Huffington Post Keeps Referring to Sasha Obama as "SASSY"

<img src="http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm83/michelleobamawatch/sashaglasses2-1.jpg">

I went into this over at Michelle Obama Watch, but I thought I would drop a line over here as well. Don't you just "love" liberal "progressives"? They're bringing 1850 back! Yes folks, the Huffington Post has an obsession with referring to Sasha Obama as "sassy." They are a repeat offender despite the fact that their readership has pointed out repeatedly that referring to a child as "sassy" is pejorative, they keep referring to Sasha as "sassy."

Is the only way they can view a confident, ourgoing little girl is through the lense of "sassiness?" Why not call her "Lil Sapphire" and get it over with.  You can read the rest over at MOW.  I thought we shut down chicanery and foolishness last Friday, but folks are determined to keep me blogging right up through Christmas Eve.

Comments

[Anonymiss]

What is their problem? They're really OD'ing with the excessive use of "sassy."

[JJ]

I think they're over doing it, but I don't necessarily see the use of Sassy through the same lens you do.

[Brotheromi]

huffington post : all huff and no substance...

[Geordi Calrissian]

"Lil Sapphire"...

Hilarious. I think we will see more of this as the media is not used to reporting something positive about us folk unless they are talking about the champions of the 1960's movements.

Hard to believe, but even today a lot of America does not really "know" the Black community, nor our "family quirks" (like being called sassy is not a compliment). I can't tell you how many times Mrs. Calrissian has had to explain why a perm for a Black woman is different than a White woman's.

Maybe you should start a "Black First Family Watch" to catch all of media gaffes that are sure to come in the next few months...

[Roslyn Holcomb]

I don't think referring to a little girl as 'sassy' is necessarily perjorative. Certainly if she were a grown woman it would be different. I was called 'sassy' when I was a girl, and frequently hear people call little girls 'sassy.' I know grown women whose nicknames ARE Sassy because they were called it so frequently as a child.

[Sandra]

What exactly is "sassy" about Sascha Obama? She just seems like a nice normal little girl of her age. Why exactly has HP or anyone else decided that she is "sassy"? Is it just because she's black that they think the word "sassy" should fit her? Is it because "sassy" sounds like "Sascha"? I don't get it - just on a totally rational level.

[Roslyn Holcomb]

To me "sassy," when applied to a child, means precocious and outgoing. Which is apparently the way HP is using it as well.

[JJ]

I agree with Roslyn. I callmy daughter and oldest little sister Sassy...'cause they are precocious and outgoing.

[cinco]

Let's hope that the name calling stops at 'sassy'. Once there children mature into 18 yr olds, who knows what terms will be loosely trown out there.

They will not be spared because they are the daughters of a President.

[Naima]

I wouldn't exactly call Sasha sassy. We haven't seen or heard her do anything that I would call "sassy". If I ever see her doing the Beyonce uh oh dance than I will call her sassy myself. Something tells me Michelle doesn't raise "sassy" girls

[JJ]

@Naima

Sassy isn't a negative. It is equivalent to spunky. It doesn't have to have a negative connotation.

[gem2001]

@jj sassy clearly has multiple definitions look it up in the dictionary. Depending on how it was applied to you it may be positive, but for many Black girls being called sassy was swiftly followed with a green switch to the back of theknees.

She who knows it feels it. They could have used "stylish" or "cute" but they didn't.

[Blues N Catfish]

I think it's inappropriate to label for a so-called news organization to label either of the Obama children as "sassy". I have always heard it used in the "too grown" sense. Further, Sasha is the younger quiet one, and Malia is the older more outgoing one. Do they even know the difference between these 2 children? Somebody over at the Huffington Post needs to realize that labeling little black girls with code words that mean "doesn't know her place at the bottom of the totem pole" isn't cool at all.

[Ironic]

I have been noticing this as well and it really bothered me. "Sassy" because she's black; she must be a "sassy" black girl who will turn into a "sassy" black woman. Calling someone "sassy" is equivalent---at least to me---to saying that they are mouthy, don't know their place, and irate: the stereotypical sassy black woman with a wiggly neck, big mouth, and pointed finger (with long acrylics).

[Leslie]

I am with the group who sees "sassy" as spirited and precocious, which is how she appears - of course, I don't know her.
Clearly, she is not disrespectful, but sassy doesn't have to mean that.

By the way, I think that sometimes we as black people have erred in trying to dampen down the spirits of our children. I know that we did it to keep them safe, but our disciplinary tactics have not always served us well.

And yes, I was called sassy as a kid. It was not an insult.

[Leslie]

Oh and did you notice that there was a teen magazine called "Sassy" as well as a line of baby products?

[redcatbiker]

According to the Oxford American dictionary, "sassy" is an informal word, which means, "lively, bold, and full of spirit." By that definition, the word doesn't seem like a pejorative to me.

Given the theme of this blog, that one of the things it is about is not ignoring our black girls, then it would behoove us to encourage our black girls to be sassy, for it is a trait that would serve many of them well throughout their lives.

Also, I think calling her sassy is a helluva lot better than what they [sometimes] called the Clintons' daughter, Chelsea, which was "ugly."

Also, the late, great and very talented singer, Sarah Vaughn's nickname was Sassy.

[KE]

@redcatbiker According to the oxford english dictionary it actually means, "bold and spirited; impudent". Impudent means, "not showing due respect for another person; impertinent" from the origin that meant "shameless". Impertinent means, "1 not showing proper respect. 2 formal: not pertinent; irrelevant".

Sorry to go on like that, but basically it is prudent to be talking about why it's not the best nickname to be giving her.

[Blues N Catfish]

Now yall know good and doggone well that it's not the DENOTATION of sassy but the CONNOTATION of sassy that is the issue here. It's clearly an attempt to link Malia (the spirited one) to the hatred and contempt that has been heaped upon her mother Michelle, for daring to be something other than a foot shuffling mammy seeking euro-american approval.

[PPR_Scribe]

Think of the old warning, "Don't sass me, girl!" Sass in that vernacular was talking back, not knowing one's place, speaking out of turn, being too "womanish."

Yes, there is another definition that may be less problematic. But the point is that neither the media, nor any of us know if she is really either of these definitions. But real little Black girls are so rarely seen by the public at large that I think some folks have been straining to find how to describe both girls.

Honestly, I would like it if a lot less fawning over them were paid by the mainstream progressive press. HuffPo should feel free to highlight any number of other Black women and girls who are newsworthy for other reasons than their (perceived) "sassiness."

[PPR_Scribe]

BTW, since the Obamas' youngest girl's name is actually Natasha, "Sasha" is already her nickname.