Starting Over Talk - Peer Coaching Support Site

Iyanla said it best Niambi is a bitter b*tch until she lets go she would have never graduated, she should have let Christie help her instead she was pouting because they coddled Christie and rode her hard she deserved to be ridden hard.

Re: I think Niambi was also a seat filler. But, I don't think there was racism. Niambi started that discussion when she came everyone else has been pretty good. Some people feel like they have to say things like that to other blacks just to feel them out. PattiAnn, if you listened and looked at Tess she had ulterior motives for being there and black or not she was a class A bitch Whenever things didn't go her way she'd either throw a tantrum or cry that no one understood her. My All-time Favorite HG is Rachel. The black girl Iyanla had to make get in touch with her heritage.

I would like to mention that SO dealt with racism when Sommer made a comment that she didnt want to date a black man even though she had a crush on her personal trainer (season 2).

As far as casting I think that probably there aren't too many women of color who apply to the show ( I could be wrong ) but being a sister myself it's not something I would do - I love the show. However I would not be supported by friends and family for putting my stuff out there.

Again it's just my opinion.

Peace to all

PattiAnn1 wrote:

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doxygirl wrote:

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I am curious and really want to know what you think PattiAnn. Did you think there was racism or unfairness with Jill or with Nyanza or with Antonia? Did you think there was bias against other particular groups? I want to know because I didn't see that but that doesn't mean it wasn't there. I don't think you are saying that Niambi was ready to graduate and to me it looked like she needed more help than the House could give her especially after she said she had depression. But I want to see it from your point of view too if you wouldn't mind. Thanks.

I think that the show was more partial to a certain group of women that just happens to be white women. I think women of color were stereotyped on this show. For instance, let's start with Lisa who is Hispanic. What makes them think that she wanted to learn to do any type of Mexican style dancing? Is this something that she stated, or was this exercise something that they felt she needed in her already Hispanic cultured life? As for the black women, unless you live this life, in a setting where you experience subtle discrimination, you will not fully understand my point of view, but I am happy to share my opinions. Let's start with Audrey, since I can't remember much about Nyanza, I would discuss her. But, I remember very clear when Audrey was ready to graduate, and her supposedly show friend Brenda turned on her, but that was only to be expected; I don't think that they made too much to do about her graduation ceremony either. Then, there was Rain. She was too loud for them; she washed her hair in the kitchen sink, which I might add is a black thing.

I believe that they treated Tawana fair, because they thought that she was a semi-celebrity. I don't think that Rhonda was a good coach to women of color, but that is my personal opinion. And, I really didn't see her interact that much with women of color. Oh! there was Tess, but she was sent home, because she was an angry black woman too. Let's not leave out Deborah, who was also an angry black woman. So, maybe it isn't that women of color are treated differently, maybe it was casting who casted these women who they thought stood out as angry black women.

As for Antonia, I have no idea why she was there, nor why she graduated. Do you think that after 3 weeks, she was going to learn how to budget her finances?

I just wanted to make a littel comment about the "mexican danceing. Flamanco is not at all Mexican. It is Spanish there is a large difference. I am just making the comment because I am Spanish. Not trying to be rude.

Thank you for that...and pointing it out wasn't rude at all. I guess if I had sat down and thought about it... I would have known that already. I thought maybe Iyanla was just having Lisa try several different things to engage in her creative and sensual side.

Didn't she do the yoga with Christy? Also the guitar lessons, some art projects..and a couple other things. I do recall that Iyanla also had her make a special dinner for the ladies of the house. Lisa admitted that she didn't cook.. If you don't cook, then you learn real quick.. or fall back on the tried and true... Or get creative!


Oh yeah, this is the Niambi thread and I don't think I had responded to the topic...

I don't think she was used as a seat filler... But hopefully they did let her know when the show would be wrapping up..and give her the option whether to participate or not. I just think she wasn't honest about her depression and some other issues that held her back.

Had Iyanla known about the depression... maybe she would have done things differently regarding Niambi's exercises. Or she might not have even been chosen if her issues were to complex..

I think Niambi probably was not straight forward about her issues - I think she wanted to be a TV star.

I also think SO thought they could go out with a bang by 'fixing' an Olympian. I think they thought she would be the type to rise to the occasion and fight for her life - I don't think they counted on her being so stubborn and silly about a "piece o' ass", as Iyanla so eloquently put it!

There are a lot of "I think"s in this post - obviously my opinion means a lot to me!