Black Bodies in the Media

Throughout history black bodies have been subjected to commodification, torture, displacement, and ridicule. It may seem as if these problems have become a thing of the past but in reality these issues have trickled down and appear in our society in different forms. In “Pornographic Eroticism and Sexual Grotesquerie,” McKay and Johnson explain how Venus and Serena Williams’ bodies have been the target of constant slander because of the threat they pose to hegemonic ideologies. In “The White Man’s Burden” Dines describes how interracial pornography has placed the black male body in racists positions by white males. On one hand it seems that the Williams’ bodies are rejected and ridiculed and on the other hand pornographic images of black bodies are desired. Though this is a contradiction created through white eyes, the basis in both situations is the dehumanization, exploitation, and commodification of black people through the use and perspective of their black bodies in a white male controlled media resulting from a history of racism.

One of the reasons many white male viewers buy IP is because they want to view black males have sex in what they perceive to be uncontrollable animalistic ways. White eyes have created this notion of black males having enourmous penisis and being wild and funky during sex. Similarly the Williams’ bodies have been called numerous animalistic names like piranha, cheetah, and hawk. It seems that white male viewers cannot fathom the fact these particular black people are physically superior to them and so they must find an excuse as to why that is. This has led to people saying things like “‘there is a natural physical superiority about those of African origin...’” (121). Throughout history there has been studies examining black people’s bodies and brains to see what makes them “different”. This similar thought process continous in present day hegemonic run media by calling and comparing black people to animals. Doing this dehumanizes black people and makes it acceptable to continue to paint them in a light of hatred. White eyes will continue to put down their athletic achievements and portray them in racist notions through white controlled media.

There are clear differences between black male and black female body representations in both sports and pornography. Black women in sports such as the Williams’ sisters are slandered and said to be “too masculine”. Because their bodies aren't shaped to the conventional beauty standards for women created by the patriarchy, their bodies which are on display for many to view are belittled and summed up as grotesque. They even talk about how Serena Williams’ arse is so big. This is similar in history when black women were placed in freak shows for having a larger than “normal” arse. Even through this “grotesque” feeling white slave owners would rape black female slaves. In present day, women like Serena Williams