class continues, in Africana Studies: History of Work & African Americans.. Had a big debate in this class, concerning Madame CJ Walker & her cosmetics/beauty empire, and what it means/meant for black communities who participated in working for her and/or using her products. What did this mean, in comparison to American/White beauty standards? Did her entrepreneurship exacerbate self-image problems for African-Americans, or did it help to enhance self-image? Consider also the well-documented philanthropy of Ms. Walker.. Does that mitigate the 'issue', for those who think she represented a reinforcement of European-derived standards? Or does that even matter at all?

In class, things really got out of hand, as the discussion wavered from discussing the time frame of Mme. Walker, to discussing today's society, which is of course, still deeply affected by European derived standards of beauty, law & morality. The discussion went further to discuss rap music, and whether its current form is too negative in its relationship to the condition of today's black communities. More fun to come, I'm sure..

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Image
NEEDY FAMILIES GET HELP FROM RITE-AID, HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES Representatives from Rite-Aid Corporation and social service agency representatives in Detroit held a press conference Tuesday announcing a resource program targeting low-income families in the city of Detroit. The event was held at Matrix Human Services Mt. Zion Service Center on Detroit's east side. Two women who are clients of the Detroit Healthy Start program were on hand for the conference. They and other client families enrolled in the program will be receiving infant-care supplies and other child-health resources, as donated by the Rite Aid Corporation. Among the items donated by Rite Aid included over 100 "gift" bags (including diapers, baby shampoo, and other health and hygiene items) as well as several baby cribs. Members of the Detroit Healthy Start program and the nonprofit Institute for Population Health were on hand for the event. Comments were made by representatives of all the principal
Read more

Currie Writing Work Sample: Community Board Annual Report, Monthly Minutes

Image
  2016 Report to the Community Mayor’s Task on Child Abuse and Neglect Executive Summary Preventing the Abuse and Neglect of Young Children in Eastern Wayne County Child Abuse and Neglect is a Community Problem Abuse and neglect negatively affect not only the child victims but also their families and communities. Children’s physical (including brain development), intellectual, emotional and social development are all impacted by abuse and neglect. Adults who were abused or neglected as children are more likely as parents to abuse or neglect their children. The economic and social health of communities are impacted when abused and neglected children perform poorly in school and do not graduate from high school and who as adults have mental health problems and/or are unemployed and incarcerated. An informed, committed and engaged citizenry can create communities that enhance factors that protect children and that reduce factors that place children at risk of abuse and neglec
Read more