Black women,

If you can only see yourselves as we see you.

I took a trip to Los Angeles over a year ago for the first time in my life. Like any half aware person, I went to L.A. with a certain perception of glitz and glamour of the Hollywood life. The biggest notables of my trip were, in no particular order:

1) The division of classes (there are some grimy areas in L.A…not too far from the pretty ones)
2) The bustle of the acting scene (everybody is trying to make something happen out there)
3) The skinny women

For the last point, there were some exceptions. But that was the rule. The Hollywood culture infiltrates the female psyche in an obvious and damaging way: thin is in, thick is disgusting. Females were doing whatever they can to stay in that desirable mode, so that they can land a role and become that next star. Being a lifelong Atlantan, I couldn’t – and still can’t - fathom the notion of thinning yourself out to make your self more appealing. That is counterintuitive. However, there in La La land, it was going to happen. Damn whether her body type is fit for a size 2, she is going to get to that size.

Over a year later, it hit me: That nonsense isn’t just on the West Coast; it is pervading women everywhere. With an ever scrutinizing eye on the obesity rate here in America, there is an inordinate amount 130 pound women wanting to be 120 pound women. And 145 pounds? Please, depression central.

This is not only neurotic, it’s psychologically dangerous.

Different people, families, races all have specific body types. If your family, for generations, has been chomping on seasoned ribs, collard greens and potato salads at the frequency rate of a CNN political debate, then chances are that you will be a little thicker than a family that pinches its seasoning and settles for more turkey and cheese sandwiches. More straight to the point, black people generally are thicker than white people. It’s a law of life. So why can’t you realize that? Why let another sect – who secretly envies your body type and aging mechanisms - establish your sense of beauty?

The reason I have been pushed over the edge to vent to you my thoughts on this is because I am constantly hearing you agonize over your pounds. While I was at the gym recently, there were a group of women huddling around the scale like meth addicts jonesing for a fix. It was a sickening sight.

Much of this damage is done on the subconscious level. There are scores of women who can’t even pinpoint why they want to be smaller or why curves are viewed as anathema or why some of you ogle over women in magazines as much as men do (don’t even try to deny…I’ve seen it many times). This has a subtle trickle out effect as well. Imagine that you go into work to see that co-worker who just makes you feel bad about yourself (you know that I’m talking about; the one who is the “perfect size”, who reminds you of what you want to be and where you’re not physically.). Your mood has become inexplicably sour for the next hour or so, and if you see her again, maybe even the whole day. Work productivity goes down, attitudes towards others sour a bit and behold, you have a lost day because of some false sense of vanity.

Imagine this effect over a relationship. Personal insecurity in a relationship is about as helpful as chapped thighs. It doesn’t lead to relationship bliss. Beautiful women, I don’t know if you ever heard this before, but I have to have to let you in on a well-known secret:

Men like women with meat on them.

I understand that that may be presumptuous of me. Many women beautify themselves for themselves, not for men. So where does this concept of beauty come from? Environment? Parents? Media?

All of which brings me back to my West Coast trip; the place where the distortion of beauty has its home. It was amazing to me to navigate through the place where the most popular sitcoms are shot, where the Hollywood Walk-of-Fame lies, where Robin Williams and Neve Campbell (who, ironically, looked as if she had been eating salads for dinner for the last 365 days) walked right pass me and of course, and more petite girls.

Understand that there is nothing wrong with endeavoring to lose weight. But lose weight because it is healthily expedient, not because of some societal stigma. The more time you spend fretting over your kilograms, the more time that your man will spend sliding away. There’s nothing more frustrating to a man than to be with a thick woman that wants to lose weight (if you gain 50 pounds after he gets with you and a baby is not involved, then that is a different story).

Going from 140 to 130 is overrated, unless your cholesterol level demands it. Otherwise, relax and rejoice in the curves that you’ve been blessed with. Because I guarantee you that your man will.

Sincerely,

Z.C. IV

Dear Clutch Magazine readers:

I must admit that there is no unifying theme to this letter. This is a medley of thoughts and ideas that are in my mental list going into the new year.

January, for many, represents the primo time of the year. A chance to start over, get it right, set new goals, sustain prior successes, etc., etc. For others, January is just another day in the life. Regardless of your perspective, posterity has established January as the kickoff for all things financial, political, educational and vocational.

A war in Iraq continues. The presidential primaries commence this month. NFL playoffs begin this month. A gazillion bowl games will take place. Many of you will return to work, resume school or start that diet you promised to get on. But we know, that as much as we would like to boost January as a “new start,” some things will remain the same. No date can change that bad relationship that we are in, or that unemployment is hovering at its highest since 2001, or that there is a severe mortgage crisis.

With that said, below is a condensed list of things to keep in mind:

Barack vs. Hilary: There are the other candidates in the Democratic Party, as well as the GOP. But let’s be serious, the juice— to me anyway—is in this race. Three months ago, it was one-sided all the way: Mrs. Clinton held a resounding lead in the polls. Not that the polls are totally indicative (for they were unofficial polls), but they are quite indicative. But now, the man from Hawaii is surging, with a campaign ran on transparency and new ideals that suddenly make this Iowa caucus a must-see segue into a new leadership that will begin in November.

A personal aside: Launching two books before his presidential campaign (one a memoir of his life and the other a look into his political paradigm) has proven to be an excellent strategic move. Though he has caught heat for his drug use admissions and his Muslim background (his father was one), his books have given America a glimpse and a tour of Barack Obama, the person. This is something that Hilary nor John Edwards (another Democratic nominee) can claim. Whether or not this will help Barry in the election process remains to be seen.

What will uncrisis the mortgage crisis? Foreclosures are at an all-time high, and real-estate investors are suffering for it. How can this be? You would think that more people would be gobbling up homes, providing they have the money to do so. Faulty loans, increased interest rates and consumer uncertainty in the market have placed a lot of property being priced at 20 cents on the dollar. So what does this exactly mean for us?

The philosophy of our use of houses comes into question here: house as a wealth-generating asset or as a place of living and refuge? It’s reported that African Americans have the lowest home ownership rate out of any ethnic group in the nation. So if we aren’t buying homes, renting will become, (if it is not already), the de facto choice of sheltering for blacks.

The consumers most affected by this crossroads are those who took loans with little or no credit history, many of which who couldn’t afford a down payment. Mortgages are increasing everywhere, leaving those who recently bought their homes more in limbo because they don’t have much equity built up. Over half of the blacks that bought their homes in the last two years, acquired high-cost loans.

Translation: More blacks being put out of their homes, meaning that the home ownership rate among our race will continue to sleep with the fishes. Higher income people, this doesn’t affect as much, thus increasing the class and income gap between blacks and whites.

An ode to the stars and victims of 2007: Tony Dungy, Jordan Sparks, Lewis Hamilton, Saleisha Stowers all burst onto the national scene in a major way last year. Barack Obama started off with “60 percent of the world knowing me” to becoming one of the biggest stories of the year.

Despite the ignominy caused by a few black celebrities, there were plenty who made their marks in more favorable ways. Forest Whitaker won the Oscar for Best Actor, an award that until 2001, was privy to white actors. Last year was also a year that Idris Elba and Chiwetel Ejiofor also came into their own as the black actors to be reckoned with. Black college enrollment—contrary to many reports—continues to grow in a lot of areas, especially among black females. There is a new wave of black professionals making their marks that are not being reported on. Soon, these people will come to light.

But our prayers still go out to the families of the victims of the Valentine’s Day massacre in Utah, Virginia Tech massacre, and the Omaha, Nebraska massacre. 2007 wasn’t so kind to those victim’s families. It’s with heavy hearts and humility that we remember these people and others like them, because incidents like this remind us that life can be capriciously taken away. All of which makes our situations eminently enjoyable, because we are indeed blessed to be here.

So here is a toast to prosperity, wealth, sound decisions, family health, spiritual growth and overall goodwill for the year of 2008. May God bless your families, and may He bless you.

Wishing you a great year, from Clutch Magazine.

-Zettler Clay IV