As the racial demographics of the Rio Grande Valley become more and more diverse, I see a disturbing problem rising alongside it: fetishization.
According to the Cambridge English Dictionary, fetishization is defined as a sexual interest in an object, a part of the body that is not a sexual organ, or a person as if they are an object. This differs from typical attraction, however, as fetishization often dehumanizes the subject, making them more of a symbol rather than a person.
When someone is fetishized, it is usually based on preconceived notions and stereotypes about their sexual biology and personality. The reaction to the growing Black male population in the Valley, and specifically at UTRGV, is a prime example of this fetishization in action.
I’ve seen numerous social media posts of shirtless, Black student athletes, and no matter the post, there will always be comments saying something along the lines of, “We finally have some color in the Valley!” While this may seem innocent enough at first, its implications reveal a much sadder truth.
Earlier in the month, when three Black male student athletes were arrested in a hit-and-run with a cyclist, I continued to see a disturbing trend with comments under social media posts about the incident.
There were people saying “Free them! Open the cell!” despite the reprehensible nature of their crimes.
Some on social media judged those three students not by the content of their characters, or even their actions, but by their perceived attractiveness.
Sure, there could have been a similar reaction from people if the student athletes were any other race and still seen as attractive, but it is only under those same social posts that you also might see comments saying the crimes were committed by “the usual suspects.”
To me, this shows how many conceptions about Black people in the Valley are based on stereotypes.
Because of the lack of significant Black presence in the Valley until now, I’ve had many native Valley residents tell me of the few interactions or friendships they have had with Black people.
This absence of cultural interaction has left an empty mold for people to fill about what they think Black people should look like, how they should act and what they should be.
For the first week in the semester, I’d constantly be assumed as an athlete due to people’s expectations, and it did nothing but create awkwardness when I had to explain to them I wasn’t.
The worst part of fetishization is the feedback loop it creates, especially in the Black community. The more someone is exposed to fetishization, the more they are inclined to act out in the way they are expected to.
They’re also putting more of their worth and confidence into the aspects of themselves that are given the most attention.
For example, a common expectation for Black men is for them to have more dominant, “tough” personalities. As this personality trait becomes something that is expected from them, the more and more they lean into this expectation and become a less authentic version of themselves.
I’ve always made it an effort to remove myself from this narrative and show I am more than the stereotypes and expectations associated with the intersectionality of my race and gender.
However, I do this while still embracing the culture and uniqueness that comes with being a Black man. Of course, the color of my skin and everything associated with it might be the first thing people see, but there should always be an immediate motivation to see what’s beneath.
