Funk was a musical genre created in the 60s that blended soul, R&G, and jazz. Funk was rooted in sub-saharan music traditions, brought back by African Americans who wanted to get back to their beginnings. Funk was a representation of naturalism, individuality, and expression. Funk originally referred to body odor, the musical movement embracing self-expression. Funk was also directly tied to the Black Power Movement, embracing the beautiful, black body.
Parliament, a fundamental funk group.
By wiping away their Funk, these women are trying desperately to deny their skin color and appear white. By repressing these traits, they are repressing their bodies from a sexual standpoint. They are afraid that any sexual activities will allow them to be one with their bodies and thus open about their racial identity.
Grooming their funk ties to the theme of cleanliness, funk being the dirt that accumulates after working. By cleaning the body of this funk, these women are clearing away any progress that they have made towards racial equality. They are conforming to the ideas of white supremacy by bleaching away their natural blackness. It is this bleach that stops their funk from growing, from any progress being made and furthermore kills their drive to pursue the American Dream. Explain the context of this passage.