Identifying and Preserving the Legacy of Black Women

I love being a Black woman. It is an honor to be all that this represents. Our love for our families, our loyalty and our intense need to protect our own can be seen and felt throughout the gene pools of most black families. Our people's ability to hold onto our dignity while enduring unspeakable hardships was a direct gift from God that was much like armor that aided in our survival. Fast forward to the present. It is still not easy to be either a Black man or Black woman. It is not necessary to pull 'out a race card'. It simply is what it is. Much progress has been made; but some mindsets are so deeply rooted, they will never change; from either side. Again, it is what it is. One of the anchors of these mindsets are the stereotypes that have been in place for so long.The painful fact that we are guilty of providing unlimited fodder to strengthen those views of who we are as a people is frightening. As women, we are often judged by the behavior of other women who look like us. Is it fair?? Of course not; but then, life has never been fair. .
The media provides us with information and entertainment. So, if it is not entertainment, should we assume it is considered information?? What genre does the' Housewives of ,,anything fit'?? As 'Reality', does that mean truth??  I started watching them a few years ago before there were any shows focusing on women of color. I was a little excited when they announced the new arrivals. I am always supportive of our people being given the opportunity to do well. I admit that I found the relationships between the privileged white women to be interesting. I will go so far as to say  somewhat enlightening. Reality, right?? However, I am left speechless and ashamed by the antics of the beautiful Black women on' their' shows. They can have complete ownership because no matter how great they think they look, dress, or live; it means nothing if their behavior drops to this level. So, I wll not watch another episode. But what about young impressionable women who yearn to be like these women??   What about the people who use the media to learn about who we 'really' are??  ( Yes, I have questioned myself as to why I was interested in any of the shows. What was I really looking for?) We must be careful of the choices we make. We must respect and appreciate the sacrifices made by those before us. We must fully embrace the gifts of dignity and survival that God gave our people. We must honor and preserve our legacy of being Black women by,,doing better.