Annotated Bib #6

Observation: In this photo there is a black woman looking away from the mirror she is holding. In the mirror there is a figure looking back at the back woman, and she is of a lighter complexion than the woman holding the mirror. The woman reflected in the mirror is wearing all white and she is holding a wand-crystal like object. Both figures in this image show a look of disgust in each other's appearance. At the bottom of this photo is a quote, "LOOKING INTO THE MIRROR, THE BLACK WOMAN ASKED, "MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL, WHO'S THE FINEST OF THEM ALL?" THE MIRROR SAYS, "SNOW WHITE, YOU BLACK BITCH, AND DON'T YOU FORGET IT!!!"

Inference: This photo symbolizes the daily struggle and oppression African American woman have to deal with everyday. Since slavery black women of the lighter complexion was treated much better compared to women of darker complexions, and they were often considered to be "house slaves". After slavery black women of the lighter complexion due to white ethnicity in their family past used their light skin complexion to take advantage in society. Black women were taught that "White women" symbolized what true beauty was. Black girls at a young age learn this and begin to straighten their hair and to dress and speak as "white" as possible. The photo shows this with the black female looking into the mirror and seeing an image of a woman with a lighter complexion wearing fancy white garments. The quote underneath referring to "Snow White" is cursing at the black woman because she questions beauty with her dark skin. The quote and the mirror is reminding the black woman that she will never be beautiful because of her dark skin and white attributes that she lacks.