Do you think slavery led to self-esteem issues in the black community?

Question

Do you think that the mentality that ''black is less'' stuck? I am not saying that’s true because I believe it isn’t and I’m African American myself but at times, I really think about the way the community is. Why do black women wear weave that is the texture of a white woman's hair? We are not born with hair like that. Do we see white women walking around with afro-like pony tails and wigs? No. Afro's are beautiful. Why do we feed into the belief that ''good'' hair is straight hair?
Why do rappers make our community look bad by continuing to glamorize negative lifestyles and ideas? Why do allot (NOT all) of people in the community call other black people ‘’white’’ because they really appreciate school and/or because they speak proper English etc. but then turn around and talk about how great people like Oprah are...
Do we not expect much out of ourselves or what? Where else could this natural lack of self-esteem in allot of us be coming from?

Glo - uh hello where did YOU grow up at? By striaght hair, I meant texture wise. A white woman with CURLS still has straight hair 9 out of 10 times. Its basically a straight texture with waves/curls in it. When a African American woman has straight hair naturally it is still a DIFFERENT texture, even if it is not as course as other womens'.

Spirited - You answer was very well put :)

Spirited - You answer was very well put :)

Sarge1572 - Your answer is also great. Everyones is. Im happy to know that other people are being positive about the issue also.

Frank The Tank - if you, as well as your entire race, were being taught that you were worthless on account of your skin color being ''different'' ...and forced to be SLAVES to the ''superior'' people for years upon years, do you think it would affect the upcoming generations in some way? Not even a little? wow. And as for the white women who get perms...they buy perms to have CURLY hair, to curl their straight textured hair .... they don’t buy course textured hair. A woman can have straight hair and wear it curly and vise versa. But the issue arises when you buy/wear hair that is so far fetched from your own natural hair.

Yeah the hair thing is definently about TEXTURE .... NOT style.

ahh beautiful quote lol. ''act like bill cosby, not snoop dogg'' I love it. lol. SO right!

All of your answers are so good. I don’t think I can pick best answer on this one.
It feels good to know that other people are concerned about this issue also. My friend and I talk about these issues all the time. We love when people have ‘’beautiful minds’’ like we do!..at least most of the time anyway lol. Thanks everyone! :)

Answer 1

You are 1,000% correct.

Answer 2

Our society does perpetuate isms' racism, sexism and many more isms'. Did you know that there is an organization that helps racially despared groups called The Community Reinvestment Fund" This organization was created because Bank across America would not make loans to impoverished neighboorhoods. That being said less that one and a half percent of the loans the CRF aquires goes in default. But nationally the rate of default with banks is more that nine percent and I am quoting figures from 1997. So as I see it wealth is not distributed fairly. About hair that is just fashion if you had been living in the 70s you would have seen many white women with afros. So I would not look at that with with contempt but know fashions go with the flight of fancy. About rappers they are asserting the poiwer thay have. But once they are succesfull thier tune changes look at Ice T, look at Favor Flav. I beleive empowerment comes from education wether its' street cred or book knowledge the more you know the more you can talk on it. Good question I hope that you get into a College if you are not their already and free your mind of the negative and accentuate the positive. I am a light skinned hispanic and live in a black hood. I know that when I am done with school I will not judge a wise man from the color of his skin. But will help bring out the potential of the idividual no matter who they are. Even the the dull and ignorant have a story to tell that we may learn from. May be how not to be like them or how they changed thier lives.

Answer 3

A star for you. And I wish I could do more.

Your question is excellent. It casts an entirely different light on a situation I would love to see change.

Any answer to this question would only be an opinion. And, like a particular body orifice we all have one and they all stink. If you would care to ask this question again in about six months I might actually have some thoughts on the subject. For right now, I haven't finished processing the question.

Thanks, I will think about this a while and it may change my views on a few things. That alone is a significant accomplishment as I am a pretty conservative guy, 59 years old and well entrenched.

Answer 4

I think the black community started off with even greater challenges because they were enslaved, had their culture beaten out of them, and had their families broken up while being treated like animals.

All Oppressed groups battle or have battled with internalized self-hatred; women, gays and lesbians, the poor and any new minority at the bottom of the food chain have all tried to "pass" or be more like the oppressor to get some relief. It takes hard work in a culture that thinks the only people whose opinions mean anything are older white males. Those same older white males buy and sell our own cultural identities back to us.

The irony, of course, is that the dominant culture became that way because their own low self-esteem demanded that they "prove" some other groups inferior to justify what knew to be immoral actions.

Poor white southerners are an incredibly oppressed group, kept poor and ignorant by the same system that demanded southern blacks be poor and ignorant. All they have is a false sense of superiority because they are white, and that keeps them from demanding a better deal from a culture that exploits them.

You sound healthy and awake to who you are; people like you are the leaders in any culture.

Answer 5

You know that slavery was devastating for black people in America, and yes we still suffer from the effects of it but that doesn't give us an excuse to not take care of our communities and do the things that is required to be productive within our comm unites. Unfortunately History has not been real kind to black people in America there are countless accounts of Blacks trying to set up a community and you have others who come in and destroy what has been set up. With all that said for those who want better to do better and be better it starts with self, then who ever that person decide to have children with should be on the same page, and also want the same things for their children and their community this is where it start. Black people really need to take a deep long look inside and start setting guidelines that every Black man woman and child can agree on and take it from there. We also need to not allow other cultures to dictate who we are. Enough is enough it is time for our people to put up or shut up. We are all aware of Our Story it is time to write a new one.

Answer 6

Yes, of course slavery led to ISSUES in many areas of the black community. However, I think our ISSUES are always put in the focus, while people of OTHER races that are more fortunate are able to disclose their infidelities. However, I am the type of person that looks above the ignorance of our world. It is important that we teach our kids to no longer be a victim, to embrace diversity, and succeed by any means necessary. Yes, the slave mentality is still being passed down generation after generation. But it can end with you. Instead of posting questions about issues you already know exist. How about go into your community and try to pass down some of this knowledge. Make a difference in some kids life. Children in our black community need tutoring, emotional support, and guidance. Do your part to make it better.

Answer 7

You do have a beautiful mind. I think you very smart to notice these negative trends in the black community. All races, however, have a tendency to have a portion of their race who behave in ways that cause themselves to be held down. Whether it is not finishing highschool, having children and having to live on welfare, living with men in an unhealthy relationship, and getting on drugs or alcohol. How we can change this for women, and I say women, is because we are the ones who have the children to rear into functioning well rounded adults. Sometimes we let our hormones get out of control and think of nothing but ourselves instead of the children we have that needs us to be good mothers and role models. Getting on welfare leads to generations who also do the same thing. Welfare does nothing but take away self-esteem and empowerment.

I absolutely and emphatically agree with "Glo." Education is the key to the problems that all races face.

Answer 8

Blacks compensate all their flaws by playing the race card. The best thing to be is a minority in this country. Allot is spelled a lot. Rappers are the money makers and have gold teeeth, father children they never see and sell pot. Then the white man foots the bill. My girlfriend has a bi-racial daughter. Dad was rapper. I buy gifts at birthdays. Not him. He left after three weeks. Has three kids now w/three women.
Speak and enunciate proper English. Act like Bill Cosby not Snoop Dog. I'm not racist. My g-friends daughter is loved, held, read to. Is going to be brought up correctly. Regardless of color. No drugs. No guns. Pay bills. No excuses. If that makes her more "white" We are just trying to "keep her real". And her hair is curly and skin is brown. She is beautiful and charming. Not white or black.

Answer 9

i love this question! and GIRL i love the way you think!..lol its like we are thinking the same thing! i am african american and filipino i def. dont have straight hair..glo? what are YOU saying name ONE african american..PURE bred that has straight hair?

THANK you..cause you CANT!

i agree the media needs to stop making negative influences on other people. and putting our black community down. just because someone wants to better them self and have the opportunity for a GOOD education they shouldnt think down on them. as for the rappers...maybe they feel angry..or something? maybe they have nothing more to rap about then the past. maybe they want to make a point? but theres no reason in making a negative influence on things. you know?

the way i see it let the past go. move forward.

Answer 10

I think slavery is a convenient crutch which some use to excuse their hatred of what they think of as a white society, or perhaps to explain away their laziness. No matter the cause, the result is not constructive. Low self esteem has the same person as the perpetrator and as the victim and that person either succumbs to them self or rises above them self. It is of no help when that person's community encourages them not to rise above and shuns them if they try.

Rap music? Its as much a destructive product of the white community as it is the black community so don't take full credit for it. Whites love to lay it at the feet of blacks, but the load must be shared equally.

Hair? Any well managed head of hair is beautiful because it says the person wearing it has pride.

On another matter regarding pride, I have frequently seen young black men driving cars that they obviously have a great deal of pride in. I'm an older white guy, but I have approached many of these guys and complimented them on their car. They want to talk about it and I have had the benefit of many highly enjoyable conversations as the result.

I starred your question because its rare to see one on YA stated so well. You are my hero for the day!

Answer 11

Not all black folks have nappy hair, some have straight hair (naturally) hello! Where did you grow up? Mars?
Not all white people have straight hair. It is my belief that women should be able to do to their hair, makeup and style of dress as they wish. We as women after all have that option and should use it... who cares if it is straight, nappy, Afro, waves, braids, etc. Just be happy with whatever you like.... Education is the key to success, I think that many believe that a college education is not obtainable. And feel a bit jealous of those who do achieve it. Out of their own insecurities. There lack of knowing how to go about doing the same for themselves. So empower your community, educate the youth on the positives of higher education. Do your part.... God bless****