Eva Was Just Doing Her Black-Ass Job!
We can and should do better by our rich aunties
Welcome to This Black-Ass Life! This week, we’re talking about the villains in films who are not really villains (and no, we’re not talking about hating-ass Nate in Devil Wears Prada). We’re talking about Black women who were ahead of their time! Wronged! And on the right side of history!
l. The Facts
We need to be kinder to the rich sisters and aunties.
All Eva, of Deliver Us from Eva, was trying to do was keep restaurants very clean so people don’t get food poisoning and protect her sisters from men willing to kidnap someone rather than actually doing right by their partners.
Teri was out here taking people in, protecting her siblings, and covering the family and medical bills. And what did she get in return?? What did they pull on her in Soul Food? Wayward Faith fucking her husband! The family fucked her husband!
Sure, Kelli is bougie and mentions her Harvard degree often. But she was doling out good advice to each sibling in This Christmas, especially to her sister Lisa with her no-good husband, who eventually got his (thanks to Kelli’s advice!).
People hated on Lynn for being the one on Girlfriends who lived with Joan for free, had fun little jobs, and acquired graduate degrees in anything that struck her fancy. Look in the mirror and decide if you didn’t like Lynn or if you were just jealous.
You may think The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’s Hilary Banks is vapid but in reality, she is perfect. The fashion, the charm, the understanding that sometimes being loved on and doing what makes you happy is all you need to do. She’s rich! It is what it is!
Everybody Hates Chris could be called Everybody Be Jealous of Rochelle because why make fun of that lady for constantly quitting jobs that don’t serve her? Her man has TWO jobs. Two!
You can be mad at Almost Christmas’s Aunt May for being rich, fabulous, and not domestic. It’s ok if she can’t cook when she is working hard to be the peacekeeper! The glue for a family determined to only engage in mess.
Why does it matter?
One day we need to sit down as a community and discuss the rich auntie, a maligned character in movies because she… chose not to marry some trifling man? have kids with candy-coated fingers that can mess up her good furniture? jetsets as needed?
What can my Black ass do?
Revisit these stories with an open mind and heart!
II. Other Things
Black-ass happenings.
Your girls were in Teen Vogue writing about online bullying, misogynoir, and the cost of success.
Love to Opal Lee, the Grandmother of Juneteenth, who will receive her eighth honorary doctorate.
These current rap beefs are fun, but nothing beats historical beefs. Imagine you are Langston Hughes, and James Baldwin says you failed to “transform your private experience as a Negro into art.” Excuse us??
What is happening on Club Shay Shay? A compelling theory.
Truly only want wonderful things for Danielle Pinnock.
Our Black-Ass song(s) of the week (Mitu):
Springtime is here, and my favorite sunny day artist is Stevie Wonder; here’s Sir Duke.
Things we look forward to:
I (Jumoke) unrecommend the Trader Joe’s sunscreen. Y’all, it gave me acne! See, this is why I can’t be an influencer!
I (Mitu) look forward to Spring weather where the sun is out (good), but I am not sweating profusely (bad) due to Summer’s humidity.
lll. Performance Art from a Black-Ass Baby
This baby and I (Mitu) understand on a cellular level that Spaghettii is a perfect song.
Stay Black, have a snack, and take a nap today.