GriotsHouseVince

vega681j said the following:

hi, i was wondering if you could help me out a bit. i'm trying to find either erotic, high class, classy photos of black women. i've done alot of searching and all i can seem to find are a helluva lot of iphone booty pics..lol & i was wondering if you would be able to point me in the right direction?

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My Other Page - vega681j2.deviantart.com/

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Hey vega681j,

FIRST! I want to say go to PangeasGarden.com. The site was created, specifically with that question in mind, and hopefully, you will find the types of works you seek.  But you asking me this got my juices stirring a little.

I have a list of a handful of photographers I have met on Model Mayhem and Flickr. I met most of them while I was creating Pangea's Garden but for the most part the images you are looking for are extremely rare because the artists with the taste and the cultural sensitivity to create them are also, typically, inhibited by a cultural shame of such exploration because they hold coyness and discretion in high esteem. They find such images vulgar, leaving the visual definition of a black woman's sensual beauty to pornographers, exploiters and tasteless creatives. And yet that question you asked is the same one I asked myself about 2 years ago.

Since then, I have been impressed by the works of Saddi Khali, Alain Paris (whose images I discovered in the nineties), Jafar Pierre, DaNeil Dowdell Cuble (he has changed his name so many times I don't know how he keeps it all straight) and Runi Rone. There are more out there but they are few. There are some here on Deviant Art and I have faved some of their works.

Now here's my next question. Who wants to see these works?

I'm asking you, Vega but I am posting this as a blog entry as well. Do we want to see them? If so, why are their so few images OR so few outlets? Anybody, got a clue?

Scottie Lowe brought this up and as a provocative topic warranting discussion in her commentary in the Garden.

She says, "The African-centered community is steeped in sexual dysfunction. For all of our efforts to rid ourselves of European cultural, social, and spiritual norms, we have denied our sexual growth by blanketing everything under the assumption that anything other than heterosexual vaginal/penal intercourse is European and thus deemed 'not African'.

"We are far from healthy when it comes to our perceptions of sexuality and we hold on to divisive, patriarchal, immature mindsets and defend them without seeking to expand our definitions, to redefine ourselves, to truly come to a place where we relinquish the shame and unhealthy belief systems we have been conditioned to accept."

With regards to rectify the situation she concludes that, "Until we truly accept that our sexuality is a Divine gift, until we truly see our sexuality as something as natural and beautiful and not something to be compartmentalized or shrouded in secrecy, we will be tied to dysfunction. "

These are brief excerpts from a detail entry on the subject that explore various elements of African Centered Sexuality and it is frank and illuminating. And you should check it out at pangeasgarden.com/columns/afri…

But what are your thoughts. Are we disfunctional; limited by the unhealthy conditioning of Eurocentric beliefs? Are there other causes at play and what are some suggestions for solutions?

Welcome to the Garden...
Join us in this place that a little naughty, artistic, sexy and proud. Hang out where its humorous and intense, provocative and passionate. And make some noise in a haven that, not only celebrates an Afro-sensual aesthetic, but also give voice to the rich, textured and soulful environment that nurtured it. Join us in the Garden. Meet The EarthSistas

The EarthSistas
The EarthSistas are the sensually Afrocentric models in the Garden. Paying homage in the form of images of that girl with naturals and 'locs wearing hoop rings and warm-colored loose fit dresses or jeans. Dozens of bracelets and beautiful African-style necklaces. On the street..in the park. Eyes always piercing and hungry for some truth or justice. Faces that were always filled with attitude or laughter. EarthSistas are ALWAYS the perfect muse. They are the inspirations for the images in the Garden, driving us ALL to the yard!

Pangea's Garden is growing...
This is the sensual Afrocentric Online community that entertains, arouses, provokes and inspires. It is the community that is growing. With the commentary from the likes of Scottie Lowe, Lee Bey and Torrence Stephens, Journals and 20 questions with the EarthSistas along with in depth interviews with the seductively soulful celebs, Pangeas Garden will be the place stimulates your mind, body and spirit. Join us in the forthcoming Forums, comment on the commentary.

Join us in the Garden. Watch its beauty grow.

PangeasGarden.com

I, like a lot of my friends and associates, have been laid off this year. I've tried to look at as a positive opportunity grow myself as an Artist and Photographer, hoping to find a living that way. And times are a bit difficult right now as this job and work drought continues. I'm not down yet though, at least, not by the slow changes for the economy. I am disheartened by some of the issues that I am hearing from some of the black men out there....

You see recently, I was disheartened by some of the commentary launched by a young and beautiful model who decided to get out of the industry because her afrocentric appearance was not a popular look in the marketplace. Now, I live in Atlanta, so its kinda hard for me to see that but I can understand it because I did not always live here. But I knew the market existed because I, personally, knew Creative Directors who had built their careers on that market.

But not now.

That particular market dried up quickly, faster than both the Hispanic and Broadcast markets. And I am watching Creative Directors and agency owners lose their offices, homes and cars as they declare bankruptcy. And these vastly creative, experienced project directors can't even find jobs in their field when they close up shop. And its not because the jobs aren't out there.

When I was 19 in the mid-80s, I pounded the pavement in search of an internship in the Advertising business. And during that search one Ad Agency principal told me that he " honestly, did not think that a black man had the frame of reference to work in a white advertising agency." Now that was about 25 years ago and I've yet to forget it, but that is not what strikes me now. A couple of folks out there searching, who ran those urban agencies that have fallen in this economy, are telling me that they are being told that due to the limitations of their multicultural and urban portfolios, that working in a broadcast agency might not be the proper fit for them.

Is the industry serious? Are we STILL here as a culture? At one point 25 years ago this level of narrow vision was an issue of ignorance. Now, this is just apathy and stupidity, right?

Am I wrong? Is my view too myopic?

And if so, what type of stuff do you buy prints of?

Also, how do you start a poll?