Big Black

Big Black

Something I Said - Full Figured Black Women Still Scarce In The Media

SIS-Big Black Women Still Ignored
Minnesota Spokesman Recorder
Dwight Hobbes I'm glad as anyone else for plus-size model Crystal Renn. Haven't read her book, Hungry: A Young Model's Story of Appetite, Ambition and the Ultimate Embrace of Curves, but it's hard to turn a newspaper or magazine page without seeing an ad for it or an article about it, the memoir of a woman who shoe-horned herself into Madison Avenue's stick-figure image in order to work as a model. The gist of her saga is that she was miserable forcing herself to be skinny and now exults in being able to wear skimpy clothes while brandishing quite a healthy frame. Didn't read the book but I did get a look-see at the before and after. Renn used to look like a coat rack. Barely enough skin to hold her bones together. Today, she's thick as a tight brick with curves you could ski off of. And, no longer starving herself, quite imaginably she's pretty damned happy. Especially since she keeps getting richer. I'm glad also for the girls and women who can look on Crystal Renn as an image of personal reinforcement, proof positive that you don't need to be thin as six o'clock to be gorgeous. God knows the self-esteem of far too many females with big butts and thighs can use all the reinforcement they can get. It's great that this kind of ground has been broken. And it'd be one hell of a turn if a full-blown revolution broke out and tomorrow morning big women were hawking everything from g-string negligees to Ford cars. They'd sure as hell get my attention. While all this is wonderful, though, I can't help being mindful that, Crystal Renn or no Crystal Renn, we are a long way from seeing a woman of color with the same body getting anywhere near the exposure Crystal Renn owns by right of her birthday suit. When she was reed-thin, Renn got work that was denied Black models. Native American models. Asian models. Latina models. She will still get work that way. And the cruel irony is that women of color are known all around the entire world for their incredibly endowed framework. Just not on billboards, magazine covers, TV commercials and newspaper ads. Granted, in this new improved day of cultural diversity, you will, once in a while, see a thin lady of dusky hue smiling at you over the media. Not nearly as many as would accurately reflect the public, but, yeah, some. All that entrenched, resolutely sustained racist discrimination will allow. In just 2007, the few Black models with equitable earning power had to pitch a fit. Naomi Campbell, Iman and Liya Kebede launched a campaign, protesting that race discrimination in the fashion industry was at its worst since the 1960s. In case you weren't around, the 1960s wasn't no joke. We were glad to see Diahann Carroll play Julia on TV. Yes, America has a Black president and First Lady Michelle Obama does wonderful things for a wool dress. This society, nonetheless, still has a long way to go. Glad as I am for Crystal Renn and her avowed crusade to level her field for the full-figured, I don't see it doing a whole hell of a lot for anyone but White women.
About the Author

Dwight Hobbes has written for ESSENCE, Reader's Digest, Washington Post, Minneapolis Star Tribune, St. Paul Pioneer Press, City Pages, Mpls/St. Paul, MN Law & Politics, Pulse of the Twin Cities, Twin Cities Daily Planet, Women & Word, San Diego Union-Tribune and Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (where he contributes the commentary column Something I Said).  He's spoken his mind over National Public Radio, Minnesota Public Radio, Blog Talk Radio's UNOBSTRUCTED and KMOJ in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Was regularly featured as guest commentator on NewsNight Minnesota (KTCA-Minneapolis/St. Paul) and Spectator (Minneapolis Television Network). His monthly column "Hobbes In The House" in MN Spokesman Recorder speaks to domestic abuse and rape. His plays are Shelter - produced at Mixed Blood Theatre by Pangea World Theater, Dues - produced by Mixed Blood Theatre, University of Southern Illinois in Point of Revue, selected for Bedlam Theatre's 10-Minute Play Festival and published by Playscripts, Inc. You Can't Always Sometimes Never Tell - produced by Theater Center Philadelphia, Long Island University, reading at The Kennedy Center and published in the anthology CENTER STAGE, In the Midst - produced by Long Island University, starring Samuel E. Wright.  Hobbes spoke on the panel "Farewell To August Wilson" at the Guthrie Theater, broadcast on Conversations With Al McFarlane (KFAI, KMOJ). Singer-songwriter Dwight Hobbes recorded the single "Atlanta Children" (BeatBad Records) and gigged 10 years in the Long Island/NYC area, including The Other End, Kenny's Castaways and My Fathers Place.   He fronted the Boston blues band Midlight.  In Minneapolis, Hobbes opened for David Daniels at First Street Entry, James Curry at Terminal Bar, sat in with Yohannes Tona, Alicia Wiley at Sol Testimony's Soul Jam, The New Congress at Babalu, Willie Murphy at the Viking Bar and Wain McFarlane & Jahz at Lucille's Kitchen. Dwight Hobbes still drops in at the occasional open mic around town. www.myspace.com/dwighthobbesmusic

How do I get rid of these annoying big black birds that constantly swarm my yard, and attract the pretty ones?

OK, these birds, I dunno if they are blackbirds, or starlings, or crows, or what they are, but they are big and black and ugly and annoying and they are contantly stealing stuff from my yard like outta my garden, AND even my dogs food!!! I hate these black birds! They just SWARM my yard! How do I get rid of them and keep the other birds(the ones I like) around!!?? Thanks for any useful input!

Let your dog go chase them off. My dog apparently hates anything that walks past, and barks. Also try banging the window a little or just feed your dog inside, and maybe put your stuff in a shed (if you have one).

Sorry I tried helping, but this is a tricky question :S

Big Black from Rob & Big Finally Speaks Out about Rob Dyrdek- NEW!