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Internalized Racism amongst African-AmericansBy: Evan HesslerThe purpose of this section of the blog is to discuss internalized racism amongst African Americans. Throughout the page, there will be numerous examples of internalized racism shown. This page is divided into four subsections: causes of internalized racism, internalized racism in the past, present-day internalized racism, and effects of internalized racism.Causes of Internalized RacismInternalized racism amongst African-Americans is a large problem, but in order to solve it, one must understand it. Internalized racism is difficult to observe because it is not something tangible: people cannot touch it or feel it, but many can sense it. Where does it come from?According to author Suzette L. Speight, internalized racism amongst African-Americans comes from the discrimination and harassment of Blacks in America. Speight researches some sources of internalized racism amongst African-Americans. “Wherever there is racism, there is the assumption, more or less enforced, that members of the oppressed racial groups are or ought to be servants of those, or some of those in the privileged group” (Speight). Speight argues that systemic racism through forms such as discrimination and harassment create an idea of black inferiority which many African-Americans carry throughout their lives (Speight).The true origin of modern day internalized racism amongst African-Americans may actually be from the nineteenth century, when African-Americans gained their freedom and faced Jim Crow laws in the United States. These Jim Crow laws, which segregated whites and blacks, helped manifest an environment of black inferiority similar to that of which Speight describes. This could have been passed down through generations, where we still see it today.Internalized Racism in the PastMany Americans have an understanding of the ways in which internalized racism could appear today. For instance, many people interpret a black person using the “n” word as self-deprecating. However, how might internalized racism have looked in previous generations?There are a few books that provide a first-hand account of internalized racism amongst African-Americans historically. For instance, the novel The Bluest Eye’s setting was in the middle of the Great Depression. The Bluest Eye describes the struggles one young African-American girl has because of her insecurity due to her black skin color. This novel discusses how many African-American might have felt about their skin color, in a time when being black was often considered a trait to be truly ashamed of (Morrison).Similarly, another book that showcases internalized racism historically is The Autobiography Of An Ex-Colored Man. This book talks about the struggles of the biracial main character that must decide if he wants to honor his black heritage as a black person, or live a relatively easy life of a white person (Johnson). This dilemma shows one form of internalized racism amongst African-Americans: the idea of an “Uncle Tom”. This is the idea that a black person who is in good graces with white people is betraying his own people and culture (Johnson).Present-day Internalized RacismIn contrast to the last, section, this section will discuss how internalized racism might look today, in the 21st century. There are many ways in which internalized racism amongst African-Americans might reveal itself today, such as the ideas of an “Uncle Tom”, or “acting white”, or the “n” word.The idea of an “Uncle Tom”, like the main character in The Autobiography Of An Ex-Colored Man, is internalized racism in of itself (Johnson). When African-Americans scorn fellow African-Americans who get along with whites, they are perpetuating the racial divide that exists in America. This racial divide fosters a racial environment, which in turn creates a sense of black inferiority to many.Similar to an Uncle Tom, a person who is “acting white” is a black person who accepts societal expectations of a white person, and therefore denies their black culture. In many cases, an African-American pursuing his or her education can be seen as acting white. In contrast, some people believe that an African-American receiving his or her education is not generally looked down upon in the black community. Author Shaun Harper examines a study in which high-achieving Black Americans from six American Universities were interviewed to gauge the amount of peer support received. The author decides that these students were well supported by other African-Americans (Harper). While the existence of acting white is debatable, if it is real, it is a form of internalized racism. By holding contempt to those African-Americans who wish to receive their education or pursue their dreams in society, other African-Americans are devaluing their own self-worth and future.Finally, some consider the “n” word as another form of internalized racism. Each individual determines the true meaning of the word; therefore it is difficult to examine. Many blacks in America hear the word repeatedly through popular media (rap, for example) and in everyday life. For some, this word has little meaning. For others, however, this word is a reference to slavery in America and a form of internalized racism.An example of internalized racism amongst African-Americans today can be seen in the documentary “Good Hair”. This documentary/comedy examines the billion-dollar industry of styling African-Americans’ hair to look like white peoples’. This in itself is internalized racism as it makes it seem as though there is something inherently wrong with black peoples’ bodies. Effects of Internalized RacismWe have now studied the causes of internalized racism amongst African-Americans, as well as how it looked historically and how it appears today. What we haven’t studied however, is why it matters. What are the affects of internalized racism in African-American communities?Firstly, and most obviously, internalized racism makes many African-Americans insecure about their racial identity. A study titled "What’s Color Got To Do With It? Skin Color, Skin Color Satisfaction, Racial Identity, and Internalized Racism Among African American College Students” examined among other things, whether internalized racism corresponds to skin color satisfaction. The authors of this study conclude that internalized racism “significantly predicted skin color satisfaction” (Maxwell, Brevard, Abrams, Belgrave).Next, internalized racism is thought to enhance violence in these African-American communities. Wesley Bryant conducted a study amongst African-American males aged 14-29. He concluded that internalized racism enhanced the teen delinquency and violence rate, which he says are at “epidemic proportions” (Bryant).Finally, there might be some other miscellaneous impacts of internalized racism amongst African-Americans. For example, Jerome Taylor conducted an investigation that examined the relationship between internalized racism and marital satisfaction among 96 black Americans. He concludes that there is some inverse correlation that exists (Taylor). Similarly, a study by David Williams examined the relationship between racism and health. His conclusion is that “acceptance of the societal stigma of inferiority can have deleterious consequences for health” (Williams). These seemingly uncorrelated affects show that the full extent of the impact of internalized racism may not yet be discovered.Annotated Bibliography"The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man Summary." Study Guides & Essay Editing. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2014.Bloom, Harold. Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye. New York: Bloom's Literary Criticism, 2010. Print.This book is about a black girl in the midst of the Great Depression who becomes insecure due to her dark skin color. This book will be used to show how internalized racism makes a person feel inferior to others and is a good example of internalized racism historically."The Bluest Eye Plot Overview." SparkNotes. SparkNotes, n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2014.Bivens, Donna. "What Is Internalized Racism?" N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2014.Bryant, Wesley W. "Internalized Racism’s Association With African American Male Youth’s Propensity For Violence." Journal Of Black Studies 42.4 (2011): 690-707. America: History & Life. Web. 13 Nov. 2014.This source examines how internalized racism amongst Black Americans translates into youth violence (adolescents aged 14-17). The author argues that youth violence is enhanced by internalized racism. I can use this source to discuss some of the affects of internalized racism.Good Hair. Dir. Jeff Stilson. Perf. Chris Rock. Madman, 2009.This is a documentary and comedy about Black Americans spending billions of dollars annually on hair products to attain “good hair” – hair that looks like white peoples’. This documentary will help show internalized racism amongst Black Americans in the popular media."Good Hair Plot Summary." IMDb. , n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2014.Harper, Shaun R. "Peer support for African American male college achievement: Beyond internalized racism and the burden of" acting White"." The Journal of Men's Studies 14.3 (2006): 337-358.This source examines the correlation of Black Americans in school and the perception of “acting white”. The author examines Fordham and Ogbu's (1986) Acting White Hypothesis, in which high-achieving Black Americans from six American Universities were interviewed to gauge the amount of peer support received. The author argues that “acting white” is not real. I can use this source to discuss a specific type of internalized racism amongst Black Americans – acting white."Internalized Racism." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 29 Nov. 2014. Web. 03 Dec. 2014.Johnson, James Weldon. The Autobiography Of An Ex-Colored Man. [Auckland, N.Z.]: Floating Press, 2009. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 16 Nov. 2014.This is a book about a bi-racial man’s experiences in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. He has the choice of living as a black person or a middle-class white person. I can use this source to examine how internalized racism might have looked historically. It is also a fist-hand account of internalized racism.Maxwell, Morgan, Joshua Brevard, Jasmine Abrams, and Faye Belgrave. "What’s Color Got To Do With It? Skin Color, Skin Color Satisfaction, Racial Identity, and Internalized Racism Among African American College Students." Journal of Black Psychology (2014): n. pag. Sage Journals. Web. 16 Nov. 2014.This journal article examines the relationship between internalized racism and satisfaction of skin color. According to the authors, “Although skin color was not significantly associated with skin color satisfaction, skin color satisfaction moderated the relationship between perceived skin color and private regard”. This source will be used to discuss how Black Americans view themselves in relation to their skin color.Nittle, Nadra. "Internalized Racism: What You Probably Didn't Know." About. , n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2014.Speight, S. L. "Internalized Racism: One More Piece of the Puzzle." The Counseling Psychologist 35.1 (2007): 126-34. Web.The author of this article researched some possible causes of internalized racism. He believes discrimination, harassment, etc. reinforces black inferiority to blacks. This source can be used to discuss the origin of internalized racism.Taylor, J. "Relationship between Internalized Racism and Marital Satisfaction." Journal of Black Psychology 16.2 (1990): 45-53. Web.This article looks at the relationship between internalized racism and satisfaction on marriages. 96 Black inner-city couples were studied and the results led the author to believe that higher internalized racism was negatively correlated to marital satisfaction. This source can be used to show that internalized racism can affect marriages and facets of everyday life that most don’t consider.Watts‐Jones, Dee. "Healing Internalized Racism: The Role of a Within‐Group Sanctuary Among People of African Descent." Family Process 41.4 (2002): 591-601.This article discusses the ways in which internalized racism is healed. The author argues that whites are encouraged to continue the cycle of racism and blacks are encouraged to not stop the cycle of violence. The authors that to heal internalized racism Blacks should exclude themselves from others. I will use this source to discuss some possible methods to combat internalized racism amongst blacks.Williams, David R. "Race, socioeconomic status, and health the added effects of racism and discrimination." Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 896.1 (1999): 173-188.This article examines the health affects related to racism and internalized racism. The author argues that the “stigma of inferiority” has negative affects on health amongst Black Americans. This source can be used to study the health impacts of internalized racism.Williams, David, and Ruth Morris. "Racism and Mental Health." N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2014. ................
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