[!@#$%!]

Originally Posted by SuchFriendsAreDangerous

True, but it doesn't negate the impact of TV and subconscious racial inferiority. When the TV portrays black and brown folks predominantly as villains, crooks, side-kicks, underlings, extras, or just non-existent, it sends bad message to the white folks who watch these shows, and also the black and brown folks who internalize that message. Countless black folks talk about how pioneering even derogatory or demeaning black characters were on TV in the 1960s and 1970s because simply put, they had never even saw themselves on TV before. It provided radical sense of self-affirmation, and yet conversely, perpetuated subconsciously the idea of white superiority. When all the leading, powerful, and charismatic characters on TV are predominantly white, it sends a very overt yet subtle message, which is what Rob is talking about. Things are changing, albeit slowly, but thankfully in the right direction. My point in all this thread? We still got A LOT of work to do, we ain't even got time for a pit stop to check our progress, got to keep on the move, can't let any grass grow under our feet, nothing comes to a sleeper but a dream..

the reason why things change slowly is because politicians and preachers and academics and rabble-rousers much rather spend their energy bitching and crying about it than building an alternative.

they profit from saying "look at what ____ is doing to us!"

we all know what's wrong, but too many of our "enlightened leaders" have a vested interest in keeping things exactly as they are.