[Blackwatch]

This has always been the question when it comes to images of blacks in the entertainment media, what is an approriate representation of "black life"?

I stress two things here,

-1. I am talking about entertainment media, not news or public television, but that part of the media that is supposed to be in the realm of our artistic expression of ourselves.

-2. Considering that images in the entertainment media can, and often times do, shape our perception of reality; what can we as black people afford to show as appropriate representations of ourselves? (Considering that all types of media constantly show a negative portrait of "black life").

I think that these two points should inform our view of what we expect from our artistic community when it comes to the images in the media. No, I do not think that it is reading too much into "Barbershop" to critique it for its portrale of black life and community in a barbershop. I think as self loving people we must be critical of how we portray ourselves artistically, whether it is movies, music, or theater and painting etc. Because as Bro. Dr. W.E.B. DuBois tells us, "All art is proporganda" which means it shapes our beliefs and perceptions and therefore our lives.

With that being said, I think that we can't afford to let everything slide as just "entertainment". We have to be self critical as to how the images can effect us. When a subtle message about black college educated people comes across in a movie like "barbershop", that message can become part of our perception. Is it reality, meaning something that someone may see in there life, yes, but does that mean that this reality should become hegemonic-in other words a given that this is the way things have to be in our collective thoughts? No. But it can become so if we are not critical of it ourselves.

Blackwatch!!!!!!!