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Black Exposure
Over exposure is never considered a good thing, regardless of what form it comes in. Overexposure to the sun will cause sunburn, cold weather will result in frostbite and to the media--as in the Benifer romp, well I think that says it all. For me, the idea of overexposure really gets interesting when you throw culture and Black bodies in the mix. Insert Janet Damita Jo Jackson.

Let me first say that I believe her move with Justin "I'm gonna have you naked by the end of this song" Timberlake was a well choreographed, however tacky, publicity stunt to promote her album. Do I think it was inappropriate? Yes. Do I think she should have apologized a second time to appear on the Grammy's? No. Do I think that by bringing up this incident again that I may be playing myself out on some already, over hyped media-play? Maybe. But just hear me out on this one.

We live in a society well known for its erasure, marginalization and fetishistic exoticizing of the Black female (nude) body. So when I consider Ms. Jackson's major reveal at the hands of a Black culture adoring wannabe white male--who in the end took no responsibility for the wardrobe malfunction, I not only think about the corruption of standards, over which CBS and the FCC is justifiably going ballistic, I think about power and pleasure--who has it and who wants it.

I only wish that Janet could think as well as she can tease because if she did, she would have conceived of a way to promote herself and flip the tables over on feminism, pop music and sexuality. She would have rocked the entire half-time show (who needed Puffy and Nelly anyway), the way sisters rock the dance floor when we hear Beyonce's “Baby Boy.” Cause when Beyonce starts ooohing an aaahing, you know it's a wrap! All of a sudden everyone gets Caribbean and our dancing becomes sultry, sexy, and celebratory, Part Josephine Baker, part Lil' Kim (circa 1999) we know how to get our swerve on and still not totally give it up.

That's the thing with exposure, the art of it is to not only control what is shown, but to somehow manipulate the way in which it is also seen (consumed) so that the experience remains self-defined and transformative--for the guy in the club, for 100 million television viewers and definitely for oneself. So in acknowledging Janet’s quasi auspicious latest debut, I'd like to thank the sisters who knew way back when that sometimes less is more and still knew how to work their magic and use their beautiful Black bodies to empower, impassion and inspire.

Shout-outs to Salt-n-Pepa for Pushing It, Josephine for her banana skirt, photographer Mfon Essien for her mesmerizing self-portraits, Sade for her Love Deluxe album cover (of which Janet took a huge bite), singer Joi for her live performances, Aaliyah for damn near everything, Ma Rainey for her trademark gold coin necklace and knowing how to swing that Black bottom, and a special shout to Sara Baartman aka "The Hottentot Venus" who was taken from her home in South Africa in 1810 and exhibited throughout Britain as a "freak" for having a large booty and bosom. She is the original icon for Black female exposure and we embrace her! Big up.

Folks tend to look at Blackness from a social point of view, but if you really want to give your brain something to chew on, think about Blackness from a political, social and historical point of view. And if you’re really up for the challenge throw the power/pleasure dynamic into the mix. Maybe I’m just trippin’, but the following six things have got my wheels turning and my spirit burning. What do you think?

1. Janet debuts at #2 on the Billboard chart scanning a lil’ over 381,000 units, yet MTV will not play her video. But they will show a bodacious Britney flashing her pink panties in “Toxic” and of course R. Kelly will even get some love although he is accused of molesting a number of Black girls.

2. The media’s reportage of high profile scandal. Is it me or are Kobe Bryant, Jayson Williams, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross and Lil’ Kim the only alleged lawbreakers on the continent? What about Courtney Love, Kelly Osborne, and Robert Blake? Not to mention those Tyco and Enron guys or President Bush who broke at least 10 international laws in his search for weapons of mass destruction. Hello--overriding the UN in pursuit of oil is way more interesting than Diana Ross’ one-night prison stay!

3. Jayson Blair. Anyone notice how the disgraced NY Times writer decided to make his only New York appearance at Hue Man bookstore in Harlem? From what I heard he made a typical, yet passionate appeal for Black folks to forgive him because at the Times Black men are just so oppressed. Give me a friggin’ break!

4. The depiction of Black women on reality television--Omarosa from “The Apprentice” (who took over the Oprah Winfrey with her n-word allegations and her I’m just playing the Black diva excuses), Coral from “The Real World” (“I don’t wrestle women, I beat bitches up”), Camille from “Top Model” and my favorite, Babs of “Making of the Band.” Think about the disservice we do to ourselves by falling into the easy, stereotypical role of being The Black Bitch or The Angry Black Woman. Dominique Devereaux is the only sister I know that continually found success and happiness in being rude, arrogant and manipulative and in the end, even she got the ax.

5. The testimonial procedure of Condoleeza Rice.

6. HIV/AIDS

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