Afro-Colombian Mural: Currulao y Desplazamiento

The “Afro-Colombian Mural: Currulao y Desplazamiento”on U Street in Washington DC celebrates the strong and vibrant Afro-Colombian culture. It has been painted by DC based muralist Joe Bergner, with the sponsorship of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. Even though Afro Colombian communities were in the middle of the war between the government armed forces, the paramilitary, the guerrillas, drug cartels and other delinquents, they have always chosen peace before violence. Even today, they still hope for a better future with peace for all Colombians, and they use their rich culture to keep that hope alive no matter how difficult it can be. The size of the woman and people below her show the importance of culture and community plays a major role in their life. The colors are vibrant, warm, inviting, and welcoming. The positive images are shown against the presence of the paramilitary forces of Colombia. You see the community members fleeing from these forces. It is meant to educate the public about the widespread displacement and other human rights issues related to the armed conflict.

Stereotypes in 2010 ????

Many people are not aware of how big of a role media and popular culture play in the lives of younger generations. The gang life, drugs, sex and partying that are frequently displayed in today’s shows, movies, and even ads are not forgotten. It is glorified in the minds of our children who are easily influenced. The bigger problem is the fact that we allow the wrong people in the spotlight. The self-representation of African-American is often misconstrued due to the fact that there are so many types of people who represent the ethnicity. One of the easiest examples to provide would be one involving music. On one hand you have artists like Common; conscious rap which promotes values and morals cherished by the African-American community like universal love, unity, and education. On the other you have artists like “Soulja Boy” who promote selling drugs, promiscuity, and living lavishly. Of course the flashier of the two would attract more attention, but lets be honest, which is better for our children. As long as we continue to allow figures like that to represent us on a world stage the balance cultural hegemony will always be shifted against our favor. In his essay “What is this black in black popular culture” Stuart Hall touches on the subject. “Cultural hegemony is never about pure victory or pure domination (that's not what the term means); it is never a zero-sum cultural game; it is always about shifting the balance of power in the relations of culture; it is always about changing the dispositions and the configurations of cultural power, not getting out of it. There is a kind of "nothing ever changes, the system always wins" attitude, which I read as the cynical protective shell that, I'm sorry to say, American cultural critics frequently wear, a shell that sometimes prevents them from developing cultural strategies that can make a difference. It is as if, in order to protect themselves against the occasional defeat, they have to pretend they can see right through everything -- and it's just the same as it always was. “

What is the Definition of "Being Black"?

Should a black person only buy products created by members of their own race? Fendi, Ralph Lauren and Timberland are not run by blacks, however, their clothing is used as a status symbol in black culture. I bet the majority of BET viewers don't know the companies are owned by whites.Are we playing into the stereotypes by focusing only on black movies that depict blacks in urban ghettos? Why can't we see movies with black presidents? Why don't we go see the movies where black people play positive roles? Movies like "Babs," "Bootie Call" and "Player's Club" make more revenue from blacks than more positive movies. By supporting these movies, we typecast our race in roles that depict black stereotypes.W.E.B. DuBois said it well in The Souls of Black Folk. Du Bois, the first person of African descent to receive a Ph.D. from Harvard, a prominent civil rights leader of his day, spoke of a "duality" with African-Americans consciousness. This duality was a result of being "black" and "American," torn between two entities, one in which you are supposed "to have certain unalienable rights" and the other in which you are "perceived through the veil" as less than. The problem is not just in the language. It goes much deeper. A word without meaning is just that, a word. A meaning without association to something tangible is just a meaning. The issue comes into play when associating the meaning of the word to something tangible, and, most important, associating the meaning to a human being. As the unknown poet said, illustrating how so many others feel: "But in his mind it wasn't lost, the one undeniable fact/That in a land of justice for all, he always would be BLACK."

Skin Deep Racism

Racism still exists, but not only from the usual sources. Racism never has been strictly black and white. There always has been that gray area where we focus on unlikely targets ... ourselves. The reality of Rodney King and Donovan Jackson, the 16-year-old who was slammed into a police car and punched in the face after being handcuffed, is a common occurrence in the black community. These events only are recognized when they happen to be caught on tape. After years of lynching and Jim Crow laws, the struggle of blacks is ceaseless. The strength of the movement comes from the support and belief of the black community. What hurts the most is when I see racism focused within a race; when we are fighting against one another for respect and courtesy. Throughout history, the black race struggled to be seen, heard and respected. However, in spite of the constant fight against white society, we are spending a great deal of time and effort fighting against each other. "She acts too white." "Her skin is too light." "He thinks he's something because he has money." "That guy with the white girl is trying to forget his race. "Unfortunately, the common suggestion to one of these "scandalous" individuals is, "You need to pick up a book and read about your heritage. Read Malcolm X and learn about who you are. "Is that really who you are, or who you are expected to be based on black culture's stereotypes? Who's to say the rich boy hasn't read Malcolm X? Who's to say a book will tell you more about who you are than living life and deciding for yourself? What's wrong with falling in love with a member of a different race? The color of our skin doesn't make us any more or less human. Does a true black person only live in an urban society surrounded only by black people? Does the place you live and the education you acquire make you any more or less black? Racism is still a reality. It is something we will be fighting against for many years to come. But tell me: How are we going to make progress in the shadows of our oppressors when we are walking in their footsteps?

"All Black People Need is Vaseline, Watermelon, Baby-oil, Hair-grease, Fried chicken, and Booty."Huh???

Stereotypes of African Americans are generalizations about the behavior of African American groups or individuals. Developed in American culture since the colonial years of settlement, particularly after slavery became a racial institution that was heritable. Historically some African American stereotypes labeled African Americans as ignorant, uncivilized 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. 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.
http://www.ibeatyou.com/competition/8f422a/favorite-black-stereotypes

Stereotypes in Popular Culture

In today's fast paced, modern society media can mean a number of things. It could refer to the traditional newspaper, or it may refer too more updated forms of media like pod-casts. Regardless of the type of media, one thing is certain; the fact that media is biased. Due to the nature of media (to report recent news, events, trends and etc) it is certain that all parties of interest, all those involved, will not be represented equally. More often than naught, we find that said parties are separated by race and the stereotypes, which accompany them, which is to say that races are not represented equally in American popular culture. We frequently observe the entertainment industry abuse current stereotypes for monetary gain. Oftentimes, the perpetrators are members of the very party whose presence, on a national and global scale, they stand to damage and in certain cases, destroy. An example of this common occurrence can be the current situations facing three of the main minority races in the United States. African -Americans (Blacks), Latinos, and Native Americans (more commonly called Indians). Due to the fact that stereotypes about the three are so public and accepted, many members buy into the lies themselves. African-Americans feel like they have to be thug-like to be accepted, and that school is a waste of time. Latinos share a similar, oftentimes, worse disposition, while Native Americans are still painted as the savage, warlike, anarchic clans of yesteryear. Rather than risk ridicule and worse yet, bankruptcy, many companies further said stereotypes for the sole purpose of making a profit. The unintended side effect of this however is that the lines between reality and fiction become blurred in a sense.

Eliminating the Thin Line that Divides the Colored People

Urban Dictionary states that Howard is an “Excellent place of study for those in favor of the uplifting of fellow black people, and place of preparation for excellence in the real world, as well as grassroots in the nation's capital for matchless career opportunities.” With knowing that Howard is an HBCU most other races don’t consider attending. We are then surrounded by an immense number of people who are African American. People who come from mostly black areas don’t get the chance to interact with and learn about other communities, Native Americans and Latinos. The same for the Latino and Native American communities, they have limited interaction with the people of the African American race. It is imperative that all three races learn about each other. It would help to steer from stereotyping and misunderstandings. Howard University produces students who will go forth into the world breaking the mold.