7 DECEMBER 2018 BODY OF CHRIST NEWS Television teaches us that beautiful is blonde- haired, blue-eyed white skin and the opposite of beautiful is the opposite of blonde hair, blue-eyed, white skin which is nappy hair, black skin, black hair, thick lips, a wide nose — Dr. Khalid Al-Mansour, PhD The year is 2003 A.D. and African-Americans con- tinue to be ashamed of their heritage and who they are. Many Blacks still prefer lighter skin tones amongst ourselves. African-American women dye their hair blonde and some even wear blue, green and grey contacts. African-Americans in positions of authority refuse to select other African-Americans as partners, head coaches, leaders or directors. The root cause for such aberrant behavior lies in our lack of self-esteem, stolen from us during slavery, and over 40 genera- tions later, continues to plague Black America. One influence in our world that keeps many African-Americans from possessing God-given pride and a sense of love and respect for one another is television programming and other forms of mass media. Author, educator and friend of the Black community, Dr. Khalid Al-Mansour addressed the issue of the lack of self-esteem that the major- ity of Black America suffers from. Referring to the period of black slav- ery, Dr. Mansour noted that Blacks are unwilling or ashamed to talk about slavery, or to openly acknowledge its consequences. Because they can- not acknowledge its negative effects, they are unable to celebrate Black America’s triumph over it. “Blacks are not secure enough in their own minds to look at slavery and use it as an opportunity to build unity, solidar- ity and economics. They are still very sensitive about the issue and unable to progress as a people because we are still at the bottom of the socio- economic ladder. Therefore, many Blacks view their status as a type of quasi-slavery.” Al-Mansour pointed out other groups who came to America around the time of black slaves, such as the Jews, Irish, Russians, Chinese and Japanese moved up the socio- economic ladder and became more comfortable looking at their periods of hardship and deprivation, whereas Blacks have remained at the bottom socially and economically. Even today, Puerto Ricans, Russians, Ethiopians, Mexicans and Arabs come to America and within a reasonable period of time are doing well, climbing the socio-economic ladder. The Black American phenomenon of generational socio-economic frustration and depri- vation shows its harmful effects in nearly every aspect of Black life. For instance, because Black people are still sensitive about slavery and our current position in America, they still have the inner oppressive conflict that they must please white people and be like white people. This shame and overt lack of identity causes them to not want to be around themselves, not respect each other and to try to assim- ilate into a white society. Al-Mansour stated that most Blacks have a hard time taking a Black publication such as the BOCN, Jet or Ebony to their jobs, afraid that actually liking them- selves and being involved in the Black community, could possibly suggest to whites that we do not like them, that we want to be by ourselves or we do not share their same values. Such instability on the part of Blacks shows the depth of the damage we suffered in slavery and how critical it is that we begin to seek healing and restoration for our minds and emotions. Black people still feel they have to be approved of by whites and will do anything to have this approval. Being accepted by whites is a high priority for most Blacks. Unfortunately, Al-Mansour says that in the future, this pattern of Blacks seeking to please whites and be like them will worsen, fueled by television and mass media campaigns which will continue to tele- vise programs of white men and white women in romantic situations, giving whites a subconscious sense of self-worth, while simultaneously nurturing self-hatred and low self-esteem in Blacks. “Television teaches us that “beautiful” is blonde-haired, blue- eyed white skin and the opposite of beautiful is the opposite of blonde hair, blue eyes, white skin, which is nappy hair, black skin, black hair, thick lips a wide nose… With this message reinforced every day on the television and other forms of mass media, Black children grow up with an inferiority complex. They become psychologically cannibalistic towards each other – calling each other names, and acting violent towards one another – behaviors they were taught in slavery, that are reinforced by the media, and maintained in the home. Black people need their own media where they can define and encourage our Television: The Real Enemy Continued on Page 17 BOCN ARCHIVES By Body of Christ News