While African Americans are 12% of the population of the country, iseemsms as though we are portrayed as 90% - 100% of thhoochieses, playas, thugs, thieves, rapists, babies mammas, drug dealers and all around bad guys. Where is the love within these groups of people? Nowhere!! Not one to be obsessed by image, I do feel that how people see themselves directly effects the self-esteem of that group?
Where are the portrayals of Black families? Yes, I know that we are in a sitcomscoms, but where are the truly dramatic portrayals of Black people loving themselves and each other? When Black women are portrayed as nurturing, 9 times out of 10, they are nurturing white folks and/or their children. You hardly ever see a Black man in a loving, committed relationship with a woman. However, you can see various examples of white families in all genres of the media - fiTV, tv, etc.
Where are the groups of Black "Friends" loving and supporting one another? Boy, I really do miss the Fox Show "Living Single." And thank God that UPN had the presence of mind to air the show "Girlfriends." I am hard pressed to find a show on the tube that portrays folks that look like me in a positive light interacting positively with other folks that look like me. Where isCosby Cosby when you need him. I used to find solace in both incarnations of his show and watching re-runs of "A Different World" still make me feel warm and fuzzy.
Sometimes, I feel like I am one of the lucky ones. I have positive and loving interactions with other African Americans all of the time. It is because I "know better" and was raised in a manner that allowed love to flow into my life. But what about the folks that weren't raised the way I was? How are they going to learn about loving themselves and loving one another?
As media obsessed as this country is, I feel that many folks in Black communities won't learn until it is too late. Look at the messages that they receive in music, movies and television! Love is equated with money, looks and sex, when in reality, none of the above has anything to do with love. BET, the foremost entertainment outlet for African Americans steadily portrays a messagesf messgaes that say you are only worthy if you look a certain way, dress a certain way and have a certain amount of money. Sad! How sad, indeed!
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