Morgan Parker

From beginning to end, Parker owns her sexuality throughout poetic words and endless references to both Beyonce and Lady Gaga. Two women whom also are very comfortable with their own sexuality and are not afraid to show it. Not only does she explore and display sexuality, she gives a tour of subjects like femininity and blackness. The way she presents these topics, is it controversial? Is it taboo? All that matters is that it is raw and it is real!

One poem that struck me was 13 Ways of Looking at a Black Girl. She lists prominent black women and words often associated with black women in general. Upon first look some may think "but this is more than 13 descriptors," however one word repeats 13 times, and that word is "sex." This poem stuck with me long after I read it simply because it so subtly holds a megaphone to the tired narrative of the black woman. The over-sexualization of the black woman. The objectification. The hyper-sexualization. What we're saying is that black women are too often seen as these sexual beings first and not as a person. Parker is declaring: here are the ways we see black women, but we all know there is only one way. It's a gross reality, but it is the reality of the world we live in.

Moreover, lines from the poem Hottentot Venus can support this theme I found in the 13 Ways poem. Now with this title, I was confused so I had to look it up and found that Hottentot Venus were women with large butts that were put on display as a freak show attraction. Already that's problematic to me, but I won't spend all day unpacking the disgusting treatment of black women throughout centuries because we don't have that much time. Anyway, the lines in this poem that stuck out to me as well as relate to this recurring theme were:

Business is booming 
and I am not loved 
the way I want to be.

As well as:

I am technically nothing 
human.
I will never be 
a woman.

Without the context of what a "Hottentot Venus" was I interpreted it simply as a black women being able to get men to sleep with her (business is booming) but not getting the love nor respect she so deeply desired (and I am not loved the way I want to be). She no longer feels like a human, she's an object used for entertainment (I will never be a woman). Even with the newfound context, this message still very much applies. As a black woman, it was heart-wrenching to read.

There was so much to love about the language and imagery and comparisons she used throughout her work. What I appreciated most is she never danced around a subject, she simply told her truths.