Black Bodies White Bodies Summary

The representation of black female bodies in contemporary culture rarely critique images of black female sexuality which were part of the cultural objectifying of nineteenth century racism and which still shape perceptions today. Pop culture and the media industry Plays a role in how society exemplify how imagines of black female bodies are scrutinized by the images portrayed by the culture of today. Hooks emphasize the representation and distortion stems early American slavery. In her reference to Sander Gilman’s Black Bodies White Bodies shows the way black women bodies were forced to serve as an icon for black sexuality in the 18th century. Standing on top of boxes showing their goods for consumer to see. by analyzing the case of Sarah Baartman as the quintessential Black female erotic body. The viewing of black women’s bodies as animalistic explorative and subsequent centuries of colonialism but also connects all hegemonic movements to surveillance and defining/redefining of the black female body.

She sheds a light of how early Black feminist scholars such as Collins have been criticized for relying too heavily on colonial ideology around the black female body. Subjectively neglecting the contemporary lived experience of Black women. Critiques such as these highlights the Black female agency in the representation of the body. viewing this as a human and sexual rights or health perspective has been lending to the contemporary Black feminist debates about the representation of Black female bodies and Black eroticism within the culture of