Black Women, Stop Fighting -- and Not Just on TV

By: Nathan Hale Williams | Posted: May 9, 2012 at 12:20 AM

Alexander Tamargo/WireImage

Essence's Nathan Hale Williams says that he's tired of Basketball Wives-type antics and brawls on reality television -- but also in real life -- between high-powered, highly educated black women.

Now, after seeing Evelyn Lozada on Basketball Wives leap across a table to attack another women who was not threatening her, I’m done. To add insult to injury, on a recent episode she felt no remorse and acknowledged that at 36 years old (my age) she should know better, but she didn’t care. For me, the nail in the coffin was when I heard a teenage girl say, “Don’t make me go Evelyn on your [butt]!” With that statement, Ms. Lozada’s public legacy was confirmed ...

Ms. Lozada is just one of many “women” acting far less than lady-like for ratings and fame. And, to be clear, it’s not just women of color doing the fool on TV either. However, with such a dearth of images of women and men of color, I believe, there is a heightened responsibility. True, it’s the networks that are programming this craziness, but they wouldn’t if we didn’t watch it and if there weren’t women willing to do it.

But, before the masses stand in complete judgment of the ladies of the “brawl TV” shows let’s take a look around us. I see women in conflict all the time. High-powered, highly educated women who definitely know better and have no cameras on them. These women might not be throwing fists, but they’re doing much worse. The tongue can be a mighty sword and I’ve heard and seen many a woman slain for blood. Up close and personal examples of bad behavior have an even greater effect on all of us, especially our young people.

Read Nathan Hale Williams' entire piece at Essence.

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