Friday, November 20, 2009
"Baby's Got Back" - Sir Mix-A-Lot
"Oh my God! Becky, look at her butt! It is so big! I can't believe it's so round; it's like, out there! I mean - gross! Look! She's just so...black!" Sounds familiar? It's part of the opening lyrics in the comedic rap song of the ninties, "Baby's Got Back" by Sir-Mix-A-Lot. Many of us can't help but smile as we listen to SMAL sing about his fondness for large derrieres. How about that YouTube video of the newly married couple boogying to it during their reception? Well, I can't imagine that Saartjie Baartman aka, "The Hottentot Venus" thought her ample derriere was a laughing matter. Not familiar with that name? Well, it's Herstory Time...listen up. Saartjie (Sara) Baartman was born in 1789 to a Khoisan family in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. She was a slave of Dutch farmers. In 1810, a British ship's doctor noticed what seemed to him, Sara's "unusual" shape (read: big butt). He took her to London with her believing she was going to gain wealth, when in reality, he was "pimping" her. She was put on display for paying audiences to ogle her unusually large derriere and protruding genitalia, and was forced to entertain people by gyrating her nude body, with the promise of half the profits. This caused a scandal and she was sold to a French entrepreneur (another pimp?), who took her to Paris, where she was put on display by an animal trainer for fifteen months!!! After being the subject of public ridicule, Sara descended into alcoholism and prostitution (ya think?) to support herself. Sadly, Sara died at the age of twenty-six of an inflammatory ailment; possibly Smallpox. Free at last! Right? Wrong! After her death, Sara's skeleton, brain and preserved genitals, were placed on display in Paris were they remained until 1974! It wasn't until 2002 that she was returned to rest in her homeland. If you care to know more about this sad story, google her. It's a story that needs to be told. Perhaps you'll remember Sara the next time you watch videos portraying women as body parts; rather than whole human beings.
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3 comments:
Wow! I'd never head this story. Thanks Beverly, amazing some of the stuff that was allowed to go on back then.
Stephanie, I am glad to have this forum in which to expose stories like this, as well as display my warped sense of humor. I've known about this story for years. There is even a video on YouTube about this.
Well you have to love a big butt and a smile! As a normal male I love a nice butt but that is personal and not yo exploit! But seriously, I hate the fact that the young woman out here feel they have to exploit themselves to get into videos and programs. It would would get their self esteem boosted without the promise of having them shake their rump shakers and putting it out there it would take the power away from the knuckleheads that use them. We need to have the music promotors and people in the industry stop the sex and violence in these videos and show them that we don't need it But as long as sex sells there will always be people who exploit and people who let themselves be exploited! Keep exposing and making people aware Bev!! I have your back!
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