"Amazing Bodies"....Says Who?

This past Sunday I missed Monique snagging her much deserved Golden Globe for best supporting actress . The following morning, however, I caught the highlights of the ceremony including the customary critiques of what actress wore what and how she wore it. Normally I turn the channel, but this time I just went with it. Seconds into it I remembered why I typically reach for the remote. First, this whole male testosterone thing I got going on never fails to interrupt my interest. Second, unless it's the portion of the program when they discuss best cleavage of the night or what form fitting dress Beyonce managed to slink herself into, I could really care less.

(Follow Mason Jamal on Twitter @masonsays)

The other issue is this: all the incessant drivel about "amazing bodies" is simply nauseating. Whether it's the likes of Sandra Bullock, Jennifer Anniston or even Zoe Saldana, I'm tired of media types obsessing over the so slender you-can-bend-her body type. I'm not knocking the women. Sexy comes in all shapes and sizes. But I am concerned about the subtext, of the on air conversations, which outright rejects the shapely figure more commonly found among women of color.

We all have personal preferences. Most black men, like myself, prefer someone we can hold on to without fear of snapping a limb. She got bodacious bones in her body and enough cushion for the pushin'. This is what I'm saying. Who says her body isn't amazing? Hollywood and mainstream media can kiss her magnificent black @ss. After all, that's all they focus on anyway, when they do their token acknowledgements of women with other body types. They reduce women of color, more times than not, to isolated body parts - typically their backsides - as if all her body is good for is "smashing da homie".

Listen, mainstream media doesn't need to validate the beautiful bodies of women of color. Black men are on it. But, as a commentator, damn if I give them a pass. It needed to be said.

Mason Jamal writes about issues pertaining to the style, substance and sensibilities of men (and sometimes women). For more of his musings, you can visit www.MasonSays.com. You can also follow him on Twitter @masonsaysand him on Facebook.

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