Reggie Bush Essence Cover Controversy
Controversy’s a’comin: There’s all kinds of Hell breaking loose on Essence.com this afternoon. The iconic Black women’s interest mag has come under fire from subscribers for its selection of New Orleans Saints star Reggie Bush as the cover model for his “Black Men, Love, And Relationships” issue.
Bush has been in a high-profile relationship with reputed HOcialite Kim Kardashian since 2007 — and that’s the main source of consternation for those protesting the Essence’s February cover. Some can’t help but wonder why editors chose to put a Black Man who is rumored to shun Black women as potential mates on the cover of mag that targets them.
Thoughts?
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On January 7th 2010, Dee wrote:
Just because he is dating Kim does not mean he shuns black women. Have we ever heard him say he shuns black women? I think this is wasted time, Essence put him on the cover every month. I love it!!!!
On January 10th 2010, Erotique wrote:
LMAO…why do black women equate “preference” as shunning? Asian women don’t assume that they are being shunned because Reggie prefers white women. Latino women don’t assume that they are being shunned because Reggie prefers white women. Why would black women? Is there self- esteem that low? Are they really that beautiful, that intelligent and that strong but in reality lacking that much confidence and self-respect? I thought only white men felt that way towards black men because of their lack of penis size. What do black women feel as thought they are lacking compared to white women?
On January 11th 2010, Ree wrote:
Look the magazine targets black women. Putting a black man on the cover who you know doesn’t date women of color says something. Essence (in the past) has done its best to celebrate “black love”, so I can totally understand the controversy of putting Reggie on the cover. To that end, he’s on the cover and now you can either buy it or leave it on the magazine rack.
On January 15th 2010, Jody wrote:
He’s on there for one reason: essence has an agenda. Playing on black womens insecurities to sell copies.
On January 16th 2010, to: erotique and dee wrote:
umm..erotique and dee you all sounds very ignorant…why not compare an asian woman feeling shunned to an ASIAN MAN..duhh
black woman should protest this..why cant essence find another black man who loves black woman. there are many men out who have black wives, why must they chose the one who is dating a non black. this magazine is supposed to uplift and celebrate black people..men AND WOMEN. so BLACK WOMEN HAVE ALL THE RIGHT TO BE UPSET!
On January 17th 2010, Childish... wrote:
How come its controversal for a black man to date white women and not for a white woman to date a black man? Also what is the issue Free country right? Love is Love and you got some immature, jealous, small minded person(s) passing a sorry opinion?? What a joke!!!
On January 17th 2010, Ashley.H wrote:
This is crazy just because Reggie Bush is dating Kim doesn’t mean he hates and or dislikes black women in my opinion he is dating a women weather black or white or any other color none the less a women who is successful in her own right and makes her won money. I feel some people are making a bigger deal out of this then there needs to be as a black women I am not offended at all, I think we need to celebrate all good and healthy relationships know matter who the people are or what color there skin is.
On January 17th 2010, Atlantagirl wrote:
It’s funny how some people want to make this a NON – ISSUE – well let me tell you. It is an issue and will always be an issue in the black community. Black women want to see black men loving black women and creating black babies. We celebrate being black women and we want our black men to celebrate us too. Not by dating non-black women but by dating black women. When a black man chooses a white woman (you can express it as a “preference” if you want) it contributes to the deterioration of the black family. We have enough black on black crime, black men in prison, racism, and drug abuse dividing and killing our families. We need the wealthy black man especially to keep their wealth in our communities because DESERVE IT and has a social obligation to give back whether he likes it or not. He has a black mother and grandmother that I’m sure worked hard to rear him and get him where he is today and he goes and gives all his love to a white woman. I know his ancestors are turning in their graves. We’re asking black men to have some LOYALTY to their culture, race and the black community. If lighter skin is his preference- then there are plenty of lighter skinned black women that he could have chosen. There is a color of every tone in our community. The bottom line is those black men that choose white women say to his black community by his choices that he has no loyalty to his community, no critical and logical thinking about the past and the future of our people and doesn’t care to carry on a legacy. If he marries her, his money is going right to the wealth pool that the Kardashians already has. What about the sista who he could share his wealth with and pass the wealth to her family. When you are black and you know what your ancestors endured to get where we are today- there is no way you could even fall in love with a white woman. Since Susan Taylor left Essence, it’s been a big mess. You have these immature unconscious black women making choices based on pop-culture and not based on black culture. Get it together Essence – if you don’t you will soon be obsolete!
On January 18th 2010, Mel wrote:
Do people still read/buy Essence..That magazine played out years ago
On January 19th 2010, Renee wrote:
Are you people serious? Just because Reggie Bush is currently dating an Armenian woman does not mean that he hates or shuns black women. Perhaps that is his preference or that is who he happened to fall in love with. Who are we to judge? The staff at Essence obviously thought that he is one of the 10 sexiest men that we have ever seen. That is, in fact what the article was about-not if he dates black women. They put him on the cover because he is a beautiful black man and the object was to sell magazines! If you don’t like it and dont want to support it then don’t buy the magazine!
On January 21st 2010, James wrote:
Look the controversy is on point! Why would Essence Magazine a magazine that targets black women put a black man on the cover that sleeps with white women? Are the Essence editors stupid? It is insulting to black women! Bush doesn’t feel black women are good enough to date but this guy screws white women! Come on people Essence deserves to be criticized!!!
On January 22nd 2010, Anyway wrote:
Anything for a dollar! Thanks Essence for the insult! Makes me reconsider again where to spend my money…bottom line… forget Reggie Bush. Wonder how his black mama feels?
On January 23rd 2010, just a guy wrote:
why is he even on the cover at all? all hype from just another guy.
On January 24th 2010, Erotique wrote:
@Atlantagirl – sweety do you have any idea how pathetic and desperate you are coming across? Bring money into your community? Are you serious? Black men, black women, black babies…WTF ? How can you possibly say that you celebrate being black women when you basically say that you need a black man to validate you? A secure woman wouldn’t feel threatened or insulted because a man ( that you had absolutely no chance of getting for yourself) chose to date a woman other than black. Baby girl, where is your pride? Where is your self-esteem? Who that man dates is not a reflection on you or any black woman. It’s a reflection of choice. You need to choose some form of personal inner peace with yourself and learn to love the woman in the mirror. Real rap..
On January 25th 2010, Get Real wrote:
Get real people and open your eyes. Anyone who says this interracial couple is messed up is being just as racist as they are. Open your eyes and move forward with the times. Obama being president does not give us the right to be racist. As for him “having a responsibility to the community”, please.
On February 9th 2010, BadNews wrote:
Uhh Erotique — Shut the F**k up. You are either seriously retarded or very very young and inexperienced. Essence editors are assholes to use this man on thi PARTICULAR issue. His choice is HIS choice. That is true. But all choices have consequences. And the consequence here should have been to eliminate him as the poster BOY for this particular issue. Use him for the “White Girl Loving Black Male Athletes With No Personality But Has Pecs and Abs” issue.
As far as his choice of Kim WhoreDashian? — all I can say is have you ever seen him linked to ANY Black woman? Where was his own Mother at the Superbowl when he won? I guess his “preference” was to have Momma Kardashian there instead! — And that’s ok — Right???
On February 11th 2010, Annoyed wrote:
It is so annoying reading all these comments that are totally off the point. Let me see if I can simplify this:
1. It is Reggie’s choice who he dates black, white or purple. I personaly don’t care as long as it done from a pure heart.
2. Successful Black men dating white women or non-white women for the WRONG reason is a known Epidemic in our culture
3.Essence magazine is supposed to be about the Essence of a black woman. When you put a black man on the cover on this magazine who is currently “loving” a non-white woman, it does not represent black love; If you wanted to feature Reggie Bush on your magazine, the issue should have been Black Men, Interracial Love & Relationships.
SIMPLE!!
On February 12th 2010, tee wrote:
If the Essence issue was on black love, then Reggie should have not been on the cover, point blank. No racist, intentions. He is in love with a nonblack women, so no he shouldn’t be on an issue about black love.
On February 12th 2010, cgil wrote:
I live in the Caribbean and work in the tourism sector and it always intrigues me as to why so many black men in America date white or other women, other than black women. One a recent weekend at the upscale resort where I Iwork, one of my co-corkers said that she physically counted one in every four black men at the resort was with a white or Asian women, and they treat them like gold. How come this is so prevalent in America? It seems that it has quickly become a part of your culture and I think that it is sad because black American women have so much to offer. You are so smart, strong and beautiful and we caribbean women envy your pretty, smoothe, clear skin that we generally do not have because of our extreme exposure to the sun. So why arent these seemingly very successful black men increasingly not dating black women in America. I saw the ABC report a few weeks ago inwhich it revealed that white women in America are being married at twice the rate of their black counterparts and I really wonder why is this? Is it because black men who marry women of other races are somewhat braver than white and other men whose famailies and communities are less accepting of black women as one of the single ladies in the ABC interview inferred? Or are black women just that unappealing/ undesirable/ and too strong for men of other races and their own?
Even though in that same interview it was noted that the rate of black women who get married outside of their race has doubled in recent years, it is still not-comparable to the number of black men who marry outside of their race. I have also noticed that it is a taboo subject in the main stream media even though I know that it is on many people’s minds. I recently heard a CNN comentator say that race is the second most discussed issue in America, being outdone only by sex, so I am sure that this phenomon is being discussed by more than those who some would call ‘”insecure black women”. I would like for Essence to do an article on this issue because I want to know why this is happenning. Maybe John Mayer’s recent comments on race and black women would spark some open discussion on the topic.
On February 19th 2010, Christa wrote:
Seriously, good quality women can get men-period. I am a black woman and have never had a problem finding a high quality black man, or any man for that matter. I don’t have the best job, or whatever, but I am a high quality lady. You get what you put out there. WE DO NOT OWN BLACK MEN or any man for that matter. And just cause you see a black man (or any man) with someone, how do you know he is so “good” do you know reggie bush? He could be a woman beater, or not, but either way, we don’t own him. It is 2010. These comments make those black women saying them look desperate, pathetic, and SUPER insecure. If you think society thinks ur ugly and undesirable then, hey, you go for it, SELF HATE PREVAILS! But I personally don’t let society define me. I like hot men period, Italians, Blacks, Asians. I like them hot, and that comes in ALL forms. I can date who I want and so can he. Stop being a “he gotta be a baller, 6 figure football player, come correct” bull, and you just might get a man, a black man, one even better than reggie, and hey he might not be a pro athelete, but what about a doctor, or a school teacher, or even a starbucks barista, PALEASE LADIES, GET A GRIP ON REALITY, AND GET SOME CONFIDENCE!
On March 18th 2010, Gina wrote:
Amen Christina! You tell em girl
On March 26th 2010, neecee wrote:
I don’t think Reggie shuns black women, this is coming from a black woman. I think he just fell in love with a woman of a different race who happens to have a black womens butt. And technically Armenian is a race of color since they all come in different shades. I think this is a bit out of hand. If you don’t like that he’s on the cover don’t buy it. Does this mean he can only be in a relationship with black women? is that how narrow-minded we’ve become? So he’s not dating a black woman big deal get over it. How would you feel if somebody told you you had to limit your love to only one type of body type, or race?
On July 20th 2010, syd wrote:
color doesn’t matter all that matter is what’s in your heart and if you are one of the one’s hook on color. oh well life is sad for you and you will never fully experience life and know what it truly mean to be in love or loved if your hoping on a specific color of man to love and be there for you. no matter the color all races and go through ups and downs and have their own separate problems and ways on how to deal with them….
On July 24th 2010, eddiec wrote:
Reggie is a joke of a player and a moron for dating Kim Hodashinan…..he ONLY dates nonBlack women and that is the issue ala Quicy Jones and alot of other fools and haters……he ONLY dates nonBlack women and this is the issue….look it up….. it isn’t a preference and she is a white girl ….look at the way she acts PLEASE
On September 20th 2010, cookie wrote:
Smh ppl its 2010 when r ppl gonna stop judging on color..essence put reggie bush on the cover because he looks really good..why should it matter what color the woman he is dating why make a issue of something that’s not ur business ..regigie bush is blk and is or was in love (and look good) so there for he sound be on the cover pointt blank
On January 18th 2011, DJO wrote:
Who cares?
On February 18th 2011, steve wrote:
Time to get scared? I saw this post y’all
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Wednesday, December 14,2005
A White Woman Explains Why She Prefers Black Men
How many white men can treat a woman like a lady and ravish her
By Susan Crain Bakos
Black skin is thick and lush, sensuous to the touch, like satin and velvet made flesh. There’s only one patch of skin on a white man’s body that remotely compares to nearly every inch of a black man’s skin. The first time I caressed black skin, it felt like a luxury I shouldn’t be able to afford. I craved it more strongly than Carrie Bradshaw craved Manolo Blahnik shoes. That phrase, “Once you go black, you never go back” is all about the feeling of the skin.
And I had the socially acceptable explanation for my craving. I used that paucity-of-available-white-partners rationale to explain my relationships with black men for several years. A white woman past forty is often passed over by her white-male contemporaries. She goes younger or ethnic or foreign-born or down the socioeconomic scale or darker or she spends lonely nights at home with her cats. Black men are happy to get the babe they couldn’t have when she was twentysomething and fertile. The laws of the marketplace do prevail. It’s not me, it’s themthem being the white guys who weren’t after me anymore, or so I claimed.
That’s a lie. The truth is, I attract about the same percentage of available white men my age (and far younger!) now as I did when I was thirtyand that’s not including the unavailable white men who want to play around anyway.
Enough white men want me that I was hardly facing enforced celibacy, but I don’t want them.
I want black men. They want me. We look at one another and exchange a visible frisson of sexual energy in the lingering glances. And our attraction is based first on race. We are not those couples who “happen to fall in love” with someone of a different race or more purposefully come together but out of some greater sense of interracial understanding and respect. Not as politically-correct men and women do we seek one another out. The Internet has made it a lot easier for us to find each other now. Men advertise: ebony seeks ivory. Women write: seeking tall, dark, and handsome. Very dark. We are not the same people who say: Race is not important. It is important to us. We have race-specific desires.
Even in a time when nearly 40 percent of single Americans have dated outside their race, that deliberate seeking of the specific other makes some people, especially black women, damned mad.
We are what they denigrate and castigate: white women and black men who choose one another because of our racial differences. They resent our taking their men. Black men are two and a half times more likely to marry a white woman than a black woman is to marry a white man. Black women can point to that statistic in justifying their wrath. But in truth, black sisters, we’re after the sex, not the ringand these guys aren’t the marrying kind anyway.
Yes, the sex!
The woman who goes after black men is a variant of sex journalist Susie Bright’s “white bitch in heat,” a woman who puts sex first even though women aren’t supposed to do that. According to one school of thought, white women turn to black men when their sex drives kick into higher gear and their social inhibitions recede into the rearview mirror. It’s a “yes, baby, now I’m ready for you” reaction.
When we get to the “yes, baby” place, they know it, and they are ready and waiting for us. Black men have more energy, style and edge than white men. They know how to flirt, a nearly lost art among the rest of us. A black man is so damned sexy because he knows how to make a woman feel sexy.
Black men have something white guys don’t have anymore: confidence in their masculinity, their sexuality. They clearly know they’re men. White men appear to be waiting for the latest sociological research study to let them know if they are men or not. Yet black men are gentlemen, something else white men no longer are. They make me feel like a woman, both respected and desired. I can let go of my inhibitions, my need to control, when I am with them. How many white men can treat a woman like a lady and ravish her too?
I often felt in my White Period that only during heated sex does that little layer of air bubbles between me and the world pop and disappear, leaving me open to intimate connection. It takes a lot of friction for two white people to get that close. These black men, so alive with erotic electricity, cut through the bubbles with a touch, a caress, a kissand they free meand I can truly touch them. I am like a pampered passenger in a Porsche with an expert driver at the wheel. I know I could suggest a route change, but I never really want to do that. On the other hand, the last time I had sex with a white man, we slogged along a bumpy road in a really old VW, the driver like the typical bumbling tv husband who would neither ask for nor accept the directions he badly needed.
My current lover, a handsome businessman, seduced me via eye contact at a neighborhood bar while I was eating burgers with a friend. Without saying a word, he paid the compliments, asked the questions with his expressive eyes. He didn’t move over to sit beside me and ask if he could buy me a drink until he knew the time was right. Both soft-spoken and assertive, he has impeccable manners and charm. I was kissing him in a cab 30 minutes after that drink.
On another night in that same bar, a different black man, an artist, knelt and kissed my knees.
I am sure there must be some black men who aren’t good in bed. Personally, I have not experienced one who isn’t. (True, I am not dating down the socioeconomic ladder, but I didn’t do that when I dated white either, so the racial comparisons seem valid and fair.) They look better than white men, they touch and kiss and make love better than white men. Statistically, their penises are only a fraction of an inch bigger on average, but they seem bigger and harder.
White men over 40 have lost their waistlines and their zest for lifeif they ever had it. They carry resentments, grudges and extra pounds in their basketball bellies. Perhaps a good part of that bloat is unhappiness. Even the thin ones look flabby somehow and deeply aggrieved. They nurse the smallest perceived slight longer than their double shots of Scotch. Surely our culture as much as biology turns them into softer, spongier, less-interesting versions of their youthful selves just at the point where women and black men and other minorities are emerging strong. Society overvalues the white man, leaving him angry and bitter when he realizes, around age 40, that he’s not all that.
With the exception of some Italians, white men don’t turn me on anymore.
That admission puts me in the same category as the older man only interested primarily or exclusively in young women. While women my age scowl and frown at these aging, Upper West Side Boomers pushing strollers as the hand of the thin, blonde wife 20 years their junior rests lightly on their arm, I feel a kinship with the old goats. We are the same, me and that bald white guy, drawn to the exotic other, not caring that the object of our desire has no childhood memory of a Kennedy assassination or a typical WASP Sunday dinner of over-roasted beef, lumpy mashed potatoes and soggy vegetables.
Analyze the roots of attractions all you wantlike scientists have doneand you won’t come up with a perfect explanation for why we crave what we do. Desire rises from our depths and is gloriously oblivious to the good opinion of others. Yet until recently, I pretended that my lust was an equal-opportunity craving, because that seemed like the right thing to do.
Halfway through the first glass of wine in my last date with a white man, I realized that little clouds of sadness and self-pity were regularly fluffing off his psyche like the dust clouds kicked up by that dirt-smudged “Peanuts” character as he walks through Charlie Brown’s life. This guy was at least mildly depressed, and I wanted to tell him to exercise, lose weight, trim the combover and get interested in something outside yourself. I would have walked out on him immediately, but he seemed to expect that. I couldn’t deliver the blow to his ego proffered like the naked neck of a martyr to the ax. My Southern cousins would describe his general demeanor as a “hangdog air.” Into the second glass of wine and glancing longingly at the exit, I wanted to hang that dog myself when he mentioned that his face was flushedI hadn’t noticedbecause he’d taken a Viagra “just in case.”
What did he think would entice me more: That he assumed sex was probable because I’m a sex journalistor that he would need chemical help if sex did occur?
I cannot even imagine a black man bungling an attempted seduction in such a sad way.
That was my last token white guy. I recently came out of my racial-preference closet and told my friends, “I love black men. I’m not attracted to white men over 40, and I’m not dating them anymore. Really, it’s not them, it’s me.
N