Separate But Equal? Policy Brief Aims To Ensure Charter…
Cornel West Speaks At Vigil For Unionizing UM Food Workers
Is there a thin line between being a "strong black woman" and an emasculating she-devil? Are women just throwing success in other people's faces? Brody and Mason take on the issue of strong black women and how the myth, the reality and drama affect relationships.
The Royal Court
The Royal Court: 25 Black Women Handling Their Business
Make no mistake about it: Black women are handling their business -- not only in entertainment but also in the areas of sports, food, politics, fashion and philanthropy. In honor of true royalty, Blackvoices.com celebrates 25 notable females who have reigned supreme as queens of their respective industries. Take a look at The Royal Court: A Celebration of Sisters.
Name: Aretha Louise Franklin
Who Is She?: The undisputed queen of soul
Credentials: 20 Grammy Awards including the Living Legend Grammy and the Lifetime Achievement Grammy
Royally Speaking: It takes a lot of talent to become the first female to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but that's Aretha. At 67, the Detroit native has garnered 45 top 40 Billboard Hot 100 hits in her half-century long career. Franklin holds the record for best female R&B vocal performance awards, with 11 to her name. From 1968 until 1976, she was awarded eight consecutive Grammy awards in the category. In 1994, she became the youngest recipient of the Kennedy Center Honor. And the 'Respect' singer was the only featured singer that President Barack Obama asked to perform at his 2009 inauguration.
Name: Debra L. Lee
Who Is She?: President and chief executive officer of Black Entertainment Television
Credentials: The first African American woman to helm a cable television network
Royally Speaking: When BET founder Bob Johnson sold the first black owned television network to Viacom and left his post, Lee continued to make the channel profitable. Under her tenure, BET's production budget increased 50 percent and developing original content became a priority. The 58-year-old Harvard grad, who sits on the boards of Revlon, Marriott and Kodak, just launched a new channel under the BET umbrella called 'Centric.'
Name: Pamela Suzette Grier
Who Is She?: Actress
Credentials: First African American woman to star in an action film; Golden Globe, SAG and NAACP Image Award nominee for 'Jackie Brown'
Royally Speaking: Most of the actors and actresses of the 1970s blaxploitation era didn't have long careers. Grier was the exception, and there was only one Foxy Brown; the you-don't-want-none, bossy role that was the blueprint for black female heroism of the era.The North Carolina native's comeback role was as the title character in Quentin Tarantino's 'Jackie Brown.' Most recently, the 60-year-old starred on Showtime's drama 'The L Word.'
Name: Debra Martin Chase
Who Is She?: Hollywood producer
Credentials: Emmy Award-nominated producer of 'Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella,' producer of 'The Cheetah Girls' and 'The Princess Diaries'
Royally Speaking: This Columbia Pictures-lawyer-turned-producer ran Denzel Washington's production company in 1992 and produced blockbuster films such as 'The Pelican Brief,' 'Devil in a Blue Dress,' 'The Preacher's Wife' starring Whitney Houston and 'Courage Under Fire,' as well as the Academy Award-nominated documentary 'Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream.' Under her Martin Chase Productions company, the 53-year-old Illinois native, who also produced the television show 'Missing' and 'The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,' is recognized as the only black woman with the power to get a film project off the ground in Hollywood.
Name: Serena Williams
Who Is She?: Tennis player, clothing line designer and spokesperson
Credentials: She's the reigning champion in women's singles and doubles at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.
Royally Speaking: After years of speculation about why Serena Williams wasn't the top player in the world, the Compton, Calif., native finally topped the list of the world's best tennis players. The 28-year-old, who has been a spokesperson for Nike and Tampax, has won more career prize money than any other female athlete in history. Since bursting on the pro scene at 17 with her sister Venus, she's taken home gold medals twice for women's doubles with her sister and made a name for herself with 25 Grand Slam titles, 12 single titles, 11 in women's doubles and two in mixed doubles. She and her sister are also part-owners of the Miami Dolphins.
Name: Diana Ross
Who Is She?: Motown's premier diva
Credentials: 100 million records sold (with the Supremes and as a solo artist), Academy Award nomination for best actress for 'Lady Sings the Blues,' Tony Award for 'An Evening with Diana Ross'
Royally Speaking: In her heyday, no one was badder than Diana Ross. The Detroit native, born Diane Earnestine Earle Ross, got her start in the '60s as the lead singer of the Supremes and launched a successful solo career with a re-arranged version of Ashford & Simpson's 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough.' All in all, the near 70-year-old singer/actress amassed 18 number-one singles and starred in films such as 'The Wiz,' 'Mahogany' and her Academy Award-nominated performance as Billie Holiday in 'Lady Sings the Blues.'
Name: Mariah Carey
Who Is She?: Singer, songwriter, actress and spokesperson
Credentials: Five-time Grammy Award winner
Royally Speaking: Where her career is concerned, Mariah Carey has definitely shaken off the haters and stood the test of time. The 39-year-old New York native remains the best-selling female artist of all time. She has the most number-one singles for a solo artist with 18 and has even shut down critics with her acclaimed performance in the Academy Award-nominated film 'Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire.' Her comeback album, 'The Emancipation of Mimi,' marked her career resurgence and gave the five-octave singer the opportunity to evolve her brand with a fragrance line through Elizabeth Arden.
Name: Audra Ann McDonald
Who Is She?: Broadway star and thespian
Credentials: The sole black woman to win four Tony awards
Royally Speaking: The Great White Way is a tough place to maintain a presence, but that's not the case for Audra McDonald. The 39-year-old German-born actress won her first three Tony awards for 'Carousel,' 'Master Class' and 'Ragtime' all before the age of 28. McDonald currently stars opposite Taye Diggs in the ABC drama 'Private Practice.'
Name: Barbara Smith
Who Is She?: Groundbreaking fashion-model-turned-restaurateur and lifestyle expert
Credentials: This author of three books and owner of three restaurants has major partnerships with brands such as Bed, Bath and Beyond, Pillsbury, Colgate Palmolive, and La-Z Boy furniture.
Royally Speaking: The first African American woman to grace the cover of Mademoiselle, the Pennsylvania native went on to blaze trails in the restaurant industry – not only as an owner but as a doyenne of elegant entertaining. Smith, 60, has proven successful beyond cooking; she has a line of jewelry, home décor and an upcoming line of handbags.
Comments: (66)
Add a comment
By: mary on 7/12/2010 4:54PM
If you are a SBW, you do not have to tell everyone, I AM A SBW,because it will show. If you always have repeat I AM A SBW (YOU HAVE A PROBLEM)
It is a myth anyway.
If we have so many SBW, why do we have so many Black Mama Babies????????????? Stop and look and listen to your self.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: don on 7/12/2010 8:46PM
I too believe that strong black women are mythical on the surface. I say this because of all the SBW that I have personally encountered in different cultures and geographical locations ... there haven't been any exceptions towards the fact that each woman created a facade that (perhaps) prevented them from being taken advantage of by a man.
But in the end it's as your co-host stated: "a label."
Mason Jamal, I believe you and the smart and intelligent sista Rebecca Brody have a strong offering with the show.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Goddess Intellect on 7/13/2010 7:43AM
As usual I dont have time to skim thru all the comment goodness and I'm late but I made it! I am loving this piece.
I was deep in convo with one of younger female cousins who expressed a fear of ending up alone. she pointed out that most of the women, no all of the women in our family (extended fam btw) were all single mothers.
I thought about how I grew up and Mase, you made a valid point at the beginning of your argument. You brought up the fact that most black women were brought up in a strict church environment which fostered an independent strong blk woman "big mama" type persona. I was molded to stick my nose in books and really just ignore the "evil" men/boys.
I was never taught the game, except for what little portions I eavsdropped in men-only convos and more importntly i was never taught to relate to men.
This is important yet difficult to do when you are a single mother rasing a child who has yet to learn game and how to relate to men herself.
I strongly feel like relationships should be apart of school curriculum. I dont think its enough to learn anatomy and sex ed. I mean I wont even argue anymore, we meaning black women and men need each other and until we take down some of the barriers we're creating we wont be able to relate to each other.
I'm all for creating boundaries to keep a sense of pride and dignity but creating barriers alientates yourself from others and prevents growth.
The black community needs to grow and flourish.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Rhonda J. Smith on 7/13/2010 7:00PM
There is definitely a thin line between a strong black woman and an emasculating she-devil. When I woman proudly calls herself a strong black woman she is emphasizing that she is strong and thus, even without saying she doesn't need a man, is communicating that she doesn't need one. A man, made as protector and provider, therefore, can feel he doesn't have a role to play in that woman's life and feels his manhood has been stripped. I talk from a Christian perspective about the detriment of embracing the label strong black woman on my blog, http://musingsofastrongblackwoman.wordpress.com.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Rick on 7/15/2010 9:06PM
Women like Omarosa who are considered a strong black women always seem to end up alone and by themselves. There are many women in that category who say they are happy being alone and don't need a man. I don't mind dating women like that but I'd never marry one. I have enough stress in my life and am not looking to add to it by any woman. Those type women are successful at everything except relationships and there are millions of them. They are good to have in certain situations but not full time. Most men who date and or marry those type women have a spare somewhere anyway, so just live life and be happy.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: free online games on 10/09/2010 5:29AM
http://www.colordressup.com
Reply to this Comment | Report This