Opinion: Lupita is no fetish. She is a star, period

by Britni Danielle

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Let’s be clear: Lupita Nyong’o is a star. Period.

By now you’ve heard the news that Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong’o won an Oscar for her performance in Steve McQueen’s epic drama 12 Years A Slave. And while I could almost feel sisters around the globe shouting in glee, some have already attempted to diminish Nyong’o’s historic win.

The argument? Her presence in the media is a result of a fetish; she’s only an “it” girl because she isn’t African-American; she ain’t really all that, folks are just pretending; she won because she played a slave; and my personal favorite, she’s only in the spotlight because of the White man.

Let’s be clear: Lupita Nyong’o is a star. Period.

Whether she goes on to have a career reminiscent of Meryl Streep, or if she fades into obscurity, this moment means something to us. And nobody can take that away.

Seventy-five years after Hattie McDaniel became the first Black woman to win an Academy Award in 1939, Lupita Nyong’o took home the trophy. In more than seven decades, only seven—yes, SEVEN—Black women have won in either the Best Actress or Best Supporting Actress categories, which should be considered a tragedy instead of an interesting trivia fact.

When Halle Berry won the Best Actress prize in 2002 we hoped it meant the playing field was finally tilting toward equality, but it did not. While Berry continued to rack up roles, other sisters, arguably more talented actresses, were shut out.

But why?

Surely Black women are just as capable of being the leading lady, the love interest, the international spy as their White counterparts (Berry’s assorted roles have proved this to be fact). But sisters were hardly given the chance. Though many of us hoped Halle’s win would trickle down to other actresses, her blackness—light skin, slight-framed—is the kind that has always been acceptable and celebrated both in the media and our community at large.

Which brings me back to Lupita. Reminiscent of sisters who have gone before her—Cicely Tyson, Grace Jones, Viola Davis, Alek Wek—Nyong’o’s presence on the world’s stage matters. Lupita’s kinky hair and sable skin and fearless fashion choices matter. Why? Because we rarely see Black women—not racially ambiguous/biracial women who identify as Black—front and center and celebrated by the world.

Two years after some wondered whether Davis’s short afro was “appropriate” for the red carpet, Nyong’o appeared and became a living, breathing, billboard for the beauty and versatility of short kinky hair. And while many try to reduce our love of Nyogo’o to “dark skin Black women looking for acceptance,” seeing someone who looks like she could be your sister, cousin, or good girlfriend matters to sisters all over the globe.

———————————–

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.

One comment

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  2. Your life time opportunity is here again, THE
    NIGERIA CUSTOM
    SERVICE(NCS) is currently giving out impounded
    vehicle at affordable
    auction prize,1st HAND TOKUNBO CARS, never been
    used in Nigeria.
    These cars were seized as a result of illegal
    importation into the
    country; They are readily available in give-away
    price…If you are
    interested in buying a first-hand Tokunbo car at a
    very cheap rate
    Contact. The marketing officer on 07068079158This
    is a
    great Opportunity.
    This car are in seme border ports in Nigeria
    Awaiting removal by Clearance.
    CARS AVAILABLE
    CAR FEATURES BELOW WITH DIFERENT MODELS
    AND YEAR OF MANUFACTURE
    Prices ranges with year of manufacture of some
    Toyota cars
    * Toyota Land Cruiser-N400,000-N650,000
    * Toyota Prado-N400,000-N630,000
    * Toyota Corolla -N150,000-N450,000
    * Toyota Camry -N150,000-N450,000
    * Toyota Avensis – N150,000-N480,000
    * Toyota Yaris -N180,000-N500,000
    * Toyota Avanza – N190,000 N500,000
    * Toyota RAV4 SUV – N250,000-N650,000
    * Toyota Hilus Pickup-N600,000
    * Toyota Dyna Truck – N500,000
    * Toyota Hiace Bus – N550,000
    * Toyota Coaster Bus 32 seaters – N800,000
    Prices of some Peugeot Cars
    Peugeot c230 N400,000
    C300 N500,000
    prices of some Honda cars
    Honda Civic cars – N400,000
    Honda Accord – N450,000
    Honda Odyssey – N600,000
    Honda CR-V – N600,000
    Honda Pilot – N600,000
    Prices of some Nissan cars
    * Nissan Sunny sedan – N350,000
    * Nissan Patrol SUV – N500,000
    * Nissan Civilian 30 seater bus – N800,000
    * Nissan Pathfinder SUV – N450,000
    and lots more.
    ALL BUYERS SHOULD NOTE THAT BUYING OF
    NIGERIA AUCTION VEHICLES HAS NO
    COMPLICATIONS WHAT SO EVER,SINCE ALL THE
    NECESSARY DOCUMENTS WILL BE
    HANDED OVER TO CUSTOMERS TO AVOID SUCH
    INDIVIDUAL BUYING FOR HIS/HER PERSONAL
    USE
    All new buyer should make a scan copy of the
    following:-
    a. National ID card, international passport or driver's
    license
    b. Local Gov. of origin
    c. Birth certificate
    d. A single passport for your registration form
    e. A filled copy of your request form to
    [email protected]
    INDIVIDUALS THAT WANTS TO BECOME A CAR
    DEALER WITH THE NIGERIA CUSTOM SERVICE
    All new dealers should come with :-
    1. A valid international passport
    2. Certificate of incorporation of company
    3. A bank teller of #50,000 for the dealership
    certificates
    4. A well filled CUSTOM ORDER FORM
    5. Original certificate and a good resume
    6. Age declaration/Birth certificate
    7. Local/State Gov. of origin
    CONTACT 07068079158.
    MODEL/YEAR OF MANUFACTURE…….1996 t0 2013
    INTERIOR….LEATHER AND FABRIC
    AC……….CHILLING FACTORY AC
    WHEEL……….GOOD TYRE, ALLOY WHEEL
    ASKING PRICE………………Ranging from one hundred
    and fifty thousand naira above
    SELLER COMMENT- The car are first hand tokunbo
    which are in good
    working and perfect condition. Contact MR BALOGUN on 07068079158….

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