Mate Availability In African American Culture

The stereotypical misrepresentations of African-American women and men in popular culture have influenced societal views of Blacks for centuries. The typical stereotypes about Black women range from the smiling, a sexual and often obese Mammy to the promiscuous Jezebel who lures men with her sexual charms. However, the loud, smart mouthed, neck-rolling Black welfare mother is the popular image on reality television. These images portrayed in media and popular culture create powerful ideology about race and gender, which affects daily experiences of Black women in America. With few healthy relationships portrayed in the media, Black women are left to make decisions based on the options

Across the nation, millions of Americans of all races turn on the television or open a newspaper and are bombarded with images of well dressed, articulate, attractive black people advertising different products and representing respected companies. The population of black professionals in all arenas of work has risen to the point where seeing a black physician, attorney, or a college professor are becoming more a common sight. More and more black people are holding positions of respect and authority throughout America today, such as Barack Obama, Colin Powell, Condelezza Rice and many other prominent black executives. As a result of their apparent success, these black people are seen as role models for many Americans, despite their race.

The trend of African American males between the ages of 25 and 29 has seen a dramatic increase of incarceration. Attention has been focusing on areas of housing, education, and healthcare but the most prominent problem for African American males is the increase in the incarceration rate. African American males between the ages of 25 and 29 incarceration rate has been thought, by many, to be caused by economic factors such as under employment or unemployment, poor housing, lack of education, and lack of healthcare. Yet, others believe it is due to the imbalance of minorities within the criminal justice system, such as judges, lawyers, and lawmakers.

Women in America have faced numerous issues while trying to obtain equal rights as their male counterparts. These issues can include sexual harassment, discrimination and most importantly, less access to professional development and career growth opportunities. However, for African American women, these same issues can have a more severe impact on their chances of employment, receiving a promotion or an increase in their pay wage. Research shows that African American makes less earnings and receive fewer promotions than their Caucasian counterparts (Hill, Miller, & Benson, 2017).

Many problems are facing African American males. Few people are knowledgeable of the disparity between African American males and females as it relates to incarceration, homicide, suicide, alcoholism, and many other ailments (p. 9).

Underachievement, lack of inclusion, and backward progression within society is a trend that engulfs African American men constantly in the American society. There is a continuous struggle to break the persistent mold. Although many feel that the United States has overcome its racist history, the legacies of slavery and racism still affect our policies and practices today. Of the nearly 2.1 million adult men and women imprisoned in the United States, roughly 70% are persons of color (Minton, 2012). Within the criminal justice system, people of color are imprisoned disproportionately due to racist laws, are denied access to the rehabilitative options given to Whites, and are harassed and mistreated by U.S. agencies.

The stereotypical misrepresentations of African-American women and men in popular culture have influenced societal views of Blacks for centuries. The typical stereotypes about Black women range from the smiling, asexual and often obese Mammy to the promiscuous Jezebel who lures men with her sexual charms. However, the loud, smart mouthed, neck-rolling Black welfare mother is the popular image on reality television. The typical stereotype about Black men is the violent, misogynistic thug, and the ever-enduring pimp. These images portrayed in media and popular culture createpowerful ideology about race and gender, which affects daily experiences of Black women in America. With few healthy relationships portrayed in the media, Black women

Many Americans pretend that the days of racism are far behind; however it is clear that institutional racism still exists in this country. One way of viewing this institutional racism is looking at our nation’s prison system and how the incarceration rates are skewed towards African American men. The reasons for the incarceration rate disparity are argued and different between races, but history points out and starts to show the reason of why the disparity began. Families and children of the incarcerated are adversely affected due to the discrimination as well as the discrimination against African American students and their likelihood of going to prison compared to the white student. African American women are also affected by the

Mass black incarceration has a myriad of effects on the culture and society of black communities across the nation. This paper examines these effects, including the reasons for black male incarceration, the widespread nature of it, the effects it has on black women, children and the community. The research was taken from several social scientists well-respected in African-American culture and includes interviews, surveys, raw statistics and data. By compiling this research, it is clear that a common theme is that the black women of African-American

Within African American communities, individuals with low incomes or low education levels are at increased risk of incarceration due to less options for legal employment and little resources to successfully navigate the legal system (Crutchfield and Weeks, 2015; Mtichell & Caudy, 2015; Pettit & Western, 2004). Although the incarceration of black people is an international issue (Warde, 2013) which affects both men and women (Christian & Thomas, 2009), the substantial size of the African American male incarcerated population within the United States suggest that this a

Looking at these statistics it is easy to recognize the many hardships African American males have to endure and it also depicts the portrait of Black male underachievement at various points in their lives. “There is no shortage of empirical evidence to highlight the difficulties African American males encounter, including the realm of education and the consequences associated with being undereducated (McGee, 2013).

The Judicial system appears to be White male dominated due to factors regarding higher education, as well as opportunities or resources to pursue careers of higher statuses. “The percentage of black adults who obtained a bachelor’s degree

African American males who live in poverty are the most vulnerable and oppressed population in society. Since the first slave ship set sail from Africa with hundreds of Blacks in tow headed to America, black have endured the worst treatment of any one individual race in America. Slavery lasted over three hundred years and has been illegal since 1865. However the underlying effects of slavery continue to plague Black males in society. In our modern day society there are still underlying racial injustices. Black males are racially oppressed in educational setting as they have the lowest high school graduation rates than that of any other race. Black males are racially profiled by law enforcement and are represented in prisons and jails than their white counterparts. Once Black males have paid their debts to society, their criminal records place them at higher risk of becoming underemployed or unemployed. If the American Dream is promise to all U.S. citizens then structural changes are needed to assure their survival. I believe empowering Black males using the Strength Based Perspective helps to identify individual, family and personal strengths in effective problem solving and application of the Critical Race Theory helps practitioners to understand the core issues of oppressive barriers throughout the lifespan.

The effects of misrepresentation or, when a groups, communities, and ideas are wrongly portrayed, has a devastating a effect on the lives of Black Americans. Many stereotypes have been created to reflect the events of our history in the media as a way to try and replicate a negative culture as was created in times of slavery and segregation. The effects of misrepresentation among the African American community in the media, creates a stigma. Stereotypes like the Independent Black Women, and Angry Black Woman, are both examples of African American women portrayals that are described as aggressive and emasculating. There are also African American male associated stereotypes like the Criminal and Drug Dealer/Drug User which both indicate relations to times of President Nixon’s War on Drugs.

African American are the number one people who are more likely to try to adapt and focus on change due to not giving those unprivileged a second chance. Prejudicial treatment in a workplace makes it more difficult to obtain well-paying jobs and or acceptance of employment. Discrimination within a job is well an equality rule. “The intensification of the criminal record effect among blacks is consistent with earlier audit research (Pager 2007) and points to special barriers facing blacks in the transition from prison to work. Employers, already reluctant to hire blacks, appear particularly wary of blacks with known criminal histories. (DEVAH PAGER, BRUCE WESTERN, and NAOMI SUGIE, p.199, 2009)”. This quotation demonstrates, Discrimination in workplace but also housing a way of decrease of black house owning. African American are more likely as a black community to be turned away due to criminal record, stereotype of blacks as victims or criminals to society. Discrimination because of housing status. Criminal records on African American making very difficult to obtain employment due to criminal record and a mirror image of black. Mirror image tends to affect blacks as they turn away opportunities and experiences of a new change.  These are humans from a different race trying to break a stereotype that people isolate. This narrows down African