Stereotype this!

My story for this issue is on the stereotypical images portrayed of African-Americans in TV and film. I discovered many stock characters of the past a few new ones who have made their way in today’s entertainment industry. Many were appalling.
While I was collecting my facts on the topic, I asked a friend of mine, a theater major, if he thought such images were present today. His response was, “Of course…those da** Wayans!” I had to laugh, but it made me think about a couple of things.
Such shows as the Wayan’s Brothers and Martin which sometimes portray ignorant characters, are very popular among viewers in the Black community.
The same goes for movies like Friday and How High. Don’t get me wrong, I love “Friday” as much as the next person, but I have to pause to think why these movies are more popular than other films about “us” that do not put us in these little ignorant boxes.
For instance, the movies Hav Plenty and (my all-time favorite) Love Jones were not as popular at the box office as the “gangsta” and “weed” movies are. On TV, shows such as “City of Angels,” a medical drama with a predominantly Black cast starring Blair Underwood and Vivica A. Fox, are now defunct.
In the past, such stereotyping was to be blamed on “the man.” However, that is not entirely the case today. Most of these stereotypical movies are produced by none other than African-Americans. That’s right, we’re doing it to ourselves.
Is our constant approval of such films sending a message to the entertainment industry? Are we more supportive of negative images of ourselves?
It’s sad, but evidently true. Of course we can be offended and even curse when we see ourselves depicted in such a way, but if we continue to nourish this “problem child,” it is only going to grow into such a terrible adult.
Peace.