History Repeating Itself

The maltreatment of black women’s bodies during the nineteenth century in Europe and the United States appears to be the template upon which modern pornography represents black women. Contemporary pornography with African-American women has prominent themes of 

Caricature of Sarah Bartmann
drawn in early nineteenth century

objectification, domination and control. In the nineteenth century black women’s bodies were objects to be displayed and when entered into slavery they were subjected to rape as a convergence of sex and violence. In the early nineteenth century in Europe Sarah Bartmann was displayed at fashionable parties, dressed in little to no clothing to provide entertainment. Her exhibition produced public captivation and sparked curiosity about the sexuality of non-European races. As a result of her display she was made into the first icon for black female sexuality, which was suspected to be deviant behavior. Today, we see Sarah's display as the blueprint of degrading and humiliating the black woman's body on a worldwide level. The abuse of enslaved African women and of women like Sarah Bartmann is recurring in contemporary portrayals of black women in pornography, concurrent with the historical treatment of their actual bodies. In modern pornography African-American women are usually shown with one or more white men in a situation of bondage or slavery and typically in a submissive position. The image of black women in pornography is almost constantly featuring them breaking from chains. There is a distinct difference between the images applied to white women and women of color in pornography. The use of chains, whips, neck braces and wrist clasps replicates the historical trappings of slavery and the pornographic treatment of black women's bodies is parallel with the historical abuse inflicted upon their bodies.