Clarkisha Kent Profile picture
Mar 8, 2018 13 tweets 6 min read Twitter logo Read on Twitter
You remember some time ago where I mentioned that I was working on something I'd hope would be a nice alternative to the Bechdel test?

Well, here it is. The Kent Test. A test that specifically gauges whether WOC representation in a piece of media is pathetic or strong.
A month or so ago, I mentioned I was working on a secret project (in addition to the Representation in Media guide) and I am happy to finally be unveiling it this! On #InternationalWomensDay no less. Because obviously we deserve 💁🏾
Some background: after the wonderful @EqualityforHER and @BlairImani recruited me to work on the guide, I started to think about what else I could contribute besides terminology and sources for people to learn more about representation in media.
Then I got to thinking: my biggest gripe when it comes to media and cultural criticism is that we don't have the adequate tools sometimes to describe how terrible WOC rep can get. Because most assume that if a woman of color is present in media, the work is already done.
That is obviously a lie. Putting a WOC face in a peace of media doesn't do diddly squat if said piece of media is hostile to her inclusion and the narrative goes out of its way to either exclude, marginalize, tokenize, or worse: fetishize her 💅🏾
And up until this point, we've only really had the Bechdel Test to describe some of the shortcomings of female representation in media and sorry, not sorry, but that test is inadequate when it comes to describing the unique challenges of WOC representation.
Frankly, it has always been inadequate and like most things on this planet, it was not built with women of color in mind 🤷🏾‍♀️
And rather than fight to be included or even referenced in a flawed test, I figured: why not make our own? 🤔

Which is of course how we got here lol
In addition to this, I really wanted to make this test a thing just based on the pretty rich & serious conversations I saw #onhere about #WonderWoman & the fact that I wanted to have something to add to the discussion whenever #BlackPanther & #AWrinkleInTime made their debuts.
And there you have it! This is obviously not the be all/end all for representation litmus tests but I hope it will serve as a nice start/guide for people who are serious about fixing/improving problematic WOC representation.

Go in peace and use it responsibly 😎
P.S: And yes I did name it after myself. And?
Cc @threadreaderapp, unroll this please.

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More from @IWriteAllDay_

Oct 8, 2018
In my latest, I snarkily talk about all the reasons why #ColumbusDay is wack, ahistorical, and why it totally shouldn’t be a thing anymore.

essence.com/culture/christ…
Besides the “holiday” being an affront to our Indigenous siblings, it is also in line with America’s ever-present tradition of simultaneously celebrating White mediocrity and depravity and tbh, return to sender please 😐
In addition to this, if you *HAVE* to celebrate a “Christopher” today, there are others available, who aren’t directionally-challenged nincompoops.
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Oct 5, 2018
Hi. It’s true that America’s White supremacist “education” (re: propoganda) system purposely obscures & omits all kinds of Black stories. AND it’s true that the technology/social media boom at the turn of this millenia has given us access to an unprecedented amount of information
~Both things~ can be true. Because nuance lol
So I think it’s unfair to be all like “omg stop dragging him” when all folx are really doing is telling him to open a book, Google something, or leave his bubble to learn something new. I don’t think that’s an unfair thing to ask of someone who professes to know better?
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Oct 3, 2018
YETIDE IS BACK ON MY TV 😍

#ThisIsUs
(Looking good boo

@YetideBadaki 😁!!!)

#ThisIsUs
...When does Kate get to chew on some scenery that doesn’t include any mention of her being fat? 🤔

#ThisIsUs
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Oct 1, 2018
.@Bossip these mofos at it again. Biting you shit 😤
.@Buzzfeed I demand to know what White intern tweeted this 😖
“Dragged to smithereens”. The caucaci—
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Sep 30, 2018
I hate how this question is a thing too (i.e misogynoir & colorism) but the older I get, the more I realize that it’s not because the asker is seeking validation (eff y’all, BW are dope), but more so because bigotry in dating is an immense time waster & who got time to waste?
Listening to Dawson yesterday remembering some things that Toni Morrison has explained about racial trauma/race-specific gaslighting, I am reminded that the most violent thing about racism is not just the actual violence but the joy & the *time* that it steals away from us.
And BW in these asking scenarios (even when it comes to BM) find ourselves asking this question because we already have 502052950204 things trying to tug at our very precious & not-infinite source of energy & we definitely do not want to & wasted time & affection to that list lol
Read 7 tweets
Sep 28, 2018
*snorts*

As you are saying this, Debra, media outlets are still having a field day with male survivor Jimmy Bennett for even *daring* to come forward about being allegedly assaulted by Asia Argento.
What is with y’all and lying about the believability of male/non-women survivors? Like patriarchy doesn’t also chew them up and spit them out for being ~weak enough~ to be assaulted???? Hmm? What gives?
This ~superior victim~ thing that White women have going on is not the wave and it is precisely the thing that keeps undermining the efforts of #MeToo/#TimesUp and tbh, y’all need to let that shit go because if it that isn’t base narcissism, IDK what is.
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