Judgments and Character

What was your first impression upon seeing the photo?


Are you uncomfortable seeing this?


Is it considered art or an expression of a taboo worthy of an art museum?


A threat to cultural heritage?


Would it matter if the ethnicities were opposite?


How about two women? Two men?


What do you think about me for posting this?


Would this photo make you more or less inclined to purchase the music?


The photo is of Joss Stone from her CD Introducing Joss Stone.

Many are probably already familiar with her and her work, but for those that are not, do you know who the executive producers on the album are? The world renowned songwriter of one of my favorite songs on the CD? The guitarist on many of the songs?


The answers to any of these questions provide insight into how we see and understand the world around us. The CD was released in 2007 and I am upset that I only just recently purchasing it because, in my opinion, it is her best release yet.

Pictures create powerful images in the brain and can promote powerful symbols. The fact that we now have a bi-racial President of the U.S. strongly identified by the African-American community has impact. Would it have made a difference if the president was not married to another African-American? Much of the perspective on this momentous American occasion is built upon the struggle for inclusion as is the history of the country. It is evidenced in the social and religious structures of the society. Most of all the social organizations of which people spend a big portion of their lives affiliated, particularly Fraternities and Sororities, are based upon ethnicity and self-identification.

Within the African-American community, the election of a Black President has been profoundly inspiring and encouraging for unlimited aspirations. It has also been the rallying point to strengthen the black family to improve the poverty conditions experienced by many. This means the acceptance of responsibility by the black man as the precursor for community improvement. This, however, does not recognize other condition variables impacting outcome nor that adjusting for such other factors, outcomes can be explained across many communities in the U.S.

In the book Before the Mayflower, Lerone Bennett, Jr. states that during slavery in the South, the plantation owners would not allow “poor whites” to be seen by the slaves. They were relocated out of the site of the plantation allowing the psychological indoctrination of the dominance and supremacy of the class of plantation owners. Given this beginning, it is not inconceivable that this structure of separation and exclusion is reinforced through the use of the evolved social organizations. These types of organizational structures also make communication very efficient and secretive. With today’s GPS satellite and telecommunication technologies, messages can be sent to the entire group and supporters with lightning speed identifying those not keeping with the group norms. There is historical evidence of how far some in power will go to reinforce or confirm a belief (The Tuskegee Experiment).

I have no intention to belittle the social and racial progress that has been made in this country. In fact, I intend to promote its continuation in the face of  to contradict those who will use this historical achievement as political fodder to end policies beneficial to the excluded and underrepresented. Some may use the historical event as confirmation of the separate group structure and as a basis for career success. However, until we can see the photo and think of it as history and it reflects images of representative government, corporate structure, and a global society, we are not there yet.