When ABC announced that their next bachelorette was going to be a Black woman, there was excitement from the Black community and then something else. Lindsay told The Hollywood Reporter that there was pressure from Black folk for her to choose a Black bachelor. But Lindsay made it very clear that it’s not her intention to bow to any of it.
“It’s my journey in finding love. And whether that person is black, white, red, whatever — it’s my journey. I’m not choosing a man for America, I’m choosing a man for me.
“I know there are going to be people who criticize what I do no matter what, but I’m just trying to not get caught up in it. I feel like it was meant to be and that outweighs any fear or pressure that I have in being the first African-American Bachelorette.”
I hear her. While the part of me that loves and has been conditioned to support Black men wants her to choose a brutha, there is another part of me that recognizes that there really is no reason for her to feel this type of pressure. After all, Black men aren’t known for their loyalty toward us in the public eye. And honestly, I can’t argue with anyone who suggests that after so much disloyalty and disrespect from Black men, we go where we are treated properly, regardless of what color that man may be.
Still, after a clip from the upcoming season of “The Bachelorette” where Rachel meets the men who will be vying for her heart, I have to wonder if some of the White boys who ABC chose to meet her, are up to snuff.
One of these men, Dean came out to meet Rachel for the first time and said,
Dean: “How are you. I’m Dean.
Rachel: What’s your name?
Dean: Dean. Nice to meet you.
Rachel: Dean. Nice to meet you too.
Dean: You look amazing.
Rachel: Thank you!
Dean: Yeah of course. Are you excited?
Rachel: I’m very excited. Very nervous.
Dean: I just want to let you know, I’m ready to go Black and I’m never going to go back.
Rachel: I love that!
Dean: I’m excited to get to know you more.
Rachel: I’m excited to get to know you too. That was great.
Rachel seemed genuinely pleased by Dean’s little quip. The crowd was in stiches. Obviously, it set him apart from the crowd because we’re talking about him today. But when I first saw it, I cringed. Not only because it was cliche and corny, but also because I wondered, aside from the jokes that can be made at the expense of Rachel’s Blackness, are Dean and the rest of these men who jumped at the chance to be on reality television really equipped to relate to or even attempt to understand Rachel’s Black identity in any type of serious manner.
Really, I shouldn’t put too much stock in these shows. The idea of picking your mate out of a corral of men acting unnaturally in front of national tv cameras is not entirely realistic. And history has shown that, more often than not, the relationships formed on the show are not lasting ones.
Perhaps, I’m tripping. And I know folks will have plenty to say in the comment section. Certainly this is not the show where that type of work and introspection will be required. But it’s annoying to see these type of lazy jokes being made and received so well, when the country has proven time and time again that it’s too soon.
Veronica Wells is the culture editor at MadameNoire.com. She is also the author of “Bettah Days.” You can follow her on Facebook and Twitter @VDubShrug.
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