Media Paint a Distorted Portrait of Black America

I’ve watched with great alarm the tendency among blacks in Hollywood to tear the heart from the African American community. Black creative artists like Martin Lawrence are getting a chance to tell their stories but too often they use this opportunity to reinforce ugly stereotypes of their own people (“Martin Lawrence: Dr. Dirt or Mr. Clean?,” Calendar, March 8).

Lawrence’s sitcom, “Martin,” and some of his other performances contribute to the distorted image that some people hold of African Americans as immoral, uneducated people.

Consider his television caricature Sheneneh, the garish man-chaser wearing braided wigs and female padding. Consider his distasteful references to women’s body parts, oral sex and derogatory hygiene tips to youngsters on the Feb. 19 “Saturday Night Live” that caused NBC to cancel his planned appearance on “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno.”

As a writing professor, trained in classical storytelling methods, I am saddened by the portrait of black people that too often is being conveyed on television, in the movies and in the media, in general. Inner cities are perceived as areas filled with grotesque, terrifying people--all lurking behind shadows of poverty, hatred and horrible ignorance.

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But there are tens of thousands of black Americans who are heroes--working hard, studying hard, maintaining high levels of ambition.

We are now watching the self-destruction of young black America, caused in part by a small group of black filmmakers and other artists who are selling stereotypical garbage to the world at a ridiculously high price.

Few blacks in the movie and television industry would argue for censorship, fearing that would close off opportunities to work. Yet, there are a number of African American actors, directors and writers who are so intent on getting paid that they are willing to co-sign ignorance.

I’d call this a black-on-black crime.