Images and Their Impact

No matter where you look or where you go images screaming sex, money, more money more sex, violence, education is not important and all of the things that we as adults and our forebearers regarded as the "lesser side of life" has become the mantle of American society. It is better to be an athlete than a doctor or a teacher. Our icons are not those who have made contributions to the larger society but rather those who play games for a living. (and that is not to denegrate their talent--of course). Our children aspire to become the next Beyonce or Michael Jordan--and maybe it's a good thing--if you have something else to fall back on.

Over the years the gradual shift in priorities and expectations, of our youth in particular, has been systematically polluted by visuals: the giant billboards of beautiful men and women half-dress, (is Calvin Klein to blame? hmmm) television commercials of beautiful cars--that you MUST have (even if you don't have the money), the sexually exploitive videos, the elevation of rap artists who croon (croak??) about bling, sex, and booty calls. Not to mention the video games that regularly require that the players blow-up, blugeon, or drop kick their opponent into oblivion. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. And what of fashion... the lower the jeans hang off your butt the cooler you must be and don't forget that the outfits should be a least a size too big, complete with a "hoody" ... and then you have the polar opposite of the barely there ensemble that leaves little to the imagination. Call me old fashion... but COME ON!!!

Literature (speaking specifically about AA lit here) has taken a turn as well. The latest craze is urban lit, hip-hop or street fiction (depending on your frame of reference). These novels tend to take the reader to the underbelly of black life. Some good, some not so good as in any other genre. Their sudden phenomenal success has caused the industry to actually sit back and examine it and even the venerable trade mag Publisher's Weekly has taken a look.

So what are we to do, grumble, grumble among ourselves that our youth are going to hell in a handbasket (I heard that somewhere) or as leaders (even in our own small kingdoms) do we make efforts to make a difference? How do you compete with the barrage of ads, commericials, videos and even laws that say "you can't put your hand on your own children or risk fines imprisonment or both!!"?

What can we bring to the table to counteract what is being spoon fed, force fed and submliminally fed to our youth??

One thing I've always been proud of is that in the novels that I write and the characters that I create, they are all folks that, "hey, I wouldn't mind being her and I'd like my daughter to be a lot like that and I sure hope she finds a guy just like him--or a resonable facsimile!"

That is one of the major contributions of romance writers (using them as an example). They create HEROES and HEROINES. That means something. They show through the written word that success is achieved through hard work, they show what it means to be treated decently and that the rainbow may be a little bit off in the distance but the journey is worth it.

Sure, romances have been joked about, dismissed, considered fodder for water fountain chit chat when all else fails. But they cannot and will not be ignored as shown by the staggering dollars that are plopped down for them daily and the organizations that have been established to support them. They have stood the test of time for a reason, they have infiltrated the hearts and minds of millions for a reason. They provide escape, yes, but they also provide hope and a sense of empowerment--something that is terribly lacking in so many of our youth.

My solution: create positive images by giving every kid you know a romance novel! I'm not kidding. I can't tell you the number of opinions and lives that have been changed with one good read. Hey... it may be a slow process, but change is slow...one child at a time.

Hmmm. Something to think about.

In closing my questions to you are: Are there solutions? Where will we all be in another ten years? What do you do to combat "the elements" in your family and life?

Love to hear from ya.