I could easily envision white middle-aged Viacom executives laughing hysterically after placing the image of an overseer (or slave master) cracking a whip on a once Black-owned (now white-owned) cable network, subliminally rousing up the post-traumatic psycho-social stress of slavery. Not only this, this ridiculous display also denotes how the white man is still in control and continues to desire the Black woman sexually, while the Black man rendered powerless, sits back and watches. I thought it was clever how they slipped white supremacy in under the guise of it all just being “adventurous” entertainment.
The solution to this all? In the immediate, we must pay closer attention to what our children are watching and listening to. We must teach our children to question what they are watching on television and in movies, as well as the music they are listening to. How beneficial are these images (or sounds) to their own self-development, both individually and community-wise? How does it affect their self-worth? If they are taught to question, they will ultimately steer themselves on a path towards thinking for themselves. However, if history is not taken into account then we will continue to make the same mistakes as generations past. Our children will grow up ignoring the obvious and will continue to fall victim to stereotypical roles unchecked in all facets of society. It is up to us, who know better, to make time to make the difference.
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