Cheryl Lynn isn't quite sure who she is, but she's pretty sure of what she wants to be. A warrior woman. A bad-ass mamajama. Perhaps an earth goddess extraordinaire. She spends her days abusing keyboards and screaming at computer screens while she waits for her cult following to finally show up.

She changes her mind more often than extras in rap videos change thongs.

Remember: save to your own server, sweets!

Reading SELF Magazine.

Writing To-Do lists.

Hearing Thunder.

Watching General Hospital.

Building Nothing.

Eating Vitamins.

Drinking Iced Tea.

Buying Comic books.

Thinking "It is HOT!"

Playing Episodes from Liberty City.

Adoring Cold water.

Saying Very little.

Abhorring Bigotry.

Feeling Calm.

Hoping To get in gear.

Fantastic Four #547

Most men won't ever experience a moment like that. In fact, most women who aren't black will probably be able to avoid such a moment as well. So why Storm? Because black women in particular get asked these personal questions or have rude comments made about their hair with an amazing frequency.

How do you get your hair to do that? Is that your real hair? Can I touch it? That's a weave, right?

These are unbelievably obnoxious questions that most members of other groups simply don't have to fend off as often--if at all. And when we get angry or upset because of the repeated rude comments or personal questions, it's not because we're vain or obsessed with our appearance, it's because we are so frustrated and fed up and wish people would just shut up about it. It's not about vanity. It's about disrespect and false assumptions. The scene above wouldn't work with Rogue, Psylocke or She-Hulk, because no one would bother asking if those characters had weaves. Women who aren't black are rarely asked that question. People simply assume that their hair is naturally long. But the black woman with long, straight hair? Not only would most people make the assumption that her hair is false (which is fine), but many would immediately think that it was perfectly okay to disrespect her by asking her personal questions or making comments about it (WHICH IS NOT FINE). I know that from personal experience. And so it's not just about gender, but race and culture as well.

Which is why I wonder whether writers should give up on showing the cultural experiences of characters that aren't white American males when writing mainstream comics simply because those instances might be regarded badly by people who aren't familiar with the culture in question. Because the people who read the scene above who were not black women did not have the slightest clue that tactless people all over America were waltzing up to black women and disrespecting them by asking personal questions or making personal statements about their hair. And for the people who did not know this was happening, Storm came across as vain or flighty. But for many of the black women who have experienced such obnoxious behavior first hand, Storm came across as forceful. Life experience changes the way one views the scene.

And so I thought it was strange that people immediately claimed that Storm wasn't being written in the "right" way simply because her reaction didn't connect with the cultural experiences they were bringing to the table. Especially when it did connect with many of the black women who have actually experienced events similar to the one depicted.

Screw it. Who cares? Arrrgh! Why won't I stop reading and discussing superhero comics? I am so tired. I'm just going to wait for Sentences and Aya Vol. 2 to come out and just pretend these other characters don't exist. It's just not worth it. They can have them. Each time I mention Storm or Misty Knight, an immediate message should pop up in my inbox that says, "I thought I told you to stop fucking with that shit!"

Seriously, someone needs to e-mail that to me.

ETA: Really. I just fucking give up.

Cheryl Lynn @ 02:54 PM EST Link