Looking Ahead: The Skinny Body

A Skinny Black Body

Historically, Black women have had curvy and voluptous bodies. To be a bigger women is the culatrally accepted norm for Black women. However, there is a strong movement in the younger Black community of females becoming more and more thin. The media in contrast to African-American culture projects being a big black young lady and women means that you are unhealthy and unattractive. For example, the movie Precious follows the story of two black women who are both extremely overweight who are angry and have been through severe emotional turmoil. Young Black women look at the movie and other media sources and do not want to be associated with being a bigger Black women so they turn to the Black celebrities that are increasingly sharing new diet tips and workout plans to acheive being a skinny Black woman. Black women who were previously considered to be fat have gone from being the face for fat black women to being the face of diet plans. A prime example of this is Jennifer Hudson the ex American Idol contestant turned singer and actress. When she first appeared on the show she was a heavier women but now she is the spokeswoman for Weight Watchers. She went from a size 16 to a current size 6. Black women who once accepted their weight are now influenced by other Black women shedding the pounds simply because what the media puts out is that thin is in. 

(http://weheartit.com/entry/8640481)