CHILDREN SPEAK TRUTH; ADULTS? Well.... - AfroChat - African American

Baba Ahmed · August 11th, 2006, 01:41 PM

http://mediathatmattersfest.org/6/a_girl_like_me/

I wonder is this a standardized testing? It's old stuff; note young Kiri credits Dr. Kenneth Clark.

What comments does it stimulate from y'all? Have u noticed anything similar? Do u think its "unscientific" and thus meaningless?

Lets discuss with as much honesty that our egos will allow.... Kwame

Samoon · August 11th, 2006, 04:09 PM

Indeed, Baba. I am very familiar with Dr. Clark's work. As a matter of fact, with his unfortunate passing in 2005? or 2006? as usual, I got my "clippins" about the brother's demise from a few right-wing as well as some local Black papers to add to my ever-growing historical album (for I do not want to limit my instruction on our rich culture by restricting accomplishments to "just Martin L. King and Brother Malcolm" (with all due respect to both).

Moving on, the experient that Dr. Clark conducted years ago...unfortunately...this remains common today...Media imagery influence...existing color-caste system "in the ranks" that still causes division in dark vs. light. This is not just common in our children, for the brain-washing has had far-reaching repercussions in adults as well. And yes, the indoctrination does begin EARLY...if one is not at a conscious state.

This particular scenario is one that remains heart-wrenching to me because of an informal study where the results were directly shared with me...

The tragedy? A personal friend did an experiment with dolls on the west coast circa 1999 with two (suburbanites) black girls ages 6 and 9 years of age. Using Dr. Clark's method, with some revisions, the end result for BOTH of these young girls was that they repeatedly rejected the black dolls...all of them. And dolls of varying hues were actually included in the experiment. Needless to say, when the parents were informed...they expressed disbelief and shock. I'd bet stock on it that there are many more cases like this one "out there." Scenarios like this are why we must be remain vigilant about who teaches our children, the "planned" lesson plans that are presented to them ranging from IEP's (Individualized Education Profiles), behavior managment, organization, standardized tests, to "mandated" school forms and so forth.

Good read and thank you, Baba!

Baba Ahmed · August 13th, 2006, 01:00 PM

Greetings Samoon,

There's a personal issue here too. Countless white dolls, w/blonde "hair" and blue eyes, I've trashed. Then there're the brown painted dolls with same features of "Barbie Dolls." Out they go too, from my house. These belonged to granddautas...so, who introduced that weighty problem? Their mamas, our daughtas!

Stay BlackRadiant, my sista Samoon...

Aluta continua (the struggle continues)

stiab3 · August 22nd, 2006, 05:19 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17fEy0q6yqc&eurl=

Came across this video on youtube.

Think it raises some valid points about how we as black women see ourselves and how our children are so conditioned to see white as better.

It broke my heart to see the children picking the white doll repeatedly.

s3

Samoon · August 22nd, 2006, 06:38 PM

Stiab3,

You might want to also check out Baba Ahmed's (Kwame) post that he presented on August 11th. He spoke on this subject as well. Be well.

CHILDREN SPEAK TRUTH; ADULTS? Well....

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://mediathatmattersfest.org/6/a_girl_like_me/

I wonder is this a standardized testing? It's old stuff; note young Kiri credits Dr. Kenneth Clark.

What comments does it stimulate from y'all? Have u noticed anything similar? Do u think its "unscientific" and thus meaningless?

Lets discuss with as much honesty that our egos will allow.... Kwame

darkreign · August 23rd, 2006, 08:43 AM

samoon

Good point about “media imagery”

The whites here in america get the majority of their learning about blacks not through personal relationships but through images the media show them. This is most true for television. Hidden messages about race are sent out among the populous here in America and abroad by way of the entertainment industry. (Sitcoms, movies, commercials, etc…)

Look at sistas in the movies, they are shown using profanity a lot more that white women. Denzel made that masterpiece “X” ,but lost out to a talking pig ‘babe” but he won when he played a rouge cop (what does that say). And here is something to watch for, how many times have you seen a black touch a white in commercials? But whites do it all the time. This hierarchy of racial preference is deeply rooted within the casting of commercials and movies. Look at truck commercials all white, every one of them. And the network news is as guilty as sin.

Black appear mostly in crime and sports story but rarely are they shown making a social contribution. And my last point. Look how long this “jon bonet ramsey” case has been over with and look at the news. It seemed as if they were not going to rest until they found the killer of this “white” girl. There is no way this much time and resources would have been expended if this child was black.

stiab3

"It broke my heart to see the children picking the white doll repeatedly"

This is the reason why I daughter only gets black dolls, and people look at us funny when they are ask to get our kids only things that represent us. For those of us that is old enough to remember, white dolls (Barbie) only came in white. and it was the same when it came to the male toys like Gi-Joe.

I use to think that whites invented everything and made everything b\c that’s all I saw on tv (commercials, news, etc..) we even associated sandwich bread with white folks b\c we ate biscuit bread for breakfast and lunch and cornbread for dinner; our sandwiches were even made out of biscuit bread.

robbboy2003 · August 23rd, 2006, 11:43 AM

That is why you must be aware. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. I stay vigilant angry,if you will,because i know those who have some power in this world can be and or often unrightous and unjust. I am a proud ABM!

Baba Ahmed · August 24th, 2006, 09:00 AM

I know this may sound kooky but the doll images got so deep, my wife used to help our daughters make their own dolls, without features: didn't know how to. All with Black coverings. We got the idea after see'n some dolls made in Mali, West Afrika. The Barbie Dolls were painted brown, but features remained as original barbie dolls. "Hair" was the same, etc.

I take a similar approach re printed labels and messages on shirts in spite of what children and young adults'll say: oh! it doesn't matter; or I don't know what it means, but its only words!!!! Or a name!!! I often tell them to check definition of some of the names for automobiles, that quietly promote Greek and Roman gods.

They're (our children and their friends) are told to put the names of their parents or their own names on shirts, etc and to stop b n unpaid walking advtg agents.

Can't blame yt; we should be so proud but more open. Our people need to know this battle for minds is real and living color and colorlessness.

The TV is an open promoter of sublimated racists portrayals. Yeah, Im like robbboy2003 and to be vigilant is a watchword.

Samoon · August 24th, 2006, 08:06 PM

Baba?

You are VERY astute! For many of the things that we see in present-day Amerikka actually emulate Roman history, culture and rule. Thus, the impact on any and all under-served people. This is a HEAVY statement, one which requires more dialogue on the "affect" of how Roman hx. still has a prevailing influence on Amerikkan culture as we see it.