The Fat Body
In the article entitled Why Black Women are Fat, Alex's Take, the author explored the cultural aspect of why black women are fat.
"After people hit their 20 and 30s, being big or bigger was acceptable and the norm. The only people who were skinny or had a slender frame, were crack heads or kids. Being skinny or slender was looked at as a disease. Everyone wanted and should have bigger butts, breast and thicker thighs. Eating hamhocks, collard greens and sweet potato pie was the prescription for achieving this".
This article is somewhat of an explanation of why there are so many overweight black women living in the United States. In movies and television shows older black women are usually heavyset because in the African American culture this image is seen very often. Being a big black woman is considered being a healthy individual. "Black fat" as deemed by the Black community is acceptable because that is simply the way the woman was made. If she is cooking the soul food correctly then being heavier is only natural. In a African-American household the mother has the role of feeding the family like in any other family. However, an everyday dinner consist of fried chicken, baked macaroni and cheese, and homemade pies versus a meal that is more healthy. Historically Black families didn't have the same access to healthier foods than a White family would have due to socioeconomic status. In previous years there were well known Black women endorsing "the fat black women" such as Monique, an African-American comedian and actress. Monique did a television show entitled Monique's F.A.T. Chance where plus sized women competed in a beauty pageant to become Miss F.A.T which is short for Miss Fat and Thick. Monique continued to reassure Black women that it is okay to be a plus sized women.
(http://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/moniques-fat-chance)
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