Who creates the image of blacks in America?

At a Congressional Black Caucus event, Rep. Laura Richardson (D-Calif.) led a panel on role models, music, and health practices that create the black social construct. Kym Whitley, comedian and actress, spoke about blacks in media, and how they affected her upbringing. Whitley and Richardson enthusiastically agreed about black women being critiqued as ‘too tough’, or ‘too strong’ in television and reality.

Richardson introduced Alfred Liggins, chairman and CEO of Radio One which hosts dozens of radio stations from the gospel to hip-hop genres. During a discussion about the media’s responsibility in characterizing blacks as uneducated, Liggins said “It is not the media’s job to legislate morality. The parents have the responsibility. In fact, the music culture has spawned large-scale economic opportunity.”

Dr. Robin Smith, author of Lies at the Altar, captivated the audience with her motivational speech on images the black community creates for themselves, disregarding the way society tries to portray them. Citing facts about the rates at which black women repeatedly fall into failed relationships and the number of black women who are obsese in America–four out of five– Smith explained that the individual must address their problems before putting blame on anyone.