That’s Discrimination.

Official Disclaimer: This may be the most controversial thing I have ever written. Just to clarify, I am completely against any form of racism and discrimination. The idea that any race, culture, gender or person is superior to another absolutely turns my stomach. People who advocate this superiority should rot.

With just three months left to graduate, I decided to take “Minorities in the Media” as my last Mass Communication elective. I guess I thought it would be interesting to spend three full months discussing how the media portrays minorities. I should have just dropped the class whenever I saw the book title: “Racism and Sexism in the Media” written in an obnoxiously large font size. What was I thinking?

If carrying around that book for all to see isn’t uncomfortable enough, sitting through three hours of class a week discussing how the White man has beaten down every other cultural group is worse. I do agree that the media somewhat sees life through white-colored glasses, but I also realize now that I am rather opinionated. If I could mind-wrestle with my professor and classmates without getting kicked out of class and therefore delaying my graduation, I would.  Unfortunately, I am just not that brave.

I have written several papers regarding the mistreatment of minorities in the media. I submit to you, however, some opinions of mine that were not included in those papers.  It is not that I am ashamed of my opinion; it’s just that I don’t want to win the battle and lose the war.

First of all, I do NOT think that Aunt Jemima is a slam against Blacks or that she is a lasting symbol of slavery on the American grocery isle. She is simply the most adorable syrup bottle on the shelves. And she possesses the recipe to the best syrup ever. Her plump little figure engulfing the single best part of waffles and pancakes is what puts a smile in my breakfast. I have not once in my entire life looked at that bottle and thought, “This is a symbol of my ancestors demeaning people of color. I eat this only because somewhere deep in my subconscious, I support slavery.”

Secondly, there are 23 African American magazines in the United States.  Twenty three! As in, there is a magazine for every year I have been alive plus one that exclusively caters to the African American audience. How many magazines are there catering to White people only?! Zero. Even “Cosmopolitan,” which is considered to be a “White” magazine, has put Halle Berry on the cover. Why? Because she’s beautiful! And because the world would end as we know if there ever was a magazine that refused to put a minority on the cover. “Good Housekeeping” has done feature after feature on minorities, including a huge deal on the Obama. Did “Essence” do a feature on President Bush? Or on the Clintons? Of course not.

 “Essence”, “Ebony”, “Shades of Love” and, my personal favorite, “Blackgirl Magazine” can publish issue after issue without getting some big preacher standing up and whining about discrimination on behalf of other racial groups. If we tried to have a White Miss America, the entire nation would shake with outcry from racial groups. If I tried entering the Black Miss America contest, they would not let me. That’s discrimination.

Furthermore, since when was hiring Hispanics to do yard work “encouraging minorities to be placed in servant roles?” I cannot help that they opened a fantastic lawn service that does incredible work at a great price. Hiring Garcia, Inc. to do my yard work does not mean that I consider Hispanics to be servants. It’s actually a compliment to their artistic abilities to turn my lawn into a grassy haven, an oasis of warm-and-fuzzies that invites me into my comfy home.

On that same note, I am not going to take out my own trash at the hotel just because the housekeeper is an African American woman. My dear professor, it is NOT a reflection of slavery. She applied and got hired for that job and she’s getting paid.

Insert little known fact about me: I once was a housekeeper for an African American family.

Yes, I do hold my purse if a large guy comes waking by with a stained wife beater, pants starting at his knees, and a hat real low and shoes five sizes too big with shoelaces not tied. I will hold it tighter if he gets real close and says, “Girl, you lookin’ fine. What I gotta do to getchu?” Notice I did not include a race because I react the same way regardless of the individual’s race. See the thing is… guys dressed like punks that expect to be treated like lawyers not only get on my last nerve, but jump up and down on it.

 If people would just spend as much time trying to break stereotypes as they do griping about the stereotypes that exist, our world would be a much better place. So you’re tired of the “white woman holding her purse when I walk by” stereotype? Put on clean clothes that fit and be courteous. Get my drift?

AND FURTHERMORE, not all stereotypes are bad.  Yes, African Americans can sing and play sports! Yes, gay men tend to be very artistic! Yes, Hispanics are great lawn care and roofing constructors! Yes, white man can’t dance! Yes, many Asians are very smart! Yes, blondes have more fun! None of those are negative. Embrace the stereotype. Or change it. Those are the only two options available.

Can’t we just stop constantly rehashing racial separation (for all races)? Can’t we just all be Americans? I think this generation is. My generation is trying!

Lastly, I submit to your collective thinking:

·         The highest paid male actor, Will Smith, is not White.

·         The highest paid football athletes are not White.

·         The highest paid GOLFER, Tiger Woods, is not White.

·         The highest paid (and best, might I add) singers are not White.

·         The last Miss Universe, Dayana Mendoza, is not White.

·         The world’s highest paid director, Anees Bazmee, is not White.

·         The President of the United States, Barack Obama, is not White.

Where’s the discrimination?