Is Saartjie Baartman Too Important of an Historical Figure for Beyonce To Write & Star in the Biopic?

Update Feb 16, 2016: Beyonce’s 2016 Superbowl performance showed her blackness and support for the community. Many are wondering does this add to her credibility and sincerity in getting the historical significance across in a story as important as Saartjie Baartman?

Queen Bey can do no wrong in the eyes of her hardcore fans. However, venturing outside of the fun, sexy entertainment field into a biopic of an international figure like Sarah Baartman is another and some people are not too pleased about this.

Rumors are circulating the superstar, according to reports, has hired an acting and writing coach to help her take on the ambitious project of portraying Sarah Baartman. But Bey doesn’t just want to act as Baartman, she wants to write the screenplay as well.

According to Complex, Beyonce wants to be taken serious as an actress and feels writing the screenplay will help her accomplish this goal. I’m not sure what or why people are doubting this talented woman, but i’m sure we’ll find out if she is worthy considering this is her true aim.

However, one can understand the hesitation of many who believe Beyonce isn’t the person to bring the story of Sarah Baartman to the modern century. Baartman was from South Africa and many in the nation feel she is entirely the wrong person for the task.

Chief Jean Burges of the Ghonaqua, the First Indigenous Peoples of South Africa, are among the retractors. In fact, he told News 24 in no uncertain words she isn’t the person for the job:

“She lacks the basic human dignity to be worthy of writing Sarah’s story, let alone playing the part. “Ignoring the fact that the KhoiKhoi is alive and that Sarah’s story would have an impact on how we are portrayed, is a mistake of great magnitude.”
“Why Sarah Baartman? Why not a story about an Indigenous American woman? I can only see arrogance in her attempt to tell a story that is not her’s to tell.”

Sarah Baartman was born in 1789 in the Gamtoos River Valley. She was apart of the KhoiKhoi tribe. She was captured and put on display first by an Englishmen, then sold to a Frenchmen. The main attraction and infatuation by Europeans was her large backside. In fact, she was put on display and people paid money to view her as if she was a circus freak.

Baartman’s story is a very important piece in the African diaspora because of what many of our women are going through today. They are exposing themselves for money as Baartman was forced to do so over 200 years ago. It seems we are repeating the same cycle, but don’t even know it.

This is one reason many supporters of Beyonce doing the biopic. She will shine a bright light on the exploitation of Black bodies around the world throughout history and make relevant a very important figure to young Black women enduring ridicule for their bodies.
SOUND OFF: What do you think of Beyonce doing a biopic on Sarah Baartman?

Source: News24.com