Exhibits, Shows and Displays

{Day 4} BHM Appreciation Thread..?

**WARNING, this is a good read, but it is a long read << hint for the non readers to hit the back button, i dont expect anyone to read the whole thing, but bits and pieces will get you a pretty good understanding..feel free to leave any thoughts/comments about this person Today is gonna be more of an "introduction" to someone you may or not heard of.. As you will find out, this person wasnt the traditional black hero you think of, or even a hero at that, but a woman who was basically a victim of her own body. Here's her story; Sara (Saartjie) Baartman, was born in the Eastern Cape in 1789 to a Khoisan family (in present day South Africa). The Khoisans played a big role in shaping South Africa's past and present, but during that specific time, The Dutch hunted down and killed members of the Khoisans because they were considered a "threat" to settlers. Now, Sara was a slave, but in 1810 at the age of 20 she was sold to a British Doctor who told her she could make alot of money showing off her body to the Europeans, so she was put on a ship and sent to London. There, she was put on display in a building and she was forced to parade around naked in circuses. She was displayed at bars, museums, even at universities. Details about Khosians; they are described as having 'honey-colored' skin, and they store their body fats in the lower back area, rather than thighs n belly, so yea...beyonce dont got nothin on them. But back to the story, their body types were natural for them, but Europeans used them as excuses to stereotype Blacks. In London, Sara paraded naked on a stage 2 feet high, led by her keeper, and exhibited like a wild beast. She walked, sat, or stood when ordered. After 4 years in London, Baartman was given to a showman of wild animals in Paris, she was often handled by an animal trainer, and her movements were described by a general as “"something brusque and capricious about them that recalled those of monkeys." It really is a shame to me that scientific papers were written about Sara Baartman to “prove” the superiority of the white race. Sara died in Paris in 1816, a poor prostitute, and an alcoholic. She became known as the “Venus Hottenhot” which was meant as a derogatory term to describe Khosians of South Africa. However she did not even get a decent burial. Her body was plastered, she was dissected, and her organs, genitals, and brain were conserved. To sum it all up, this is really a story of a woman, whose natural body caused her humiliation from those not understanding, I mean, she was treated like an animal for reasons beyond any of us. There is a lot more info about Sara Baartman out there on the web if you want to take the initiative to learn more, I just wanted to help bring more of her struggle out to those interested..here’s some pics also http://www.stanford.edu/~jbaugh/saw/studentphoto/Scenery/SartjieBaartman.JPG http://www.westminster.gov.uk/archives/images/celebrating17.jpg http://www.nathanielturner.com/images/New_Folder/Baartleton.jpg and thanks Sam for providing me with her name, and background info regarding her, I may have never read about Sara Baartman..

Public Comments

1. HNIC does it again. I read it all, but didn't click on the links.
2. thank you for spreading the word brother
3. Wow...it's such a shame what people could force u to do back in those days....but sh*t it still goes on. Not to sound racist but white ppl (some) still think they are the superior race. This really is an interesting read...I only hope that everyone will actually read the whole thing.
4. Lol at Beyonce didn't have anything on her. This is a poem for Sara Baartman that I really liked: I've come to take you home - home, remember the veld? the lush green grass beneath the big oak trees the air is cool there and the sun does not burn. I have made your bed at the foot of the hill, your blankets are covered in buchu and mint, the proteas stand in yellow and white and the water in the stream chuckle sing-songs as it hobbles along over little stones. I have come to wrench you away - away from the poking eyes of the man-made monster who lives in the dark with his clutches of imperialism who dissects your body bit by bit who likens your soul to that of Satan and declares himself the ultimate god! I have come to soothe your heavy heart I offer my bosom to your weary soul I will cover your face with the palms of my hands I will run my lips over lines in your neck I will feast my eyes on the beauty of you and I will sing for you for I have come to bring you peace. I have come to take you home where the ancient mountains shout your name. I have made your bed at the foot of the hill, your blankets are covered in buchu and mint, the proteas stand in yellow and white - I have come to take you home where I will sing for you for you have brought me peace." Also, I really recommend that ya'll do your own research to find more info on her. The findings are mind boggling. Anywho, good job HNIC.
5. Thanks for sharing this info. I never heard of her actually. After reading this, I thought about all the video girls who shake their assess just to get fame. It comes with a price. "Beyonce don't got nothing on them." I like that line. LOL!
6. dang, I didnt know that....I feel really bad about what happened to her and what she had to go through...It makes me think of the video vixens (like superhead), who think its okay to gyrate half naked just because they're getting paid... ladies, Saartjie didnt have a choice, but you do! quit blaming men for your actions, and if you respect yourself you will earn respect from others..(Im speaking in general)
7. Yea I remember this story...I think it was either in the Source or the Washington Post that did an article on it...The white folk were amazed at how big her hindparts were...lol so she was pretty much a side show act for for them to see. I read that when she died they posted her body parts up in a museum in Europe or something like that.
8. Up until now I've never heard about this lady. Back then anything that was different from European decent was considered freakish. It's interesting how the tables are turning and now a big butt, and lips are considered desirable by women of all races. I like the reference above to the video vixens. I think that the black womans body is still put on display as a freak show, of course with different intentions, none the less it's still a freak show.
9. that is one of the most awful stories I've heard in a long time... it still bewilders me how people could ever be so in-humane and cruel to another person... it really does.. i am truly glad that i wasn't born in those times... the injustice is immeasurable.