artifact 1: simply southern

(McAwesomeville)

Artifact 1:Object Analysis

,(Simply Southern)

A Border That Can't Be Crossed

Red Push Pin (AzFree)

Red Push Pin (AzFree)

(Fischer)

Background

(Kyoshino)

Psst! Click on/hover over the images that move!

From the front, there is nothing special about this shirt. From the back, there is still nothing special about this shirt. Yet, out of the tens of options I had, my eyes immediately went to it. It's just a shirt with a miniture design on the front, a larger design on the back, and "Simply Southern" on both sides; nevertheless, for the white southern female youth, this item was a staple piece in their closet.

(Charles-Obi)

(Charles-Obi)

(Charles-Obi)

(Charles-Obi)

Purple Arrow (“Violet Sticky Note Arrow Sticker PNG Design.”)

(Charles-Obi)

For instance, in Russel’s interview with Kennedy, a black girl who attends a predominantly white school, Kennedy claims that she feels “pressure in her school,” and a school that displayed a more diverse population would “ease some of the pressure to have material items and fit the mold” (Russell).

Additionally, after Russell interviewed three other black girls who attended predominantly white institutions, she noticed that the girls “accept the margin as the norm,” agreed to their place as “the ‘other’,” and occasionally feigned for “Whiteness” to “fit in” (Russell)

(Medard)

Through these examples, it is evident that a lack of diversity can lead to mental turmoil, which is what I experienced. Naturally, people who share similarities tend to bond more, but this causes negative effects for those who don’t share the same traits.

(Medard)

(Medard)

(Annafortuna)

(Annafortuna)

Red Push Pin (AzFree)

(Fischer)

Origins

(Kyoshino)

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(Cooper)

Red Push Pin (AzFree)

(Fischer)

Consequences

(Kyoshino)

As the modern study examined, people gravitate towards similar people. However, when Black women, or minorities in general, enter a society where they feel they don't belong, it can foster a belief that they are not meant to be there or that they are not good enough.

Coupled with Eurocentric beauty standards, which are often unrealistic for those who do not share European descent, this pressure can result in lowered self-esteem and a false need to conform.

(Kharlamova_lv)

These efforts to fit in can negatively impact significant aspects of Black culture, such as coily hair and unique forms of expression, replacing them with feelings of unfamiliarity and shame.

(Kharlamova_lv)

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(Kharlamova_lv)

Although I didn't relax it to achieve "white" hair, I often compared my hair texture to that of my friends. I felt envy because their hair was much more manageable, while mine was difficult to deal with. Every day, I wished my hair was different; I wished it were straight.

(Charles-Obi)

For example, I have curly hair that falls somewhere between type 4B and 4C. However, when you look at pictures of me, you can’t tell what my hair texture really is. This is because I used to relax my hair, which means I chemically straightened it.

(Charles-Obi)

Red Push Pin (AzFree)

(Fischer)

Importance of Inclusion

(Kyoshino)

This graph illustrates the craving for diversity and inclusion in the media, and Spencer’s article further highlights this point. Television tends to push the same “All-American” role, and children’s books constantly “feature white-faced characters” (Spencer). When one rarely sees oneself in their peers and in the media, it can lead to negative impacts.

(Nielsen)

Minority children are “often portrayed negatively or they are not portrayed at all,” and this is difficult because they constantly “seek to discover, on a personal basis, what it means to be a member of their specific group” (Spencer).

(Kharlamova_lv)

(Kharlamova_lv)

(Solano)

Without representation, it becomes increasingly difficult for minorities to develop a genuine sense of self and pride in their attributes. It is hard to appreciate the parts of themselves that make them special. It is invaluable for children to understand that they are enough, and visual media is an avenue to do so. Promoting diversity and inclusion in all facets of life is the best way to convey this message. There are examples of shows that move away from the typical all-white cast (such as "Friends"), but representation doesn’t have to consist solely of an all-black cast or even a specific cast at all.

(Warner Bros)

(ABC Signature)

Red Push Pin (AzFree)

(Fischer)

Acceptance

(Kyoshino)

(Charles-Obi)

Purple Arrow (“Violet Sticky Note Arrow Sticker PNG Design.”)

(Charles-Obi)

(Charles-Obi)

(Charles-Obi)

Purple Arrow (“Violet Sticky Note Arrow Sticker PNG Design.”)

(Charles-Obi)

Citations

(Kyoshino)

Modern Day Implications

What is the Trend Now?

"The children related positive attitudes and beliefs towards dolls with skin tones similar to their own. We anticipate similar results, that children participants will associate positive characteristics towards dolls that look most similar to them" (Byrd et al.)

• According to Jackson and Greene, however, black Americans still have a preferance for light skin and straighter hair texture (Byrd et al.)
• Internalized Eurocentric beauty standards ingrained the idea that straight hair equals "good" and tighly-coiled equals "bad" (Byrd et al.)

Black Doll Experiment

The Origin of Self-Concept

Before the mid-twentifth century, there was a common misconception -- children are unable to notice racial difference. This was debunked through the famous "Black Doll Experiment," or the Clark and Clark study, which exposed children of various ages (3-7 years old), origins (Northern and Southern states), and shades to two black dolls and two white dolls and corresponding questions. Depending on the question, each child chose the doll that best fit. Some of the conclusions include: (Bryd et al.)

• 2/3 of participants preferred playing with the white doll
• 59% of participants believed the Black doll looked "bad," while only 17% said the same for the white doll with the same attributes
• 66% of partipants identified with the Black doll