June 2012
65 posts
Family is truly a beautiful thing.
“Id be starving if I ate all the lies they fed.”
—India Arie ( via Get it together)
Childrens TV and The Majority
I watch a lot of children shows seeing as that my niece has just turned three years old…. &&& I don’t understand why there are little to no children’s television shows with African American children as the main character. Or Pakistani, Or Sundanese, or Nigerian etc…. I wish the OWN network or BET would pick up a few shows that would help instill self esteem and self love into our African American youth. I would hope they would focus on the fact that African Americans come in all shapes colors and sizes and each one is unique and beautiful in their own way. The one exception to this is Little Bill which aired on Nickelodeon Jr. from November 28, 1999 - February 4th 2004 and is still re aired on Nickelodeon from time to time; and now Doc Mcstuffins which now airs on Disney Jr. We need more than….
“Yet after all they are but gates, and when turning our eyes from the temporary and the contingent in the Negro problem to the broader question of the permanent uplifting and civilization of black men in America, we have a right to inquire, as this enthusiasm for material advancement mounts to its height, if after all the industrial school is the final and suffi-cient answer in the training of the Negro race; and to ask gently, but in all sincerity, the ever-recurring query of the ages, Is not life more than meat, and the body more than raiment? And men ask this to-day all the more eagerly because of sinister signs in recent educational movements. The tendency is here, born of slavery and quickened to renewed life by the crazy imperialism of the day, to regard human beings as among the material resources of a land to be trained with an eye single to future dividends. Race-prejudices, which keep brown and black men in their “places,” we are coming to regard as useful allies with such a theory, no matter how much they may dull the ambition and sicken the hearts of struggling human beings. And above all, we daily hear that an education that encourages aspiration, that sets the loftiest of ideals and seeks as an end culture and character rather than bread-winning, is the privilege of white men and the danger and delusion of black.”
—W.E.B. DuBois, from The Souls of Black Folk (via emwoodson)
Black Culture: Apparently, "Black is Beautiful" only when your complexion is socially approved. →
black-culture.tumblr.com
That’s an incredibly sad truth about youth culture today, and as much as we all can point fingers at other races that may discriminate against us as Black people. We hate ourselves more than any other race could - in today’s society.
We might reblog, post, etc cliched photos and kind words…
“You don’t have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body.”
—C.S. Lewis
SELF LOVE, SELF WORTH
He’s asking me to settle.Very subtly with his words. More overt with his actions. Not settle in or settle down together… he’s asking me to settle for less, less than what I deserve.
He is asking me to settle in Love….. Not gonna happen.
May 2012
35 posts
Study finds TV can decrease self esteem in children, except white boys →
eurekalert.org
If you are a white girl, a black girl or a black boy, exposure to today’s electronic media in the long run tends to make you feel worse about yourself. If you’re a white boy, you’ll feel better, according to a new study led by an Indiana University professor.
Nicole Martins, an assistant professor of telecommunications in the IU College of Arts and Sciences, and Kristen Harrison, professor of communication studies at the University of Michigan, also found that black children in their study spent, on average, an extra 10 hours a week watching television.
“We can’t deny the fact that media has an influence when they’re spending most of their time — when they’re not in school — with the television,” Martins said.
Harrison added, “Children who are not doing other things besides watching television cannot help but compare themselves to what they see on the screen.”
Their paper has been published in Communication Research. Martins and Harrison surveyed a group of about 400 black and white preadolescent students in communities in the Midwest over a yearlong period. Rather than look at the impact of particular shows or genres, they focused on the correlation between the time in front of the TV and the impact on their self-esteem.
“Regardless of what show you’re watching, if you’re a white male, things in life are pretty good for you,” Martins said of characters on TV. “You tend to be in positions of power, you have prestigious occupations, high education, glamorous houses, a beautiful wife, with very little portrayals of how hard you worked to get there.
“If you are a girl or a woman, what you see is that women on television are not given a variety of roles,” she added. “The roles that they see are pretty simplistic; they’re almost always one-dimensional and focused on the success they have because of how they look, not what they do or what they think or how they got there.
“This sexualization of women presumably leads to this negative impact on girls.”
With regard to black boys, they are often criminalized in many programs, shown as hoodlums and buffoons, and without much variety in the kinds of roles they occupy.
“Young black boys are getting the opposite message: that there is not lots of good things that you can aspire to,” Martins said. “If we think about those kinds of messages, that’s what’s responsible for the impact.
“If we think just about the sheer amount of time they’re spending, and not the messages, these kids are spending so much time with the media that they’re not given a chance to explore other things they’re good at, that could boost their self-esteem.”
Martins said their study counters claims by producers that programs have been progressive in their depictions of under-represented populations. An earlier study co-authored by her and Harrison suggests that video games “are the worst offenders when it comes to representation of ethnicity and gender.”
Other research is starting to show the impacts of other kinds of entertainment sources, such as video games and hand-held devices. It indicates that young people are becoming creative at “media multitasking.”
“Even though these new technologies are becoming more available, kids still spend more time with TV than anything else,” Martins said.
Interestingly, the young people were asked about their consumption of print media, but the results were not statistically significant.
Martins conducted the research while she was completing her Ph.D. at the University of Illinois, as part of a larger longitudinal study done with her co-author, Harrison. They sought out certain school districts in Illinois because of their diversity, but African-Americans were the predominant minority group.
How are we supposed to be Kings & Queens if we dont understand are own crowing glory?
You were seasonal after all.
Motive
If you want to truly understand someone find out their motives.
Something that causes someone to act in a certain way or do a certain thing = a motive
You will be surprised at what you find within people and what you don’t.
Learn
Take a look around you. All the people in your day to day life are there to teach you something.
Father Figure
I had some interesting thoughts while washing dishes. I was thinking about fathers and how important it is for them to teach their children to finish what they start. Actions speak louder than words on this one. A father can easily show his children to finish what he/she starts by adressing his responsibilities in the family he started…..By showing true love. In some families we see the father abandon his responsibilities for whatever reason and leave a gaping hole in the child’s life. Fathers are so important to the family dynamic. I hope that all the fathers out there are teaching their sons/daughters to be people that finish what they start and to seek individuals who do the same. Fathers are to be celebrated. We need more real fathers. Its never to late to be in your childs life & I cant think of anything that can bring you more joy. Food for thought…..
“If you want in be a friend.”
—Me
Facing the Past Moving Forward
http://www.emmanuelrashad.com/15-index.html
This spoke to me.
Im trying not to reblog every post this man puts up. LOL But goodness America needs to see it.
Mandated paid maternity leave in countries around the world →
nationmaster.com
Afghanistan 90 days
Algeria 14 weeks
Angola 90 days
Argentina 90 days
Australia None
Austria 16 weeks
Bahamas, The 8 weeks
Bahrain 45 days
Bangladesh 12 weeks
Barbados 12 weeks
Belarus 126 days
Belgium 15 weeks
Belize 12 weeks
Benin 14 weeks
Bolivia 60 days
Botswana 12 weeks
Brazil 120 days
Bulgaria 120-180 days
Burkina Faso 14 weeks
Burma 12 weeks
Burundi 12 weeks
Cambodia 90 days
Cameroon 14 weeks
Canada 55% up to $413/week for 50 weeks (15 weeks maternity + 35 weeks parental leave shared with father)
Central African Republic 14 weeks
Chad 14 weeks
Chile 18 weeks
China 90 days
Colombia 12 weeks
Comoros 14 weeks
Congo, Democratic Republic of the 14 weeks
Costa Rica 4 months
Cuba 18 weeks
Cyprus 16 weeks
Côte d’Ivoire 14 weeks
Denmark 18 weeks
Djibouti 14 weeks
Dominica 12 weeks
Dominican Republic 12 weeks
Ecuador 12 weeks
Egypt 50 days
El Salvador 12 weeks
Equatorial Guinea 12 weeks
Estonia 455 calendar days (100%)
Ethiopia 90 days
Fiji 84 days
Finland 105 days
France 16 weeks (100%) rising to 26 weeks (100%) for third child
Gabon 14 weeks
Gambia, The 12 weeks
Germany 14 weeks (100%) 6 before birth
Ghana 12 weeks
Greece 16 weeks
Grenada 3 months
Guatemala 12 weeks
Guinea 14 weeks
Guinea-Bissau 60 days
Guyana 13 weeks
Haiti 12 weeks
Honduras 10 weeks
Hungary 24 weeks
Iceland 90 days 80% up to a ceiling of Íkr480,000 (€5,300, $6,700) monthly (minimum monthly payment Íkr 91,200 (€1000, $1,275) + 90 days to be shared between the parents
India 135 days (Central Government) 90 days or 12 weeks in State Governments
Indonesia 3 months
Iran 90 days
Iraq 62 days
Ireland 22 weeks (26 weeks from March 2007)
Israel 12 weeks
Italy 22 weeks (5 months) (80%) 2 before birth
Jamaica 12 weeks
Japan 14 weeks
Jordan 10 weeks
Kenya 2 months
Korea, South 60 days
Kuwait 70 days
Laos 90 days
Lebanon 40 days
Libya 50 days
Liechtenstein 8 weeks
Luxembourg 16 weeks
Madagascar 14 weeks
Malaysia 60 days
Mali 14 weeks
Malta 13 weeks
Mauritania 14 weeks
Mauritius 12 weeks
Mexico 12 weeks
Mongolia 101 days
Morocco 12 weeks
Mozambique 60 days
Namibia 12 weeks
Nepal 52 days
Netherlands 16 weeks
New Zealand 14 weeks
Nicaragua 12 weeks
Niger 14 weeks
Nigeria 12 weeks
Norway 54 weeks (12.5 months) (80%) or 44 weeks (10 months) (100%) - mother must take at least 3 weeks immediately before birth and 6 weeks immediately after birth, father must take at least 6 weeks - the rest can be shared between mother and father.
Pakistan 12 weeks
Panama 14 weeks
Paraguay 12 weeks
Peru 90 days
Philippines 60 days
Poland 16-18 weeks
Portugal 120 days
Qatar 40-60 days
Romania 112 days
Russia 140 days
Rwanda 12 weeks
Saint Lucia 13 weeks
Saudi Arabia 10 weeks
Senegal 14 weeks
Seychelles 14 weeks
Singapore 12 weeks
Solomon Islands 12 weeks
Somalia 14 weeks
South Africa 12 weeks
Spain 16 weeks
Sri Lanka 12 weeks
Sudan 8 weeks
Sweden 480 days (16 months) (80% up to a ceiling the first 390 days, 90 days at flat rate) - shared with father (minimum 60 days)
Switzerland 16 weeks (100%), 8 weeks mandatory
Syria 75 days
Tanzania 12 weeks
Thailand 90 days
Togo 14 weeks
Tunisia 30 days
Turkey 12 weeks
Uganda 4 weeks
Ukraine 126 days
United Arab Emirates 45 days
United Kingdom 6 weeks (90%) 20 weeks at a fixed amount (as of March 2006 = £108.85)
United States None
Uruguay 12 weeks
Venezuela 18 weeks
Vietnam 4-6 months
Yemen 60 days
Zambia 12 weeks
Zimbabwe 90 daysThe US and Australia with the outstanding 0 days or weeks of mandated paid maternity leave.
Well as you can see, I tried to make this easier to read and then gave up. Anyways. Yeah. America and Australia are the only countries on the list without mandated paid maternity leave. (I notice North Korea isn’t on there — we probably don’t have access to that information given that it’s North Korea and everything. Anyone know?)
In America, we have the PDL and the FMLA.
PDL. Pregnancy Disability Leave (PDL) which entitles you up to four months of unpaid, job-protected leave when disabled by pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition.
FMLA. Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) if you have been employed with the Company for at least one year, provides up to 12 weeks job protected leave.
So you get a few unpaid months off if you gave birth, and they can’t legally hire someone to replace you. But that’s about it. Shameful, America.
-Jess
Wtf :(
I like that some of the countries allow for paid paternity leave too. Thats bad ass.
Looks like it’s time to move!
:|
Why Gay Is Not the New Black →
townhall.com
2. The very real hardships endured by many gays and lesbians cannot fairly be compared with the monstrous suffering endured by African Americans. Conservative gay journalist Charles Winecoff wrote, “Newsflash: blacks in America didn’t start out as hip-hop fashion designers; they were slaves. There’s a big difference between being able to enjoy a civil union with the same sex partner of your choice – and not being able to drink out of a water fountain, eat at a lunch counter, or use a rest room because you don’t have the right skin color.”
Today, we have openly gay members of Congress, openly gay celebrities, openly gay CEO’s, openly gay financial gurus, openly gay sports stars, openly gay Hollywood moguls, and openly gay college professors, bestselling authors, scientists, and on and on. In the days of segregation in America, there were few, if any, blacks in such prominent positions, not to mention the fact that in many cities in America, even the lynching of blacks was accepted. Where in America are gays and lesbians being lynched today with societal approval? And what is the LGBT equivalent to the American slave trade?
click through to read the full list.
Play
FOR THE WHITE PERSON WHO WANTS TO KNOW HOW TO BE MY FRIEND
By: Pat Parker
The first thing you do is to forget that I’m black.
Second, you must never forget that I’m black.
You should be able to dig Aretha,
but don’t play her every time I come over.
And if you decide to play Beethoven — don’t tell me
his life story. They make us take music appreciation, too.
Eat soul food if you like it, but don’t expect me
to locate your restaurants
or cook it for you.
And if some Black person insults you,
mugs you, rapes your sister, rapes you,
rips your house or is just being an ass —
please, do not apologize to me
for wanting to do them bodily harm.
It makes me wonder if you’re foolish.
And even if you really believe Blacks are better lovers than
whites — don’t tell me. I start thinking of charging stud fees.
In other words — if you really want to be my friend — don’t
make a labor of it. I’m lazy. Remember.
From Movement in Black by Pat Parker. Copyright(c) 1978 by Pat Parker.
Tuskegee Experiment
For some us the words “Tuskegee Airmen” do not go far without remembering the “Tuskegee Experiment.” It is very difficult to separate these two pivotal events in African American history. Anthropologically speaking, the questions I have, are how do histories of pride and shame affect culture, specifically HipHop (African American)?
On one hand, we have the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of men who exhibited tremendous courage and pride while fighting foreign enemies in the air and domestic enemies on the ground. On the other hand we have over 600 people who became the source of syphilis in the African American community for generations as a result of the government-sanctioned Tuskegee Experiment. While the story of brave fighters has inspired generations of people who are confronted with discrimination, oppression, racism and sexism to become airplane pilots; the systematic infection of African Americans between 1932 and 1972, has impaired generations of people with paralysis, blindness, dementia and shame. HipHop and all the other African societies, on the African continent and throughout the diaspora, oral history is stronger than any print, visual or digital media. Not only are folk tales, songs and poetry transcribed from one generation to the next, but entire histories of peoples, nations and events are accounted for as well. Other than just names, places and dates, historical particularism helps account for the emotions and feelings that are emphasized in storytelling and cultural development.
The Tuskegee Airmen have always been talked about in the barbershops, church services and one-on-one conversations with elder veterans who are still alive to tell these stories from their own personal experiences. More than the any media or public education source, oral histories is where the pride is really transported between generations. These examples help children and adults hold their heads up high with knowledge of the past that encourages them to move forwards in the faces of adversity. Educational systems (mainstream and independent) and curricula are instated to provide further encouragement. The good stories become the benchmark for “Black History Month” every year.
The genealogists, family historian and black people who are interested in “tracing their roots; uncovered these stories, simply by talking to the elders in their families and communities. These researchers have no problem extracting the prideful stories, but when it comes to the painful or shameful stories it’s always a “family secret”. The “V.D.” as it was so colorfully referred to was only the beginning of the battles with sexually transmitted diseases in many HipHop communities in the southern and northern United States. The definitions, symptoms and treatment of STD’s are widely discussed in the health classes in both mainstream and independent educational systems. It is always the talk of the town, the beauty shops. Everyone wants to know who got what and from whom. In many cases, people who have and are infected will not talk about it openly and may even keep the information from their sexual partners. It is so shameful, that people will carry these secrets to their graves, allowing other people in the community to remain unaware of the dangers of sexually transmitted disease from a first-hand account.
Although it is not known if any of the Tuskegee Airmen actually had syphilis, but it is very plausible considering the large base of infected people at the time. Keep in mind there were no positive treatments until the 1970’s. Furthermore the stories and oral accounts will always focus on the courage and pride of these men, but if any one of them was infected with the disease, before or after the war, it will be kept as a “family secret” and not rendered to the historical or public record.
Where is the real historical lesson in that? If we are only feeding ourselves with joy, we are doing the children and ourselves a major disservice, because joy and pain are one in the same. Pride does not exist without shame. Yeah let’s tell the children that there were great airplane pilots who fought in World Ward II, but let’s also tell them about the history and origin of sexually transmitted diseases in African American communities.
Let’s tell the stories to install pride. Let’s tell the stories to reduce shame.
I leave you with the immortal words of the old skool R&B group, Frankie Beverly and Maze
Over and over you can be sure
There will be sorrow but you will endure
Where there’s a flower there’s the sun and the rain
Oh and it’s wonderful there both one in the same
Joy & Pain “Joy & Pain” (1980)
