Say It Loud!

Five black actors are making history during Black History Month. It inspires me and gives me pride to see Jennifer Hudson, Djimon Hounsou, Eddie Murphy, Will Smith and Forest Whitaker getting international attention and acclaim because of their Academy Award Nominations. I am especially thrilled to see Jennifer Hudson and Forest Whitaker take home the Oscar. This goes to the heart of the very purpose for which Dr. Carter G. Woodson began what we know as Black History Month.

Dr. Woodson believed that blacks needed to know about their forefather’s achievements and contributions. This knowledge would give blacks a sense of pride and confidence to go on and achieve their full potential. For so long, we knew nothing about our significance in the building of America and the world. We did not know we made history. We thought history just happened to us. We had no role models.

That is why all these nominations are so important. Our children tend to look to the media for role models. They look up to and follow the patterns of celebrities. That is why it is encouraging to see that the images being celebrated are good ones. In the past, Hollywood has honored black images that were dishonorable. We saw pimps and thugs being glorified. However, the roles for which these actors are nominated are heroes that create positive perceptions in the minds of our young.

Still, even though this is encouraging and wonderful for these actors, we must move even further in our effort to inspire our youth to greatness. We can never depend on Hollywood to tell our truth or guide our children. We must control the images of ourselves that play over and over again before our young people. We must become proactive and self-determining when it comes to promoting a positive sense of self. Here are some steps we can take:

Guide the children to God as their source of validation.
Any other source will be flawed, unstable, and temperamental. God is the creator. Only He ordains and gives power to achieve. He has no limits. He has all power. He knows everything. Why would you want to look to anything less?

Be conscious about what you watch on T.V. and listen to.
The images Hollywood creates of black people have been negative since there was a Hollywood. They have always portrayed stereotypes of oversexed women and clownish and backward men. Don’t just sit back and watch without thinking critically. I’m not saying we shouldn’t watch T.V. or listen to the radio. But don’t passively allow these media messages to infiltrate your psyche. Think about it and talk about it with your children.

Point out positive images in the media and real life.
When you see good role models on T.V., encourage your children to focus on them. Also, point out positive examples in your community. There are many black doctors, preachers, business owners, teachers, policemen, fathers, mothers, aunts, uncles and just all around good people right where we live. They’ve always been there.

Watch what you say.
We often reinforce negative beliefs and perpetuate a cycle of inferiority. We say things like “Niggas aint nothin” right in front of our children. We speak negatively about all things black (i.e. skin too dark, hair too nappy, butt too big, nose to broad, etc.) We can’t let Hollywood determine our notion of what is valuable or beautiful. I hear people telling their children “Shut up with your black, nappy-headed self.” What do you think this does to their self concept? It tells them that what they are by nature is not good enough.

In the 1940s, Dr. Kenneth Clark conducted a study using dolls. He gave little black girls choices between black and white dolls. He asked them which doll they identified with most. They said the black doll. When he asked which doll was better and prettier, they chose the white doll. He also asked which doll they would rather be. Guess which doll they picked? If you think those days are over, think again. Just recently, a high school student conducted the same experiment on five-year-old girls and got the same results.

Become a mentor.
Black people have to be good role models themselves. So many children grow up in single-parent households. Children need all the support they can get. Give advice, encouragement and a helping hand to a young person.

Support and encourage those who are doing positive things.
If we want young and progressive blacks to keep working with our communities, we have to support them. We can’t cut them down and look for negativity, causing them to either move away or wither away. We have to let them know we appreciate them. We have to patronize them and encourage them. This way, the resources will stay in our communities and we can benefit from them. Then we can go higher by building on what we already have and not have to keep starting from square one.

Once we proactively shift the paradigm, determining for ourselves who will be our models of excellence, we will truly be empowered. Our children will achieve well beyond what the media and society tell them they can. Then, not only will they act in great movies. They will produce, direct and write great movies, music, television and whatever God puts in them. They will be innovators and creators of new cutting edge media outlets and technology. They won’t have to depend on shady Hollywood executives to give them good roles because they will own the studios.