over it” syndrome."
LOL… this is so true.
@JG*, Co-sign x10
“I’ve got everything I need except a man so let me obsess over it” syndrome.
@Robin Monique,
I know there's nothing new about it, whatsoever. But go back to the third chapter of Ephesians, nothing's new. Sure, we all know this girl, several of them. But how often do we get one who's willing to take a satirical look at herself and those like her on such a grand stage (big book and film)?
The last film we saw with anything resembling this character was TP's Daddy's LIttle Girls. I think. But I think Helena will likely do a far better job than TP in writing this character.
@Damon, I agree that nothing's new. But this is such a thing as a topic being TIRED. And unfortunately, this is one of them. I won't knock the author's hustle at all. More power to her. But the story of the "Lonely Successful Black Woman" is just overdone in my opinion. It'd be nice to see depictions of black women who aren't crying over being single. We do exist.
I'm not sure I understand the supposed correlation between 1) successful black women wearing the b*itch title as a means of proving we're worthy of something more in life, including love nor 2) how the title says anything different than what most already think of us. I may pick up a copy, I musty admit I am curious.
just goes to show anyone can get a book deal nowadays…
I'll cosign the "heard it before" but I'll interject something else. As fond as I am of supporting black folks. Your product has to be good. In the age of Amazon reviews and people jumping on Twitter before movie credits roll…I only purchase something off the bat when it's credentials are established with me beforehand. Everything else, I lean back and wait to get opinions. But for real, for real…I'm kinda done with, "I'm great but still single" themes.
Maybe I'm just bitter about this situation…but I agree with Andrews. It isn't a new issue but it's a persistant ssue. I feel like if I didn't go to college then I would have a man, instead of being 25 without ever having an adult relationship. I'm not even a bitch (unless you count having standards as being bitch). I hear A LOT of my friends having this issue particularly the black ones. I was very upset when I read the aforementioned blog and watched the video (she's seems like one of my friends). The guys that responded were very mean and there's an obvious disconnect between what black women want and what black men want. ITS TOTALLY DIFFERENT. Black women (like all women) want a guy with his ish together. And that depends on the woman. Me, my rule is that he has to AT LEAST have what I have. Which means college degree, ambition and a career. And he must come to me correct (in other words, "Aye shorty/baby/boo!" ain't cuttin' it). Is that too much to ask for?
@Alyson, IN the future yes.. we have to recognize that the education gap is getting wider…. so maybe you'll meet an amazing man that knocks you off your feet, but he won't have a college degree…. he might still have as much money as you, but would that matter?
The fact that she labels herself as a 'bitch' bores me and then she adds not being in a relationship as a successful Black woman to it … I'm doubly bored. I would consider reading her book if it were advertised as more than some anecdotal accounting of her (and probably her friends) relationships, failures, and the like.
It's great that she receives accolades for her writing and hopefully the script for the movie and consequent movie are good and she has massive amounts of success. But, I still wouldn't read it and probably wouldn't watch the movie (depending on who the actresses are). Still … the topic is boring and since so many successful, educated, Black women live it – it's old as H3LL.
@Sheera, I agree with your first sentence whole heartedly… “I’m a b*tch and therefor empowered…” bla bla bla… To be fair though, I am going to at leats try to give her book a read.
It bothers me that more women are NOT bothered by her title. I would read her book to support this young woman. I agree with the comments from JG, Melzie and Robin with
“I’ve got everything I need except a man so let me obsess over it” syndrome." I believe she is using this pathetic excuse to make money and gain exposure. I believe that if we complain less about what we do not have and focus on our careers, ourselves and dropping all that baggage (not our business briefcase) then the man will come. Sometimes you have to be content in your singleness before you can be complete in your future relationship. That's my two cents.