| Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.
-George Santayana, 1863–1953, philosopher
A caricature of Baartman drawn in the early 19th century |
|
| Born | Before 1790[1] Near Gamtoos River, Eastern Cape, Dutch Empire |
|---|---|
| Died | December 29, 1815 Paris, France |
| Resting place | Vergaderingskop, Hankey, Eastern Cape, South Africa 33.8372°S 24.8848°ECoordinates: 33.8372°S 24.8848°E |
| Other names | Hottentot Venus |
| Ethnicity | Khoikhoi |
| Occupation | "freak show" performer |
The story of Saartjes Baartman, a Black domestic who, in 1808, left
Southern Africa, then ruled by Dutch settlers, for Europe, following her
boss Hendrick Caesar , hoping to find fame and fortune there. Once in
London her master turned manager does nothing but exhibit her as a freak
in a phony and humiliating carnival show. After a series of troubles
caused by their act, Caesar, Saartje and their new friend, bear-tamer
Réaux, head for Paris where once again, and against her will, she has to
mimic savagery and expose her body, first in carnivals, then in the
aristocratic salons of Paris, later on among the libertines and finally
in brothels where she ends up being a prostitute. In the meantime,
French anatomists will have taken an interest in her unusual anatomy
(enormous buttocks and labia) only to declare her the missing link from
ape to man. In 1815, aged only 27, she dies alone, of a combination of
pneumonia and venereal disease
Venus Noire (“Black Venus”) is a recent French film about
Sarah Baartman – who toured Europe as Hottentot Venus.How many “Sara Baartmans” do we have today? Women who strive to become the next “video vixen” or centerfold for a few dollars and fleeting fame. Women who voluntarily allow on-lookers to poke, prod and exploit them. It’s important we know our history and not repeat the same mistakes. Check out this powerful video about the life and death of Sara Baartman.This story is really messed up.This is how stripping came about, every young woman needs to here this story.Young women you are Queens not a Show!
She paraded
through the halls and private residences of Europe and spectators
delighted in her “highly abnormal” anatomy – pronounced buttocks and sex
organs. The movie was a disturbing portrait of objectification of both
the character and actress Yahima Torres, who plays Baartman. Viewers are
left wondering to what degree was Baartman genuinely complicit in her
‘captivity’.
In many ways, I see the same story writ large in our culture via the
objectification of all women. The ways in which we “reward” women for
having certain measurements or prominent features are varied and
disturbing – especially since we all know true beauty and worth is not
at all about how you look.
A poem for Sarah Baartman
By Diana Ferrus “I’ve come to take you home –
home, remember the veld?
the lush green grass beneath the big oak trees
the air is cool there and the sun does not burn.
I have made your bed at the foot of the hill,
your blankets are covered in buchu and mint,
the proteas stand in yellow and white
and the water in the stream chuckle sing-songs
as it hobbles along over little stones.
I have come to wretch you away –
away from the poking eyes
of the man-made monster
who lives in the dark
with his clutches of imperialism
who dissects your body bit by bit
who likens your soul to that of Satan
and declares himself the ultimate god!
I have come to soothe your heavy heart
I offer my bosom to your weary soul
I will cover your face with the palms of my hands
I will run my lips over lines in your neck
I will feast my eyes on the beauty of you
and I will sing for you
for I have come to bring you peace.
I have come to take you home
where the ancient mountains shout your name.
I have made your bed at the foot of the hill,
your blankets are covered in buchu and mint,
the proteas stand in yellow and white –
I have come to take you home
where I will sing for you
for you have brought me peace.”
To what extent are we showcasing our own bodies/appearances, and what are we getting in return? While our situation is very different than hers, one thing remains clear — while we may invite attention by ‘exhibiting’ what we believe to be winning assets, at no point do we waive consent over our bodies.
