Fairchild’s Notes for February 7, 2008
Mirrors (Film Clip)
Stimulus: This film clip, from the film, Sexual Dependencies, was a fascinating look into one African American woman’s growth and development; the challenges she faced as a female and an African person. It revealed the problems that are particular to Black women who are socialized in a racist (and sexist) environment that extols Whiteness as beautiful. These issues collide when she is gang raped by a group of drunken white men.
Responses: The exploration of the many issues enumerated above make the clip extremely worthwhile. Black folks are challenged to accept their reflections – skin, hair, features – which are despised in the broader culture.
She mentioned Ntozake Shange’s poem, ‘For colored girls who considered suicide when the rainbow is enough.’
The advertising industry contributes to image issues for Black folks.
Akbar: Too Legit to Quit
Stimulus: Akbar is his quientessential self in rallying Black students to take pride in their historic and current accomplishments.
Responses: This is applied African American psychology at its best.
Akbar shatters any conception of him as a misogynist.
Akbar raises issues of our “macro-socialization,” to be servants in American society. A recognition of our past accomplishments provides a basis for higher aspirations.
Black history is the antidote to anti-Black racism. (Ties to articles on Latino/black relations)
Barack Obama is a macro-socializer affecting:
Racial attitudes
Black children’s aspirations
Stolen legacy and the popularized images of Egyptians. Note how the film, The Mummy, committed crimes against the Black past, and Imhotep in particular.
Roots – Kunta Kinte and Koby. (Note the differences in the book & movie)
Michael Jordan and basketball genius. Recalls “A Micro Analysis of the Alley Oop with Notes on the Race and IQ Controversy.”
Black people are geniuses too: Tiger, MJ, Oprah, Stevie, Ali, Barack Obama
Eschews misogynistic rap.
The lies of Western civilization (
Love of self does not require hating anyone else.
Quoted, in part, a famous line from Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of committed individuals can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
Seeks unity in the end: “Our destiny is one.”
Glorification of Things White
I like the idea of “cultural imperialism.” Points to solution: valuing Blackness. Black is beautiful; Black is good. Barack Obama (and Michelle Obama) is affecting change here as well.
Denzel
Proof that the Academy is racist. Proof that media images are very problematic. Too bad Denzel was honored for a B movie where he gets shot in the ass.
Roots of Latino/Black Anger
Latino/Black conflict is largely a result of anti-Black racism, or racist cultural imperialism. It is an urgent issue that needs redress. Barack Obama needs a crash course in Spanish.
Cross-racial shootings spark fear in
Violence as a means of conflict resolution comes from the top down. When nations go to war, who are we to tell gangs that they should be non-violent.
Black Singles: Gender
Differences in mate Preferences
Black male/female relations remain problematic. But perhaps some of it is due to ‘pluralistic ignorance,’ mistaken assumptions about the other genders’ preferences. Much of it is due to American gender socialization, which has objectified women. On closer inspection, males and females were very similar in what they preferred in a mate (see pp. 70-71).