Tuesday, May 05, 2009

Gabrielle Union helps Americans with Empathy

Look at these photos. Decide whether Gabby had a nose job. Now step back and think about what went into your decision. Are you a fawning fangirl or utterly in love with her, no matter what? Are you pro-plastic surgery or a pro-ponent of MAC make-up? Indeed, are you an expert: surgeon or cosmetologist? Do you have issues with African Americans trying to "conform?" (and conform to what: is Hollywood success somehow different)? Or is one's face one's own business--literally and figuretively? To do with as one pleases. Are you into so-called "common sense" and figure she just lost some of that baby fat we silent majority of men love...and a little just came off her nose naturally to produce a narrow, more svelte (and Hollywood-conforming?) visage?














The point of this exercize is that I wanted to find some common ground on decisions and opinions. Too many people have been losing their minds in either attack or defense of Barack Obama and everything he represents or is allegory for with dozens of permutations of that formula. We have ethnic and caste commentary given to the swine flu. We have acrimony over who'll replace Justice David Souter even though we're months away from anything concrete.
The key isn't surgical analysis, in my opinion, though analysis and empirical measure is damn important. It's "empathy" in decisionmaking. In writing, or news reporting or essay drafting or love or sex or at work at school or foreign policy. Yes, the word that doesn't mean sympathy or siding with someone or being a pussy or a dupe. My definition is an amalgam of many: Intellectual and emotional awareness and understanding of another person's or group's thoughts, feelings and behavior, even those that are distressing. Observation based on available info and our bank of knowledge, is subject to so many, many factors. Some not so positive or touchy feely. Most without due regard to empathy. Soon the actual truth doesn't even matter--just who's lining up on what side, or whose opinion rules. And if we learn a truth and that truth is tested and verified as fact, there's always lunatic naysayers rather than healthy skeptics doing the analysis. Alternatively you have the people who's answer was vindicated with "truth" wanting to beat folk who were "wrong" over the head the results, rather than help them learn from it, and build.
Of course, I just think Gabby's pretty, regardless. And she's a decent actress, too. But I try to understand other views--even ones that are distressing. That's written here on this blog without an agenda...

54 comments:

Tafari said...

GU is a very attractive woman & was to start with. Honestly speaking, I did not notice the "enhancement" until it was pointed out but after looking at it again, it may be a good nose job but unnecessary. Then I’m not a Negro trying to make it in an industry that does not value my Negroness.

And I doubt that her more svelte (and Hollywood-conforming) visage will land her any roles outside the Black/B/Straight to DVD movie world.

I happen to like my woman to be of traditional build so GU lost a few points now that I'm aware.

I do think that it is unfortunate that so many black men & women have to put themselves under the knife to obtain something that was not meant to be.

Taking race totally out of the picture, you saw what a little attention did to that British woman, dare I say her name. She was perfectly fine one day & a drag queen the next not looking comfortable in her own skin.

I’m just saying.
Tafari

craig said...

OK you had your Ghandi moment. Recall he got shot. Not to call you a hypocrite but I've seen you unload on wingnut and quasi-racist blog comments, or on Fox comment boards. Are you showing empathy there or do I just not understand your definition?

Anonymous said...

She's had surgery. There's your truth. No essay on empathy necessary, just fact.

Christopher Chambers said...

You are the king of symbolism, Nat. I get you, tho.

Robert M said...

Gabrielle has always been to me a very pretty little girl; so has Halle. I now have to recognize her as older and w/ it comes change. I want to give her the benefit of the doubt

Exquisitely Black said...

This is one I've struggled with. First, I think Ms. Union is beautiful - with or without the enhancement. My younger self chided these folks for trying to conform to the European standard of beauty - and there is no doubt that a smaller, more defined nose fits that standard. But my older self thinks that perhaps not. I mean, I got braces to straighten my teeth, is that trying to conform? I still straddle the fence on this one. What is perhaps more disturbing to me is black women continuing to chemically straighten, weave or otherwise alter their hair to conform.

Deocliciano Okssipin Vieira, aka Ochyming said...

She can do whatever she want with her body!
Afro-americans/africans wearing blond wigs is the real Despicable thing!

A more defined nose fits european standard, but only because europeans are More homogeneous than africans. Actually even europeans do work their noses. Mr Christopher Chambers well informed as you seems to be regarding pornography [ (: ], maybe you have heard of Danielle Derek, she sculpted all her body and nose, and she is … well never-mind.

Oh!
Yes, empathy is KEY in any criticism. If you do not understand do not criticize, because Criticism = caring!

rikyrah said...

I'll be honest. I don't pay enough attention to her to notice. And, I had to look hard at the pictures. As long as she leaves it alone, and doesn't go down the Vivica Fox/ L'il Kim route, she'll be fine.

Unknown said...

Um... all I see in these pics is that her face got slimmer, I'm black, and I have a big nose, when I lost a bit of weight, my face got slimmer and so did my nose. It's common knowledge, even when considering pregnant African americans, for instance, most tend to have fatter nose when they're pregnant as they have gained weight.

charlolay said...

Gabby has not had surgery. Its makeup, idiots. I lot of celebrities black or white do it. It's called nose contouring. They higlight the top of the nose with a lighter color. and use a darker color on the sides. But i guess men wouldn't know that.

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