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October 27,1999
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Suicidal symptoms of black teen
agers may differ from whites’
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of the N a tio n al
we turn to what’s often described as a world o f fantasy.
In fact, television dramas and situation comedy shows
are both a world of fantasy and a world that mirrors
American society-how ever distorted, like the view one
gets from a fun-house mirror, the reflection might be.
Thus, it is important to note, as the "Business and Race”
column o f the Wall Street Journal did this week, that
"minorities have a sizable, but grossly uneven presence
on television. They are over-represented in 1 V dramas,
as compared with their population share. Yet with the
exception o f some all-black comedies, they are virtually
shut out o f sitcoms, which are the heart and soul o f
popular television.”
The result had been that such sitcoms as "Seinfeld" and
"Friends,” though set in the center of the world’s most
diverse city, depict a Manhattan in which not only do the
main characters seem to have no co-workers, good
friends, or even acquaintances who are people o f color.
New YorkCity itself seems virtually an all-white enclave.
Some who criticized the NAACP’s call for action have
asserted that the over-representation o f actors o f color
in television dramas proves television has no race or
color problem. (Hispanic, Asian, and Native American
actors fare even less well than blacks in getting parts on
television shows, and several Hispanic, Asian and Native
American groups have joined the NAACP s efforts.)
But that assertion is like claiming that because blacks are
over-represented as professional football and basketball
players, compared with theirproportion o f the population,
we shouldn’t worry about corporate America, or higher
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H uch B. P rice
A n ' n r d i n o t to
o Molock.
for T he P ortland O bserver
According
Molock, the b
black
Now that the fall television season when the net
community
remembers
past
abuses
N ews S ervice
works roll out their new shows with such blaring, and
and
still
holds
somejustified
distrust
A fric a n -A m e ric a n
te e n -a g e rs
perhaps numbing, fanfare - is actually upon us, the
o f the w hite m ental h ealth
contem plating suicide may not
public controversy that erupted last summer about the
establishm
ent,
and
this
distrust
receive the help they need because
roles, or rather, the lack o f roles for black actors seems
in
h
ib
its
blacks
from
seeking
their behavior doesn’t fit a model ot
to have become more muted.
treatment.
And
more
important,
this
suicidal teens based primarily on
Then the National Association for the Advancement of
establ
ishment
may
not
recognize
how
white, m iddle-class youth, says
Colored
People declared that a boycott o f certain
a history o f oppression and racism
G eorge W ashington U niversity
television
networks and television advertisers might be
influences the experience and needs
psychology professor Sherry Davis
necessary
to change what seemed to be deliberately
o f African Americans.
Molock.
exclusionary
practices in the industiy.
Black churches, which have long
W hen a child appears sad and
The
“noise”
has
subsided for the present, in part because
served as providers ofsocial services,
w ith d raw n , o th e r people may
the
networks
quickly
reduced the glaring "whites only
have programs available to young
recognize the symptoms as possible
tint
of
several
o
f
the
new
shows’ casts by subsequently
people whether or not they belong to
indications o f depression and, as
writing
black
and
Hispanic
characters into their story
the congregation.
such, question the child carefully to
"There’s
a
lot
in
the
community
that
lines.
see if suicide is on his or her mind,
But the issue remains just as sharp.
mental health professionals don’t
said Molock.
That issue can be summed up by this question: How
know
about,”
Molock
said.
Many
But when a child behaves defiantly
could American network executives approve a lineup of
churches have mentoring programs,
and opposes authority, it’s unlikely
new shows for the end ofthe 1990s that, in terms o f the
m id n ig h t
p a r e n t s , --------------------------
visibility o f color and race, is virtually no different from
basketball and
teach ers and
“There’s evidence that in this
the lineup o f shows o f the deeply segregated 1950s?
other offerings
possibly even
(A frican-A meric an) culture,
So stunning is the lack o f diversity that a July feature
th at p ro v id e
m ental health
depression may be expressed in
article in the Washington Post opened with these words—
y o u th w ith a
p ro fe ssio n a ls
"Here’s one thing you won’t be seeing much o f when the
place
that’s
safe
will consider the a different way"
big TV networks roll out their new sitcoms and drama
and
where
they
-Shelly Davis Molock
need to evaluate
series this fall: black people.” It went on to describe the
can
feel
the possibility -------------
new lineup as “likely to be the whitest television season
someone cares for them.
o f suicide, said Molock.
education.
in a generation.”
One
of
Molock’s
African-American
“T h e re ’s ev idence that in this
And
it is revealing that when the networks responded to
In fact, however, as the article quickly noted, the proposed
clients, aprime candidate for victim-
(A fric a n -A m e ric a n )c u ltu re ,
the NAACP’s Criticism, and added nearly a score of
lineup actu ally “ co n tinues w hat am ounts to a
precipitated homicide, found support
depression may be expressed in a
black and Hispanic characters to some new and returning
disappearing act for blacks and black-themed shows
at
a
church-based
Rites
o
f
Passage
different way, and that African-
shows, the additions were made mostly in dramas.
during the 1990s. After a decade in which Bill Cosby
program, she said. Here he found
American adolescents are more likely
If characters who are people of color are not present in
ruled television, and predominantly black sitcoms like
mentors who taught him about his
to have conduct problems when
the shows which represent the heart and soul o f popular
“A Different World” and “the Fresh Prince o f Bel Air”
A frican-A m erican heritage and
they’re depressed,” she said. “We
television, it means actors o f color are being confined to
broke through to general audiences, African Americans
helped him research his art form, rap
do know that depression occurs in a
a ghetto. And it means that the American experience
are accounting for a steadily declining share of roles as
music, and trace its connection to
cultural context.”
such characters “represent” is being whitewashed
broadcasters chase more numerous and affluent white
African traditions. He also found a
Molock says it is important for people
It’s hard to believe that the creative talent in television
sense o f purpose in teaching younger
viewers.”
working with teens to recognize these
can’t figure out how to take note that both the real and
Considered in broader terms, one thing this controversy
chi ldren to create, record and publish
differences among races and explore
the “made-up" lives of American o f color have elements
starkly underscores is how much the issue of race and
their own raps.
underlying reasons for a w ide
o f comedy that are universally appealing
color remains at the very center of the discourse about
“It made a big difference for him,
spectrum o f
If they can’t, that just underscores that other point
because he was really interested in
American life.
behaviors, whether they appear to
NAACP
made: that there need to be more people ofcolor
Some keep urging Americans to wrap themselves in an
how his music connected to Africa,"
stem from sadness, anger or defiance.
in
creative
and executive positions at these networks.
obscuring fog o f color blindness, to pretend that in
Molock said. “He was taught that
An understanding o f cultural issues
That
will
help
ensure that the virtual reality and un
present-day America, race and color have no meaning
you come from a proud line o f
surrounding depression will help
reality o f television can creatively reflect the real reality
and need never be discussed.
ancestors and that when you don t
professionals treat African-American
o f the world we live in.
Yet, everywhere we turn, we see that it does - even when
live
up
to
your
potential
you
let
them
young people appropriately.
down, and that you let down the next
The suicide rate among African
generation that w on’t have your
Americans is increasing dramatically
strengths as a resource.
each year, says Molock, citing a 1998
“It was the first time he really felt
national Centers for Disease Control
connected to the community and the
and Prevention finding that suicide is
first time he talked to other kids who
the leading cause o f death among
had feelings similar to his own.”
black youth 15 to 24. During the last
Another program offered through a
three decades, suicide rates have
church provides resources primarily
increased by 93 percent for black
for women, but also has been helpful
females and by 214 percent for black
for adolescent girls. SHOUT (Sisters
males. While blacks still commit
H
elp in g O th ers U n d erstand
suicide less frequently than whites,
Themselves)
addresses depression
the gap is closing.
and
su
ic
id
e
w ith in a c u ltu ra l
Also, the actual number o f suicides
framework,
said
Michele DeLeaver
among black adolescents may be
Balamani, director ofBaraka Pastoral
higher than official reports indicate,
Counseling and founder of Dancing
Molock said. Many young people
On Our Graves Institute for Life
die in instances described as “victim-
Enrichment.
precipitated homicides." Though the
Small groups o f women or girls, she
young people technically are killed
said, trace their lives, examining their
by another person, they have put
strengths, trials and available support
themselves in harm’s way because
systems, Balamani said. They go
they no longer want to live, she
through a series o f steps that
explained.
culminate
in accepting accountability
For example, she added, a drug-dealer
for
addressing
issues in healthier
patient of a colleague died ofa gunshot
ways.
wound. One o f his friends, another
Women who have completed the
drug dealer, in a state o f great distress
program have started businesses,
entered “enemy territory” and fell
Wow! Today changes a
changed careers and left or changed
asleep standing up. He was shot and
lot of things. "I" becomes
unhealthy relationships, Balamani
killed before morning. “This kid was
said. Although it was started to
"w e" "Ours "replaces "mine. "And happily ever after
streetwise and savvy. He knew he
address depression among church
couldn’t do that and expect to live
becomes a goal, not a given. Nervous? No way
going women who may feel ashamed
through it," Molock said. “His family
You have a strong fam ily be h in d you.
to be depressed, viewing it as a sign
agreed that he just didn’t want to go
o
f
less-than-rock-solid
faith,
it
has
A m erican Family M utual Insurance. W hen
on.” W hile this youth probably
worked well for younger girls.
wouldn't have admitted his suicidal
you're b u ild in g a future, tru st means e ve ry
“This is absolutely a model for suicide
feelings, Molock said, she considers
th in g and 70 years in the insurance busi
prevention for African Americans, It
it a form o f suicide nonetheless.
takes
their
cultural
heritage
into
ness is experience th a t helps you b o th feel
Molock said to address the needs of
account.
It
includes
discussion
of
such young people, the mental health
secure. W hen it comes to com m itm ent, our
the history o f slavery and looks at
community must look outside the
consistent A+ (Superior, ra tin g fro m th e
oppression as a life issue."
traditional m odels o f treatm ent.
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