For those of you who aren’t aware, I’m the Sexuality Editor for Zora-Alice.com, a new website for young black women. I took on the position (without pay) because it was important for me to help create a space for young black women that wasn’t completely heteronormative or neglectful to women who don’t fit the “traditional” mold. That being said, when I originally heard about Montana Fishburne’s (Lawrence Fishburne’s daughter) entrance into the adult film industry, I actually was excited to hear what prompted it…from HER! Then I saw the video interview with Brian Pumper (I guess he’s her manager?…confused) and a shy, fidgety Montana who barely got a word in. Smells like pimp juice to me!

I decided to write an article for Zora&Alice analyzing women, sex work, the porn industry, and capitalism. It’ll be yummy for all you sex positive feminists and disturbing for you anti-porn ones. Female sexuality is too complex to be boxed up into stereotypical roles and the truth is that sex work is a career CHOICE for many women. It’s not always about socioeconomic constraints….especially when your dad is a well-respected actor.

Here’s a snippet of the article, but definitely read the entire thing on Zora&Alice. I want everyone to drop comments on the site and watch the video (I embedded it in my piece). I think that this is an important conversation for us to have as women, not as judges.

I am not an anti-porn feminist. I am sex-positive, extremely outspoken, and enjoy tackling issues of gender & sexuality on the web and in the classroom. I’d like to have an honest conversation about an interview that I saw with Montana Fishburne (Lawrence Fishburne’s daughter) and Brian Pumper announcing her new porn star career. When I heard about the interview, I happened to be driving and actually was looking forward to hearing what the young woman had to say. Unlike most, I actually consider sex work a career and believe that women should have the agency to choose it without nose-snubbing judgment. Many women, not “victims,” pursue these careers and that’s their prerogative. It’s not mine or your body, so get over it!

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Now that everyone is clear on my intellectual stance, the real reason that I want to discuss this interview is because Brian Pumper’s voice impersonation of female porn stars and clear domination over Montana made me want to vomit. It’s one thing for Montana to announce her entry into porn, her love for sex, and enjoyment in performing it. However, anyone who watches the video clearly can see that’s not the case. In fact, I didn’t see the point of Brian Pumper being in it at all. It gave me a creepy, pimp feel when he was talking about the porn videos that he directed and the “compliments” that he gave female porn stars when they “performed” well. In his best female voice, he mocks some of these women’s responses, making them seem extremely shy, weak, and flattered by his praise. Even when he describes the sex, both oral and intercourse, he discusses these women almost like they’re beastly animals.

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