Black Women

The “Invisible” Black Woman

In 2005, The Fantastic Four was released at the box office and I felt like a kid again even though I was thirty something years old. The Fantastic Four just happened to be one of my favorite superhero groups back in the day. I especially liked Thing and Mr. Fantastic. Thing had the muscle to get things done and Mr. Fantastic was the “brain.” The qualities and powers they had always appealed to me. I never really paid much attention to the other two superheroes but something brought Sue Storm back to my mind. I happened to be going to work and listening to the Rickey Smiley Morning Show when a comedian made a joke about black woman not going to the gym because they don’t want to get their hair messed up. It was hilarious, but it made me think on a deeper level.

What do Sue Storm and Black Women have in common?

If you recall, Sue Storm had the power to become invisible. So how does that relate to black women? I am not sure whether you’ve noticed, but black women are increasingly absent in gyms or the fitness profession as a whole. I would go so far as to say they have made themselves invisible. Well, may be not invisible but for the numbers that make up the population they can be represented by the digits of my hands and feet so that isn’t a great number. Why is this happening? I am not sure what is contributing to this but I have some ideas.

Economics 101

In college, I took an economics course not because I wanted to, but because it was required for my business degree. I learned a few things but the majority of the stuff was boring and I always thought to myself, “When am I ever gonna use this stuff?” Well, my economics professor would be happy to know I learned a little something and I am going to use it right now. Here’s my question. Do black women have less discretionary income than other ethnic groups? On a large scale, I realize there are much more single black women with kids so these women might not be able to afford the gym, right? They may not even have the time. The majority of “sistas” just don’t live on Wisteria Lane like Eva Longoria’s character on Desperate Housewives with a rich spouse. Is that the cause? Hmm… maybe, maybe its something else?

I Look Good

Do black women care more about looking good vs. feeling good? Every now and then I venture in to get a pedicure. Yes, ladies, I am a man who gets a pedicure! I am secure with my masculinity. (smile) I notice tons of “sistas” getting pedicures, manicures and even eyebrows waxed. I also hit the barber shop and see ya’ll getting your hair done, but what I don’t see is you in the gym or attending local bootcamps to trim and tone your figure. So, the question is, do black women only care about looking good and not feeling good by keeping their weight down and being healthy? I might be a bit critical but these are questions I hope to get answered or is it like the comedian said,” Ya’ll just don’t want to get your hair messed up?”

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