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What are your opinions on ethnic characterizations such as kitchen mammies, lawn jockets, and even Disney's Song of the South (which, incidentally, seems to have been erased from the archives!)? As the mother of an African-American son, I feel they are demeaning and worthless. What do you think--are they rubbish or Americana?
Unfortunately, negative ethnic characterizations are both pieces of Americana culture and rubbish.
As a doctoral student in sociology, I recognize that they are cultural icons, both historicizing negative images and representing sentiments of the past. Hopefully, their value in this context is now in showing the errors of our collective past and our progress that they are no longer mass produced (at least in this country) or accepted as part of a politically correct society.
Most important to us on a personal level, they are indeed offensive pieces of rubbish. As a parent, I see your role as protesting their existence in public spaces and reminding others that such images must be dismissed as dehumanizing to all. In this process, you are an ally to your son, giving him a voice until he is able to articulate how painful these images can be to him and others he loves.
I wish you all the best as you continue to confront the difficult issues of cross cultural parenting, Michelle
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rev. 2/11/98 md