Why so few Black Female nudists?
Return to DiscussionsI have noticed that there are not too many on here is it they are more private than the rest of us or is it really a lack of Black female nudists world wide? I find all women beautiful it is personality that makes a person beautiful. I don't see that many at beaches here in the states. I have not been to any of the nudist communities, resorts or camp grounds.
I think there are multiple reasons. They include the fact that black women's body have been hyper sexualized by men in general and fetished by white men historically. So often they dont feel safe. A related issue is nudism as a term has become related to sexual precursor. A second big factor is not understanding the history of naturism and realizing that African ancestors were the first naturists. This conclusion is reach based on the international Naturist Federation definition of naturism. Communal nudity, connection to nature and respect for others. European colonialism brought the idea that simple non sexual nudity was somehow sexual and wrong. That notion lingers today. Those two factors are sufficient to give black women pause IMHO when exploring the idea of clothes free life and naturism. We have several stories of black women's experience with naturism on our site.
Yes also think we feel its a "white people thing".Maria
Dont think there is a simple answer to the question - prejudice in the naturist community prevents some women, others maybe good just being clothes on setting where they are comfortable with out needing to join why dominant social grouping, others dont want to be fetishized which often happens with naked black bodies, and yet others may respond from a place of an oppressive culture that has taught them that the body and especially their bodies should remain covered.
Many reasons even better question is how do we create naturist spaces that are inviting to black women that black women will have to join in and know they are safe.
Yes also think we feel its a "white people thing".MariaDont think there is a simple answer to the question - prejudice in the naturist community prevents some women, others maybe good just being clothes on setting where they are comfortable with out needing to join why dominant social grouping, others dont want to be fetishized which often happens with naked black bodies, and yet others may respond from a place of an oppressive culture that has taught them that the body and especially their bodies should remain covered.Many reasons even better question is how do we create naturist spaces that are inviting to black women that black women will have to join in and know they are safe.
This is probably the most intelligent and honest group I have come across on TrueNudists. I'm biracial (white and Asian) so these issues are of genuine personal interest to me. I might not have been as interested in this group a few years ago until the spotlight has been focused on issues surrounding the African-American and "miniority" communities as a whole. I think most of the modern nudist clubs such as in Germany and then here were formed by people of European descent. It was almost as if they were liberating themselves from their own cultures' expectations, defying their ancestors societal expectations. Honestly, as a whole, I don't think black people in the United States were in a position to assert this freedom and say, "I am starting a nudist camp whether you like it or not." There is an element of control in this country to varying degrees, and the level of comfort with challenge to certain ideas varies. I think of the colonization of Africa, and how the English would wear these outfits entirely unsuitable to the climate, and then instill their own concept of civility on the locals. If I were in Africa, I'd enjoy going around naked not for any sexual purpose, but it can be damn hot! I'm sure that there was effort to shame the locals into following foreign customs, and it stuck. Its the same as how the English language became dominant and universal.....the English instilled it into every location in the world that they occupied. At this point in history, it's up to people (all people) to determine for themselves if they want to follow the customary traditions of a cool climate that had no proper indoor heating or whether they want freedom to choose how they dress. Of course there is the shame issue as well brought to you by a very strict Victorian and Christian morality, and it is unfortunate to think that there is a dehumanizing fetish component to African-American nudism. Related to the Church, I remember seeing a documentary about Michaelangelo's painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, and the restoration of it a few years ago. Michaelangelo painted all the charcters nude! I can't remember if it was the commissioning Pope but I think it was one of his successors, and an order was given to cover all the "naughty bits" with loinclothes. When the painting was cleaned, these were removed. One character was actually based on the commissioning Pope, and when his modesty was removed, there was a serpent biting off his penis. I had a good laugh at that artistic commentary.
I think black people are taught not to be nude socially. We keep it in our home. I know several black women that arw nude at home. For example, one coworker told me she is always nude at home. Her family and friends always see her. Id invited her to her a nude club. She said no because it was public, but she is always nude at home and around her friends and family. She complained she couldnt bbq in her backyard nude because her husband didnt put up a fence yet.