bitch (n.): 1. An awkward situation, ex: “Damn, I got some shit in my eye, ain’t that a bitch.” 2. Term of endearment between girlfriends, ex: “Hey bitch, what’s up?” 3. the person on the receiving end of any homosexual activity, most notably in a prison context. –urbandictionary.com
I came across this story online not too long ago and I’m wondering who’s most responsible for the way black women are portrayed on reality TV, the producers or the women themselves.
“We know all these shows are edited and manipulated to create images that look real and sort of exist in real time,” says Todd Boyd, critical-studies professor at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinema-Television and author of “Young Black Rich and Famous: The Rise of the NBA, The Hip Hop Invasion and the Transformation of American Culture.” “But really what we have is a construction… The whole enterprise of reality television relies on stereotypes. It relies on common stock, easily identifiable images.”
We’ve all seen them, the Coral’s and Camille’s. The bitch we all love to hate that just happens to be one of our own. The article by Teresa Wiltz argues that these shows flip the scenes in such a way that the sistah-girl, neck rolling, back-talking attitude is more pronounced. They play up that all-too-familiar stereotype to enhance drama and ratings. And we sit back and watch and go “I hate that bitch. Why the black chick always gotta cause trouble?”
The truth is, the black chick doesn’t always have to cause trouble. There were a total of three black contestants on America’s Next Top Model last year. Ebony was the hot-headed lesbian, Rachel was the southern, Bible-quoting hypocrite, and Kesse was the only girl everyone liked. Not much can be said for Kesse except that she was a nice girl. She didn’t seem to have any quirks that the producers could jump on and amplify. So that there proves that not all black women have an attitude problem on reality television. But you better believe that if your eye twitches in the wrong direction or if you smack your lips one time, they will play it up.
But a bitch is a bitch, no matter what color she is. I can sit up here all day and say I hate Camille because I think she’s a bitch, but truth be told I used to love Coral from Real World 10. I am of the opinion that there is an art to being a bitch. Own that title, make people afraid of you. Rather than have people say “What a dumb bitch!”, have them say “Now that’s a bad bitch!”
Let’s do a little comparison.
Janice Dickenson: BAD BITCH.
Foxy Brown: DUMB BITCH.
Wendy Williams: BAD BITCH.
Whitney Houston: DUMB BITCH.
Alexis Carrington-Colby-Dexter-etc.: BAD BITCH
The qualifier is having some sort of knowledge, experience, style and method to your madness. There’s a lot more to it than opening your mouth and talking trash. A Bad Bitch is a woman (or man) you want to be around because she or he will always have your back and come out on top. The Dumb Bitch will say something that 9 times out of 10 will get you jumped while she slithers away to cause more trouble elsewhere.
But back to the matter at hand. If any of my sisters out there reading are planning to audition for a reality show and know for a fact they got more than just a little bit of mouth, be prepared. Don’t get all huffy at the end when you realize they only showed the scenes where you cussed someone out or rolled your eyes. You did it! It might not be your entire psychological makeup, but that’s all “the outsiders” are interested in. So I say get your bitch on and do it well. Make the rest of us bitches weep in pride.
Most characters on the Real World (and other reality shows) are made out to be walking, talking stereotypes of something: the Virgin, the Slut, the Angry Negro, the Redneck, etc.
Foxy Brown was a dumb bitch? I thought she was bad ass, but then again I saw that movie when I was about what, twelve maybe? I just knew she shot a mans ‘johnson’. Yep, that’s all I remember. I’ll have to see it again.
But what about Omarosa on THe Apprentice? She’s made me mad the last two weeks, so i’m beginning to think she’s a dumb bitch. Lol…
Interesting post. Thought provoking.
Hats off to you Nova for this post. Hell, I’m even putting my BAD BITCHiness aside to commend you for this one. It’s great! Especially the “make the rest of us bitches weep in pride” part.
Sorry, Cheryl. I guess I should’ve made it clear that I meant the ugly chick that raps.
Oooo…I didn’t even think about her..lol. I guess i’m old school. I thought about a throwback from the 70′s before the 90′s rapper. Geez…am I THAT old?! Lol…but I do agree with you now about her.
You are on point with your short list of bad bitches and dumb bitches. I happen to love Camille because, in my opinion, she is a bad bitch in training.
*jumpin’ up and down*
“I’ma bad bitch! I’ma bad bitch!”
I’m proud of it too! *hehe* But what is so ironic is that even though I am somewhat of a bitch I can’t stand other bitches.. Like Camille and Coral get on my damn nerve.. So does that mean I am not really a bitch? I don’t know..I am only a bitch when I need to be.. I rather be nice, lovable, sugary sweet and all that.. That way when I do be a bitch it is justifed because people know that I am not normally like that.. *dead*
What the hell am I talkin’ about anyway? *haha!*
*muah*
LMAO at Cheryl. I thought about the rapper and you thought about Pam Grier. Too funny! I’m sure nOva would’ve classified her as a Bad Bitch. nOva, you’re wrong for calling her a ugly chick. Yet, sooo true.
Wendy Williams = Bad Bitch?
I guess.
I too am only a bitch when I need to be….. Enjoyed this post!