Bougie Black Folks

“Really? Howard grad? Hyde Park kid? And an AKA? Bougie? In other news, water is wet, the sky is blue and Flavor Flav is a coon.”

What is bougie?  Wikipedia definition states bougie is snobbish upper class people derived from the word Bourgeoisie and is synonymous with the ruling upper class of a capitalist society.

Now for some black folks being called bougie could be like cursing at them, depending.  In some black social circles bougie means you are ignoring race, pretending to be superior, and not in touch with your blackness. But, some would consider being called bougie a complement. 

 For example, some of the bougie Black folks vacation at Martha Vineyards, belong to the associates that are accused of using the brown bag test for membership and consider themselves part of the upper class where they indulge in charity events, alumni celebrations and celebrity galas.  In addition, the bougie Black folks have a membership card for the NAACP voted to the boardroom, invited to proper award ceremonies and has a Jack and Jill membership.  That’s the person some folks would consider bougie. 

Who doesn’t want to be considered bougie?  Doesn’t it mean you have come a long way from meager beginnings or your college education has paid off?  I have friends that say, “… you sound white” but what am I suppose to sound like when you call me at work.  And yes, I have learned to speak proper English because I want a job.  Or, have a friend comment, “ … you always acting too good, … all bougie …”  Even a loving relative, invited me over to watch a bootleg movie and when I say “No thank you, I just don’t care to see people walk in front of the camera.” smh! They responded by stating, “Oh, that’s right, you bougie and all.”

But on the real, every ethnic group has their class system.  White folks have their trailer-trash and we have our ghetto-fabulous.  During slavery, there were the house slave and the field slave.  If bougie means wanting to vote in political elections, enjoy civic equality, pursue an education and a comfortable lifestyle, well then I’m bougie!

Rihanna Rihanna Rihanna

Will the powers that be ever forgive Chris Brown for beating up Rihanna?  Don’t think so. A young Black man in America being forgiven for a mistake or for being young and dumb even possible.  I mean, even Micheal Vick had a hard time being forgiven after serving federal prison sentence.  The media is holding tight to the incident between Chris and Rihanna, who by the way still love each other.  Of course, there is penance to be paid for  the physical abuse that occurred the night before or the the night of the Grammys and the release of Rihanna’s battered face crushed her fans and devastated Chris Brown with legal issues as well as damage to his career.  I’m not sure if its safe to like his music without someone looking sideways.  It use to be, as Jaimie Fox said in an interview, you try not to “Michael Vick” yourself.  But, that might have changed to don’t Chris Brown yourself.

I believe the physical fight between the two was not the first and probably both of them were surprised at the outside world’s reaction and was scrambling for a less damaging spin.  Unfortunately, this was not repairable.  So, they were doomed to be lovers who could not be together.  Now, we hear about secret birthday wishes to each other, congratulation hugs at award shows.  The media feast is about to begin.  I must say it doesn’t help when Rihanna, during an interview with Oprah,states with the world listening, “I still love him.”  Well close the  damn door!! 

Hopefully, Rihanna isn’t like one of those women who alway tie themselves to an abusive man whether its physical or mental.  Yes there are women who for whatever reason seem to draw the same type of abusive men.  I was surprised the first time I noticed Joyce down the street had one abusive relationship, one right after the other. It was sad to watch.  But back to Chris, I forgive him because he is young and I honestly believe he his sorry too.  Now he knows how famous he his and how much attention will be placed on him if he ever does anything like that again.  The tattoo on his neck reminds me of the masquerade face mask and just maybe it could be what the media suspects it is.  Chris Brown tattoo could be an attempt to pay his own artistic homage and penance for his bad behavoir.

My question, why was she not an outraged victim like Evelyn?