How We Depict Ourselves Matters
Jun 12, 2025
Commentary by Ron Washington, native Chicagoan living in Las Vegas, disabled Marine Corps combat veteran, business owner (Premiers Secours), and proud NU grad. Son of Bernadine C. Washington, former WVON GM, who inspired his love for writing.
If you caught “Red Table Talk,” the segment featuring the cast of “A Different World” (if not you should check it out on Y-Tube) listen to the testimonials at the show’s close, from Black people whose lives were positively influenced by the show. A Different World and its messages demonstrate the power in positive imaging as an effective communication practical. And check this out. The show was written, directed, produced and performed by Black people, and mainly Black females. How marvelous is that?
It like other pioneering Black TV shows that featured images of successful Black people, represented a healthy and positive dose of Black reality. This reality is what Black people already know about the Black experience and this is that we are a brilliant people, in all matters and manner and in all occupations, crafts and professions. The problem is we have and are still allowing someone else to define us. Even when we now have the communication means for otherwise.
Communication is about messaging, and repeated messaging can impact attitudes and behavior. We have been saturated by the comprehensive efforts of others to produce negative messaging about Black people, for so long to the extent that attitudes about Black people are what they are today, and it shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone as to why. When someone else tells your story you can bet that it won’t be authentic. As my grand mother use to say, “It’s a poor dog that won’t wag it’s own tail.”
Artistically and commercially I see a place to chronicle “street life” after all it’s controversial, sensational and most of all good for the box office, but it should be limited as an art presentation about Blacks. Average Black people do not act like nor do they partake in “street life” period! Our detractors work hard to convince the world otherwise.
There is also a place for historical representations of the Black struggle, and all the hardships and egregious treatment Blacks (Brown people too) endure but with all of the talent and money that Blacks in media possess, TV, Silver Screen, the theater; Hollywood, Atlanta, Chicago and New York, etc., there’s no excuse that we can’t produce more positive theater, tv shows, movies and programs and images of Black life in the same light as A Different World instead of some of the repeated nonsense being produced and distributed depicting the Black image.
I’ve seen enough shows about drug dealers, gangsters, athletes, entertainers, nightclub owners and music moguls. How about some shows about hard working mothers raising children, families that work themselves out of poverty, fathers being productive, educators who motivate students and business women and men who succeed against the odds. Everyday Black people who excel. Creative writers can make clever movies and tv series about everyday Black life and make these productions interesting enough to capture audiences and sell ad revenue and success at the box office.
I know the entertainment industry is first and foremost a means for artists and investors to make money, and historically Blacks were prevented from participating on the business side. I get it.
Now that Blacks are in and control aspects of show business why not use the medium’s power to enhance our Black image? I think they can make money doing this too. How we depict ourselves is just another spoke in the wheel that needs to get some attention as we continue our struggle. It’s about strategy. What do you think?
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