If a child/teen is ashamed of being black

pattigurlatl wrote: I think everyone is right here. But the issue isn't blame because its a larger picture. The issue is how do you fight it?

Good point.

Teaching your child about the accomplishments of Black people big and small so they know more about them than what negative stereotypes the media likes to put out there and what meager scraps of black history K-12 teaches. Making sure your child is proud of their slave ancestry and know what torture Blacks before them endured in order for them to be seen as equals to most of their white counterparts today. Exposing them to positive Black family and friends and simply letting them know they come from a rich culture.

Making sure you display pride in your Black features. If you make negative comments about Black skin, hair, etc your child picks up on that and learns to hate it too. Y'all know what the heck I'm talking about so don't give me that 'what do you mean by that CC'?

I think that's what parents and family can do on a small scale. Patti, what do you think we should do to fight it on a larger scale?

afrokock wrote: which community we talmbout here? ours or theirs?

IMO both, but with an emphasis on our own. Sure we can demand that the mainstream accepts us and presents more representations of us. But if within our own community, we tear into each other, it's really quite irrelevant what other communities think if your own is not a nurturing/accepting group.

afrokock wrote: thats garbage love

Ok...so, it's more important for a child to want the approval of the mainstream (yt) community? And that child should shun their own AA community in pursuit of the approval of a community that doesn't necessarily nurture & understand the unique issues facing a child reared in the AA community?

So in other words, it's ok if the AA community doesn't foster a nurturing environment that encourages each other to excel and take pride in themselves for what makes them unique as well as the collective accomplishments of their peers and ancestors?

i think media/society.
When I was really young I really wanted my hair to be straight and bouncy from watching all of the commercials with the yt women and the shampoo. Back then I think JFM relaxer commercials were really popular so I figured if I used that my hair would bounce and shine like the white women on TV.
I've never seen my mother put a relaxer in her hair, although she doesnt have the stereotypical 4a/b/c hair and she wouldnt relax my hair. I dont remember what her explanation was but I do know eventually she gave in and i really wish she hadnt now

eanaj5 wrote: There really needs to be more natural hair commercials, i think i've seen one...