Beyonce took part in the annual Macy's Fourth of July celebrations
Posted on 07/14/2003 7:32:25 AM PDT by yankeedame
Last Updated: Monday, 14 July, 2003, 08:46 GMT 09:46 UK
Beyonce's 'grave dance' causes grief
Pop singer Beyonce Knowles should not have been allowed to perform a scantily-clad dance on the tomb of former United States President Ulysses S Grant, a historical group has said. The star danced in a "patently inappropriate" way on the steps to the tomb during a nationally-televised 4 July concert, according to Frank Scaturro, president of the Grant Monument Association.
The Destiny's Child chart-topper used "lascivious choreography" and her backing dancers were barely dressed, Mr Scaturro said in a letter to NBC, which filmed the performance.
Her latest single, Crazy In Love, is currently number one in the UK and US.
A certain decorum should have been observed from which popular entertainers are not exempt
Frank Scaturro Grant Monument Association And her album held onto the top spot in the UK on Sunday but was knocked off the summit in the US by Ashanti last week.
In his letter, Mr Scaturro wrote: "At that location, a certain decorum should have been observed from which popular entertainers are not exempt."
The letter also went to the Secretary of the Interior, Gale Norton, and National Park Service director Fran Mainella.
Watch Beyonce perform Crazy In Love on Top of the Pops Ulysses S Grant was a Civil War hero who became the 18th president, between 1869-77.
His tomb, erected as a national monument in 1897, is in New York. The concert was part of the annual Macy's Fourth of July celebrations.
Also performing were American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson plus Sheryl Crow and John Mellencamp.
'More thoughtful'
Ulysses Grant Dietz, the great-great-grandson of Ulysses S Grant, said he did not object to most live performances, as long as the tomb was looked after.
But organisers could have been more thoughtful, he added.
"If they're doing a Fourth of July celebration and they're doing it at a grave of a president, maybe they should look a little more closely at what the performances are."
NBC and Beyonce were not available for comment and a National Park Service spokesman did not want to comment because he had not seen the letter.
African-American women have been straightening their hair for as long as Caucasian-American women have putting curl into theirs.
I thought Caucasian curling predated the founding of America, and thus the existence of "African-Americans" at all, but am no expert.
None of my elderly female relatives is balding ... most African-American hair-care practicioners are well trained in how to provide a woman with the hairstyle she desires without risk to the hair or scalp.
Certainly this is an extreme result. But, many women - including my dear MIL - can't afford "practitioners" and must make do with hair straighter from Walgreens.
People have been modifying their looks since the dawn of history, and, no doubt, they will continue to.
Indeed, and more power to them. I admit that I find straightened hair on black women attractive. But, having seen first hand how artificial it is, for me it ranks up there with breast implants and toupees on the list of modifications which I'd rather not see done.
My wife's tried all three, and is now on a set of dreads that have been going for about 3 years. With dreadlocks, no makeup, and bare feet (her typical appearance) most people are usually shocked to find out that she is wickedly conservative. Long live variety!
That's for sure! My wife's only hair expense now (beyond some nice shampoos) is the time she spends picking hay out of her locks after she gets done feeding her horses.
And in case you haven't been paying attention, it's not my side that's still fighting the war...
I've always been kind of confused by that....In what way do they "divide" them?
Personally, I think that a close-cropped afro looks great on women, but I've heard that a close-cropped afro on little girls is an absolute no-no. Can you explain why?
I never knew until after my wife and I were married for a couple of years how racially charged this word is. As far as I know, it still is, so I avoid it. Too bad, as it's so evocative.
I do not like your attitude and you are the kind of person that I make it a point to avoid.
Grow up! Little baby. Stop whining about who, why and how a CIVIL WAR was fought and won.
For crying out loud... WE ARE ALL AMERICANS NOW. Just drop the subject before I really get mad at you.
TIME TO MOVE ON! GET IT?
Black women who relax (straighten) their hair are accused of wanting to look more like white people in order to fit in to "white-dominated" society. Black women who maintain natural hair styles are accused of being extremist rasta-sympathizing back-to-Africa types. This is obviously an extreme stereotype of both camps, but should give you the picture. Toss in the fact that hair is spiritually symbolic (from Sampson to the Rastafarians), and the fact that it is an immediately recognizable visual statement (to be crass, imagine the fights we'd all have if you could immediately tell by looking the circumcised men from the uncircumcised men), and you have an explosive combination.
I've heard that a close-cropped afro on little girls is an absolute no-no. Can you explain why?
I haven't come across this, but I think it's probably connected to the fact that the traditional black family is very particular about gender roles. Tom boys are frequently persecuted wickedly (my wife was), and a short Afro is probably seen as "boyish".
Unfortunately, too many Blacks are hung up on having long, straight hair, and too many are insensitive enough to make critical comments or tease those who have short naturals. That kind of nonsense is harder on a small child than it is on a teen or adult who freely chooses short or natural hairstyles. Some don't care and so you will see short natural styles on some Black children, but most have problems with it.
The sad truth is, Blacks have had and internalized a lot of negative programming about hair from the larger society. We've been told that our natural hair is not presentable without chemicals and too many buy into that. While it's made and continues to make a lot of Blacks rich, it's also damaged the psyches of too many Blacks to count.
(Call me "Happy to be Nappy")
I can understand your puzzlement over why this word is so racially charged, for it is rarely explained. To most Black folks who study their history, the word "uppity" was a way of telling them "Who do you think you are? You're too big for your britches. You're asking for too much. Get back in the inferior, second-class place we have for you."
"Just drop the subject before I really get mad at you?"
Do you really think a line like that is going to do anything but provoke another response from me? One you are probably going to equally dislike?
You see, now I'm demonstrating my maturity by refusing to take the bait, because if not, you're response is like waving a red flag in front of a bull...
I've never heard that before. LOL. Too cute.
Thanks. I like it in spite of how many others don't. Just about any Black woman can write a book on the crap we go through over hair.
free dixie,sw
if he came to our camp and said that, he'd get a better response than the fellow who recently spoke there and told us what a great leader me lincoln was!
free dixie,sw
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