Casual Conversations with Tee Tee (Part 1)

It was Saturday night, April 30, 2016, when me and my sister, Terrionna (aka Tee Tee), sat down to start our "Casual Conversations with Tee Tee" series. These conversations that will happen once a month are my way of giving space for other Black girls and, eventually, women to say what they have to say. So, why not start with a young girl I know that can and will unapologetically speak her mind? Let’s get to know Tee Tee a little more in Part 1 of May’s Casual Conversation.

Marisha: How do you identify?

Tee Tee: As a young, Black beautiful woman. Thank you.

M: Do you feel that the media has a huge impact on how you are viewed? How Black women are seen? Can you give me an example of how it might affect your life?

T: Umm, yes and no. Yes because the media and how they portray Black women, or Black people in general, has a lot of affect on how other people think of us. [I would say] no because we have to know ourselves, and not let the media affect us as a Black culture.

M: So, there seems to be two parts to your answer. You say yes because, of course, the media has this power to show the world how we might be. Your other [answer] is no because we gotta know ourselves. We gotta know that we are not those stereotypes.

T: Yeah.

M: So where is your--?

T: My mindset on the issue?

M: Yeah, yeah what is your mindset on the issue? Does representation matter to you? Does it matter that stereotypes are there?

T: I feel like I am in the middle. I really don’t care what people say about me, or say about my culture. But then, sometimes, you look at the media and you see people saying bad things about your culture. Some things [they say] are good! But, the bad ones are like, ‘Oh, this is how people are going to see me.’ and 'this is how people view me when they walk past me.', or something like that. Sometimes I do feel like that can hurt, but not really. I am not the type of person that would let it badly affect me. So yeah…

Well, that is a little piece of my sister. She is not letting anyone or anything affect who she is. I hope you enjoyed this very short introduction to "Casual Conversations with Tee Tee!" There is so much more to come, stay tuned.

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