Black Beauty: Not Liberation, But Propaganda

Let’s talk about something crucial: the way Black women’s beauty is being used in the political arena. We often hear politicians praise the “beauty” of Black women, especially during election cycles. But is this genuine admiration, or is it a calculated tactic? This piece argues that such praise is not progress towards liberation but rather a form of propaganda, a way to manipulate and gain power.

Beauty as a Political Tool

Consider the example of Donald Trump, who has been noted for commenting on the appearance of Black women, sometimes in ways that seem flattering but are ultimately belittling. He’s used the perceived beauty of Black women to make political points, even fabricating support he claims to have received. This isn’t about genuine appreciation; it’s about leveraging stereotypes and fetishization for political gain.

This trend highlights a deeper issue: the weaponization of Black women’s bodies and beauty in the American political landscape. Politicians often bank on the idea that praising Black women’s aesthetics will win their favor, but this approach can be deeply harmful. It continues a legacy of misogynoir – the specific prejudice against Black women – by surveilling, fetishizing, and controlling narratives around their appearance.

The Empire’s Standards and Erasure

What’s particularly insidious is that while certain Black women’s beauty is celebrated, those who don’t fit the empire’s narrow standards are often erased or even demonized. Politicians might praise some Black women as “beautiful” while simultaneously expressing disgust or fear towards others, particularly “fat Black women” who challenge their narratives. This selective admiration reveals a deep-seated need for control rather than genuine respect.

The author references sociologist Brittney Miles, who notes that Black beauty has always been politically charged. Historically, beauty standards have reinforced power structures, marginalizing those who don’t conform. Yet, Black women have also used their bodies and beauty practices as a form of “embodied resistance” to advocate for social change.

Beyond Beauty: True Resistance

The question arises: is using beauty as a tool, even for resistance, truly effective when that tool was created by white supremacy? The article suggests that when our collective desire for liberation becomes entangled with rhetoric about our bodies and appearance, beauty can feel archaic. We risk fetishizing ourselves in the same ways the empire fetishizes us.

The real issue isn’t just about Trump or any single politician; it’s about our own self-possession. The author urges us to move beyond the colonial gaze and consider why our aesthetics matter so much in this era. True resistance, it argues, lies in showing up in the world with sovereignty, self-regard, and political clarity – qualities that cannot be easily named, contained, or reframed by the empire.