Women and Womenhood

The colored Museum

The colored museum is a great collage of what influences the modern day individual via a '90's perspective.  It is outlandish, entertaining, immensely colorful and intricately presents the complicated state of being an African American.  The varying scenarios outline primarily different aspects of black culture.  It addresses the core identifiers that help to define our collective identity, one of the most important of which is our black women, our black hair, our shape, our outlandishness.  The film also explores the difficulties that also come with black culture.  It always seems to be in conflict with the prevailing culture of the US., of what is most acceptable to a white society.

 The scene with a woman arguing with herself and her wigs.  Which wig was more acceptable her natural Afro or more European looking hair.  Even more so illustrative of the difficulties women face is the sketch done in drag with Ms. Roz.  The skit extrapolated all of what "Ms. Roz" felt affected not only women but men as well.  It is interesting however, that a woman was the chosen vehicle of analysis.  The actor, a man, could have done the show as a man.  He chose a woman.  Women represent the beginning, from where all life starts.  They represent the focus of the center stage spotlight.  The character is bejeweled in bright colors with her muscular figure most visible and a vestige of strength emboldened by confidence.  Though it becomes clear as the skit rolls on that this body, this personality and identity have be struggling to emerge whole against continuous opposition.  Ms. Roz speaks about the fight and her refusal to accept anything other than the right to enforce her own defense and be respected for doing so.

Black Girl
    The most important scene in this film occurs when Diouana decides to redo her hair in a native style. It was incredibly striking because what she did was what I do with my own hair.  I am unsure if anyone has noticed but I always wear hats.  The truth is my hair is in plats, those braided spiky locks Diouana constructs for herself in the scene.  It really is a great moment to see her re-embrace her heritage.  After everything that has happened with the family she recognizes that her original and true identity is embedded in her Senegalese culture.  Still, the obstacles that affect women unfortunately extends across social and economic boundaries to further negatively affect womanhood.  The relationship with the wife seems to be the most pivotal connection for Diouana.  Particularly since her suicide speech revolved around wife’s faults and lies.   Their womanhood, their connection drastically changed as the societal roles each was expected to play came into greater conflict.   The dream was to become more affluent for each, more western and successful but those new spheres came with unexpected obligations that heavily poisoned their relationship.  The functionality and mutuality of their womanhood became ineffective with the move to France.