Read Online Rock Star by Roslyn Hardy Holcomb - Free Book Online Page A

denominator. I know you’ve heard all the stuff about black women supposedly being so incredible in bed…”
    Bryan scoffed her remarks. “What do you mean about black women not being up to the beauty standard? I see gorgeous black women all the time.”
    Callie smirked. “Bryan, I’m not talking about models and video babes. Haven’t you noticed that most of them don’t have typical African features? To be black and thought beautiful in this country, you have to be as close to white as possible. You know, aquiline features, black but not too black. And you definitely have to have long, flowing hair, even if you bought it at the local wig shop and glued it in.” She tossed her own freshly groomed locks to emphasize her point.
    Bryan frowned with concern. “Now that you mention it, I guess you’ve got a point. I’d never really thought about it, but you don’t usually see the darker black women in movies or anything.”
    Her voice tight with anger, Callie continued, “Exactly. So if we’re together, and I certainly don’t meet the beauty standard, then you must be using me for sex. Now do you get it?”
    Bryan was taken aback by her angry tone. “Yeah, yeah, I’ve heard all that stuff. But women are women.”
    Callie pursed her lips. “Yeah, I suppose you’d be in a position to know.” She paused. She’d been curious about this from the beginning. “I assume you’ve been with a black woman before?”
    “Of course. I grew up in East L.A., there were all types of women. I’ve never discriminated.” Bryan shifted uneasily in the driver’s seat. Hopefully Callie wouldn’t ask any more questions about his sexual history.
    Callie sighed. That was not a subject she had any intention of pursuing. “Anyway, that’s just how most folks see it. There’s not much that can be done about it.”
    “You mean to tell me that every time I’ve ever been out with a black girl, people have assumed that I’m paying her?” Bryan was flabbergasted and more than mildly insulted at the notion.
    “I don’t know about how things are in California, but I’d say in most of the country, yes.”
    “That’s incredible! Why haven’t I heard about this before?”
    “I guess none of your women bothered. Maybe they were all caught up in your rock superstardom. I’ve heard that fame transcends race.” She added dryly, “At least as long as you don’t murder your ex-wife. Or maybe y’all never had a run-in like this one. Anyway, Bryan, can we please change the subject? I really don’t feel like talking about this anymore. It’s not a subject I like to spend a great deal of time pondering. The situation is as it is. I don’t think sweating it now will be of any benefit to anybody,” she finished wearily.
    Bryan, fascinated by stereotypes he’d previously had no knowledge of, wanted to continue, but he acceded to Callie’s wishes. “What was that she was doing to your hair after she washed it?” he asked, referring to the technique of tightening Callie’s locs.
    Callie then spent the rest of the trip answering his myriad questions about black hair care, and the care of dreadlocks in particular.
    * * *
     
    All in all it had been a very illuminating trip, but Bryan had discovered yet another obstacle in his pursuit of Callie: public opinion and stereotyping. This football game sounded like a nice neutral opportunity for him to spend time with Callie, and as a bonus he would get to meet her family.
    “So tell me more about your family,” Bryan insisted once again. “You hardly ever mention them. Are you an only child, too?”
    Callie smiled, “Not hardly, I have two younger sisters. They’re sixteen.”
    “Two younger sisters? Twins?”
    “Yeah, identical twins, they run in my family. My mama was a twin, and both her sisters have twins, too. They love your music, by the way. They’ll be thrilled to have you at the house,” Callie replied.
    Accustomed to the racial stratification of the music industry,