Originally posted 2018-03-10 07:32:02.
Hi!
Everyone’s household has popular ethics, morals, habits, thought processes, traits, and norms. The phrase, “It’s what we do,” shows up in many families’ conversations. Especially in black people’s homes. That’s why I must ask you something. Of all the, “Way of life,” modes of thinking, in your household; is one of them, the “Plantation Mentality?”
Wait! Before you say, “No,” think about it. Some popular norms in households are so common; until families don’t realize they’re there. Perhaps the “Plantation Mentality” is one of those norms. Maybe it has crept into your household; without you being aware of it’s presence. Let’s face it. Signs showing it is there occasionally peep out. But how?
There are many ways for the “Plantation Mentality” to break rank in your thoughts.
Sometimes, it’s through watching television. Recently, I saw a thought-provoking, ‘out of the norm,’ television commercial. It began with an interracial couple having breakfast with their young daughter. The next clip showed their little girl waiting after school for her parents to pick her up. She had a worried look on her face. But, when she saw her dad; she ran to him with excitement.
Her dad knelt with his arms stretched out. He affectionately hugged his beautiful daughter; as fathers do their little girls. He held her hand; as she joyfully skipped down the street. They went into an ice cream parlor; and he picked her up to see the flavors. It was precious.
I guess you’re saying, “And???? How is a normal interaction between a father and daughter so eye-catching?” One word…
Race!
How often do you see a commercial with a white daddy holding his black daughter’s hand, while she happily skips down a street? It was the first time that I remember. So what?
When I saw a white man who loved a black woman, and their black child; my emotions scrambled. But why? Could my unrest spring from the commercial’s break of the stereotypical families I’ve seen on television commercials throughout my life? Is it something deeper? Maybe, I have unresolved issues; due to reading about, seeing and experiencing racial subordination. I certainly have questions.
At a time when racism has come out of hiding; are writers of commercials seeking to capitalize off of it? Maybe, the recent publicity showing pics of Serena Williams, her husband, and their baby has made the white man, black woman; and child an ideal family. Marketers are definitely riding the wave. BUT! Perhaps, they are trying to show those who society labels as minority; that race doesn’t matter?
There might be more to this.
Was the commercial writers trying to break the walls of racism? Is the commercial screaming, “Can’t we all just get along?” Perhaps the writers subliminally stated, “Hey you, who judge people by the color of their skin; get with the program. This is a multi-hued society.”
If so; why aren’t there television commercials with a black man, white woman; and their child? Why? Would that type of couple insult the masses? Of course it would. It wouldn’t just repulse racist white men; but, it would grieve many black women. (That’s another topic for another day.)
First, let’s start with a disclaimer.
I am in no way against anyone because of the color of their skin; nor the shade of their skin’s melanin. That’s white, light, caramel, chocolate, or charcoal. I recently heard a phrase that caught my attention; and sparked questions. So, to my white, ebony and ivory sisters and brothers; no shade here.
Let’s get this discussion started!
One morning, as I sat in my car, waiting for the doors of my favorite place, other than church and home, to open; I listened to a radio show. The host and her guest engaged in a thought-provoking conversation. They talked about; how most successful and wealthy black men have Caucasian or fair-skinned African-American wives and girlfriends. My first thought was, “Well, that doesn’t apply to all black men. Denzel Washington and Bill Cosby have chocolate wives.”
Back to the point…. The discourse continued, with, why some black men prefer white or light-skinned black women. The host stated that she once read where some black men think black women’s natural hair is too messy and unattractive; or it’s sewn in. They prefer the straight hair of white women. Some black men say that black women are too argumentative; unlike white women. She concluded that; black men’s preferences for these types of women stem from more than physical attraction.
The host also mentioned a famous black man whose African-American wife is fair-skinned. When he met his wife, dated her, and fell for her; he thought she was Caucasian. He didn’t discover that she was black until he finally met her family.
Wow! So many thoughts raced across my mind. Was his first attraction because he liked lighter shades; or was it because he thought she was white? The real questions are; “Why didn’t his wife tell him that she was biracial? Why was she passing for white? Reminds me of the movie, “Imitation of Life.”
The talk show host said something extremely interesting.
She said, “A lot of successful black men choose fairer skinned women, because these men have the ‘Plantation Mentality.’” She also stated that she read where black men subconsciously want to get back at the massahs who snatched, raped, and had their way with black women during slavery. Their choices in types of women centered around their wanting to repay the white man for the black man’s humiliation throughout the years. Black men being with white women lets white men know that the black man has risen to prominence. Wow! This sounds like psychological issues; and not choices from attraction.
What about “Colorism?”
As I listened, I wondered, “Do black men with that mentality, see my white or ivory black sisters as trophies that let the world know they’ve arrived?” It begs the question, “Do black men see light-skinned black women as being the closest to white; and will show their power?”
On the flip side, do black women who prefer white men, or fair-skinned black men have the same thought process? That radio show’s topic befuddled me.
The host also noted that, in the South; there was a time when blacks demeaned black women with darker skin tones. Southern black mothers and fathers told their sons not to bring a dark-skinned girl to their house; nor marry one. What? Is this the ‘Field N-gg-, House N-gg-‘ mentality?
I said to myself, “Wow! This is unbelievable!”
I turned the car off. But before I got out to walk into the library, a question came in my spirit. “Has the plantation mentality affected your household?” This question has danced across my mind for three weeks.
At first I thought it was a Southern thing.
But, colorism happens in the North, too. The other day; while in conversation with a few people; one of the sisters showed pictures of her nieces. She mentioned that her nephews have Caucasian wives; beautiful families.
The “Plantation Mentality” popped into my thoughts. I briefly told them about the radio show I had listened to; and that I’m writing on the “Plantation Mentality.”
This subject sparked conversation.
One of the sisters stated, that there are African-American parents in Michigan who don’t want their sons to date dark-skinned girls. I said, “What??? I thought colorism was a Southern thing!” She responded, “NO!! It was even in the schools. There was a time when a certain high school in Detroit only accepted light-skinned cheerleaders. Didn’t you experience being treated differently?” I said, “No! I was always the teacher’s pet.”
She looked at me and said, “That’s because, you’re not as dark as some; you wouldn’t get treated differently.” That puzzled me. I looked at the three people, and realized, they’re a shade darker than I am. I hadn’t noticed it before. So many thoughts raced across my mind. I wondered:
What all fits into the Plantation Mentality?
The internet has interesting abstracts from the book, “Battling the Plantation Mentality: Memphis and the Black Freedom Struggle,” by: Laurie B. Green. The book discusses the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It also highlights how working-class African-Americans vigorously attempted to end the “plantation mentality.” It has information on the Sanitation Workers’ Strike of the early 60’s; that heralded an interesting slogan; “I AM a Man!”
The movement fought for constitutional, human and social rights. They pushed for recognition of masculinity and for freedom. This sparks thought. Perhaps some black men choose certain shades of women, to make a statement
My friend, the question is, “How is the ‘Plantation Mentality’ affecting households TODAY?” Why is it so popular? Has it hit your household in any way? Below are possible indicators:
- Black women wearing long straight weaves; and feeling unattractive with their natural hair
- Black women spending thousands of dollars on weaves and wigs
- Dark brown-skinned grandmas who prefer light-skinned grandchildren over their brown-skinned grands
- Daddies, aunties and uncles who treat their light-skinned children, nieces and nephews better than dark-skinned ones
- Black men who call dark brown-skinned women, “Ugly,” just because of their skin tone
- Brothers who give their ebony sisters offensive nicknames
- Black men who stick their chest out because of the light skin color of the woman on their arms
- A black man who hasn’t told a light-skinned black woman the real reason he chose her
- Ebony or deep chocolate black women who are envious of fair-skinned black sisters; because of their skin tone
- Light-skinned black sisters who think they’re better than dark-skinned sisters because of their skin tone
- Black women who feel accomplished by being on the arms of a white man
- Black men and women feeling inferior to white men and women.
- White men and women feeling superior to black men and women
Let’s look at it from a different perspective.
I talked with my son Justin about this subject. He brought up something that sparked more thought. He said, “It depends on who raised you, and how you were raised.”
Justin mentioned a young man he knows who is very dark. This young man doesn’t like dark-skinned girls. Justin said, “The young man’s mama is a dark-skinned single mother, and his sisters are dark-skinned. His mama and sisters were mean and always nagging. That’s probably the reason he doesn’t like dark-complexioned girls.” He further stated, “Mama you raised us with love; Mika (my deceased daughter) was light-skinned; and you both loved us. That helped me and Melvin to not have color preferences.” Wow! That’s something to consider.
The plantation mentality is everywhere!
I recently watched “Hollywood Shuffle;” a movie from the late 80’s; written by Robert Townsend and Keenan Wayans. They were young actors, and centered the comedy around their lives. The comedy highlighted the dearth of major roles for black and Hispanic actors in Hollywood. At the time, most of the roles offered to black actors were that of slaves, pimps, and uneducated basketball players. Near the end of the movie; Townsend’s character got tired of playing the role of an illiterate pimp; and he quit while filming a scene.
That movie brought mixed emotions. Frustration from blacks being stereotyped; and joy from a black brother refusing humiliation. Though the movie was wonderful; it illuminated the normalcy of the “Plantation Mentality.” It wasn’t until the 21st Century, when that old ugly, oppressive raging bull’s legs were busted.
That’s what the movie, “Black Panther” has done.
Women of color; with darker shades of melanin are feeling beautiful. More ebony and Ivory black women are on the road to seeing each other as sisters; and not rivals. Afros are in style again. The movie, “Black Panther,” dealt a fatal blow to the “Plantation Mentality’s” popularity in lots of black households.
The movement is worldwide
I read an interview that quoted a 28-year-old resident of Rio de Janeiro’s words about the movie, Black Panther. He said, “A movie with 90 percent black actors fills me with pride. It makes me want to win. It makes me want to fight. It makes me like myself more, like my own skin tone, like my kind of hair, like the shape of my nose, like the shape of my lips. Because you start to see people who are like you and you see how they carry themselves — empowered, happy with themselves — and you start to like yourself better. And you see there’s nothing wrong with you — that, really, black is beautiful, black is capable, black is incredible, and blackness needs to be respected.”
My friend, the “Plantation Mentality” may have popularity in black and white households throughout the world. But, I do believe it’s headed for extinction. Though we all have different skin colors; all of our blood is red. We were all created by a God who makes no mistakes.
It’s time to see the beauty in ourselves; and in all God’s people. We must allow love to become popular in our household; and dispel that “Plantation Mentality!”
Thank you for joining me today. I’ll leave you with a scripture; “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” Psalms 139:14 KJV. We’ll talk soon!
Blessings!
Rochelle
