Difference between revisions of "Black American princess"

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{{about|the slang term|the 1997 comedy film|B.A.P.S.}}
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{{short description|Pejorative term for black women}}
 
'''Black American princess''' ('''BAP''') is a (sometimes) [[pejorative]] term for African-American women of [[African-American upper class|upper]] and [[upper middle class]] background, who possess (or are perceived to possess) a spoiled or [[materialism|materialistic]] demeanor.
 
 
 
==Description==
 
While carrying [[valley girls]] overtones of the overly materialistic and style-conscious egotist,<ref>R. R. M. Coleman, ''African-American Viewers and the Black Situation Comedy'' 91998) p. 141</ref> the term has also been reclaimed as a matter of racial pride to cover an indulged, but not necessarily spoiled or shallow, daughter of the emerging [[Yuppy#Related terms|Buppies]] or black urban middle class.<ref>J. C. Smith, ''Encyclopedia of African American Popular Culture'' (2010) p. 92</ref> At best, such figures carry with them through life a sense of civic pride, and of responsibility for giving back to their community.<ref name="auto">J. C. Smith, ''Encyclopedia of African American Popular Culture'' (2010) p. 93</ref>
 
 
 
== Culture ==
 
Stereotypically, younger BAPs are often members of [[Jack and Jill (organization)|Jack and Jill]], a social and civic organization for upper-middle-class African American youth. BAPs usually then go on to attend a "[[black Ivy]]" institution such as [[Spelman College]] or [[Howard University]] where they pledge either [[Alpha Kappa Alpha]] or [[Delta Sigma Theta]] sorority.
 
 
 
BAPs often later become members of The Girl Friends, Inc. or The Links, Incorporated,<ref name="auto"/> and pass in black enclaves of [[Sag Harbor, New York]] or [[Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts]]. Many BAPs have friends in a variety of organizations, include [[Sigma Pi Phi]] fraternity and the National Association of Guardsmen, Inc.
 
 
 
==Cultural depictions==
 
''[[The BAP Handbook: The Official Guide to the Black American Princess]]'' ({{ISBN|978-0767905503}}) written by Kalyn Johnson, Tracey Lewis, Karla Lightfoot, and Ginger Wilson offers a behind-the-scenes look at BAP speech, style, and history. According to the guide, a black American princess is a pampered female of African-American descent born to upper-middle- or upper-class families. Her life experiences give her a "sense of entitlement", and she is accustomed to the best and nothing less.
 
 
 
The 1997 comedy ''[[B*A*P*S]]'' depicts a pair of women ([[Halle Berry]] and [[Natalie Desselle]]) who become "BAPs" living off a millionaire's money.
 
 
 
The character of Hillary Banks (played by [[Karyn Parsons]]) from ''[[The Fresh Prince of Bel Air]]'' is a stereotypical "BAP".<ref>{{Cite web|title=How'd Karyn Parsons Get Her Gig On 'Fresh Prince'? Brattiness|url=https://www.npr.org/2014/11/15/364079701/howd-karyn-parsons-get-her-gig-on-fresh-prince-brattiness|website=NPR.org|language=en|access-date=2020-05-20}}</ref>
 
 
 
==In other cultures==
 
* [[Jewish-American princess]]
 
* [[Princess sickness]], China and South Korea
 
* [[White Anglo-Saxon Protestant]]
 
 
 
==References==
 
{{Reflist|2|}}
 
 
 
==Further reading==
 
* L. B. Thompson, ''Beyond the Black Lady'' (2009)
 
 
 
==External links==
 
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070715151903/http://archive.salon.com/mwt/feature/2002/11/26/bap/index.html "BAP Like Me"] by Adrienne Crew, Salon.com
 
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110714125628/http://media.www.msuspokesman.com/media/storage/paper270/news/2002/11/08/CampusLife/Would.The.Real.AfricanAmerican.Princess.Please.Stand.Up-318109.shtml "Would the Real African-American Princess Please Stand Up"] by Derek Powell; review of a play on this topic
 
* [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1817&dat=20010814&id=C04gAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5qcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5639,2755677 Calling all Black American princesses]
 
 
 
{{African American caricatures and stereotypes}}
 
 
 
[[Category:African-American culture]]
 
[[Category:African-American gender relations]]
 
[[Category:African-American middle class]]
 
[[Category:African-American upper class]]
 
[[Category:Class-related slurs]]
 
[[Category:Slang terms for women]]
 
[[Category:Stereotypes of African Americans]]
 
[[Category:Stereotypes of black women]]
 
[[Category:Stereotypes of middle class women]]
 
[[Category:Stereotypes of upper class women]]
 
[[Category:Upper middle class]]
 

Latest revision as of 05:28, 8 October 2020