AFRICAN AMERICAN ENTERTAINERS STILL PLAYING DEGRADING ROLLS

On one of the few blog sites I still frequent, Anna Renee Is Still Talking, questions whether blacks should still play degrading rolls.  Addressing whether actors today should accept acting jobs that could be seen as degrading.  Her story begin around the period of Hattie McDaniel or of Lincoln Theodore Monroe Andrew Perry known in Hollywood as Stepin Fetchit.  Rolls that by the 1960's were considered "uncle Tom" parts.  In light of the advance of the Civil Rights movement these rolls were now demeaning to the race and were frowned upon during the time period.  Certainly, today we understand these were the only parts offered to blacks and if not taken would have delayed opening the door for African Americans into Hollywood, so that those that no longer had to take those parts could thrive.

Yet, with the advancement of the Civil Rights Movement and the Black Power Movement, there seems to be a new emergence of degrading rolls into the mainstream beginning during the 1990's that is dividing the black population socially.  During the 1970's, there emerged a consciousness among whites of the time that created a disparity in social culture that became known as the Generation Gap.  As a black youth coming up at that time, there didn't truly appear to be a generation gap so much among African Americans.  There was the adoption of long hair, and clothing style amongst those 18 to 25 in the early 70's,  but not such a social gap.  The common thread that tied those over 30 and those younger was black liberation.

Today however, there is most certainly a divergence in the social consciousness of today's African American youth.  Gone is the sense of black liberation.  Today's youth are under the false notion that somehow "getting money" is liberation.  Rising into society via the educational system is no longer a tool in the fight against racism and white supremacy (Brilliant Dumb: Notes On A Lost Generation).  In fact, white supremacy is only an irritant that lingers over the proverbial shoulder of today's youth only to be noticed when something so blatant as a hood and white sheet appears.   However, nothing so obvious as a white sheet and hood will necessarily become part of their reality and the white supremacy that dictates their movement in life is being over looked.

Our youth are playing degrading rolls in the pursuit of getting money to alleviate their sense of imprisonment, a life without money.  Yet, most never gain liberation after getting money.  Rapper T.I. was recently released from prison, to be imprisoned again shortly after his release.  In today's society, he is not viewed as a victim of "the man's" laws, but will increase in credibility among the youth of today.  The people of generation of 45 and older, that were reared during the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements knew we would be bringing shame and embarrassment to our families, and that to bring shame on the family was a non cipher.  African American entertainers are in fact playing degrading rolls each time one of them embraces the Gangsta motif.  The booty shakin' women, drug boy rolls.  They are the enemy of the state.

The images of gangstazz rappaz like Rick Ross,  T.I., and Lil Wayne.  Athletes like Pittsburgh Steelers James Harrison or Cincinnati's Adam "Pacman" Jones' behavior is seen as what is good and strong among the youth, but divide the generations among African Americans as never before.  

Sadly, many in the generation ages of 45 to 55 have played a part in the demise of the black collective.  This previous generation reared the current young generation.  So, what went wrong?  Many in the age group of 45 to 55 swallowed the blue pill of the Matrix, put their heads down into the sand and refused to further educate themselves.  The "pacification" techniques utilized during the Viet Nam War worked tremendously well in the United States against previous generation, and stunted any possible growth as we were the inheritors of the victory of the Civil Rights Movement.  This group felt no further need to read, and educate along the lines of Huey, Malcolm and Martin.  We of the preceding generation may be the root cause for today's generation gap.