Braxton Family Values under fire for 'African Booty Scratcher' comment

I will never forget the first time someone called me an African booty scratcher. Having migrated from Zimbabwe to America as a child, I had no idea what the derogatory term meant but the look of disgust and hate from the young girl who said to me, conveyed the message loud and clear. I was thinking to myself at the time, how can someone hate for me for my accent, culture and heritage... something I have no control over? How many other people think I'm this African booty scratcher thing? As a child from a foreign country growing up in the US, trust me when I tell you it was no walk in the park.

I hadn't thought about that comment until tonight's episode of Braxton Family Values entitled Congo Workout Time (I'm still rolling my eyes at the episode title). The TV show centers around Grammy award winning R&B star Toni Braxton and her lesser known sisters Tamar, Traci, Trina and family matriarch Evelyn. As you know with reality shows (and I use the term reality loosely) each character  or person rather has a specific storyline. Traci's story is that she is the overweight sister who is finally heeding her sister's advice to shed the excess fat. Tonight's plot dealt with dramatic younger sis Tamar taking her older sibling Traci to a fitness training facility.

Traci Braxton

The outrageous African booty scratcher moment came when Traci was being pushed outside of her comfort zone by her Congolese trainer Sgt Tichaya. Spitfire Traci remarked to him " He gonna call me woman. You African booty scratcher. How in the hell you gon' call me woman? My name is Traci and you better not forget it".

Huh? Say what now!?! So let me get this right. It's not OK for Sgt Tichaya to call Traci woman but it's OK for her to call him an African booty scratcher?  In the immortal word of Amy Winehouse "what kind of f*ckery is this?"

Watch the ABS clip here:


I had a lot of issues with tonight's episode. For instance, when the sisters walked into the gym Traci complained about how hot it was in the fitness facility. Seemingly linking the heat to the trainer's African lineage. Think I am over exaggerating? Traci said later on the show " I think I will get a new trainer, an American one this time. With an air conditioner" Craziness! In a another segment of the show the sisters were shown poking fun at African culture by making clicking noises and sounds imitating African culture/ languages. Sorry if the humor was lost on me but I didn't find it funny at all. I thought I was going to throw something at my TV when I heard them calling the Sgt."Mandigo or "Mr. Boomtastik".

This my friends, is one of the reasons you have a devise gap between some African Americans and Africans. I speak for all Africans when I say making fun of our culture is just stupid, ignorant and flat out dumb. News flash: Our heritage is not your entertainment fodder. The unfortunate part of all this was that the trainer seemed to be cosigning in on the madness. "Mr Congo" as the women called him even showed up to the gym the next day in full out traditional African garb. I understand loving one's culture but showing up to workout decked in traditional African attire is absurd. When was the last time you saw that in your local gym?

Traci Braxton

In all honesty, I don't think Traci understands the error of her ways. The confidence in which she said her comment implies to me that she sees nothing wrong with it. I wonder if the network would have even allowed this to happen had a derogatory term been used about Hispanic, Asian or Jewish people? When I looked on twitter a few minutes ago African booty scratcher was still a trending topic with many people cheering on Traci's use of the word. At times like this I actually wonder if ignorance is really bliss.

Did you watch the show? Thoughts?

Quote of the day - Tamar Braxton

Essence Magazine just revamped their site and I have to admit I love their new layout, very cool! The site caught up with Tamar Braxton and asked her about many things but what caught my eye was Tamar's honesty about her hair. I love all the Braxton girls but their hair on this season was....

Peep the excerpt below:

ESSENCE.com: Let's talk about your hair. You change it in every scene…

TAMAR: Well you know, it’s so funny, because in a couple of scenes even I'm like, 'What is that piece on your head, homegirl?' No ma'am! I'm not oblivious to the fact that sometimes it’s a hotmess.com. Like, who am I to be honest with everybody else if I'm not honest with myself? Like, for real? My hairstylist lives in Atlanta, so if she comes to do my hair, it’s kinda hard to keep it up and I'm not the best hair girl in the world. That's why you see the different pieces. I'm getting a little better, but that's not my calling.

This is why I love Tamar! You have to able to poke fun at yourself and that's why she makes for good TV. Cant wait for season 2

Rushing home to see the Braxtons!!

I am literally rushing home right now to watch Braxton Family Values aka theTamarshow! I am absolutely enthralled with the show. It comes on at 9pm on WE/TV so make sure you tune in.

Who is your favorite sister? I love me some Toni Braxton, she seems the most chill out of the group but I really love all the girls.

We will chat after the show!!

P.S arent you super stoked for the Re Union show? Wendy Williams was the host/moderator and no-one can stir the pot like Miss Williams. Must see TV! I will let you know when it airs once I find out.

Braxton Family Values premieres tonight on wetv

Finally a group of talented sisters that I can get on the reality bandwagon with! Toni Braxton and her sisters will premiere their new reality show Braxton Family Values tonight on WEtv at 9pm EST. I will be glued to my TV cause this looks like must see tv. In one of the promo clips for the show, when the family was asked who the best singer in the family was..they all unanimously answered Tamar. Not Grammy winner Toni but unknown Tamar. Interesting right? Tamar seems like she has quite the personality so she is the one to watch for the drama on the show.

The Braxton sisters - Toni (c.) and (l-f.) Towanda, Traci, Trina and Tamar - show off their 'family values' in a new reality series on We.

In other Braxton news, Toni was on the Wendy Williams Show yesterday and revealed that she is still considering posing for Playboy. They are offering her $100,000 to do it and she has until June to decide. Check out the video below:




Wendy advised Toni against going nude. Williams claims the singer has come to far to stoop to that level. Hmmm what do you guys think?

Rate the look of the day - Toni Braxton

Singer Toni Braxton age 44 looks GREAT! She reminds me of that Fabolous song "You be killin e'm" She is truly what's up..what do you of Braxton's look?