Shannon in Kansas City YT: Shannon's Bible Study IG:@showmeshannon

Black women spent a week defending women dressing like a street walker with vigor and passion. Black women were ready to march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in order to defend wearing as few clothes as possible with no criticism from anyone. Black women were more concerned about dressing in lingerie in public than missing Black children or the Supreme Court ruling that states that what’s left of Affirmative Action is unconstitutional.

I’m a Black woman and I don’t understand why dressing like a whore is so important to so many Black women. We don’t live in Saudi Arabia or Iran. For the most part a woman can wear what she chooses with no real consequences. Black women on Twitter don’t even want criticism for exposing private areas of their bodies.

It started with a topless IG photo of Tracy Ellis Ross. Tracy received criticism for that photograph that I honestly didn’t think was fair. The criticism said that she was too old to post such a photo. I don’t know what age has to do with it. Fifty six year old Salma Hayek didn’t receive the same criticism after posting a thirst trap in her bikini a few days later.

However I don’t think there was a reason to rally the troops and defend Tracy. Tracy Ross doesn’t really care what the masses think of her. She just needs the page views and clicks. Tracy intentionally posted a sexually suggestive photo that was intended to get attention. She wanted attention and traffic to her IG page and she got it. There was no reason for Black women to defend her honor when honor is not what she was seeking.

Twitter erupted with chatter about Keke Palmer and her boyfriend. Keke’s boyfriend made a disapproving tweet about his girlfriend’s attire that she she wore to an Usher concert in Las Vegas. Her entire backside was exposed in her see through dress.

I think any man would be uncomfortable with his significant other being serenaded by an R&B star with her behind exposed. He was dragged and emasculated on Black Twitter for days. Social media said he was insecure, jealous and trying to dim Keke’s shine all because he didn’t approve of the dress she wore on her mom’s night out. Keke Palmer and her baby daddy even ended up on CNN.

The next incident involved India Arie’s criticism of Essence Fest. India felt some of the acts were too sexually suggestive and Black women in the music industry were presenting too much of a prurient image. She specifically mentioned Janelle Monet and Meg the Stallion. Janelle exposes her breasts on stage and Meg simulates sex and dances like a stripper.

I agree with India’s point of view. I’ve noticed for years that Black women celebrities are presented as cheap and slutty. Black women insulted India Arie on social media for days.

I don’t understand why dresses in a sexually suggestive manner is so important to Black women. The clothing that is debated is intended to raise eyebrows so I don’t understand the discomfort with those clutching their pearls. Isn’t that the point?

Black women in mainstream media are portrayed as highly sexual, or a sexual and frumpy. Those are usually the options. It’s unfortunate the so many Black women aren’t in favor of a refined, feminine image. I feel like a lot of Black women have fallen for a racist mind trick of a media that has always protected the image of Whiteness. I though Black women were smarter than this.

I’m not saying sexualized acts should be banned but it’s odd to me that there isn’t one clean cut young, Black pop star. There is no Black equivalent to Taylor Swift or a modern day match to Whitney Houston. The media feels the need to tie pushing boundaries that border vulgarity with Black female sexuality and Black women loudly support this on social media. Smarten up girls.

The voices of Black women that are more reserved, modest and traditional are silenced, vilified and not tolerated within the Black community. Black Twitter is doing the job of racists and White supremacists in the name of feminism that does nothing but encourage a trashy image. Black women need to stop doing everyone’s dirty work.