Advertisements, sitcoms on TV, and movies seem to be obsessed in presenting Blacks in biracial relationships. It seems as if it is unpopular to see Blacks in relationships with other Blacks. We are seeing biracial married people, couples, or significant others, inundating our screens. No doubt, a subliminal message is being sent.
Is Blackness being devalued unless you are with someone of another race? No one can tell anyone who to love or not to love, but too often the loved one isn’t of our race. This may be perceived as problematic when promoting Black unity and consciousness for a people who have been trivialized and dehumanized since their arrival in this country.
Black people share a historic bond and reality that their White counterparts cannot identify with. Our strength and perseverance have come from our shared pain and much fought for accomplishments and achievements. Some may argue that consistently pairing Blacks with other races sends the wrong message to young Blacks—trivializing our worth unless paired with another race (usually White).
Preferring to date or marry within your own race is an established custom and practice among most races or ethnic groups and only becomes a problem when one manifests hostile disdain against another race. Some Blacks feel that heralding biracial relationships with Whites aids in diluting the historic severity or significance of White mistreatment of Blacks, negating the need for amends or reparations.
Depicting biracial relationships can be seen as accepting Blacks as admirable human beings, dismissing old racially motivated stereotypes. But many Blacks have come to love and be extremely proud of themselves and their race. They don’t feel they have to be validated or accepted by being in a relationship with Whites. Biracial relationships with Whites may appear to be endearing and a sign of Black acceptance, but it also send a message that being with Whites makes Blacks better.
The media’s role in aggressively promoting a biracial agenda, raises eyebrows and makes some question if they have an esoteric agenda. We must be aware the media has always been a major factor in setting as well as promoting social roles and the climate of our country through their presentation of news, TV, and movies. This power allows these venues to exaggerate, manipulate, and even control the social behavior and pulse of the nation. Unfortunately as a rising and gullible society, we are quick to believe what is presented before us—whether true or fabricated.
Remember when the media went out of their way to depict Blacks and people of color in a negative light? Blacks were depicted for the most part as immoral, unmotivated thugs, gangsters, and drug dealers. We were portrayed as highly promiscuous and inferior. It was a well-orchestrated moment to devalue the worth of African Americans.
But the truth has a way of rising to the surface, regardless how deep it is buried. The world couldn’t deny what they saw with their own eyes: the intellect, achievement and accomplishments of the people they had been taught to despise. But you must realize depicting Blacks in a negative light was done intentionally to promote a self-serving agenda for Whites who profited by subjugating African Americans. The extent and magnitude of this deceit is so in-depth that it carries over today in our institutions and companies. It has been ingrained in discriminatory practices and hidden with sometimes blatant racism.
I hope that no one attempts to suggest that this article is promoting hate. Love is free and universal. But for African Americans to love outside their race, it should be for the right reasons—not because they feel other races are better than their race. You cannot truly love others if you don’t love yourself. Historically, a horrific mind game has been initiated to program Blacks to hate and distrust each other.
Blacks need to work together to undo the harm done historically by coming together in love and unity. Dismissing past myths and learning to truly love each other only makes you a more loving human being. Blacks need to play catch-up in learning to love each other by forming a strong bond of unity before intentionally looking outside their race for acceptance.
