Black Males and their sexual myth

How does anyone see black men sexuality? Exotic? Hyper masculine? Perhaps. But one thing that black men are often associated with is their size and sexual capability. Many already rubbish such claim that size is rather important to get sexually satisfied than anything else. And more than dozens would go deeper into this superficial perspective when they see black men sexuality. Yet, it seems that wild, exotic and big size are still attached to people sexual whimsy.

Let's takes example in porn industry. Under the category of interracial sex, black men are partnered with blonde girls or viva versa. Their skin colour and body features are believed to have been sexually appealing and potent. This notion was rather new i think. It came along with imperialism and the idea of white supremacy.

I am not sure what makes such representation prevails. But i assume that the answer of such question could be traced back in history.

About a century ago, white women who went to colonies where most black people lived were strictly disallowed to mix with black men. For instance, study of John Pape about sexual regulation in Zimbabwe revealed that imprisonment was imposed to those engaged in interracial sex under a law which has passed in early 20th century. White women would be sentenced 2 years whereas black men will serve 5 years imprisonment. Meanwhile, white men either missionaries or traders had non-marriage relationship with local women. The reason was that they saw black men as such a threat to the purity (beauty) of whiteness which was represented through the women bodies. Their physical strength and athletic feature were suitable for force labor, but also might have shaped the creation of images of black men sexuality.

What interesting about the law, i think is somewhat telling the crisis of white men masculinity. The physical strength of black males threatened white men masculinity. They may have feared that black insatiable sexual desire would put any white women in danger. By passing such law, they enabled to emphasise stronger the power relationship between white and black through race and gender.

Study of Gary L Davis and Herbert J Cross (Sexual Stereotyping of Black Males in Interracial Sex) offered an interesting point as their research showed that undergraduate students linked black males with large size and sexual potency. This research could also tell us that educated people are still holding a belief of black sexuality. It may be fair to assume that the representation of black sexuality was influenced by the politics of differences carried out by colonial power.

Here i am not saying that this myth is a primary motivation for those who engage in interracial relationship. What i am saying here is that the myth does exist in white society. It even becomes one of sexual fantasies. In term of sex, sometimes we tend to try something which is seen taboo by popular norms. What is forbidded is always sweet once Nietzsche said. And having sex with black people is perhaps sweet whimsy.

Next time i will try to post about Asian fetish...