IT IS HATE OF THE BLACK WOMAN OR THE LOVE OF FAME AND MONEY?

I have noticed an increase of men, predominantly African American men, dressed as women or portraying a feminine role of some sort in the name of comedy. Sites like Vine, Instagram, Snapchat and of course YouTube, just to name a few, have become platforms for men donning women clothing and adorning feminine attitude. What I have noticed even more is the depiction of the black woman in these videos; they seem to always be portrayed negatively. It is said to be funny which seems to make it acceptable to many but in my opinion it sends the wrong messages to our young, impressionable youth. Not just the young male, who think that it is ok to dress up as a woman but the young black female as well. Is this how the African American male sees us? This is a valid question and possibly a decision maker on who not to date as well as how to react when approached by a black male. So my concern here is why? Why are men choosing to dress and act like women on camera? What is causing black men to resort to drag queen activity and taunt black women in the process? Are women easier targets or are they selling their souls for the love of fame? Maybe both. When researching men dressed as women I noticed when famous Caucasian men dressed in drag as means of entertaining, the roles were almost empowering, uplifting even. For example, Dustin Hoffman as "Tootsie", where he reinvents himself to get an acting job and becomes a sensation. The late great Robin Williams as "Mrs. Doubtfire", a man so desperate to see his children he took a job dressed as a woman to be close to them. Let me not forget another late great actor, Patrick Swayze who played Ms. Vida Boheme in "To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar". Although it was a homosexual role he was the most positive of the three in the group. However, when it comes to African American men, not so much the same story. Jamie Foxx and Martin Lawrence played ghetto chicks that were needy, talked and dressed horribly and always looking for a man. Tyler Perry plays a gun-toting, law breaking grandmother who tells it like it is whether you like it or not. I do not believe Comedian Benji Brown is able to complete a standup routine without his ghetto character “Kiki”. The "movement" of wearing women’s clothing has made its way to the music arena with artists like Yung Thug, P Diddy, Kanye West, Snoop, Andre 3000 and Cee-Lo Green being seen in full dresses, blouses and skirts. This on top of the countless no fame, no name black men taking to social media dressing as black women and acting like ratchet hood rats. It comes off as misogyny at its finest in my opinion. I will admit, I have watched a few and gotten great laughs but at what expense? African American women are already stereotyped as the sassy, angry black woman in everyday life. These up and coming social media comedians reinforcing the stereotype by distorting the image of the black woman is nothing but modern day coonery. The degradation of the African American woman’s existence is already taking place through reality television, it does not need the assistance of black men in drag erasing our womanhood. Social sites are a great fun, free way to get your talents seen by the masses. If you are creative and have an idea that needs to be seen, social media is the way to go. In these instances, in my opinion, these black men lack original creative thoughts so the African American woman and all of her negative idiosyncrasies become the brunt of the jokes. We are exploited and capitalized upon all for the hope of fame and glory. I remember when brothers Emmanuel and Phillip Hudson first hit the social media scene. They set YouTube on fire with their feminine antics. They were not dressed like women, until the official video for “She Racheet” was released. Prior to that they portrayed all of the feminine traits they could muster in manly clothing. Emmanuel has since become a regular cast member on the hit MTV comedy show “Wild ‘n Out” hosted by Nick Cannon. I brought Hudson into the picture to show what I believe is driving some black men to behave this way. They believe there is a possible reward for acting a fool for social media, that reward being stardom. Social media has changed what it means to be a celebrity and the mode of getting there. So that brings me back to my original question: Why do we have so many examples of black men dressing up as women for laughs? Is it the hatred of the black woman or an easy, lazy uncreative way to get a foot in the door of fame at the expense of their mother, sister, cousin or possibly even a daughter? The black women they hold dear to them. The O’Jays made a song in 1973 entitled “For The Love of Money”. That song will forever be relevant. There is a line that sticks out to me most and it says “people don’t let money, don’t let money change you, that almighty dollar”.