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Community Representation - Are we scared we don't get what we deserve?

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Mr Williams LaborHood

Mr Williams LaborHood

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I often wonder if the staunch defense of problematic icons in marginalized communities is some sort of residual internalized self hate? Or desperation? Or both?

what would happen if we smashed all the pedestals of the rapists, misogynists, and domestic abusers in the black community?

Not to say these types of predators and abusers don't exist in white communities- but white people have more visibility and more options. I know Rape and domestic Violence are underreported in white communities as well, so we may well be consuming movies and music by abusers. But when consuming white media I can easily choose to watch horror movies not affiliated with Polanski. I can watch comedies not directed by woody Allen or starring Sean Penn.

But if I want to watch a nostalgic family friendly tv show featuring a black family and I ditch "the Cosby show"... I've got... "family matters". Those were the only 2 mainstream black family shows I remember from my childhood. Those were the only places I could watch people who looked like me, had hair like me, dealt with confusion about dating, family, growing up, and racism all at the same time.

Is that why the black community hesitates to shun abusers in our midst? Because we won't have any representation if we cut out the bad people? Or is it because we think we don't deserve better representation and we secretly believe the lies we've been fed about ourselves?

Is it a mix of both? Don't we deserve better? Both in terms of more representation and better role models? 
Why don't we demand more for ourselves? Are we scared we don't deserve more or scared we won't get what we deserve?

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