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June 22, 2007
Am I My Sister's Keeper? Real Talk about Images of Black Women in Our Culture
As a trained-journalist-turned-communications-professional, I am often hesitant to express my personal thoughts on a number of "issues" that may be deemed overly-subjective or "uncomfortable" within a professional setting. Why? Well, it's simple. We have clients whose images and reputations we must guide and protect, as well as organizations with which we engage on some level everyday that may be considered "issue culprits" in their own right. We even have the image and reputation of our firm to consider - neither of which should be compromised by what I have even referred to as "emotional rantings." But today, enough is enough for me, and I find that this is a time in which my professional and personal values have never been more inextricably linked. So, forgive me in advance...but it's time that we all get a little uncomfortable...
My first question is regarding the mass media images of Black women in our culture - images that are no longer confined to a video or "reality show" or magazine, but that have leapt from the television screen and off the page right into our living rooms, our offices, our neighborhoods...our psyche. Can someone recall when we began to collectively sanction (whether by verbal affirmation or silent approval) the denigration under which it seems we've become content to live, to laugh at, to accept, to embrace, to internalize, to market, to consume, to be labeled by?
(And by "collectively" I mean as a larger community and society - certainly not discounting the efforts of individuals and groups throughout the years who have attempted to debunk various myths and images.)
We've been in the midst of a national debate now since April following the "I-Mess" (Imus) incident and subsequent spotlight on Hip-Hop culture about the use of the b-word, the h-word, the n-word, and so on. But, putting the alphabet references aside for a bit, we've also had a "closed-door" dialogue for years within our own community about the use (or non-use) of these and other "fighting words"...and how we would not, could not, should not allow anyone (even from within) to define us with terms and images that we deemed degrading. So, in that regard, the silver lining of the gaffe made by Don as an "outsider" is that it helped propel a "we-dare-not-air-our-dirty-laundry" issue en masse to the forefront of media, national, community, and individual household debate - again sparking a much broader conversation that appears, at least initially, to aspire to effect some change in both behavior and lexicon.
But surprisingly, for me - someone who has built her life and certainly her career around the art of communicating and the power of the pen, the issue this time hasn't been about the use of specific words, semantics or any other linguistically-centered discussion. Do I find it deplorable that we commonly use certain words as ill-fitted "terms-of-endearment" and "familiar greetings"? Of course. But, the issue for me runs much deeper and is much larger than a phrase, a shock jock, a Hip-Hop artist or song. While I acknowledge the power of words to create meaning and hence reality (or the perception thereof), this time my purpose is to recognize individual power and self (esteem, appreciation, awareness) to begin to achieve a reality we define for ourselves...to recognize the power that each of us has to impact what has evolved over the past two-plus decades into a "black-eye" in our culture - our collective enablement of pejorative references to and images of Black women, as well as our collective acceptance of these demoralizing representations as Black women.
I don't exclude myself from either category. While I have often made it my mission to "be the change I want to see" whether via tutoring young girls, convincing multi-million and billion dollar companies to recognize the power of multicultural communities (and the women within them) or ensuring that I personally represent a "different" image, I too have thrown a few punches.
As PR and marketing professionals, at one time or another, many of us have...sat in meetings in which we've co-signed (vocally or tacitly) the inclusion of objectified half-clad eye-candy models or less-than-ideal images in marketing events or materials for the purpose of imparting a particular "brand experience"...cringed at the thought of having clients associated with what I've often dubbed "soft porn-esque" publications (those that contain more suggestive photos than actual content) - but then also spent ad dollars in these same publications or applauded staff when they secured editorial placements in them...utilized spokespersons who only cease their references to women as "b's" and "h's" when the cameras and tape recorders start rolling...and the list of offenses that have been perpetuated by all of us at some point in both our professional and personal lives goes on and on. But in recognizing the role we play, we can also recognize the authority we have.
This time, my issue is something that I believe is as tangible as it is conceptual. R-E-S-P-E-C-T...and it's not just about espousing the word or imploring others to "find out what it means" to us. It's about discovering what it means for ourselves and refusing to live, laugh at, accept, embrace, internalize, market, consume, be labeled by - anything less.
So, my second question today is - at what point do we harness and elevate our individual power and responsibility to a level of collective accountability? One that begins to decidedly dictate and mandate what we are and - perhaps more importantly - what we are not willing to accept either as mass media or community-reinforced images of us as Black women... One that will hopefully eventually shift our consciousness to the point that no one could ever justify Don Imus or anyone else believing it would be acceptable under any circumstances to refer to a Black woman (or any woman) as an h-word or a b-word or to any Black person as an n-word or to accept certain images because it's part of the "culture"...
I challenge my industry colleagues, my friends, my family and myself to not only think, but to act, daily with a consistently higher standard so that we can begin to collectively achieve a higher purpose. We may not have it all figured out today (or tomorrow, for that matter), but I'm convinced that it is only in continuing the "uncomfortable" dialogue and asking the necessary questions that we'll ever find the answers...and hopefully as we continue the journey, we can reclaim what we seem to have lost along the way.
Posted by Latraviette.Smith at June 22, 2007 5:03 PM
Comments
It sounds like you have taken your compass out of your Fendi bag,and you are headed in the right direction!! Keep up the good work!!
Posted by: charles farrar at June 25, 2007 3:21 AM
Latraviette: Thanks so much for furthering the discussion. There does need to be a change in how we view Black women and how they are disregarded in our society.
Posted by: Theo at June 25, 2007 9:18 AM
Latraviette, I couldn't agree more...very well said. We must successfully establish and hold firm to higher individual standards for what is -- or, perhaps more importantly, what is not -- acceptable regarding how our women are portrayed/referred to/treated by members of our community and others.
We must all get comfortable with the "uncomfortable" dialogue you reference. Such open dialogue will hopefully result in collective actions that help us to realize the changes we seek.
Keep it going.
Posted by: Malcolm at June 25, 2007 11:43 AM
Latraviette,
As a proud father of two wonderful girls, (one 13 and another 10), your comments poignantly struck a cord with me, given my never-ending effort to filter the images and messages in the marketplace, to which my girls are exposed. My wife and I work tirelessly to keep the girls focused on positive, empowering content, which enriches their leadership and independence as young black women. The 13 year old started Engineering Camp at Rutgers University this morning and the 10 year old is a Black Belt, teaching one class per week as a requirement. Sadly still, this is not enough. It's an uphill battle against the forces in the media and in our communities (some subtle and some complacently accepted), which slowly but surely chip away at the dignity and self respect of black women in our society. And we're all guilty at one time or another. I accept your challenge to not only think, but to act, daily with a consistently higher standard. The end result can only be achieved with a broad collective effort. What will it take for us to get there?
Posted by: KDent at June 25, 2007 5:55 PM
Latraviette
Interesting questions that are going to be difficult to answer. I appreciate your challenge and I think we are all responsible to some degree for the problem. Now are we going to be part of the solution.
Posted by: Illya at June 28, 2007 6:13 PM
Latraviette
This necessary dialogue in the communications arena has been limited and reduced to soundbites about nappy headed (or heads) not sure if he was grammatically correct b___hes and h__s (I don't know if he reserved that term instead of the more proper w__es just for Rutgers basketball players.) But I digress.
What was distressing to me as an african american communications professional and women's basketball fan was the volumnous coverage his hideous insults garned compared to the coverage the actual game received. What does that say about the media and the subjective determination of news? I know silly question considering the worldwide Paris Hilton coverage.
But the number of stories that followed the I-Mess focused on the use of words that are inappropriate no matter who uses them; the inner cultural discussion about whether it is ok if we call one another the b or h or even n word; the resurgence of the natural hair or straight hair debate; and the examination of the role of talk radio and its intolerance for anything or anyone that is different.
But for me the most heartbreaking revelation of all was-----were it not for his comments, we might have never learned through the media that there was a woman who spoke several languages on the team, one who is a gifted musician and others who are on the deans list. It is ironic that the team that lost the championship game was forced to show courage in the face of their greatest opponent---prejudice. There is no doubt they were the victor.
Posted by: beverly isom at June 28, 2007 6:21 PM
Latraviette,
It is great to see that you are digging deep into the issue of Black women and the portrayal of Black women in the media. As a proud mother, I work tirelessly to indoctrinate self-respect, leadership, confidence and every other empowering principle imaginable, which my 14-? year old African American daughter has embraced over the years. However, I?m often goaded with the complacency at which it appears the African American community has arrived regarding the Hip-Hop music of today. Hip-Hop, Rap, R&B however one prefers to label it, is mainstream, even the most sheltered adolescents in America will hear some version of the message?black girls and black women are ?b?s? and ?h?s?. Even worse, if they haven?t heard it, then they can see it on black entertainment television (BET)?not to discount the entertainers and musicians that exemplify the affirmative image like Alicia Keys and a few others, but it?s not enough.
I?m not implying that a change in the message in the music will restore the image of black women overnight; nonetheless, given that so much of what is covered in the media concerns the entertainment industry and life-style (sports, music, television/acting) it can surely make a momentous start.
Posted by: Christina Wyrick at July 4, 2007 4:05 AM
Okay, not sure what breakdown occurred in the text, but the??? Is weird.
Posted by: Christina Wyrick at July 4, 2007 4:08 AM
Your challenge is definitely intriguing. I have to admit that your challenge could prove to be a difficult one for me, just by the music I listen to. However, I want to be able to say that I raised a well-mannered and respectful boy into a well-mannered and respectful man. For me to do that, I believe certain changes are necessary. And therefore I accept your challenge!
Your words are extremely inspiring. How unfortunate it is that the first person to respond to your positive, thought-provoking and well-thought out message cheapened it by saying something as condescending as "It sounds like you have taken your compass out of your Fendi bag". It is clear that this brother missed the message. Perhaps he needs to revisit your blog, using his own compass this time, because he's clearly lost!
Posted by: Nicole Vails at July 10, 2007 11:26 AM
Latraviette:
More evidence the "Hollywood Shuffle" is done in places other than California; in more industries than movies and is more detrimental when it's existance is denied or ignored. WE are our own worst enemies by protesting the acts of others and acting oblivious to the self-inflicted denigration.
Posted by: Quentin Bradford at July 10, 2007 2:19 PM
WOW! I am truly impressed with this discussion. I was talking to a few of my colleagues-interns:) today wondering exactly we can bring to light on the issue of minority women within Our Culture.
Many of the comments preceding mine give valid yet complex looks into our society and what it means to be a black woman in 2007. I am a recent college graduate of Florida A&M University and an Edelman Atlanta intern. At the young and, at times, impressionable age of 23, I find it difficult to listen to certain music and watch certain shows. Why? You may ask. Well first and foremost it doesn’t represent me or what I am about. I contain the qualities of a young, gifted, head strong young woman with a bright future. One who will never allow the images portrayed in mainstream media to define or name me.
It hurts my heart to see situations like what occurred with Don Imus but I guess he (they)does not know our story! It does not take a genius to realize these images are being aired by people that don’t know us and are more concern with the bottom line than anything else.
The lessons in understanding the beauty, respect and appreciation of our culture must begin at HOME! We must begin to teach children at a young age their value and self worth. We must teach our children the same things everyone else knows and we haphazardly stumble upon. We must be examples to these school age children that seem to find their way instead of being shown the right way to go. We must give them the tools needed to become the Executives behind the scenes that make decisions on what is aired or published. We must step up and take responsibility for the shortcomings of others and change now for a better tomorrow. One thing I know for sure, if we don’t step up to the plate and tell our story, no one else will.
I accept Ms. Smith’s challenge with my pride knowing I am open vessel willing and able to learn what I need to know to influence policy makers, stakeholders, and CEO to make wise decisions while “collectively achieving a higher purpose.”
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