What Do You See?

By Roshaun L. Harris

What does it mean to be naturally beautiful? A Detroit business woman, who goes by the name Afia, tells the story of how Black beauty was the key to her independence both literally and figuratively. Afia was born in Senegal. She came to the United States with her family as she embarked on a journey to find viability in the once booming US economy. “The key to any form of success is belief and confidence in who you are,” says Afia. “If you can not look in the mirror and see beauty, it will be hard to find happiness or success, however you qualify it.” That is key to understanding why images are so important in a society. Looking at the history of the United States dating back to slavery, the evidence points to a concerted effort by the power structures in existence to attribute Black slaves and freemen with sub-human, cartoonish images. This was done purposefully. The objective was to justify the brutality of the US slave trade, which is distinct from other forms of slavery in the past. It was different because the slave was actual property, as opposed to the serf-style slavery that existed in previous epochs. There were books, movies, advertisements, and general information flyers that contained these image. They were pervaded throughout the society. This gives a deeply imbedded aspect to the level of oppression bestowed upon Black Americans. Charles Ryan, a Detroit business man who owns a barbershop on Detroit’s West side stated, “We as a people have always been self conscious about our image. We have always done things to diminish ourselves so we can make the people around us feel comfortable.” Ryan is speaking to the fact that for decades, maybe even centuries, while under the rule of European slavery and colonialism, Blacks have always tried to “whiten” themselves both literally and figuratively. The dominant European culture has dictated either passively or assertively that Blacks must assimilate to their culture or be subjugated to the lowest rungs of the social and economic ladder. Sometimes this meant death in the most severe cases. And as is the case with the slaves, they were even stratified within social construct that dictated White values over anything foreign. You had house slaves who were often of lighter complexion because of the intermingling with the owner’s family and even sometimes rape of the women working in the fields. Babies born with lighter skin were often taken into the house and cared for much like an indentured servant in some cases. This caused division amongst the slave population itself. This carried over into the post-slavery reconstruction era and still persist in many forms according to Ryan. “It’s divide and conquer all over again. What we see today are people who don’t like themselves trying to be something they’re not.” Historically, their have been numerous skin lightening products alongside hair straightening products that anglicized the appearance of the patron. This is coupled with the images that are seen in all forms of media contribute to the social dysfunction seen among much of the Black communities across urban America. How can a people rule themselves if they have no positive self image or self-esteem? This is the conundrum that has been exploited by power structures in existence today. Capitalism has profited mightily from selling the ill-fated image of Blacks in this country and abroad. The “Nigger” is social construct according Rev. Sandra Simmons also a professor at Wayne State. Simmons believes the image of the Black man as a social monster contributes to the downward spiral seen in many communities across the US. “It is a way to keep us from gaining power,” says Ryan. Ryan believes many of the social trends in media tend to portray Blacks in a negative stereotypical fashion. “If the outside world cannot see any good in us and we don’t see any good in ourselves we will remain powerless. Eastern Michigan University hosted Dr. Jack Shaheen who has been consulted by Hollywood and the US government on the issue of racial stereotypes in the media. During the symposium Dr. Shaheen aroused some serious discussion around the images of Arabs being portrayed in the media. It was startling to witness the similarities between the images of Arabs and other ethnic minority groups in the US including black. Most certainly, the images struck an accord because the things being propagated against the Black community were reflected almost identically by the images seen in a video produced by Dr. Shaheen focusing on Arab stereotypes. Line by line one could see the congruency by which these themes were aligned. The women are over sexualized. The men are savages. They are buffoonish. The blonde woman is always the man’s object of affection. Arab women are bundles in black much like black women with the apron singing in the kitchen. No dynamics other than those attributes are given to any of these specific characters. This limits their humanity and thus makes it more acceptable to confine them to an oppressed space socially, physically, spiritually, and economically. Dr. Shaheen went on to quote Jack Valenti when he said, “Hollywood and US policy stem from the same image.” Powerful words in retrospect. This alludes to the media structures and their inherent ties to the powerful. The power structures that seek to exploit rather than uplift have used these two appendages hand-in-hand. In this case, one hand washes the other. The hand that is the media, washes the blood off the hands of the other that is the US foreign, in some cases domestic policy. Unbeknownst to the masses, they are being escorted to the place of imperial rule. The US has been able to operate this way because it reinforces the sub-human nature of its minions at home and abroad. “If we cannot see Arab humanity what’s left - kill ‘em all,” said Dr. Shaheen. Our foreign policy in regards to the Arab world has left the region in a state of turmoil. The US funds dictators and suppresses nationalist movements in the region much like the Europeans did in Africa and South America. All in the name of freedom, democracy, and capitalism. Moreover, if a people can’t see themselves as being capable of self-rule dictators and outside influences will always have sovereignty over peoples’ rights. This is the plight of the Third World. You can include many Black Americans in that third world depiction. Unless the Third World is able to be self-aware and self-determined, it will never be free of the exploitation that has wrought it for centuries.