Freaks

  In the black community, the word 'freak' is used very colloquially. In
general conversation it means a very sexual expressive person. This word is
more so used to describe black females. Yet if we really look at the deep
rooted connotations of this word it was not meant to be a compliment. Back in the
17th to 19th centuries the term freak was attached to actual freak shows. These
freaks shows consisted of anything from bearded women to midgets. In
continuing that definition, after slavery black women had no rights and there
was no equality. Now people find loud outbursts of racism to be quite rare. But
that does not mean racism is gone because a new racism exists. This racism is
silent. This racism argues that there is no racism so laws to protect, help,
and possibly further black women are rejected. In this new racism, black women
are portrayed as bad mothers, welfare queens, and baby machines; hitherto a
modern day freak. These stereotypes are used to portray how freakish black
women are of the American dream. They do not have a husband, a home, and a
career. These women are unwed, have no husband, and are on welfare. They are
deviant of the American dream. The term freak is redefined by blacks to try to
take back control over their attitudes. Freaks used to refer to black women in
the sense that they were also sexually promiscuous and baby machines. Yet with
that knowledge, blacks have contorted the word freak to congratulate ones
sexual expressiveness. Honestly, it's not the worst thing you can call a black
person, but we won't go there, yet. Is it a compliment or is it a slur? It
depends on your disposition, but personally I would rather be called
intelligent.