Gilbert Arenas decided to join the ever increasing and shameful list of Black men willing to throw Black women under the bus on social media. Before what the former basketball player describes as a misreading, Gilbert stated that there were few beautiful dark-skinned Black women and that Lupita Nyong’o is not ‘cute’. Gilbert later apologized after a family member explained the meaning of Meme that had provoked his reaction.
Gilbert’s comment was in response to an Instagram post from ProBlkThought that read, “Dear Black Girl: You don’t have to be mixed to be beautiful,” to which the basketballer replied with:
How black are we talking??? Not to be funny can u name a beautiful black women on the outside … not brown skin … like tyrese black … top 50 most beautiful women off [sic] all time … the darkest women they have is (Keshia Knight Pulliam aka Rudy) (gab)) union) (taral hicks) (Serena Williams),” he wrote before adding, “When u say African features black then u have (#1 lupita nyong’o) and she’s cute when the lights are off second is (Ajuma nasenyana) sorry but ewww so the black beautiful women u try to boost up is technically light skinned or brown skinned.
Gilbert later gave this somewhat of an apology…
Firstly, Lupita is a grown woman. She does not need Gilbert Arenas to consider her as ‘cute‘ and nor does any Black woman. She is one of the many beautiful, intelligent and most of talented Black women, that we men are blessed to call our mothers, sisters, wives, family members and friends. With that said, Black women’s existence is not for the appreciation or in this case disrespect of men. A Black woman’s beauty and most importantly her worthy, talent and intelligent does not need to be validated or quantified by men, especially men like Gilbert Arenas.
The problem is, why are some Black men so easily triggered when it comes to dark Skinned Black women seeking to empower themselves in a society that often celebrates lighter shades of beauty over their equally beautiful features? Are they really defending lighter skinned women or are they merely defending their own ego and their dating preferences? Why are so-called ‘real n*ggas’ so fake with their admittance of their unwarranted hate for the women that have birthed and often raised them and their children?
The issue here is not about having a preference. Love whomever you desire. Fancy whoever your eye is attracted to. However, do not use your personal preference as a public definition of fact about who is and is not beauty. Do not bring your personal preference into prominence as a verbal weapon against another group or in this case dark-skinned Black women.
So no, it is not ok Gilbert Arenas, the father and son of Black women felt that he needed to throw dark skin women under the bus for an inexplicable and unwarranted defence of what he says was for mixed women. The sad truth is Gilbert’s comments whether or not he misread, reflect a deep-seated bias against dark skinned women that pits all black women against each other in some kind of misogynistic social media battle for the appreciation of men. Gilbert and other men need to realise that their opinion has not been asked for. Sometimes it is best to listen, learn and ask questions, rather than make statements on subjects when your opinion is neither warranted, qualified or justified.
As the late great Gill Scot-Heron once said
My life has been guided by women,
But because of them I am a man.
Listen to this beautiful model speak about her experienced as a dark skinned black woman
I recorded this apology because of comments by Black men like Gilbert Arenas
An Open Apology To Black Women From A Black Man -Antoine Speaks
Here are some of the replies to Gilbert Arenas
so tired of people bashing my black sisters and as soon we rightfully stand up and defend ourselves we’re scrutinized fuck Gilbert Arenas
— cockiness by rihanna (@illnana90) April 14, 2017
Smh, Gilbert Arenas had a gift, his ignorance cut his career short and he’s been proving he isn’t worthy ever since #notlupitanot2day
— Candice R. Morgan (@pridenpassion) April 14, 2017
gilbert arenas does not speak for black men. dont be out here slandering black men because of his ignorant ass commentary 🗣
— king marco (@MarcBTheGod) April 14, 2017
With that last said, I hope Black women try not to generalise us all. There are many brothers who do not agree with comments like those made by Gilbert Arenas.
By Antoine Allen
Tweet us at @AntoineSpeakson
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