When you hear Chimamanda speak, it feels like your soul sit upright, checks itself and wants to do better when confronted by such an embodiment of truth and character. This is why I love her.
Hi Adrienne, I am black and I am not offended. It is true that Chimamanda is articulate: she's eloquent fluent, persuasive, effective etc.. Being an articulate writer gives her the ability to suck in and draw readers with her creativity and imagination.
There’s no doubt that she’s articulate. My grandfather taught me that you’re only insulted if you choose to be. However, there is a large number of blacks that are offended by certain words like that, even when clearly used well intentioned. Kinda like not everyone that wears blackface is trying to be racist. Personally, there are some times, I’m personally not offended by blackface. However, there are loads of blacks that would be. “ Being described by White people as “articulate” disparages African Americans. It conveys the message that “you people” are typically unintelligent and too lazy to master standard English. There was a national discussion on this very issue involving our first Black president-who got the “well-spoken” treatment from the political left and right. In his assessment of President Barack Obama in 2007, before he won the White House, President George W. Bush told Fox News that Obama was not ready to be president. However Obama is “an attractive guy. He’s articulate,” Bush added. Obama’s eventual running mate, Vice President Joe Biden, came under fire in 2007 for the same thing, while the two lawmakers were competing for the Democratic presidential nomination.” If I were using problematic vernacular I would want someone to let me know. That’s all. 🤗
I understand what you mean; and I agree that there is historical subtext to the word "articulate" for black people. That being said, context is everything. In this context, I doubt (could be wrong) Suleyka meant it with that way. If everyone (across all races) was articulate, the word wouldn't exist in vocabulary. There wouldn't be countless seminars, workshops, professional development, trainings and self-help books dedicated to becoming an articulate speaker and well-spoken. The fact is that many people struggle with putting their thoughts into words, let alone in writing. In that respect, there is no better way to describe Chimamanda. As for George Bush's comment, he was partly right- Barack Obama won his election, unlike Bush and he was a great president. But let's be real, the man was fine as hell and when he spoke, it helped as well.
Interesting. You clearly have a strong perspective on this, I was just trying to get you to see it from another frame. I won't address your father's comments because I was not privy to the context. However, just a quick dictionary search, Webster to be exact, the word faggot's definition still is an insulting and contemptuous term for a male homosexual.(Lol and very 90's tbh) It's very different than the definition of "articulate". So that's a strawman argument, my dear. Furthermore, I did state subtext and context is everything when making these assessments. I didn't say anything about "intention", which is very different than "context". For example, the comments about Andrew Gillum were "intended" to "stir up" voters. I think that it was very clear in his opponent's strategy who even went as far as saying "we shouldn't monkey it up". It's been very clear these comments (current and historically) were meant to be offensive. I as well would be greatly be offended in someone referred to me as an "ape" or a "monkey". It's just not common or popular speech to refer to anyone in this way. This is in no way comparable to being called "articulate". I know you keep referring to your grandfather, I am sure he lived through some tough times, as did mine. But it's 2018, we have other issues to fight, whether or not being articulate is offensive is not one of them. We can agree to disagree. So while you police which words are offensive or not , I will continue my work in empowering black people, especially black women in accumulating wealth. I'm a stock trader, one of five and two more are black in my specialisation. It is important to change language and cultural discourse but I'm more of a Garvey-ist; I believe in economic empowerment. All the best in your quest xx -
Chimamanda ! Always brilliant... i am coming to the realisation that most women have been molested at one point or the other... it is good that women are sharing now so that others can be aware that it happens and that they are not alone in this. This conversation is important.
Jay Dub you're letting your predjudices and ignorance blind you and poison your heart. Open a book, get out of your bubble, realize that oppression is unjust and do the work to change.
Dude I'm Muslim and thus I don't agree with same sex relationships. But what Chimamanda saying is common sense. Being gay shouldn't be criminalized in a democratic system as it doesn't bring harm to anyone. If I were to think like you, I won't allow for any other religion than Islam practiced in my country because it is a sin. Do you see how ridiculous that is?
Sol Usman a clear imbalance of power is when your opinion of an entire group of people has an impact on their rights, their safety & their ability to aquire power. Straight people's opinions have this impact because the majority of people in power are straight. Though you may agree that the LGBTQ+ community shouldn't be criminalized your "disapproval" supports a cultural climate where gays are criminalized and harm comes upon them. Your disapproval is also extremely arrogant and condescending.
TheOtherFWord Trust me the last thing I am is condescending and arrogant. Dude I have many friends who are gay and I never feel like I am superior to them. Disapproving does not equal condescending. It is simply my belief that homosexual relationship is not beneficial to the soul. In the same way I should not demonize and belittle gay people for their way of life, so should you towards my beliefs.
Im So proud to be Nigerian and Igbo ! And we both share a Chi name. She is definitely living up to her name ! I love her thought pattern and her work 💕
The biggest hinderance to black American progression is that you're always measuring yourselves up to white people, instead of measuring up to life challenges, which isn't Ivanka Trump.
first of all it does change your point, because like i said it's not that she's measuring herself to a "white person" she's saying what she thinks the daughter of the president isn't. I think you're looking too deep into this. she's also lauding chimamanda for measuring up to life challenges
@@chachi1843 I hear your point, at the time Ivanka was doing some complicit foolishness and being lauded as a very fine woman. My comment was coloured by this. My point was a very simple one - for every negative person there are positive people whose abilities squash the negative effects. I wasn't measuring her based on white achievement. I suppose I was ham handedly pointing out mediocrity as opposed to excellence. From your reading of my comment I see where you drew your conclusion and can see it as you see it. But no, it wasn't meant as a measure of black to white.
I can relate to all of her points, as a child my dad never let me play football or dance or travel but let my brother do that. I didn't know what feminism was but I was furious at the differential treatment of women and girls. I was the only one in my household to stand up to him and speak my mind and everyone just kept calling me stubborn. I still speak up and will continue to when I feel an injustice has been done towards me or any other person(man or woman). This conversation is important and will not end until there's equality of all sexes.
Audu Oshiolumhetse I lived in Lagos for two years in the 1970s. Nigerian women are strong, independent women often living in difficult circumstances. Quite an experience for me to know those women.
Amara Onina No, she is quite common in Africa. As an Educated African, I worry about such comments. It all depends on one's social strata. She herself spoke of "the danger of a single story". She is a great speaker, but is only one among educated Africans. Look is the stats on African immigrants on the US Census, you will be very shocked....
As a Kenyan, I found it quite unnecessary to ask Chimamanda to comment on what our President said. Kenya and Nigeria are two different countries, with different cultures and societies. Stop trying to make it seem as though Africa is one country. Would you ask a German to comment on what the French president said? No. You recognize that though they are both in Europe, each country is still sovereign in its own right, so why can't you do the same for African countries? And just because this is an issue in US does not make it a global issue. As he rightly said, it is not the government's place to tell us how we should feel about it. We had a referendum in 2010 and the majority voted for the constitution we have now. In Kenya, it's not really a humans rights issue as no one is being prosecuted for their personal choices. And instead of pushing this as a global issue, maybe you could push #BlackLivesMatter as black people are mistreated globally based solely on the colour of their skin, which isn't a personal choice. In the meantime, as Kenyans, we do have more pressing matters to discuss.
I absolutely love her. She is one of my favorite feminists. She has spoken out even when what she says is unpopular. Her words will stand the test of time. Thank you Chimamanda.
Chimamanda does it for me everytime I hear her speak! I love the fact that we are of the same generation (same age actually). She's so highly cerebral, intelligent, poised and always looks lovely! I've read all her books and hope to meet her someday 👍😍
I call her my best friend, i have never met her but wherever she is her and i we are busy best friending through literature, I absolutely love her work and her mind. Love Love love love her.
An example of what a black woman should be. Beautiful, intelligent, proudly bronze, proudly African, educated, confident, conversationist, smart, independent, accomplished etc.
Hehe. You haven't read her books. She puts misogynist Nigerian men in their proper place. Bunch of cry babies like yourself. So glad her movie is in pre-production.
I love how engaged, genuine and respectful the interviewer is. Rather than it being a stale interview, I’m watching two brilliant women having a discussion, with one woman being genuinely interested in what the other has to say and the other, listening carefully to ensure she answers the questions properly. I’m in love.
What she says is true . I was sexually abused at the age of 4 and 8, and I was scared to tell anyone. It ate me up for years. I wrote it down. My mom read it and she was mad at me. As if l had asked for it. And that is why l never told anyone because l knew I would be blamed. And the one person l who saw the aftermath and asked me who did this still rejected the name l gave. And moved on. I resented African culture for so long. Because l couldn't believe how I was treated guilty. All the time. A boy talks to you, You are warned and lectured and shouted at about getting pregnant. If l am late first suspicion is boys. Like hello l live my own life. I hate religion, culture, tradition. Now l think for myself and look for leadership within myself and research better ways to live. Because living under other people's rules hurt me.
Women should be given equal opportunities as men. Most MIs conception about women are just created by society. But the physical weaknesses n endowments of women are the constitute men's strength. Each sex has unique qualities which should be respected. Our physical endowments should be celebrated for that z what makes who we are. I love critical women like Chimamanda. Bravo!
Jessica Gutierrez What it is like for a Nigerian who grew up in black dominated country therefore race really had no significance to move to a country where race basically controls everything
The country of Nigeria is diverse on the subject matter and opinion varies from culture to culture. The Yoruba women, mothers and grandmothers for instance, have always had voices that equal, or surpasses the fathers without having to establish a special movement. African should be left to develop what works for Africa! The imposition of western ways of doing things on Africa erodes the beautiful African cultures and undermines African's ability to develop their own solutions. The West does what's best for the West. Africa does not always have to be viewed through the western lense.
EZE THE GREAT talking about homosexuality and saying it’s a taboo in 95% of African cultures might be true. But it was also the same in European cultures too. The point is cultures change. We change because of reason. At a point, left-handedness was a taboo too, even in European cultures. That statement “it is not our culture” that Africans use when defending the unreasonable things we do is quite ridiculous. The biggest element affecting Africans right now is hypocrisy. Africans have embraced religion as their new culture and life in has never been worse. We believe in God and pray hard and then turn around and embezzle money and go to church and give tithes. But God forbid that person is homosexual. We’ve got our priorities so mixed up. Teaching honesty, kindness and acceptance is the first step in the right direction for Africans. However these values are not being taught. Wealth and prosperity by whatever means are the values being taught. Chimamanda is speaking out about certain problems in Africa. She can’t talk about everything. If you feel like there are some thing you’d like to bring up, do so.
@@simplyimma_6513 beautiful write up... I especially hate when ppl say it's our culture, they killed twins in the past in the igbo culture, but that has changed, this just means ppl change with culture...
@EZE THE GREAT watch her other videos on RU-vid, she talks about anything concerning women, and she is not God, so she can't talk about everything, besides you have to start somewhere, and what causes child marriage in nigeria is our patriachtic system which is what feminism is against... and which is what chimamanda is all about.
Westerners have a step mother attitude to third world countries when it comes to women rights. Women in the West had to fight for their rights in 70s from Christian patriarchal world. In Germany till 1978 according to law, for eg, women had to get permission from husbands to work.Its not been so long. There are matriarchal societies in Kerala and North East India for centuries. Such societies are also there in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Montheistic reigions are all patriarchal and give women no due!
