"What to Expect When You're Expecting:" Cultural Critique and Commentary

            Why bother writing at all if you can't elevate consciousness? The Bible teaches that, "Where much is given, much is expected." Therefore, if you have a perspective or viewpoint that you think can lend to the marketplace of ideas, then you have an obligation to share it with those willing to take the time to listen or read. In this case, a movie that initially appears universal and well-intended is really nothing more than another example of cultural bias and naivete.
        I'm talking about, "What to Expect When You're Expecting." To begin with there is a book that is about health and valuable pregnancy tips by the same name. According to the overview of that book, the claim is made that, "Incorporating the most recent developments in medicine, and responding to the many queries and letters received from readers, the book contains both the most accurate information available, and the most reader-friendly. The Third Edition includes more information on working while pregnant. It offers more in-depth coverage of complementary and alternative birthing. Greater attention is paid to pre-conception, alternative families, second pregnancies, HMOs, the role of the father, and lifestyle ... " 
           That's about all I could take. Black women and Latinas pick up these books and some of the information is going to help them. But then again, I believe that this society has become so mucked up, that a kid doesn't have a chance unless the mother and father know the TRUTH about "what to expect when you're expecting." This brings us to the comedy of the same name.
          According to a generic review, "Over the moon about starting a family, TV fitness guru Jules and dance show star Evan find that their high-octane celebrity lives don't stand a chance against the surprise demands of pregnancy. Baby-crazy author and advocate Wendy gets a taste of her own militant mommy advice when pregnancy hormones ravage her body; while Wendy's husband, Gary, struggles not to be outdone by his competitive alpha-Dad, who's expecting twins with his much younger trophy wife, Skyler ... "
           Sure this is supposed to be about good hearted fun. But when information comes from the same Eurocentric source, and when these people, just a scant hundred years ago, had to have black women suckling and raising their children, I think it takes a lot of gall to be writing books and jokes about "what it takes" when a woman is pregnant. Here's my question:
          What about the context and conditions surrounding the pregnancy?
          For instance, what is usually described are ideal conditions, especially in the comedy. Everybody has a job, the husbands are all happy and loving the role of fathers. The medical book gives out generic information about the biology of being pregnant, but what about the psychosocial underpinnings? What about the conditions that, in turn, shape both conduct and consciousness?
         Here's my point. America is still segregated by class and residence. White folks live in the suburbs although some "negroes" have filtered in. But the book White Picket Fences clearly shows that even when in suburbia, these black wannabes are still as segregated from their suburban neighbors and in fact, return to the hood for most of the things they want and need anyway (e.g., church, beauty shop, barber, etc.). So if America is socially segregated in terms of class, then that means that the subjective conditions that women (and men) live under are also going to be rooted in and revolving around what is taking place in their given "communities," right?
           Now I ask you: do black people and Latinos share the same resources that whites have in the suburbs? Do we not have to travel to the suburbs to get food that is healthy? Do we not have to go outside of the hood for adequate health care in order to deliver those darling babies? If this is the case, then we need to have a new book: What To Expect If You're Expecting - and You're BLACK"! That's right: different strokes for different folks. Sisters and Latinas live in different conditions than their juera counterparts, and as such, are going to undergo different situations that, in turn, the baby can sense and feel.
          Do white women have to worry about getting caught in cross fire when they're pregnant and walking out the front door? Do white women have to deal with racist bosses or bill collectors who keep on putting the pressure on? How about the fears that the police are going to do something to that baby once he/she is born? Where is the baby going to play? Is the father going to be prepared to provide for that kid?
         And then there are non-racial, more gender issues. Was the baby planned? Did the guy get set up? Did the woman have a plan to only get pregnant and then not tell the father? This is going on all over this country and brothers are paying child support for kids that aren't even theirs! These women know what they're doing: they are the ones who choose US! They are the ones who determine if there will be a date, a kiss afterward, an overnight stay, and many of them refuse to use contraception - but they don't tell ya. I'm not putting all the onus on the sisters: black men are the most irresponsible men in the universe and we dive into that booty without a consideration of the repercussions. So all she's doing, for the most part, is playing on our lust and a society myth that there is something special about "hittin' that."
          What to Expect When You're Expecting - and Black would discuss diet issues and the fact that of all women, sisters have the highest rate of obesity. A lot of these sidewalk crunchers get pregnant and even get bigger. This is putting pressure on that baby's future because if she's diabetic or has high blood pressure, how much longer is she going to be around? Does the white woman have to worry about child protective services intervening in her business and pretending to care about that "cute black child" who may end up being given to some (culturally unprepared) white family to raise and maybe adopt? I don't think so.
          These movies, comedy or not ("The Vow," "Dear John," "The Notebook," etc.) are movies that are interesting, no doubt. But look at one major and glaring problem: few, if any, of them every deal with finances. All other things being equal, these characters have jobs, never worry about rent, pay a utility bill or deal with the kinds of things that low-income mothers (black and white) have to grapple with. It's easy to be romantic and get booty when money is no object!
            Sisters, (preferably the ones in stable relationships or who are married), sit down and ask your man one day, "what kind of changes did you have to go through in order to take me out when we were dating?" Some might have jobs and indeed, there are some black women who have your payday MEMORIZED so they know when to act "extra nice." But there are brothers I know who would pawn stuff, sell dope, and even rob so that they could show these sisters or hermanas a good time. That's how much we love you (or how bad we wanted the booty, which can sometimes be the same thing!)
          Look: our Latino and Black scholars need to start thinking about future generations because white folks sure are. That's why they make all these fluffy, feel-good, booty with no repercussions type movies. They want to promote romance because the opposite is taking place: she's going it alone and he has the sperm production equipment to keep him happy (along with prostitution). So the demographics are changing and the society is getting browner and blacker. So when these "non people of color" (how does THAT sound? Now you know how it feels to hear the racist term "non-white" being bandied about) are writing books and making movies about the wonders or underpinnings of marriage, you better beware - and remember:
         "It is a wise warrior who moves with caution and discretion when an enemy throws bouquets in his direction."