Today in Post-Race History: Montana Fishburne
Several weeks ago, I had planned on writing the NAACP in an effort to convince them to ceremoniously bury the term post-race the way they did the word nigger a.k.a “the n-word” a few years ago. Then the whole Shirley Sherrod debacle happened, and I decided that obviously the NAACP’s race card had been suspended, therefore making them barely qualified to issue brown paper bag tests let alone march around some midwestern city long abandoned by industry, singing dirges for problematic words that are just impolite to use. On Friday, I was glad I put the brakes on becoming pen pals with the NAACP. I may need to use the term post-race–and not just to be a sarcastic bastard.
Montana Fishburne, the 19-year-old daughter of Laurence Fishburne, has decided to release a sex tape. According to reports, Ms. Fishburne intends to follow in the stiletto steps of women such as Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian:
“I’ve watched how successful Kim Kardashian became and I think a lot of it was due to the release of her sex tape by Vivid,” Fishburne said in the press release.” I’m hoping the same magic will work for me. I’m impatient about getting well-known and having more opportunities and this seemed like a great way to get started on it.”
If I may echo Cee-Lo, you don’t shock me anymore. And though at some point in ancient history the idea of making a sex tape to get famous seemed illogical, in this lifetime Fishburne’s rationale is not immediately absurd.
I don’t intend to engage in some (Moynihan-esque,) this girl got Daddy issues type of conversation; I’ll let commenters on other blogs handle that. I’m also not interested in a broader discussion on pornography. I’m not against people getting paid for having sex. That is another discussion, for another time.
What strikes me about Ms. Fishburne’s thinking is how classically post-race/colorblind it seems. She sees no difference between Kim Kardashian and herself. Fishburne is arguing that since she’s the daughter of a rich and famous man, then she might engage in the same kind of behavior that the daughters of other rich and famous men have and expect the same results. Being a young black woman does not give her pause. The discourse on black women’s sexuality, about their lasciviousness and their Jezebel nature does not apply. Montana has no use for that history, because perhaps she was raised to think that little black girls are just like anybody else.
Is the logic behind Montana Fishburne’s sex tape not a post-race dream?
Tell you one thing, if Montana Fishburne gets a reality television show on E!, racism might be over, and I’ll have a non-sardonic reason to employ the term post-race.
Where in the world is Jaimee Foxworth when you need her? (Smoked out.)
I would have to say that this is an issue of class and not race, as the two are closely linked–e.g. O.J. Simpson’s acquittal.
I would have to say that this is an issue of class and not race, as the two are closely linked–e.g. O.J. Simpson’s acquittal.
Felicia, can you say more about why you think this is a class issue? I don’t think I understand the O.J. reference in this context.
Felicia, can you say more about why you think this is a class issue? I don’t think I understand the O.J. reference in this context.
hmmm… this is one of my favorite articles thus far, as you have made me realize the implications of my race on my sexuality. growing up as a young black girl (raised by my grandparents) in a predominantly white school, I learned that there were things I was not supposed to do- they were “things white folks do”. I thought it was because my parents were older, Christian people with old-fashioned values. perhaps my perception was more limited than I thought.
I agree with you. I think that if Fishburne releases that tape, she can kiss her respectability goodbye along with the type of career she aspires to attain. If she gets any work as a result of a sex tape, I highly doubt it would be the type of work she has in mind. bad idea.
Why is it a white woman can not only get away with that kind of shennanigans, but also profit from it? when will black women have the same sexual freedoms in society without the ugly stereotypes and stigma?
I do not agree with the decision, regardless of race, but good grief! cant we at least be equal in bed?
hmmm… this is one of my favorite articles thus far, as you have made me realize the implications of my race on my sexuality. growing up as a young black girl (raised by my grandparents) in a predominantly white school, I learned that there were things I was not supposed to do- they were “things white folks do”. I thought it was because my parents were older, Christian people with old-fashioned values. perhaps my perception was more limited than I thought.
I agree with you. I think that if Fishburne releases that tape, she can kiss her respectability goodbye along with the type of career she aspires to attain. If she gets any work as a result of a sex tape, I highly doubt it would be the type of work she has in mind. bad idea.
Why is it a white woman can not only get away with that kind of shennanigans, but also profit from it? when will black women have the same sexual freedoms in society without the ugly stereotypes and stigma?
I do not agree with the decision, regardless of race, but good grief! cant we at least be equal in bed?
Regardless of how Montana feels, morally it IS a step backward for black women! However one may rationalize her decision,idea or opinions, she is STILL being exploited,by a black man at that. Blackploitation, degradation. There is nothing powerful or enpowering about what this chick has and will do. Honestly, does having the ability to gyrate before cameras among other things constitute having wisdom? Does she have a backup plan in case this fails? The dumming down of America is in full swing!
Regardless of how Montana feels, morally it IS a step backward for black women! However one may rationalize her decision,idea or opinions, she is STILL being exploited,by a black man at that. Blackploitation, degradation. There is nothing powerful or enpowering about what this chick has and will do. Honestly, does having the ability to gyrate before cameras among other things constitute having wisdom? Does she have a backup plan in case this fails? The dumming down of America is in full swing!
This is the first time I’ve been to this site. And this article goes hard. I really appreciate the insight.
Also, you keyed into the black woman’s sexuality part which you don’t get as often. Anyways, I also think that perhaps the facade that Kim Kardashian can put out a sextape, proceed happily on a reality show, and THEN get a top notch Black football star (Reggie Bush) holds a certain performance of black masculinity as well. Unfortunately for Montana, nobody is going to give her an acting gig for being being a young, black, pornstar. And she probably will not have the opportunity to ever succeed.
I also think it’s about class in some sense , which is what Felicia said, but not solely. A post-racial dream? i don’t know. I do know, that nothing good is going to happen from it!
This is the first time I’ve been to this site. And this article goes hard. I really appreciate the insight.
Also, you keyed into the black woman’s sexuality part which you don’t get as often. Anyways, I also think that perhaps the facade that Kim Kardashian can put out a sextape, proceed happily on a reality show, and THEN get a top notch Black football star (Reggie Bush) holds a certain performance of black masculinity as well. Unfortunately for Montana, nobody is going to give her an acting gig for being being a young, black, pornstar. And she probably will not have the opportunity to ever succeed.
I also think it’s about class in some sense , which is what Felicia said, but not solely. A post-racial dream? i don’t know. I do know, that nothing good is going to happen from it!
I’m having some trouble trying to load this blog. I visited it many times before and never got anything like this, but now when I try 2 load the blog it just idles 4 a little while and then just stops. I have tried both with www & without. Do you know what is the problem? Please ask your host support… I hope to be able to come back soon.
I’m having some trouble trying to load this blog. I visited it many times before and never got anything like this, but now when I try 2 load the blog it just idles 4 a little while and then just stops. I have tried both with www & without. Do you know what is the problem? Please ask your host support… I hope to be able to come back soon.
Lawrence Fishburne’s daughter doing a p—- movie, adult film, what’s the world coming to….sounds like a cry for help, if you ask me… I mean why would any women do this? This type of behavior, especially when an act as bold and brazen as this… comes to the surface..it probably has been the result of some major underlying issue that has been brewing for quite some time….It’s too bad that a child, anyone’s child, feels as though they have to take such drastic measures in order to be heard….Unfortunately for Lawrence, he is not seeing the larger problem facing him at this moment… He is just looking at the act itself…but the act speaks volumes to a deeper, more troubling underlying issue that has probably been festering for quite some time… Girls, and dare I say GIRLS, because that’s what they usually are when they start out choosing porn, girls trapped in women’s bodies, with no coping skills whatsoever…. They dive into a dangerous, self destructive, world, that they think will dull the pain,,, and all it does is magnify it ten-fold…. But back to Lawrence… and THE BIG PICTURE…..no pun intended….
His daughter sounds like she has been emotionally neglected for a very long time, and now she is seeking adoration in all the wrong places… you see, that’s how girls are…they need attention, good attention, but if they can’t get that,,, they start to seek attention from anywhere, and unfortunately their youth does not afford them the filters they need to weed out the bad attention… Another intertwining factor is that of abuse. Usually, 99% of the time, anyone heading straight to pron..(Do not pass go)…. Has some form of physical abuse, acknowledged or not (could be blocked). All young girls heading straight to porn…have this in their history and if the parents are unaware of it or choose not to acknowledge it this too can add to an already damaged psyche … Girls are not born with dreams of becoming a porn- star,,,, environmental factors have to be at play…. Fact not fiction… you don’t just wake up and decide that you want to let strange men abuse your body for money and get comfortable with the idea..unless some damage has already been done. Promiscuity usually is the first sign. What I don’t understand is, why wealthy people, who have seemingly numerous resources at their disposal can’t see it when their children are heading for trouble? The signs are the same no matter the economic status.
Lawrence,
Wake up and face reality…you can’t stop the train wreak,,,,its already off the tracks and has been that way for a long time. But, what you can do is slow the train down, maybe even to a screeching hault. That’s going to take some restraint,,,, because it you just react to the symptoms and not deal with the problem,,, you will just get caught up in the downward spiral of what was once your beautiful daughter. She will then be a child lost and who knows what kind of women you will find. When all is said and done, life has a way of setting in motion balance and order where there is none.
A childhood filled with neglect and abuse equates to a lifetime of heartache and pain, for the whole family…. Lawrence might want to seek professional help outside of his inner circle,,, from someone with no emotional attachment to the situation,,,,someone who can see the issues through fresh eyes ,,then and only they will he and his family be able to slow the train wreak about to happen upon their lives..And believe me this will affect the entire family for a very long time. No doubt about that!
Lawrence Fishburne’s daughter doing a p—- movie, adult film, what’s the world coming to….sounds like a cry for help, if you ask me… I mean why would any women do this? This type of behavior, especially when an act as bold and brazen as this… comes to the surface..it probably has been the result of some major underlying issue that has been brewing for quite some time….It’s too bad that a child, anyone’s child, feels as though they have to take such drastic measures in order to be heard….Unfortunately for Lawrence, he is not seeing the larger problem facing him at this moment… He is just looking at the act itself…but the act speaks volumes to a deeper, more troubling underlying issue that has probably been festering for quite some time… Girls, and dare I say GIRLS, because that’s what they usually are when they start out choosing porn, girls trapped in women’s bodies, with no coping skills whatsoever…. They dive into a dangerous, self destructive, world, that they think will dull the pain,,, and all it does is magnify it ten-fold…. But back to Lawrence… and THE BIG PICTURE…..no pun intended….
His daughter sounds like she has been emotionally neglected for a very long time, and now she is seeking adoration in all the wrong places… you see, that’s how girls are…they need attention, good attention, but if they can’t get that,,, they start to seek attention from anywhere, and unfortunately their youth does not afford them the filters they need to weed out the bad attention… Another intertwining factor is that of abuse. Usually, 99% of the time, anyone heading straight to pron..(Do not pass go)…. Has some form of physical abuse, acknowledged or not (could be blocked). All young girls heading straight to porn…have this in their history and if the parents are unaware of it or choose not to acknowledge it this too can add to an already damaged psyche … Girls are not born with dreams of becoming a porn- star,,,, environmental factors have to be at play…. Fact not fiction… you don’t just wake up and decide that you want to let strange men abuse your body for money and get comfortable with the idea..unless some damage has already been done. Promiscuity usually is the first sign. What I don’t understand is, why wealthy people, who have seemingly numerous resources at their disposal can’t see it when their children are heading for trouble? The signs are the same no matter the economic status.
Lawrence,
Wake up and face reality…you can’t stop the train wreak,,,,its already off the tracks and has been that way for a long time. But, what you can do is slow the train down, maybe even to a screeching hault. That’s going to take some restraint,,,, because it you just react to the symptoms and not deal with the problem,,, you will just get caught up in the downward spiral of what was once your beautiful daughter. She will then be a child lost and who knows what kind of women you will find. When all is said and done, life has a way of setting in motion balance and order where there is none.
A childhood filled with neglect and abuse equates to a lifetime of heartache and pain, for the whole family…. Lawrence might want to seek professional help outside of his inner circle,,, from someone with no emotional attachment to the situation,,,,someone who can see the issues through fresh eyes ,,then and only they will he and his family be able to slow the train wreak about to happen upon their lives..And believe me this will affect the entire family for a very long time. No doubt about that!