Light Skinned with Good Hair: the Role of the Media and Christianity in the Maintenance of Self-Hatred in African Americans

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AUTHOR Akintunde, Omowale TITLE Light Skinned with Good Hair: The Role of the Media and Christianity in the Maintenance of Self-Hatred in African Americans. PUB DATE Jan 97 NOTE 9p.; In: VisionQuest: Journeys toward Visual Literacy. Selected Readings from the Annual Conference of the International Visual Literacy Association (28th, Cheyenne, Wyoming, October, 1996); see IR 018 353. PUB TYPE Opinion Papers (120) Speeches/Meeting Papers (150) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC01 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Aesthetic Values; *Blacks; Christianity; *Mass Media Effects; Mass Media Role; Physical Attractiveness; Racial Bias; Racial Differences; Religious Factors; *Self Concept; *Self Esteem; Social Cognition; Social Influences IDENTIFIERS *African Americans; Hairstyles; Skin Color

ABSTRACT This paper explores how feelings of self-hatred in African Americans are perpetuated through media and the standard physical and ideological manifestations of Christianity. The notion that skin that is closer to white and hair that is closer to white are both more desirable attributes is a dominant theme underlying the African American experience. The implications of such a notion (being African American is unattractive) cannot survive as a singular pejorative idea; it must be reinforced from every possible social milieu. Yet most African Americans deny or are at least unaware on a conscious level of the impact of their perceptions of these phenomena on the formulation of their self-image. The consequences of such pervasive beliefs erects a social, psychological, and cultural construct which leads African Americans to believe they are inferior by virtue of their birth. Examples include:(1) in film and music videos, the concept of the white female as more desirable is perpetuated, so that African American women spend millions of dollars each year on products to make them look like white women;(2) in a study of four-year old African American girls, researchers found that there was a clear majority preference for white dolls;(3) African American comedy as evidenced on television is also replete with self-deprecation and with black audiences who laugh at it;(4) feelings of self-hatred perpetuated and ensconced in the standard physical and ideological manifestations of Christianity, through images of a white God. Until racially biased images are eliminated, the notion that all humans are not equal will persist. (AEF)

******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ******************************************************************************** Light Skinned With Good Hair: The Role Of The Media And Christianity In The Maintenance Of Self-Hatred In African Americans by Omowale Akintunde Abstract Most African Americans deny or are at least unaware on a conscious level ofthe impact of the media and Christianity on the formulation of their self-image. The phrase "light-skinned with good hair"isstillcommonplace within the African American vernacular. What is particularly remarkable about this reality is the lack of recognition of this cultural phenomenon as indication of a deep, subliminally anchored self-hatred. This paper explores how feelings of self-hatred in African Americans are perpetuated through media and the standard physical and ideological manifestations of Christianity.

Light-Skin, Good Hair: What's The Americans have such a low perception of Media Got To Do With It themselves.On the surface, the import of There has been little attention paid to the such a basic acceptance of a group of people politics of hair texture and skin color within isnot evidentnot eventothemselves. the contextofthe African-American Becausethenaturalhairanddarker Experience. Most African Americans deny complexions of African Americans are in or are at least unaware on a conscious level and of themselves considered unattractive, of the impact of their perceptions of these the resultant psychology and social attitude phenomena on the formulation of their self- arethat being an African Americanis image. The phrase "light-skinned with good unattractive.Conversely, since light skin hair" is still commonplace within the African and straight hair are considered in and of American vernacular.What is particularly themselves attractive attributes, the resultant remarkable about this reality is the lack of psychology and social attitude is that being recognition of this cultural phenomenon as white is attractive. indication of a deep, subliminally anchored The consequences of such pervasive beliefs self-hatred. erects a terrifying social, psychological, and This, however,is not to lay blame on culturalconstructwhichleadsAfrican African Americans.These perceptions are Americans to believe that they are inferior by born out of the oppressive state in which virtue of their birth status and European African Americans are forced to live and as Americans to falsely believe that they are with any society based on an oppressor- superior by virtue of theirs. These feelings, oppressed relationship, the oppressed are not constructs, and social interactions are not to be blamed for their own oppression. The always conscious and deliberate. In most all self-hatred as expressed throughAfrican instances they are so deeply entrenched in Americans' obsession and affirmation of the very fibers of our psyches thatitis "light skin" and "good hair" is a reaction to impossible to be aware of when and how racism. Thus, this and similar conditions are these inclinations manifest themselves.A bestcharacterizedas"racist-reactionist few minutes of video-watching on BET phenomena." These phenomena though (Black Entertainment Television) will clearly directly resultant from overt racism are now demonstrate what I mean. perpetuated through other conduits such as Here, one may view hour after hour of self- the media. hatred conditioning. Light-complexioned Given the preponderance of media images African American women with long (often and racist dognia that continually portray the synthetic) hair writhe suggestively in scant skin and hair of African Americans as ugly attire. Theselight-skinned,longhair and unattractive, it is no wonder that African "beauties" are often depicted as objects of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Off ice of Educational Research and Improvement "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION BEST COPY AVAILABLE MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as 161 received from the person or organization Alice D. Walker originating it. Minor changes have been made to TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES improve reproduction quality. 2 INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)."

Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent . . desire for African American men, while the variations of this same theme with other African American men themselves are often noted African American male performers. depicted as the embodiment of White sexual The Bill Cosby Showisalsoa prime fantasy: black,bald, muscle-bound, and example of thisphenomenon. Inthis virile. While this depiction appears the situation comedy, Bill Cosby, a dark African antithesis of the lig:it-skinned with good hair American male is married to a light skinned syndrome, it is not.In depicting only light woman with long, straight hair.All of the skinned,long-hairedAfricanAmerican daughtershavethesesameattributes. women as desirable to African American However, the other black male in the family, men, these attributes are reaffirmed.To the son, is dark like the father. apply the concept of light-skin with good Of course African American men and hairasattractiveattributesof African women both suffer tremendously from such American men as the norm is contrary to the images but perhaps the African American historical image of African American men as female suffers even more. For in addition to brainless, animal-like, studs whose ultimate being portrayed as being beautiful only when desire is the acquisition and deflowering of she is light complexioned with long hair she the White female for whom these attributes is also made to suffer the woes of sexism. In are the norm. such videos she is reduced not only to being This concept of the "black buck" whose a facsimile of herself but also a sexual sole life endeavor is "having a white woman" object.Given the preponderance of such has been a popular visual media image since imagesandacceptedattitudes about the inception of the form.D.W. Griffith's ourselves,itisa wonder thatAfrican "Birth of a Nation," one of America's earliest Americans prosper at all. One may only say filmproductions,clearlyillustratesthis that the fact that African Americans are cultural view. In one segment of this film, a surviving is an undeniable indication of their white woman is pursued relentlessly by an tenacity. African American male (actually played by a More important than the fact of media white actor in "black face"). As the woman depiction of African Americans as desiring runs desperately through a forest, shefinds to be Europeans, is the horrible side effects herself at a cliff.Her pursuer approaching of suchaninclination. Most African her from the rear, she is faced with a horrible American women will straighten their hair dilemma: stand there at the edge of the cliff their entire lives without ever allowing it to and await the "dehumanization" of being revert to back to its natural state. Hair in the "taken" by the African American male or natural state is considered "nappy" and most jump off the cliff.Of course, given the undesirable. Contrast thisto the social "catch-22" of such a situation she decides perception of white women whose hair is death is preferable. considered beautiful in its natural state which Contemporary Rhythm and Blues and Rap isstraight. It then becomes clear why videos are merely a variation upon these African American women spend millions of themes. Since African American men dollars each year on products to make them engaging in romantic liaisons with white look like white women naturally. One can women is still taboo in the film world,the easily see how such thinly-veiled selfhatred next best thing will have to do: He pursues can only yielddevastatingresults. In the African American woman who appears rejecting that which is natural to youis to white. Video after video reinforces this reject one's self.There isa subliminal notion. An excellent example is the Melvin message here: You are naturallyugly. Riley video "Whose is It?"In this video, a Contrast this with the psycheof white shirtless, bald, black, Melvin Riley asks a women. White women maywake up in the very light complexioned womanwith long morning knowing that their hair isbeautiful hair over and over "whose is it?" We can see as it is.The hair need only be stylednot 162 BEST COPYAVAILABLE "fixed." Add to that the fact that millions of hair is now straight. The young girl in this African American women spend millions of adissmilingverybroadlyseemingly dollars a year to have hair that looks like especiallycontentthatthereisahair yours. There is a subliminal message here, straightening product "just for her." too: You are naturally beautiful. There is no Ironically, such ads are quite prominent in waythatpersonsengagedinsucha African American publications and during syndrome can be considered of healthy mind. television shows that are targeted to the For such a syndrome sets up a negative self- African American population. Since Madam image for the African American woman and C. J. Walker, who became the first African afalse sense of self for the European Americanwomanmillionairewiththe American woman. invention of the straightening comb, there The Clark Doll Study is clear illustration have been many other African American that the syndrome of self-hatred in African companies and entrepreneurs who have made American women starts at an early age.In quite lucrative livings selling such products this study of four-year old African American of self-hatred to themselves. girls, the researchers found that there was a Because African Americans harbor such a clear majority preference for white dolls. deep resentment of themselves and because One only need look in a classroom of this self-hatred is so deeply enmeshed within African American elementary children to see the very fabric of their consciousness, they this phenomenon in effect. If one were to do unknowingly perpetuate the very conditions so, you would see young pre-teen girls with which oppress them. It is my contention that straightened hair and even hair additions. because of this deeply entrenched self-hatred How can we expect healthy adult psyches to that the liberation of African Americans is result when at a such an early age it is being not eminent because in order for a people to communicated to you that you are naturally attain liberation they must first feel worthy ugly.This is further important in that it of such liberation.In short, you must first illustrateshowAfricanAmericansare love yourself. We must ask ourselves why it contributing to their own self-hatred which is is that for most African Americans Robin a necessary component of oppression. Givens is beautiful and Whoopi Goldberg is The African American male contributes not. We must seek to understand how the equally to this phenomenon in that such light-skinned, good hair syndrome causes attributes in African American women are African Americans to disenfranchise other his expectation. One student that I worked African Americans and dissipates the unity with at the University of Missouri, who that is necessary for the liberation of African himself is very dark complexioned, defended peoples. hisattractiontoonlywhiteorlight Videos are not the only medium through complexioned women in that he wanted to which self-hatred in African Americans is have "pretty" babies. The media perpetuated. "Def Comedy Jam," a popular unequivocally supports such notions. In HBO comedy show, is a prime example. addition to ads for products that straighten Week afterweekAfrican American the hair for adult African American females comedians come out and tell jokes reeking of such as "Bone Strait" and "Dark and Lovely" self-hatred to a mostly African American are ads pushing hair-straightening products audience who guffaw uncontrollably.The targeteddirectlyatAfricanAmerican comediansoftenaddresstheaudience children.One such product is"Just for directly with quips like "Nigger you so black, You."In one ad for this product, a young for a minute I thought your seat was empty" African American girlis pictured with an or "Man, you so black you would leave a adult African Americanwoman, both with fingerprint on charcoal."Not only do the long, straight hair.They are both smiling, audience members not find these "jokes" obviously proud of the fact that their "nappy" offensive, they, too, revel in the laughter.In 163 one episode a comedian pointed to one Americans banned together to demand their female African American wearing her hair right to equal citizenry, most are unaware of naturally and quipped, "Your hair so short, I the contingents of African-Americans who can see your thoughts!" More laughter. had to patrol the bus stops daily often having Ironically,eventheAfricanAmerican to physically assault other African women who try desperately to live up tothis Americans to prevent them from boarding African American male beauty expectation the buses. Their reason for having to board of long, straight hair fare no better. Weave the bus: money.It seemed survival for the and extension jokes are also par for the moment for some was more attractive than course.In another episode one comedian life-long liberation and the assurance of a targeted an African American female in the better life for their offspring. audience with long, artificial hair and joked, Because one frail woman refused to be "I bet ain't a horse in Central Park got a tail treated as second-class citizenry, despite the tonight."Thus a vicious cycle is in place economic woes it must have caused her, all here where theAfrican American male African Americans have earned that right. expects the African American female to look That is short term sacrifice for long term like a white woman who in turn uses every gratification.No one seems to remember cosmetic deception to realize this expectation these events now. Ironically,it was a and is then demeaned for the artificiality of Whoopi Goldberg movie, "The Long Walk her looks. On the other hand, the African Home," which illustrates these events from American female who opts for her own the perspective I have presented. In the film natural beauty is also ridiculed mercilessly. she portrays a maid who got up very early in. Another HBO comedy show, "Snaps!" the morning to walk to work because she made no attempts to be anything other than a refused to support a system that oppressed vehicle of self-hatred. Here teams of African her. Her own family was very poor while the Americans went center stage and said the white people for whom she worked were most derogatory things that theycould to quite well off.At the beginning of the each other.Of course "You so black..." boycott, her boss' wife, played by Sissy jokes were rampant. The person who Spacek, would drive her to work each derided the opponent best received "snaps" morning. But even after she stopped driving (scoring points) and the derided opponent her, she continued to walk. was eliminated.This continued until the In this instance the media provided us with mostdespicableput-downofAfrican a powerful message:not even money can Americans imaginable had been spoken and compensateforoppression. If African allof one team was eliminated. The Americans inthat era had giveninto remaining African Americans were declared economic pressures we would still be riding "the winners." on the back of the bus. And so Iask, "Would Of course, capitalism plays a role here, too. it have been worth it to ride the bus and we Many African Americans will defend such still be in the same social and economic horrid shows astheaforementionedas status of African Americans in the 1950's?" vehicles to stardom for African American entertainers. Here the age-old American Light Skin, Good Hair: What's God concept that money, that is, slips of papers Got To Do With It with pictures of former white male slave- Feelings ofself-hatred in African owners, is reason enough to perpetuate your Americans are perpetuated and ensconcedin own oppression, rears itsugly head.This thestandardphysicaland ideological propensity was illustrated best during the manifestations of Christianity.Statues of Montgomery Bus Boycott of the1950's. white men on crosses depicted as Christ,the While most African Americans are pride- "saviour" are, for example, commonplacein filledwiththethoughtthatAfrican- 164 5 EST COPY MAILABLE the African American Christian church. A dogma they comprise the "Holy Trinity" and greatmanyAfricanAmericansgather are to be considered and conceived of as one. frequently to kneel before such images and This is important because ifone were to pray for salvation. Children are taught argue that our culture offers a physical mythological tales in storybooks illustrated representation of Christ but not God himself, with all white characters: angels, saints, and this argument must be countered with the even the mother of Christ herself. charge that itis Christian doctrine which On a superficial level the contribution of clearly states that God and Christare the theaforementioned practices to the same. destruction of the African American psyche On a another level, one mightcounter the and their subjection to subsequent argument ingenetic terms. If Jesusis unrelenting oppression may not be portrayed in our culture as a whiteman and immediately apparent.However, when one the mother who gave birth (but not humanly begins to understand the operative conceived) him is also a white woman, is it psychology behind the worship of images really such a leap then to extrapolate from contrarytoone'sownattributesand this that God himself is a whiteman.Of additionally takes into account the historical course, deeply entangled inthis kind of oppression of African people in America dogma is a very sexist stance also. God of based on the very Christian-Judeo doctrine course is a man. He is God the Father. Also from whichtheyseek"salvation,"the important is that his first born and only child detriment not only should become apparent is a male child.Since in Christian doctrine but ruefully despised for its cunning and mostoftenwomenareportrayedas contradiction. despicable sexual beings who by virtue of One might argue that God is "colorless." their inherent prodigious animal-like That is, that he is exempt from any of the sexuality have corrupted men and because of socialstigmas,stereotypes, and negative that sexuality have posited themselves as the social connotations that we as a society have very obstacletomalechastity, the come to regard as concomitant with human conception of Christ had to be through non- existence.But it is this very assertion that sexual means. How could God himself fall God iscolorless that supports the very for the temptations of woman who has argument which purports itself to be the caused the failure of mortal men. Consider antithesis of racist dogma and oppression. If the following biblical scriptures: colororracewerenotanimportant considerationin the practice of Christian "And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to indoctrination why isit even important to fall upon Adam and he slept, and he took one establish God's freedom from such a system of his ribs and closed up the flesh instead of thought or ideology? The reason is clear: thereof And the rib, which the Lord God Race isimportant to the acceptance of had taken from man, made woman, and Christianityasthebasisforhuman brought her unto the man. And Adam said experience. this is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my If religion were only an ideological practice flesh, she shall be called woman, because as it is sometimes professed to be then how she was taken out of man." Genesis 3:22,23 the image of God or Christ, the son of God, is manifested in reality would be unnecessary "Unto the woman he said, I will greatly or at least insignificant.Thus individuals multiply the sorrow and thy conception in would be free to construct for themselves sorrow thou shalt bring forth children, and what the physicalization of God would be. It thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he is also important to note that when we speak shall rule over thee. And unto Adam he said, of God, we are speaking concurrently of Because thou has hardened unto the voice of Christ and the Holy Ghost as in Christian thy wife, and has eaten of the tree, of which I 165 commanded thee saying, Thou shalt not eat Europeans. Theillustrations in their of it cursed is the ground for thy sake, in treasured bibles depict Christ and all of his sorrow shalt thou eat all the days of thy life". contemporaries (eveninEgypt) as being Europeans.Many have Michael Angelo's ThusaccordingtoChristianbiblical depiction of Christ prominently displayed on doctrine not only is woman the cause of the the walls of their homes. The April 8, 1996 fall of "mankind", she is robbed of her role cover of Life magazine was of a blonde, of generator of human life. Christian dogma European male, as Christ.Black Catholics would have us to believe that humankind regard the pope, a white European male, as originated from the "collaboration" of two being God's liaisonto common humans. white men. No. God cannot copulate. This Now, I say, how can you expect a people humanizes him and causes him to be victim whose belief in Christianity is the anchor in to the female sexuality that has corrupted their lives to escape this cycle of self-hatred, males from the beginning.This image of victimization,and oppression when they woman as being the species responsible for worship the very force that enslaves them. the whole notion of human suffering must Thus, in physicalizing Christ in a human remain sacrosanct. And please note that image certain belief structures are inherent. woman the species is responsible according God is a white man. The preceding cancels to such dogma--not Eve the person.For to out two very broad groups: people of color regard this as an act of an individual would and women.Thus the oppression of such be to undermine the motive in this scenario groups become not only justifiable but a which is to paint women as a whole as evil, Christian duty.I bring in the issue of sexism sexual beings who corrupt men that would not to confuse but to clearly illustrate the otherwise be "Godly." commonality of oppression through Christian Ithas been my experiencethat many dogma and biblical depictions and how the African Americans who are devout in their inability to see this connection helps to belief in Christianity, when confronted with perpetuate the oppression of the these issues oftheinvolvementof disenfranchised regardless of the determined worshipping white male images as God, "affliction." respond by saying that the physical depiction Endemictothissyndromeispeople's of Christ in our culture is not relevant. This refusalto recognize the commonality of is an assertion that for me transcends logic. oppressions. Hence, not only are there EndemictoChristianideologyisthe oppressed people in the world, oppressed understanding that God created man in his people are oppressing each other! When own image: Colin Powell supported the ban of gays in the military, I gasped with horror.He, a "And God said, Let us make man in our own black man. Obviously he saw no connection image. So God created man in his image. In between his oppression as a black and the the image of God created he him" Genesis oppression of gays. What oppressed people 2: 26, 27 mustcometounderstandis thatin This is an issue of some importance.For oppressing others they are fueling that very again, if Christ and God are one then the force which oppresses them. physicaldepiction of Christinaracist For oppression is one thing. Itis not a society bears heavy implications. Race multiplicitous entity which manifests matters. autonomous selves.It is a singular entity. These same African American Christians No practice of itisexcusable nor more who claim that the depiction of Christ in heinous than the other. To be a bitch, a in a society isirrelevant often attend churches nigger, a fag is the same thing. We live where "biblical" scenes in stained church society in which being White, male,rich, glass windows depict the events only with heterosexual and Christian are the supreme 166 BEST COPY AVAILABLE 7 1 attributes of human actualization. instature.For it becomes impossible to Consequently, all who lack one or more of think of God in our own image. these attributes is relegated to a diminished This notion is clearly evidenced, role in society. reinforced,andcommunicatedthrough WithinthesesameAfricanAmerican common epitaphs in the African-American communities where such devout worship of community such as "a nigger ain't shit" and white men as God is commonplace, are "niggers and flies, I do despise."What is remnants of other expressions of self-hatred. further ironic of this Christian syndrome of Some deeply entrenched and psychological self-hatred and domination is that African while others are clearly articulated verbally Americans have become not only the victims andinother overt ways. St. Thomas but also the perpetuators of their own social Aquinas said "The quality of being the image and psychological oppression. of God is co-essential to man because it is I am not asserting that African Americans one with the rationality of his nature (Gilson, are responsible for their own oppression.I 1957). Race matters. am not asserting that these notions of self- hatred and white male worship are originated Summary by African-Americansinanattemptto Terms such as "light-skin" and "good hair" subjugate themselves. These are all "racist- are still very much common in the jargon of reactionist" phenomenaresultingfrom African-Americans. The notion that skin centuries of physical and psychological rape. that is closer to white- and hair that is closer However, despitethisunderstanding the to white are both more desirable attributes results are no less devastating. arestillquitedominant themesinthe Again, we mustnotholdresponsible African-American experience. That such African Americans for the creation of such ideologyissymptomatic of thedeeply ills among them. I also understand the bitter entrenched self-hatred in African-Americans protest with which my arguments will be is secondary to the resultant, multiplicitous, initially met. One cannot undo such demonic negative side-effects of such psyches. racist machinations with a simple untying of Such a notion of light skin and good hair aknot. Theremustbearadical cannot function as a singular pejorative idea. deconstruction of the slave mentality with It must be reinforced from every possible whichAfricanAmericans havebeen social milieu.Supreme among these is the burdened and a complete re-education. It notion of how an oppressed people conceive will not be easy to show a people how the of their god.Central to Christian dogma is white Christ that they proclaim as savior is the concept of Jesus as the son of God. Thus the primary nemesisintheir oppression. Jesus cannot be regarded as black with Brainwashing and the strong binding of "nappy" hair by African-Americans. To look socializationarenearlyinsurmountable so would be to mean that his father, God, is constructs.Self-hatred and oppression has black. And if he is black he's oppressed. been induced andismaintained through Certainly, we cannot pray to an oppressed Christianity. god. That would be useless. Those who are One of thewaysinwhich we are like me are as powerless as I am. No, we maintainedinoppressionisthroughthe must pray to our oppressor for freedom--for assertion that there are races in the first deliverance from oppression. Jesus, the son place. For in order to have racism we must of God, is a white man. He is a part of the have race. "The existence of races in a power structure.From him it is possible to given society presupposes the presence of attain salvation.And because we believe racism, forwithout racism, physical that God is white we ourselves are demeaned characteristics are devoid of social significance Itisnot thepresence of objectivephysical differencesbetween 1 67 groups that createsrace,but thesocial throughthemediaandthetenetsof recognition of such differences as socially Christianity have been profound.Thus it significant or relevant (van den Berghe, becomes incumbent upon us to eliminate 1967)."It is important that we are forever racially-biased images from all vestiges of led to believe that there are races.This is our culture.Until such efforts are made we necessary before one may begin to assertthat willcontinuetoconsciouslyandsub- there are innate differences amongst these consciously promote thenotion thatall races that justify the superiority of one tothe humans are not equal and in so doing prevent other. This must be made to be despite any our society from being a positive place for all very obvious evidence to the contrary.It is the world's citizens. clear that there is no genetic, biological, or anthropological, support to any such reality, References as "race." It is purely a mental practice.It is Chang, Harry (1985).Towards a Marxist here solely to justify oppression and the Therory of Racism. Review of Radical advancement of the white male capitalist Political Economics. Vol., 17(3): 34-35. ideal.The concept of race is a portentous, iniquitous, socially-contrived construct Gilson,Etienne.(1957).TheChristian rooted in fictitious ideology. Philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas. London. Liem and Montague (1985) state "A theory pp. 345-346 of racism is merely theory.Clearly it will take a mass movement to abolish racism. Van den Berghe, Pierre L. (1967). Race and Yet anti-racists have struggled for so long as Racism: A Comparative Perspective. New 'Black' activists or 'White' activists, each York: John Wiley and Sons. with their own 'separate but equal' roles, that to posit the racial distinction, itself, as an object of struggle, as a 'racist' distinction bornof thepre-human,'civil',ageof humankind, must be regarded as an advance in strategy as well as in theory." Such rhetoric as I have presented in the assertionthatracialcategorizationisa psycho-social construct is not to deny that therearephysicaldifferencesbetween peoplebutrathertoexplainthatsuch differences become incidentaltoarace argument only in retrospect. "The reification of racial categories into skin color, [eye shape,lipsize,hair texture,]etc.isan integral part of the racial logic, and a careful critique of it will show us, for instance, the historical specificity of racism. Simply put, racialcategoriesaresocialdistinctions devised in such a way that their differential moment can beleftto a 'superstitious' conception of nature.This engenders the illusion that nature itself has dictated racial categories for us (Chang, 1986)." The devastating effects ofwhite supremacist ideology on the psyche and self- concept of African Americans asperpetuated 168 BEST COPY AVAILABLE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI) Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) 1ERICI

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