Meh. Lines like this really bug me: "What impact does it have on young Black girls? Does it undermine their self-esteem and confidence? Most black models and supermodels that I am aware of have dated/married white men. Should we worry about the self-esteem of little black boys? In WW2 when soldiers had their white female icons to lust after (knowing that those same women were married to white men themselves), black soldiers had Lena Horne who was married to a white man. Did anyone worry about the self-esteem of black soldiers as a result? In pre-Civil War Louisiana almost all of the black women of mixed heritage and many of the Full-blooded women of African descent became the willing mistresess of married white men. It was almost a right of passage with these ladies and they bore the children of these men without marrying them. What di that do to the psyche of black men at that time who were absolutely forbidden to look at a white woman? How castrating was that to them? In our modern society on daytime TV and major motion pictures any pairings between white and black people are almost exclusively between white men and black women? What effect does that have on black male viewers in terms of their confidence? Disney is working on an animation about a black girl growing up in the early 20th century Louisanna who happens to fall in love with a prince. No, not an African prince, a European prince. And unlike virtually all of Disney heroines she does not have a father. And the one black male character at this point in the film is the main bad guy (a vodoo doctor). The members of the black media have all pointed out the self-esteem this animation could bring to black girls. But what about black boys? as in the Whitney-Houston Brandy Cinderella movie, black boys learned that they are not good enough to eb princes or have romantic relationships. They are best served being non-existent or being the villain. So excuse me if I roll my eyes concerning anything written about the self-esteem of black giirls. Its not that I want them to lack confidence, but the black community goes more out of its way (IMO) worrying about them than they do their boys' self-image. Its why when working in retail I ran across so many black mothers who would only get a black doll for their daughters but did not hesitate picking up white action figures for their sons. Sorry for the rant.
Good post indeed Jamal. You are very much hitting every topic on the head. As for the Disney flick, I'm really not surprised.
Me either. You know, Jamal, you've raised a very important issue that i feel isn't raised in the black "community". I just want to reiterate on what you said, not rant so hear me out. We hear time and time again from the powers that be (read: black women) that black men, for better or worse, have bought into conventional standards of beauty (read: white women) and as such, black men feel that they have to earn a "trophy" when they can (read: become famous). To hear these folks tell it, black men have a warped mentality and prefer anything that isn't black. The mere fact that some black men (who are in the numerical minority) broaden their preferential horizon speaks volumes about the care (or lack thereof) for black women and further reinforces notions of black female beauty inferiority. Well, what about Tyra Banks who's perhaps the most prominent black supermodel ever? Guess what, she's dated non-black men. Tina Turner married a white man. Halle Berry is currently dating a white man herself as are Essence Atkins, Gracelle, Nicole Narain, Stacey Dash etc. What about this people, one may ask? Nothing, except the fact that their well-documented relationships with non-black men raises not even a blink of the eye in the black "community". Personally, i have no issues with these women as i don't even know them myself and more importantly, their personal lives are no concern of mine. But i'm sure you guys are well aware that Essence magazine routinely bashes black men who date any woman who is not black. What about this women who are either dating, have dated, married to or married white men? Why do they get a free pass, whilst black men who do the exact same thing are labeled with the worst insults that a white man would either lose his teeth, job (or both) if he said similar. Oh my bad, those women are seeking "redemption" because there are "no good black men around no more". In fact, many black women have said that to me. A good friend of mine (who's a black female) said that the reason many black women date white men is to get back at black men for choosing white women. Now, the lady is a good friend of mine but such mentality is absurd, intellectually dishonest and flat out crazy. Firstly, does she keep some kind of dating variable of blacks and whites? How anyone can reach such a conclusion without conducting some kind of hypothesis is beyond me. Quite frankly, this double standard is one that has got to be addressed by black men themselves. Black women are quite happy to live in it and if we don't challenge, the black "community" will continue to dwell in it.
I've been waiting for an eternity to come across black men who are sick of this double standard. We're the biggest pushovers in the world at times it seems. The reality is that in America black people, by far, are the least likely to be involved in any interracial relationship. This of course includes black men. According to statistics from a few years ago, only 7% to 8% of black men marry outside their race. And despite the misinformation that's out there, the majority of so-called successful black men don't marry non-black women. But despite this black men in general get a bad rep for "betraying" black women. Its tiring.
I've been noticing these double standards (both subtle and not so subtle) for years now. It can be pretty painfull trying to hip others to it though. People tend to cling tightly to their illusions. There are maybe one or two people I know who I can converse with on this matter who really get it. Most fit into one of several categories... 1) They get it somewhat, but don't realize the conditioning power of media so they have a "so what" attitude. 2) Completely clueless. They fall for the usual tokenism, fake diversity and smoke and mirrors that passes for equality in media. They will usually humor anyone who attempts to enlighten them. Soon as the conversation is over, all is forgotten. 3) They have a view that is opposite reality ie; they notice more black faces on t.v. and on magazine covers therefore we must have "arrived." They never look deeper and take things at face value. 4) Those who understand what's going on, but feel that it's "whiny" or "angry" to say anything. Somewhat akin to no. 1. 5) Those who will actively argue that you are wrong. Interestingly, once these people are pummeled to submission with facts and logic they will usually resort to emotional buzzwords like "you're whining" "you're angry" or "conspiracy." What they CANNOT do is effectively make points countering your arguments. 6) Then there are those who either fully understand the level of bias in our society and media and/or are willing to learn. I've found these types to be few and far between unfortunately. The guy who wrote the article is pretty observant. As is the gay fellow who wrote the article on soap operas.
Those are pretty crisp groupings, Shaft. I'd be honest with you, most Americans, especially whites, by nature are just not "aware" and fall for tokenism.
Yeah, I came up with those just now based on what I remember from conversations over the years regarding this and similar topics. As for most Americans , especially whites, not being aware, it seems right to me. I wouldn't want to throw a number or percentage out there, but my guess is it's pretty high. In the end people will be most sensitive to what affects themselves, and less so to what affects others. This is natural I suppose. The problem is where people actively resist the truth, even after something is proven. When it comes to issues of race and politics people do this all the time.
That's completely true - of all people I would guess. Alot of people go on to resist the truth b/c it's easier to simply believe there isn't a problem. I think a lot of white people buy into tokenism without realizing they are doing it. It's a feel good thing. I'm not sure I can fault someone for not being aware of a problem[edit: in discussing racism I really should have put the depth of the problem], but it's wrong to be confronted with an issue and refuse to deal with it. At the very least internalize what's being put in front of you and give some thought to how it affects other people. Probably getting off topic here - but I don't think a lot of white people even realize white privilege exists, or if they do then don't understand how they benefit from it. I would have to say that the first time I went to the mall with my ex and we got followed out of the parking lot by mall security was an eye opener to me. That has certainly never happened to this white girl when she was alone. :roll:
I agree with you a lot. About the existence of white privilege, i'd say it's a toss up between different kinds of white people. Progressive white people, by and large, tend not to be aware of its existence even more due to their own experiences. Many liberal whites would flat out abhor overt racism and are the types who would mention the amount of black "friends" they have (without realizing that white privilege and racism goes beyond face value; it's more to do with institutions and back door operations). By rejecting racism, tuning themselves into "black" culture and having black acquintances, they go through what i call a "moral transcendency" whereby their actions are somewhat self-serving and are supposed to fulfilling and thus, eliminates the prevalence of some awareness of racism. You can see this in the amount of white liberals who fawn over Barack Obama. For conservative whites (who are mostly bigots), they too aren't aware of white privilege but unlike liberal/progressive whites, they go out of their way to reject the existence of such a thing and often point to the changes in the past 40 years that supposedly prove racial equality. Thus, the existence of inequality, poverty and every other social dysfunction is as a result of black inadequacy. For these people, it's easy to just step aside from the issue with straw-man arguments such as "You're being a victim" or "Stop wining" or (my personal favorite), "Slavery was such a long time ago". These arguments are simply weak emotional blackmail in which these people resort to in order to eliminate any rational discourse of the persistent problem of racism and discrimination in America. However, to be fair, i think most white people, whilst not aware of white privilege, deep down know that racism of some form still exists in America. It is the degree to which is still exists that white opinion varies. As you hinted at, intercultural and mixed race relationships can be, and are, eye openers to a lot of white people (who, for the most part, are progressive initially). For example, some of my white ex-girlfriends have said to me that being with me (or any other black man) beyond mere friendship has opened their eyes to the reality of unfair treatment, stereotyping and prejudice. I think that interracial relationships, especially today, are a great learning experience that goes beyond vague assumptions.
The double standards that exist in this world will only serve to make some brotha's act the way society tends to think of us. Mostly as thuggish and no good. We have to one person at a time try to touch the hearts and minds of everyone to see the light. Hopefully then we'll move towards getting these standards broken down.
So I know I'm probably stirring up a hornet's nest here - but your comment about how a brotha acts based on what society expects... At what point does personal responsibility stop and the pressure of society become too much? Am I, as a white person, simply proving LC's earlier point and bringing out the 'victim' arguement? I don't mean to b/c my point is not made from the standpoint of accusing any black man of being inadequate (or any other kind of accusation). But isn't life all about constant tests of one's own inner strength and integrity? Why isn't more heart put into the effort of helping a black man make better choices, or more accurately, giving him more chances to make better choices? Shouldn't the focus be less on the evils of society and more on the positive and hope in the individual?
I think that some brotha's succumb to societies pressures and end up acting the way they do due to weakness in there minds and souls. Everyone is responsible for there actions but at the same time you have to remember that every man or woman has a breaking point and will just say fuck it or do something else crazy.
I have for a long time been criticzed from black women for dating white women. I too am glad that some brothers are finally speaking out on the gross double standard of white men and black women. I sometimes believe the worst enemies of black men and white women relationships are the other "WM & BW" who want it all for themselves and not the other.
Of course there is hypocracy on the part of wm in general. Whilst its ok for a wm to be with a bw, the ww has to be protected from the sexual advances of a black man. fortunately we now have the freedom to be with who we wish. Daddy's girl can do what she wants.
You can only fool ww for so long. They're realizing that black men are the ones who best can satisfy them sexually. Black men are not to be feared but to welcomed. White women have the right to decide who gets the priviledge of enjoying their bodies and more are deciding black men are the most deserving.
Okay, i understand most here love the idea of interracial dating but some of the shit i've been reading sounds straight up clownish.
