Volume 11, No. 3 UrbanTrends SPECIAL EDITION A quarterly newsletter published by Black Youth Sexuality and the Media Dialogue...Discussion...Debate Media Influences Sexual Decision-Making Preston Holmes has more than 20 years I wouldn’t say that it’s [the media] the represented by the media in that experience in the entertainment industry. He pro- most influential factor—that would be respect. But it’s not because I think duced the films Malcolm X, Panther, Posse and peers and peer relationships. One that the kind of images that have been HBO’s Boycott and co-produced New Jack City might wish that it was parental influ- presented in the media are all bad or and Juice. One of Holmes’ future endeavors is ence …that was the most significant, negative or shouldn’t be presented. I producing a documentary on the life of Tupac but that clearly is not the case. run away from any discussion that Shakur. Because the fact of the matter is that starts to suggest the restricting or probably very few of the parents of somehow controlling freedom of these young people ever attempt to expression. To me, that’s not the issue have discussions of these very seri- as much as whether there is enough ous issues with their kids, for whatev- [of a] range of images that are being er reason. presented to us. I don’t see anything wrong with any particular filmmaker or MEE: Why do you think music has a bigger writer presenting any particular story impact than films and TV? ...Continued on page 2 Holmes: I think music has the greater influence because it’s a more perva- sive element of urban culture than anything else. First of all, music, cer- What’sInside tainly far more than any other form of media, is a direct outgrowth of urban HOW MEDIA INFLUENCES SEXUAL youth culture. Music is the first and to DECISION-MAKING: Preston Holmes MEE: From your perspective as a produc- some extent the rawest and truest er, what impact do you think mass media . .PAGE 1 cultural expression for urban youth. has on the sexual and reproductive health And when you talk about music these attitudes of low-income urban, hip-hop SEXUALITY EDUCATION LEADS TO BETTER days, it’s not just the music; it’s every- youth? DECISION-MAKING: Dr. Henry W. Foster, Jr. thing that goes with it [including] Holmes: I think that media in general has music videos that are created to illus- . PAGE 3 a tremendous influence and effect on atti- trate the music. It’s no coincidence tudes towards sexuality and issues of sex- that many urban films grow out of TV PORTRAYALS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS ual health with urban youth. Producers, where people think the music is or the ARE MISLEADING: George Gerbner, Ph.D. studios, distributors are always trying to desire to create vehicles for specific . PAGE 4 find where the audience’s head is. The [musical] artists. media tries to identify trends and then REBUILDING THE VILLAGE: Carl Bell, M.D. jump onto those. I don’t think it’s really a MEE: What do you think of the messages, . PAGE 5 case of the media creating these attitudes portrayals and stereotypes of Black urban as much as trying to find them, follow youth sexuality? them and exploit them. I would guess that TELEVISION AS A CHANNEL FOR POSITIVE Holmes: The urban audience in gener- the most influential media element is al and urban youth audience in partic- MESSAGES: Dr. Robert E. Raleigh music, more so than films or television. ular has not been well served or well . PAGE 7 From Holmes (continued) TheEditor or image in any particular way. Holmes: Media in general and movies par- In this issue of UrbanTrends, My beef has more to do with the loos- ticularly, can effectively be used to sell several new and different voices ening of the reins a bit by the studios anything to anybody if done right. All that are added to the sometimes [and] the networks in terms of allow- would need to happen is that producers contentious national dialogue ing African American producers and or directors/filmmakers make it part of about what’s happening in filmmakers and other people interest- their specific agenda to address some of America’s inner cities. In these ed in reaching an African American these issues. And then it’s just a matter of creating entertaining vehicles with com- candid conversations, some of audience to do a wider range of things, so that everything is not a pelling stories that include these mes- the brightest minds across the sages. It won’t be effective if it comes off country share their thoughts and ’hood comedy or a ’hood drama, pre- senting the same sort of images. I as propaganda or preaching. It just has to insights about some of the key be done within the context. [We could issues impacting our communi- think the problem with African American media directed at African show, for example,] more stories that ties—from domestic violence to American audiences is that too often show young Black characters who have teen pregnancy to the insidious it follows the same sort of track or more emphasis put on the emotional influence of the media. approach. commitment that two people might make to each other. Movies are all about manip- The abridged versions you read MEE: Where do you think the trends are ulating one’s emotions, and the best here are part of a much larger going now in terms of those portrayals? movies are the ones that do that most effectively. project that we expect will have Holmes: I have to go back to the far-reaching, national implica- music, because I think it’s far more MEE: What do you think is the most tions for communities of color. pervasive than the visual images. And appropriate genre for conveying real- Later this year, MEE will release for lack of a better way to put it, I’m istic and healthy sexuality messages, the results of our yearlong appalled at where we are and where I particularly for Black urban youth? research study of Black youth think it’s going in a sense. Because it seems to me that much of the Holmes: Again, I’d have to start with sexuality and the impact of the the music. I remember some time media. See the article on page 6 emphasis in the stuff I hear these days… is “playing” and “being ago, just driving along, and I heard on for more information on this the radio for the very first time this groundbreaking work. played” in relationships and how much you can get out of it, from both song. And it blew me away, and I was sides. It’s the song “Hit ‘Em Up Style” like “Oh this is great, and I’m glad In the meantime, we’re proud of about the girl [who’s] pissed at her somebody did this!” and the second the breadth of experiences and man so she’s shopping on him. What thought was, “My God, I wonder if it backgrounds these experts rep- concerns me is this attitude that sex is will be successful, because at the end resent and are excited about something to be used and bartered of the day it doesn’t matter what the sharing their unique perspec- with, to get the right kind of car or message is, if nobody hears it.” It was tives with you. Among our com- clothes or be seen in the right places a song [“Video” by India.Arie] with a mentators are the most respect- with the right people. different kind of message, all of a sud- den. And one that, interestingly ed names in health, education These are not new ideas from the male enough, was embraced by enough of and the media. These generous perspective. I think one of the more signif- the audience to make it financially and wise individuals also provid- icant recent changes is that those atti- successful. ed guidance critical to under- tudes among the male population, as standing the “big picture” of the hopefully we all evolve on a social level, MEE: What advice would you give many issues that impacts the would start to be tempered. Instead of Hollywood producers who want to choices our youth make about that happening, it seems that the other reach Black urban youth with the their sexuality—and their lives. side of the equation [females] just adopt- healthy kinds of messages you were ed more of the male attitudes. Where are describing earlier? the messages that have to do with com- Enjoy! mitment and responsibility and all of those Holmes: I think it comes down to creat- kinds of things which are critical in terms ing a situation or vehicle in which of their importance to healthy relation- there are characters that the audience ships? will admire enough to want to emu- late. We’ve all seen that happen, from Pamela Weddington MEE: Do you think movies can be used people dressing like some character Editor as a vehicle to redefine traditional val- in a movie, to expressions that some ues and beliefs around sexuality in the character uses that become part of Black community? ...Continued on page 11 – 2 – Sexuality Education Leads to Better Decision-Making Founder of the “I Have A Future” program to nities and create programs like “I Have A I’m old enough to remember when there reduce teen pregnancy, Dr.