Cheesy Last Blog

I think the saddest part about racism is people not being confident in their skin or feeling inferior. While researching racial bias in children, I came across an article by the CNN. The news reporter sat down with kids and asked them questions about the paper doll test.  The paper doll test is a paper with a picture of five identical dolls, each only differing in skin colors. The dolls range from very light to very dark.

When the reporter asked “What skin color do you want?” a black little boy pointed right to the lightest doll. Another black little girl chose the second lightest saying that “…I just don’t like the way brown looks cause the way brown looks, looks really nasty for some reason.” Similar responses were given by other children. 

These poor kids have grown up thinking that their skin color is undesirable, and would rather be white. It is each of our jobs to actively teach children, peers, and even grown ups that racism is not okay and can be resisted. Going along with that, I also think it is so sad that people are even afraid to be a certain race, or wear certain garments in our country these days. I don’t know how to get rid of racism, and I cannot solve all of our problems. But I can be accepting to everyone I meet, treat everyone equal, and be a good example. Our country needs love and acceptance right now, and I think that that is the best way that we can all make a difference.   

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/05/13/doll.study/

#MannequinChallenge

If you have been on Instagram or Twitter lately, you have probably come across the Mannequin Challenge a time or two. If you have been avoiding social media lately (I do not blame you), the Mannequin Challenge is the newest internet trend in which people stand completely still in poses while a video is recorded.

Most of the Mannequin Challenges I have seen have been all fun and games – usually dancers frozen during class or a sports team frozen during practice. 

However, I came across a much more serious video today. This challenge was done by filmmakers Simon Shepherd, Kevalena Everett, and Todd Anthony to raise awareness of police brutality. The short video re-enacts the tragic scenes of many popular police shootings and other racial issues including Philando Castille, Sandra Bland, Alton Sterling, Trayvon Martin, and Colin Kaepernick. There is also police scanner audio playing in the background.

The video is honestly hard to watch, as it shows many individuals being mistreated and put in horrible situations. It is very effective at helping the audience picture these situations and the need for change. I think a video like this is a great way to peacefully protest police brutality. The video caused no harm, but has already received a lot of publicity in less than a week (it has been viewed over 700,000 times on Facebook as of November 10, 2016). This is how social media should be used. The filmmakers used their platform to make a statement, rather than put others down. 

Here is a link to the video, which speaks for itself.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/mannequin-challenge-takes-racism-frozen-frames-n682236

Racism in Ballet

Picture a ballerina.

What does she look like?

Most of us, if not all, probably pictured a tall, slender, toned, fair-skinned, graceful ballerina in a pink tutu. Why do we automatically picture a white ballerina?

There are many excuses made for why blacks are not ballerina material. They tend to be curvier, flat-footed, too muscular, too this, or too that. Even though a curvy, flat-footed, muscular young woman would not be the best body type for a ballerina, not all blacks fit that category. Likewise, not all white young girls are the “perfect” body type for ballet either.

Julie Gant said that this kind of stereotyping is “literally saying black people have a gene so they are unable to do ballet. It’s like saying Asians can’t drive. You basically have to redefine human if you’re going to say certain nationalities can only do certain things.”

I think that the ballet industry loves to hold on to certain traditions, and uses blacks’ stereotypical body type as an excuse to be racist. Ballet companies do everything they can to make each ballerina dance exactly the same. They have daily, long rehearsals perfecting every move so that the ballerinas will leap, turn, and glissade completely in sync. The ballerinas wear the exact same outfits, have the same makeup and hair, and you guessed it – they even have the same skin color.

Skin color should not have anything to do with being given a chance to dance in a ballet. With dedication and practice, any race has the potential to be a beautiful ballerina. Misty Copland has proved that African Americans should not be overlooked in the ballet industry. Copeland did not even start ballet training until age 13, but she was accepted into the American Ballet Theater four years later. She is also the first African-American ballerina lead role in Swan Lake. Not only is she amazing to watch, but she continues to inspire other young dancers to not give up. She has worked so hard to get to where she is today, and I hope the world of ballet will one day become more diverse thanks to inspiring dancers like her.

This short video should be enough proof for anyone that all races can do ballet. https://youtu.be/IxJHjcRGdCQ

Article that the quote was found: https://glimmerglass.olivet.edu/2015/03/05/black-girls-cant-dance-ballet-body-type-or-stereotype/