Page 4 Ms. Perry's Free Press April 4-10, 2013 by Sil Lai Abrama, TG After the closing of Women's History Month, examining the image of black women in media, and how it has evolved over time, may shed light on how black women will continue to make his- toric inroads in the future. In the poem Still I Rise by Maya Angelou, the poet writes: "You may write me down in history/With your bitter, twisted lies,/You may trod me in the very dirt/But still, like dust, I'll rise." Many of the his- torical lies told about black women have been wrought through nega- tive images in media. Yet, we have also "risen" through the same means, through positive images that inspire us to achieve. These dueling images the destructive and the empowering are engaged in a fierce battle even today the most powerful mecha- nism of media dissemination TV. The current popular depiction of black women on television is caught between two extremes. On one hand, you have an emotionally complex, intelligent and self-made woman in the character of Olivia Pope on the wildly popular ABC show Scandal. (While there are other, less sophisticated characters on scripted shows like The Game and Meet the Browns, they for the most part are ignored by black media. Meet the Browns, despite being a Tyler Perry production, is never a trending topic on Twitter.) At the other end of spectrum, there is the gimmicky, low-rent version of Olivia Pope, mostly seen on "reality" television. From the perspective of superficial appear- ances, this black woman seems to operate from a somewhat similar privileged segment of society. This woman also lives in a finely appointed home, dines at the finest restaurants, and wears designer clothing. However unlike the fic- tional business woman of Ms. Pope, the "crazy black reality show chick" generally cobbles together her ostentatious and opulent lifestyle via a usually dysfunctional relationship, whether past or pres- ent, with a man of financial means. Such a formulaic presentation of black women on TV is lucrative. The numbers are in and the people have spoken. Married to Medicine, for instance, the latest network reality show to feature another slice of Atlanta's endless supply of black female subcultures, is a bona fide hit. It debuted to Bravo's highest ratings for a reality program that wasn't spun off from an existing show, with a solid 1.9 million peo- ple tuning in to this newest feat of cable programming focused on drama and cat fights. Attention seekers willing to expose themselves and their fami- lies before millions of people, cou- pled with the low production cost of reality shows, has led to an explosion in the number of "unscripted" programs featuring black women as "leading ladies." How did this prevalent image of black women develop alongside that of the elegant, accomplished black woman, such as Pope? Historically, the term "leading lady" has been defined as a woman who carries the title role in a fic- tional, scripted series, and she is often a role model. In 1968, on the heels of the Civil Rights movement, the legendary Diahann Carroll starred in the ground breaking series Julia as a professional black woman, show- ing that a new age of positive rep- resentation of African-American women in television seemed possi- ble. And she was not alone. Who can forget hardworking, earnest Florida Evans on Good Times? Or the rise of clean-cut, authoritative women such as Claire Huxtable on The Cosby Show? The entire cast of A Different World gave the plan- et various black women of nuance, and characters that showed social promise. And Oprah Winfrey's rise to prominence? These were all amaz- ing examples of the rise of the image of black women. These women signaled that television audiences were finally ready to accept, and even embrace, black women who were empowered, strong, and proud. Soon the '90s ushered in the "girl power" era. Black women knew how to get what they wanted with- out wielding their sexuality as a weapon. Black women were more aggressive and vocal than they had ever been in the past (aside from Blaxploitation film characters in the 1970s such as Foxy Brown and Cleopatra Jones), yet their behavior was directed towards something more significant than handbags, vacations, and shoes. Sisterhood was the overarching theme, and the archetypes were more balanced. Black women were seen as daughters, providers, fight- ers, mothers, sisters, friends. We had Living Single, Moesha, Sister Sister. Some of these shows weren't deep, but at least there was variety and wholesome fun. However, this was to change rap- idly with the advent of two new entertainment genres that initiated a cultural shift towards the prevail- ing image of black women as emo- tionally damaged, hypersexual, predatory Jezebels who are unapologetic for their aggressive, manipulative and occasionally vio- lent behavior: hip hop music and reality television, beginning with MTV's The Real World. Fast forward to today. Shows like Love & Hip Hop have been instru- mental in the warping of televi- sion's black leading lady through the consistent use of harmful his- torical black female stereotypes such as the "Jezebel" and "Tragic Mulatto." Today, here are Angelou's "bitter, twisted lies" with which we are being written into history. Yet, "The negative portrayal of black women has shifted away from music to reality TV," she recently told me in an interview. "Young people are watching music videos less and less, and they are more tuned in to reality show pro- gramming. I'm a viewer of some of these [reality] shows, but I'm also on the other side and see the complete disproportion in how black women are being portrayed on reality TV, especially compared to their white counterparts." To reverse the retread of old stereotypes, I believe audiences need to turn off guilty pleasure pro- gramming and vocally demand more Olivias and Julias to represent a positive, progressive image of black womanhood. You may wonder "what can we do?" But there are women out there thinking, planning, and working to make sure that the image of black women in media continues chang- ing for the good. Valeisha Butterfield-Jones, co- founder and CEO of the Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network (WEEN), established WEEN in 2007 as a response to the overtly misogynistic and hypersex- ual imagery of black women in music videos. She saw how the image of black women was under assault by the media and wanted to do something about it, as an experi- enced television executive. Still, not everyone agrees that fighting the power in this way is the answer. Some believe we must become more empowered as image creators. "Black women are not one col- lective entity; individual defini- tions of self are what's missing from our dialogue," Denalerie Johnson-Faniel, PhD, an African- American History professor and CEO of 3D Management Consulting, LLC, told theGrio. "If we used our own stories and voices to define us then they would see diversity born from a struggle. The worst thing black women can do is start to refute negative images [dur- ing] Women's History month, because that draws attention to it; instead we should offer the on- going alternative focused on the greatness of who we are despite the oppression." Butterfield-Jones has a different perspective on how change can occur. "Responsibility lies with the advertisers and producers," she said. "There needs to be more diversity from a talent standpoint. Talent has to say to themselves, 'At this moment, I'm not going to act a fool, because 1 have a greater responsibility than to just myself."' It remains to be seen if the lead-- ing ladies of reality television will willingly forgo the personal rewards that come at the price of their sisters' well-being. At this moment in our culture, as black women and girls are influ- enced by two opposing poles repre- senting black femininity, how black women intervene on our own behalf might be the factor that determines whether there are images that help us rise. If we don't create or demand them, current images will con- tribute to our demise. Reality TV and the Changing Image of the African-American 'leading lady' Dont March Backward on Gay Rights by Clay Cane, TG This week, the Supreme Court heard arguments on California's Proposition 8 and DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act). Both set a land- scape that could lead to marriage equality on a federal level. Supporters of same-sex marriage are hoping for a clear win on both, but it appears the justices are evenly divided. A decision won't be announced until late June. But social debates about the mat- ter are raging today. From Twitter to the water cooler, many do not understand the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans- gender) fight for civil rights. But look at history when are fights for civil rights ever understood? Women, African-Americans, Native Americans, the poor they were always supposed to "know their place" before they began demand- ing rights. History is also instructive in another regard. In one of the oddest moments of Tuesday's hearing on Prop 8, which banned same-sex marriage in California in 2008, Justice Alito said gay marriage is newer than cell phones and the Internet, so needs a lot of consideration. Huh? There are documentation of same-sex mar- riages dating back to Jack Baker and Michael McConnell, who tried to marry in 1970, but were denied the right. They are still together today. In ancient Egypt, the male couple of Niankhkhnum and Khnumhote - whose joint tomb immortalized their love in 2400 B.C. stand as anoth- er testament. Justices ruling on gay marriage who are uninformed about the lengthy history of such mar- riages is deeply troubling. History will also show that same- sex marriage is not solely an LGBT issue. Marriage equality affects: America at-large, including African-Americans. Expanding the conversation beyond sexual orienta- tion is paramount to understanding a simple fact: all marriage transcends identities. There is much common ground for all to benefit from same- sex marriage, especially for those who seek to improve society over- all. Let's take a look at some key issues that will affect us all in the long run. Immigration: Making marriage equal on a fed- eral level will have an enormous impact on immigration. According to Center for American Progress, 30 percent of the over 900,000 LGBT immigrants living in America are undocumented. The right-wing fears the triple-threat of immigrant, black/brown gays becoming American citizens via same-sex marriage and joining the left. In addition, there is a quiet fear that those "radical" gays might willingly marry an immigrant just so he or she can escape their native country and become a voter. Same-sex marriage is another pathway of citizenship for West Indians, Mexicans or anyone from the continent of Africa to become "legal," especially for those seeking asylum. The powers that be in the GOP are terrified. But this might be a boon to other parties. The Economy: Same-sex marriage boosted the economy in the states where it has passed. When marriage for all cou- ples became legal in New York, New York City's economy saw a growth of $259 million in one year. According to The Williams Institute, same-sex marriage could improve the economy of Maine, Maryland and Washington by $166 million over the next three years. Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama and other states could use a couple hun- dred million extra dollars for educa- tion, poverty aid and social services. Are fanatical beliefs based on selec- tive (and misunderstood) religious texts reason enough to prevent com- munities from growing through this needed revenue? Maybe... America once discharged valuable gay. Arabic linguists from the military during a critical war in the middle east for violating the "don't ask, don't tell" policy in effect at the time. We can tell that was an igno- rant move on many levels now. Will we continue to cut out our gays to spite our "freedom"? Perceived Homophobia in the African-American Community Hurts Us: Not all African-Americans are homophobic, which is a myth that has tainted perceptions of the black community. The perception of African-Americans as anti-gay is damning, especially from a conmnu- nity that is descended from slaves... and don't think there weren't same- sex relationships during the Antebellum South. But since President Barack Obama's personal endorsement of same-sex marriage, African-Americans are supporting marriage equality at higher numbers than before. In November 2012, Edison Research, after a national voter exit poll. reported 51 percent of African-Americans support same-sex marriage for their state. Much of the credit goes to President Obama. but the LGBT community has always been an essential part of the Afiican-American cultural expe- rience we are your family mem- bers, your friends, part of history and, most definitely in the church. And any failure to continue to expand that understanding will hurt us more than anyone else. In August, we celebrate the 50th year of the March on Washington. 1 vote for us to march forward, not backward on marriage equality and all related issues that ensure person- al freedom. Which will you choose? Do you want to be on the wrong side of his- tory? MAILING ADDRESS PHYSICAL ADDRESS TELEPHONE P.O. Box 43580 903 W. Edgewood Ave. (904) 634-1993 Jacksonville, FL 32203 Jacksonville, FL 32208 Fax (904) 765-3803 Email: JfreePress@aol.com Rita Perry PUBLISHER pM CONTRII S E.O.Hutl acksonville Latimer, l'hambe~r E Com imntice Vickle B Sylvia Perry Managing Editor BUTORS: Lynn Jones, Charles Griggs, Camilla Thompson, Reginald Fullwood, hchinson, William Reed, Andre X, Brenda Burwell, Marsha Oliver, Marretta Phyllis Mack, Tonya Austin, Carlottra Guyton, Brenda Burwell, Rhonda Silver, rown, Rahman Johnson, Headshots, William Jackson. 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Enclosed is my check money order for $36.00 to cover my one year subscription. STATE ZIP Why Black Americans Follow Sharpton's Lead There is one optimistic and one despairing way to spin the Zogby ana- lytics poll commissioned by BET founder and mega-businessman Robert L. Johnson on leadership among black Americans. The poll found that the leader garnering the highest percentage of responses was "none of the leaders listed spoke for them." Coming in at a very significant second was Rev. Al Sharpton. One out of four blacks said he's their voice. The negative and despairing way to look at the poll is the one that the usual legion of hit pieces, slams, and digs at black activists and civil rights leaders eagerly grab at whenever the issue comes up. It goes like this: those who purport to be black leaders are puffed up, media-created opportunists who have woefully led blacks astray for decades. How else to explain the hard reality that year in and year out, blacks have the highest rates of pover- ty, joblessness incarceration, and health and educational disparities than any other group? This despite five years of having an African-American in the White House. And President Obama still gets off-the-charts approval ratings from black Americans. On the other hand, the optimistic way to look at the poll is that many blacks identify with recognizable, definable, political and activist voices who speak up and out on, and who fight against, the towering racial and economic ills that plague black people. Six out of ten blacks in the poll were willing to put their finger on someone who they believe best speaks for their interests. This brings us back to Sharpton. He's the "go-to" guy for many blacks for reasons that say as much about him as about the ongoing struggle for equity and justice in America. The long parade of Sharpton bashers still delight in ridiculing and pounding him as an ego-driven, media hogging, race baiting agitator and opportunist who will jump on any cause to get some TV time. But the personal hits on him are nothing more than the rit- ual anti-Sharpton name calling. Turn the attacks on their head, and it becomes apparent why he's popular. He's the subject of the relentless attacks in part because of who many perceive him to be and the influence he has with many blacks, Latinos, the poor and community activists. This is a constituency that no liberal or moderate Democrat, and that certainly includes Obama, can afford to ignore or alienate. Sharpton's long, controversial and militant activism in turn fuels his media pull and image. And that's vital for many blacks since the lines between the two are often blurred. Politicians have long known that a sound bite, photo-op, rock star and Hollywood celebrity allure can mean as much if not more in determining a candidate's political fate than what they have to say about global warming, the deficit, the Iraq and Afghan wars, campaign reform, or the Wall Street meltdown, or even health care reform. Black politicians and various Democratic candidates have leaped over themselves to get mug shots, endorsements, and a spot on the dais at the National Action Network's confabs. At times, even some Republicans have saber rattled fence-sitting white voters with the dread of Sharpton. But Sharpton's media allure wouldn't work without another crucial ingredient for leadership appeal: the possession of a big, booming voice that is not afraid to speak out consistently when there is an injustice. Sharpton fits that bill. But even that's not enough to have broad leadership appeal for blacks. He or she must be perceived as someone who is fearless enough to publicly call racism, racism and a racist a racist. In other words they must stand up to "the man." Those individuals, from Frederick Douglass"~o Marcus Garvey to Malcolm X to Dr. King, had that quality. They anfd iyone like them will always get applause and a warm spot in the hearts of a signifi- cant number of blacks. The fact that there that so many blacks are willing to name someone such as Sharpton as their go-to guy, and that includes, more often than not, the man in the White House, is something that shouldn't be ripped, ridiculed, and certainly not ignored. Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. MAIL TO: JACKSONVILLE FREE PRESS P.O. BOX 43580, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32203 __ Page 4 Ms. Perry's Free Press April 4-10, 2013 "' "''""~~"""'~"