"Black In America" is more than just a phrase to describe African Americans in the United States. It's a movement that creates awareness and encourages dialogue about relevant issues. The phrase was originally coined by CNN when they produced several documentary-style "Black In America" special reports. The reports brought national attention to issues concerning Black families, men, and women. Since then, several groups and organizations have launched various initiatives to support the cause
African Americans do not even know that they play into and help to reinforce the African American stereotypes . They believe that the African American stereotypes have been imposed upon them and while partly right, they reinforce them through acceptance. For example, some African Americans do not aspire to higher education because they live under the African American stereotypes of being dumb and lazy. It is even more painful to hear children label themselves according to these African American stereotypes.
Let us take a look at some common African American stereotypes . Historically some African American stereotypes labeled African Americans as servile, primitive and simple-minded. These African American stereotypes created negative stigmas for African Americans and since then these African American stereotypes have been upgraded and unfortunately expanded. The current African American stereotypes include criminal, poor, athletic, religious and musically gifted. Though some of these African American stereotypes seem to be positive, it does not make the practice of perpetuating these African American stereotypes right.
African American stereotypes are often times used to mask real issues. For example: it is said that is twice as hard for an African American to get a job, when the fact is that these men are severely marginalized.
Another example: African Americans will complain that the system is set up to prevent black people from attaining certain positions. If they accept these African American stereotypes, how do they explain the current Barrack Obama holding the highest office in America?
African American stereotypes whether positive or negative need to be eradicated. They are cowardice and insufficient ways of looking at African Americans or any other sets of people for that matter. I believe the incidence of African American stereotypes will begin to decrease when African Americans take a greater look at themselves and also reduce the stereotypes they have of others. When one looks into African American stereotypes , he sees how far they have come as a nation but he can equally see how far they still have to go as a people.
Even though African American stereotypes seem to have quite a negative influence upon the young African Americans, African American stereotypes can be used in positive ways to tell historically of where the African Americas are coming from and where they needs to go.
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It's time to take care of what's yours Black People.....$upport the Nile Valley Movement and Maat Hotep Records and let your children lift their heads and look in the face of others, and say with 10,000 years worth of blessed pride..."Our history does not start with slavery in this country or anywhere else for that matter, slavery is only a very very small part of it. Our history dates Back to the dawn of recorded history and beyond, long before Greece and Rome, whom our Black Ancestors educated and civilized. Our history dates back to the creation of civilization; in fact the creation of civilization......is our history...and ours alone"
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Posted By: DAVID JOHNSON
Saturday, November 20th 2010 at 12:25AM
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