“I wanted to take an opportunity to provide an excerpt from my book “Cell Observation” that will be presented in the near future.” Thank you for taking time out to read this short excerpt!
“Frank and explicit- this is the right line to take when you wish to conceal your your own mind and to confuse the mind of others.”
Benjamin Disraelie
Much can be gathered from this statement from the late British prime minister, Benjamin Disraelie. Applying it to a historical and present day context may add for some interesting dialogue. Specifically, while the institution of slavery has made a lasting impact for generations, its toxicity has shaped thinking for over four hundred years. In fact, hegemonic culture has done a great job in defining the make-up of its society whether explicitly or implicitly. For example, we’ve viewed over time how stereotypes and misrepresented imagery have created a perception of oppressed people around the world. This has been carried out in various segments of society including religion, politics, education, entertainment etc…. The psychological impact of such representation has made it extremely difficult for the oppressed to rid itself of disheartening depiction. According to Niam Akbar, “African Americans suffer from a psychological impact of slavery where we find ourselves struggling to break the hold it has psychologically on our mindset.”
The preponderate amount of stereotypes given specifically to African Americans are profoundly abhorrent in nature. Dominant culture has allowed this to be vividly played out in numerous sectors where many Americans grow up believing in these these stereotypes. Case and point, the entertainment industry serves as an example. Specifically, during the early 20th century, blacks who were talented and needed to support their families were type cast into subservient roles. These roles often portrayed black people as having very little mental aptitude and oftentimes fostered an environment in Hollywood that isolated blacks from more serious roles. These subservient roles were often characterized in the persona of “Amos and Andy and Stepin Fetchit.” Of course, the dialogue currently presented is nothing new or groundbreaking for other scholars such as Akbar have discussed this topic before. However, what we find now in the 21st century, within the world of entertainment is the premise by which certain roles are consistently acknowledged for greatness. For example, the roles of the hoodlum, drug dealer, and feministic black man are applauded or have “the juice” or should I say spew of popular influence in Hollywood. Much of America’s entertainment viewing comes in the form of Reality T.V. It is here, we see that many Americans love these personalities and Hollywood reinforces what the public adores. At cost of not specifically exposing personalities within the Reality T.V. world, a pattern has occurred where black folk have to demonstrate an ability to exert a mixture of either psychopathic, aggressive, and/or black male feministic behavior. Undoubtedly, the mix of these portrayals have increased viewership over time. Further, your major studio productions promoting more intellectually strong black male and female type roles are far few in between in comparison. The question is why? Historically, why have stereotypical roles been applauded over more original portrayals…………
Educational Matters for the Recreational Mind 
“Stereotypical Oppression” fascinating read, Dr. Shane K. Floyd. The portrayal of African American men and women working within the entertainment industry, specifically these reality shows, is quite disturbing at monstrous proportions. We, African Americans, finally, after years of abuse, neglect, unjust persecution and profound bigotry, have a somewhat favorable interest of the “dominant culture” and now we have the audacity, after climbing upon the shoulders of our Ancestors, to make a conscious choice to engage one another in such an oppressive fashion
I dare to believe that the intellectually stimulating, African American, men and women, working within the confines of these stereotypical oppressive roles, would not one day realize that being paid handsomely should not appear to be motivational enough to maintain a career, that symbolizes a demeaning portrayal of the hard work that others who paved the way for them to be in a position to act, would allow the ring master to entice them to continually work under the influence of ignorance!!. I vehemently loathe these demonstrations of wasted intellectual influences, and I refuse to give them my time and or dime. Greed, and fantasized affluenza, have caused the elitist to behave in a way that I believe you stated was, “as having very little mental aptitude…”!
Hollywood no longer has to isolate African Americans from seeking out sophisticated and or soul stirring roles because the few that have been fortunate enough to make it to that level has, in my opinion, dropped the baton. After seeing them perform for the camera in an unfavorable light, makes me in no way want to see them perform in any other. While I am certain that there has to be a show of folks that have high IQ’s, few reality show performers appear to have the aptitude to even hold the baton. Yet, this false sense of acting ability has portrayed African Americans within an imagery that I find distasteful.
We, African Americans, tried for years with some, but very little success, to rid ourselves of the roles of “the hoodlum, drug dealer, and the feministic black man” but what happened to us that would have us drop further down, rather than higher up? I say that we need to readjust our moral compasses and refuse to glamorize these shows and indecent portrayals of African American lifestyles. There has to be a way that the idea of money over morals can be cast aside and remedied by holding out for mind stimulating roles that would aid in the betterment of all people rather than not. After all, how can we fight for our rights to be treated fairly when we celebrate those who are doing the very opposite. Shameful! Thank you, Dr. Shane K. Floyd, for yet another mind-blowing read. I will be back to visit that book of yours when you spring it forth. Great work Sir.
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Awesome post, Dr. Floyd. Hollywood is a problem because they want to keep those stereotypes alive. Hollywood is a huge political machine and sends subliminal messages through it’s movies. It’s those subliminal messages that keep those stereotypes alive. In the past few years, I’ve gotten away from going to the theater because of this very thing. Thank you for addressing this because it’s something that very few people notice.
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Thank you Cherie, I appreciate your feedback regarding this topic. Your awareness is timely, you are truly one of the few who knows what’s behind the mask. Peace and Blessings
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