Sexuality of Black Women-Bria Shelby

Kimberly Springers article "Queering Black Female Heterosexuality" builds upon Jessica Valenti's " The Cult of Virginity" and brings to light the position of black women on the idea of virginity, purity and promiscuity. Black women have to tip toe around their sexuality to a much higher degree than our white counter parts. We have been sexualized for centuries, therefore it is even more important for us to not give into promiscuity. Unlike white women, we are already expected to be sexual so if a black woman happens to be sexual then it reenforces the stereotype. A sexual black woman not only speaks for herself but all black women. For her to act that way makes us all look bad. It creates a much bigger burden for black women who want to express their sexuality but run the risk of setting our race back because of their personal choices. This is why black families make sure to teach their girls not to have sex or even look like they may be sexually active because it then goes from being an issue about sex to also being an issue about race; we have to compromise our own sexual expression because of racism.
This is an issue that I am familiar with because like many black girls, I was not taught about sex from my parents; it was just expected that I would not do it until I was married. This is the case for many young black girls, especially because we are raised in traditional, baptist homes were explicit subjects of any kind are not tolerated. It definitely confuses us and stifles our sexuality because we are torn between being a holy, asexual women who doesn't engage with sex to being a hoe in a music video. We are not taught about the in betweens.