I mean it. And I loved what she said about Senator Clinton. Bitch is the new black! I recall a bumper sticker I saw long ago. It said: Beyond Bitch. I'd vote for a Clinton/Obama ticket. But I'd really love to vote for a Clinton/Tina Fey ticket. Girls Rule!
I guess it's more acceptable when someone from the same group uses the term. Kinda like lesbians saying d.y.k.e., as in baby, diesel,etc... It's taking power over the deragatory usage by owning it.
Tina took ownership of "bitch" by making it an actual compliment. I LOVED it!
Well, the person that asked John McCain the "how do we beat the b*tch" question on the campaign trail was a woman.
The liberal use of the b-word during SNL last week (including that mock game show hosted by Kenan Thompson) was a big part of the reason that I wasn't that thrilled about the episode.
-----
"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts." - Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan
The woman who asked the question didn't get any real heat about it because she is a woman. McCain, on the other hand, lost the respect of many women because he not only accepted it but responded to it as well.
Here's a little history of the phrase, which is about fabric colors.
The origin of the phrase goes back to Diana Vreelandin 1962 who used the phrase "Pink...(is)...the navy blue of India" meaning that the color pink seemed to be the foundation of the attire there, much like navy blue was the base color of most ensembles in New York City. The phrase is commonly misattributed to Gloria Vanderbilt and a fictional trip to India in the 1960s where she supposedly noted the prevalence of pink in the native garb. In actuality, it was Ms. Vreeland who made the observation when shown a sample of pink fabric from India.
In the late 1970s, the phrase "X is the new neutral" was widely used (culminating in the humorous observation that "It looks like red is the new neutral"). By the early 1980s this had changed to "X is the new black."
Later in the 1980's, the phrase was reappropriated to indicate that other colors (frequently brown, navy blue or grey) were temporarily displacing black's position in fashion or industrial design (as a versatile staple that complemented all other aspects and was generally unobjectionable). The phrase quickly became lampooned for its simplistic nature; The Wall Street Journal soon declared that "White is the new black". It soon degenerated into a complete cliché and is now used in a great variety of contexts, mostly ironic in nature.
I definitely know where the phrase came from, but I think its all too easy to write it off as simply referring to fashion rather than race. Especially when this presidential race has been filled with the race v. gender comparison. here are some examples
So yes the original phrase was in reference to fashion, in this election where the candiates are a Black man and a White woman, its more than a simple fashion reference.
"Power is never given back. When it's stolen, if you want it back, you have to take it." - M. Caballero
Yes this is a site for women and some of us are Black, Asian, Latina and White. And as a Black woman, who was very offended when I saw that clip of the SNL sketch. So to see it brought up again on this site it pissed me off. I wish I could say that I'm shocked how much racism exists, but I'm not. Do I think that Tina Fey or the poster are racists? No, but I do think that that comment was racially insensitive and comes from a history of racism? Yes.
I have no problem with Hillary Clinton, and wish her all the best and if she gets the nomination I will gladly support her. But, I don't think support should be garnered by either candidate based out of race v. gender competition.
Just as I respect your need to speak out when you see something offensive so do I. I don't want this to turn into a race v gender debate, but I do want to draw attention to an insensitive comment.
What I love about AE is that it is inclusive and a safe environment for all, and I just want to keep it that way.
You wanna channel your inner bitch, be my guest, but not at my expense.
"Power is never given back. When it's stolen, if you want it back, you have to take it." - M. Caballero
I think this is a fascinating discussion. I don't think it should be discounted with a statement like "let's not turn this into a discussion about race" or "this wasn't about race until you mentioned it" (which is false). I find that so, so offensive. I think the post explaining the origin of this phrase is really interesting. I also want to add to what Journey Wmn said after that post: that comments that might not be explicitly racial in topic may have that as subtext, this because race is one of those things which structures our lives, is built into our language and thinking, power systems, etc. Why is white the opposite of black? -- Actually, not just that but its superior, at least in how it's constructed?
Why do you see the comment as offensive? I took it not as offensive or racist, but saw it as more progressive. More of a nod to 'black power' and the influence African-Americans have in the U.S. today. Yes, we still have a ways to go, but one cannot argue that we have come a long way towards race equality.
So, I have to ask: If Tina Fey were black and used the phrase, would you have still been offended? If your answer is no, then isn't that hypothetically also a form of racism? I understand and embrace solidarity towards one's ethnicity/orientation, etc -- But isn't a white woman acknowledging the African-American influence a positive thing?
I mean, as a woman I could also be offended by referencing women as 'bitches'. Had it been said by a man then I may very well have been offended. So perhaps I am answering my own question here. This just seems different to me.
Believe me, I know what a touchy subject race is so I am hesitant to post this, but I have only the best intentions and my curiosity is piqued.
I was offended by the comment because it seemed like she was saying that Black people are no longer discriminated against, but now women are. She, like the people that Journey linked to, are making this into who's oppression is worse. Yes, Black people have made a lot of progress in this country, but to even attempt to say that how one group is treated is worse than another is garbage.
I was in NO way offened. I laughed my butt off. The SNL skit had nothing to do with racism. It was all about pushing back against popular media regarding the Obama tidalwave. The media pushes the race angle more than anyone. OMG there's an intelegent, attractive, capable black man in the world and he's in politics??? who is this superman?!?! The world is filled with smart black men. But the media doesn't always reflect that. And personally, I think when people sweat the small stuff, the big things get less attention. ok, some people may take offence that 'bitch is the new black' was said on tv. I'm offened that fewer black children graduate from highschool, and I'm offened that as a black woman if AIDS doesn't kill me, high blood pressure, a heart attack, or fibroids will.
Just today i called my korean friend a 'cheap asian', to her face. she stuck out her tongue at me. i can be a bitch, and i'm black. in the words of Amy Pohler, 'deal with it'.
I find it interesting how double this whole race question always is!
One the one hand I see whole articles and comment sections on racism or hidden racial thinking and yet nobody seems to complain about the fact that there is actually an option on the bio page to fill in your ethnicity!
What possible need is there for such a question other than racial thinking? And how come so many people who do complain about racial thinking still bother to answer that question?
Amen!
I love Tina Fey
I mean it. And I loved what she said about Senator Clinton. Bitch is the new black! I recall a bumper sticker I saw long ago. It said: Beyond Bitch. I'd vote for a Clinton/Obama ticket. But I'd really love to vote for a Clinton/Tina Fey ticket. Girls Rule!
www.bettnorris.com
www.bywaterbooks.com
Consolidate
Isn't this thread a repeat of Scribe's post earlier in the week?
Let's consolidate the adulation.
-----
"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts." - Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan
And yet when someone asked
I guess it's more
I guess it's more acceptable when someone from the same group uses the term. Kinda like lesbians saying d.y.k.e., as in baby, diesel,etc... It's taking power over the deragatory usage by owning it.
Tina took ownership of "bitch" by making it an actual compliment. I LOVED it!
The Person That Asked
Well, the person that asked John McCain the "how do we beat the b*tch" question on the campaign trail was a woman.
The liberal use of the b-word during SNL last week (including that mock game show hosted by Kenan Thompson) was a big part of the reason that I wasn't that thrilled about the episode.
-----
"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts." - Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan
The woman who asked the
The woman who asked the question didn't get any real heat about it because she is a woman. McCain, on the other hand, lost the respect of many women because he not only accepted it but responded to it as well.
I agree with you and I think
Am I the only one?
... that was bothered by that whole bitch is the new black thing?
Way to overrule my blackness Tina Fey thanks!
"Power is never given back. When it's stolen, if you want it back, you have to take it." - M. Caballero
Journey2enlightenment.blogspot.com
It's not referring to race
Here's a little history of the phrase, which is about fabric colors.
The origin of the phrase goes back to Diana Vreeland in 1962 who used the phrase "Pink...(is)...the navy blue of India" meaning that the color pink seemed to be the foundation of the attire there, much like navy blue was the base color of most ensembles in New York City. The phrase is commonly misattributed to Gloria Vanderbilt and a fictional trip to India in the 1960s where she supposedly noted the prevalence of pink in the native garb. In actuality, it was Ms. Vreeland who made the observation when shown a sample of pink fabric from India.
In the late 1970s, the phrase "X is the new neutral" was widely used (culminating in the humorous observation that "It looks like red is the new neutral"). By the early 1980s this had changed to "X is the new black."
Later in the 1980's, the phrase was reappropriated to indicate that other colors (frequently brown, navy blue or grey) were temporarily displacing black's position in fashion or industrial design (as a versatile staple that complemented all other aspects and was generally unobjectionable). The phrase quickly became lampooned for its simplistic nature; The Wall Street Journal soon declared that "White is the new black". It soon degenerated into a complete cliché and is now used in a great variety of contexts, mostly ironic in nature.
Its about context
I definitely know where the phrase came from, but I think its all too easy to write it off as simply referring to fashion rather than race. Especially when this presidential race has been filled with the race v. gender comparison. here are some examples
Gloria Steinem Op-Ed
Gay Agenda vlog from last week
Christine Craft piece in SF Gate
Anderson Cooper
and finally
Mark Leibovich
So yes the original phrase was in reference to fashion, in this election where the candiates are a Black man and a White woman, its more than a simple fashion reference.
"Power is never given back. When it's stolen, if you want it back, you have to take it." - M. Caballero
Journey2enlightenment.blogspot.com
I think we can all agree that this is a website for women...
Not all of us are black. Some of us are asian, or hispanic, or caucasion. In fact, our one common denominator is our gender.
Let's not turn this thread into another racial discussion. No one said anything about race until you brought it up.
The fact is, Hillary is a woman. It's shocking to me how much misogyny exists, especially when it rears its head in a gathering of women.
When I see it, I just feel sad...
Now if we can all just channel our inner bitch for the power of good...
Yes this is a site for
Yes this is a site for women and some of us are Black, Asian, Latina and White. And as a Black woman, who was very offended when I saw that clip of the SNL sketch. So to see it brought up again on this site it pissed me off. I wish I could say that I'm shocked how much racism exists, but I'm not. Do I think that Tina Fey or the poster are racists? No, but I do think that that comment was racially insensitive and comes from a history of racism? Yes.
I have no problem with Hillary Clinton, and wish her all the best and if she gets the nomination I will gladly support her. But, I don't think support should be garnered by either candidate based out of race v. gender competition.
Just as I respect your need to speak out when you see something offensive so do I. I don't want this to turn into a race v gender debate, but I do want to draw attention to an insensitive comment.
What I love about AE is that it is inclusive and a safe environment for all, and I just want to keep it that way.
You wanna channel your inner bitch, be my guest, but not at my expense.
"Power is never given back. When it's stolen, if you want it back, you have to take it." - M. Caballero
Journey2enlightenment.blogspot.com
important discussion
Question
Why do you see the comment as offensive? I took it not as offensive or racist, but saw it as more progressive. More of a nod to 'black power' and the influence African-Americans have in the U.S. today. Yes, we still have a ways to go, but one cannot argue that we have come a long way towards race equality.
So, I have to ask: If Tina Fey were black and used the phrase, would you have still been offended? If your answer is no, then isn't that hypothetically also a form of racism? I understand and embrace solidarity towards one's ethnicity/orientation, etc -- But isn't a white woman acknowledging the African-American influence a positive thing?
I mean, as a woman I could also be offended by referencing women as 'bitches'. Had it been said by a man then I may very well have been offended. So perhaps I am answering my own question here. This just seems different to me.
Believe me, I know what a touchy subject race is so I am hesitant to post this, but I have only the best intentions and my curiosity is piqued.
_________
I was offended by the
LOVE Tina Fey
I was in NO way offened. I laughed my butt off. The SNL skit had nothing to do with racism. It was all about pushing back against popular media regarding the Obama tidalwave. The media pushes the race angle more than anyone. OMG there's an intelegent, attractive, capable black man in the world and he's in politics??? who is this superman?!?! The world is filled with smart black men. But the media doesn't always reflect that. And personally, I think when people sweat the small stuff, the big things get less attention. ok, some people may take offence that 'bitch is the new black' was said on tv. I'm offened that fewer black children graduate from highschool, and I'm offened that as a black woman if AIDS doesn't kill me, high blood pressure, a heart attack, or fibroids will.
Just today i called my korean friend a 'cheap asian', to her face. she stuck out her tongue at me. i can be a bitch, and i'm black. in the words of Amy Pohler, 'deal with it'.
I find it interesting how
I find it interesting how double this whole race question always is!
One the one hand I see whole articles and comment sections on racism or hidden racial thinking and yet nobody seems to complain about the fact that there is actually an option on the bio page to fill in your ethnicity!
What possible need is there for such a question other than racial thinking? And how come so many people who do complain about racial thinking still bother to answer that question?
Isn't that just perpetuating this thinking?