Growing up as a male in America I have been told to look up to others as role models and live my life after them. Whether it be musicians, sports players or politicians there are dominant male figures in society we are told to conform to. For me, it’s always been sports players. When I was younger, I didn’t have power rangers, GI Joes, or WWE action figures. I grew up bombarded by my two sisters Barbie Dolls, American Girl Dolls, Powederpuff Girls and Beanie Babies. I didn't want anything to do with anything doll related instead I wanted to be like my dad. Whenever I saw him he was reading car magazines or the newspapers. Every morning I’d get the for him and take the sports section and then try to read the stocks in the business section. Seeing all of the newspapers and magazines I saw the prototypical male athlete. Every year Sports Illustrated comes out with their Sportsman of the Year Issue. Last year, Derek Jeter was named Sportsman of the Year joining the ranks of athletes like Tom Brady, David Robinson, Michael Jordan, and Jack Nicklaus. The message I received through these issues were all clear: Be like this athlete.
Growing up now, I also have been exposed to the “Steroid Era” of baseball. Not just in baseball, steroids in general are everywhere. Guys are seen wearing beaters with chiseled tan muscles. Those who don’t follow the rules and cheat with steroids are stereotyped differently and shunned. As males, we’re taught to play fair and when not to cheat. Also growing up, watching and trying to be like athletes, males are taught how to act around girls. Until someone breaks the mold, like John Amaechi did when he admitted he was gay after he retired.
"Homosexuality is an obsession among ballplayers, trailing only wealth and women. The guys I played with just didn't like "fags" -- or so they insisted over and over again. But they didn't understand fags enough to truly loathe them. Most were convinced, even as they sat next to me on the plane or threw me the ball in the post, that they had never met one.” When an athlete breaks the mold, the whole sports world is thrown for a loop. And all the tabloid reports instead of showing Alex Rodriguez with his girlfriend or Tom Brady with Giselle showed Ameachi. Our assumption all athletes were the ultimate male who females dreamed about being with changed. We no longer believed all athletes were straight and we were left guessing who will be the next to come out of the closet. Growing up in a male, I realized that for me to conform with other males sports and cars were the way to go. The way magazines and newspapers portrayed athletes as the ultimate male was the way I was taught how to grow up as a male. The Derek Jeter video to the side shows us the perfect male. Everything about him whether it be how he is clean cut, or clear diction makes him a role model. As a boy, I was taught to grow up like him and be respectful like him. Even Derek Jeter as a boy and growing up he had to be taught. During a spring training practice Don Mattingly told Jeter a story of when reporters caught Mattingly slacking off during an exercise-- walking when he should have been running. From that experience Mattingly ran out every drill, and ran to his position on the field because he was never sure who was watching. Once Jeter was told that story, he followed the model his idol Mattingly created. I was taught just the same, from my grandpas experiences and friends experiences I learned. As a male, we're taught to learn and defend for ourselves, but we can only do that with experiences and hearing others stories. Amaechi was the first to lay a new path for those who were gay is now currently an idol for other males in the same situation he once was in. When I grew up, my experiences led me to become the man I am today and those experiences were gained through reading about and watching my idols like Derek Jeter.
I've grown up fortunate enough to have a loving family and a roof over my head.
When I was younger, my dreams were most likely the typical American Dream for a young boy. I wanted to be filthy rich, athletic like Michael Jordan and hanging out with super models. I grew up dreaming about cars, sports, houses and women all because advertisements surrounded me.
The simplicity behind the American dream can be summed up in one word. Success. The only thing that makes this idea complicated is the plethora of interpretations success has. For some it could be a beautiful significant other, money, cars, houses, a family, a vacation and many more. The list is never ending and today in America, the "success" is becoming harder to achieve and more selective. It’s selective because of the way images of the American Dream are portrayed. Between the movies, songs, publications and general feeling the American Dream is almost impossible to achieve, and always has been.
Consider the picture above, of what was considered a house that fits the American Dream. A nice ranch, with beautiful landscaping, a couple working in the front and a nice cozy feel overall. Compare that with the following picture which is considered a dream home now, in 2010. The landscaping is more extravagant, there are sidewalks and a nice aura to it. There’s one difference between the two pictures, and that’s the people working. To achieve the American Dream, society tells us that we must work, work, work with little time for other activities. Due to that, we need professional landscapers and lawn care services to take care of our houses. If there’s not enough time for the maintenance activities, we’re working enough towards achieving our dream. I’m fortunate enough to have a mom, two sisters and friends surrounding me. I have extended family in the local area all who are just a phone call away to help out. At seventeen I consider my life to be a success so far which would mean I’ve achieved the American Dream. According to society and advertisements, however I am nowhere near the American Dream. I don’t live in a house with stainless steel appliances, Mercedes in the garages, professional landscaping. I also don’t have a walk in closet, my own personal bathroom, movie theater and large acre backyard like the American Dream tells me I should. For more information on just how difficult people think achieving the American dream is, check out :http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2007/11/po_americandream.html
REPRESENTATION DIFFERENCE
Of all the professional sports each strives to have an even ratio when it comes to black and white, American and European players. Within the NBA though, the African American players are known to dominate and be better skilled than the white American players. Some attribute the fact basketball courts are more prevalent in inner cities and the sport itself is cheaper to play compared to others when searching for a reason as to why the gap seems so prevalent.
When Nike basketball advertisements are seen on television or in magazines, majority of the time it features a black player, not white ones. They all features a predominant basketball figure, and when the figure is black, some say it’s directed more towards the inner city kids. Yes, it’s also true that the black players are better than the white ones but there still are white players who are skilled. David Lee or Steve Nash for example are white basketball players not featured in advertisements because they don’t fit the stereotype of good basketball players. The advertisement to the side which shows two black players with one dunking on the other is geared towards the city kids. The text shown in the picture which says “That Ain’t Right” is the correct slang terminology which city kids would use and is basketball lingo.
The other advertisement, which features a skilled white basketball player is geared towards a completely different group. Nash, featured in the Got Milk advertisement isn’t shown doing any crossovers or dunks rather just a simple jump with a milk mustache. The only thing hinting towards an inner city is the backdrop which has the look of a city, with rundown buildings and water towers. But this advertisement unlike the Nike one isn’t directed towards basketball gear, it’s directed towards a grocery store item a mother would buy.
I used to play basketball as a kid, but I never expected myself to be the next Larry Bird and never tried to be that good. I see advertisements all the time, and I understand why they seem to be directed towards black kids. I travel down to New York City and have played on city courts, and all the kids are mimicking Lebron James and Dwayne Wade. I also watch basketball and see the difference between white and black players. Majority of the time, they’ll be 7 or more black players on the court at once. This explains why the advertisements would be directed towards African American inner city kids. The stereotypical basketball player is a big, black, athletic and most of the time a player fitting that mold will be found in the cities, or playing with an AAU team traveling.
Through these advertisements, it's clear how blacks and whites are represented differently in basketball advertisements. Whether it be Steve Nash appealing to white moms at the store buying milk for their boys, or a inner city boy looking at a Nike ad wishing he owned the same pair of sneakers the two groups are represented differently. Most say blacks are just gifted athletes and more suited for sports. Others credit work ethic and say race plays no role at all. For more reading on this topic, refer to http://www.helium.com/items/263467-why-black-athletes-dominate-sports and http://www.smith.edu/philosophy/Taboo55.html
THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE
Before Barack Obama was elected President of the United States, there was never an African American president. The racial barriers that once existed were shattered and a new chapter was written in the history textbooks. Despite the fact I couldn’t vote, I still like to think I was a part of history. I was lucky enough to go to the Inauguration and witness history. While I was standing on the National Mall, there was a buzz and a different atmosphere knowing a black man was going to be President. In the back of my mind, the Black Eyed Peas song “Where is the Love” kept playing.
The song which was released back in 2004 talks about a problem that some say despite Obama holding office still exists; racism and discrimination. Within politics, equality has never been pushed more, and this song shows it all. There are points within the music video showing a black man being arrested, racial equality posters, and various minorities all facing discrimination. The minorities shown have different emotions on their faces, some sad and some happy all with the intent to reach us, the viewer. The title of the song poses a question and throughout the video, question marks are frequently shown symbolizing the question “Where is the Love”. We as the viewers are forced to ask ourselves what we can do to fix this issue of racism
Back in 2004, I personally don’t think I could havev pictured a black man president, nor could I have guessed the opportunity to witness his inauguration would present itself. When Barack Obama won the election in 2008, and I was at the inauguration “Where is the Love” replayed in my mind. I kept thinking we’ve reached a milestone, and all those question marks the Black Eyed Peas were asking were being answered. Racism is still an issue within politics, problems with immigrants, drugs and profiling still occur.
“Where is the Love” was a song about racism that had a negative tone to it. Following the election, new songs were released which still focused on racism, but they had a proud and jubilant tone to them. Like the reggae song “Barack Obama” by Cocoa Tea. The lyrics discuss how proud Cocoa Tea is to be of colored descent with an African American present. “Well, this is not about class, nor color, race, nor creed. Make no mistake it’s the changes whey all the people dem need Dem a shout out…”. The tone of the song compared to “Where is the Love” shows the difference from 2004 and 2008. Within just four years, the Political Landscape of America was altered and the messages we received through music changed. I remember during the election, I think I paid more attention to "Obama Girl" videos more so than Obama's speeches themselves. It just goes to show how the media culture we live in affects the outcomes of major events. The political landscape is no longer just C-SPAN and CNN. It's Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and every other website that allows people to communicate with eachother. The text and videos we see change the way we see politics, and often times have a major impact not only on elections, but policies and statements made by lawmakers.
Growing Up Male in 2010
Growing up as a male in America I have been told to look up to others as role models and live my life after them. Whether it be musicians, sports players or politicians there are dominant male figures in society we are told to conform to. For me, it’s always been sports players. When I was younger, I didn’t have power rangers, GI Joes, or WWE action figures. I grew up bombarded by my two sisters Barbie Dolls, American Girl Dolls, Powederpuff Girls and Beanie Babies. I didn't want anything to do with anything doll related instead I wanted to be like my dad. Whenever I saw him he was reading car magazines or the newspapers. Every morning I’d get the for him and take the sports section and then try to read the stocks in the business section. Seeing all of the newspapers and magazines I saw the prototypical male athlete. Every year Sports Illustrated comes out with their Sportsman of the Year Issue. Last year, Derek Jeter was named Sportsman of the Year joining the ranks of athletes like Tom Brady, David Robinson, Michael Jordan, and Jack Nicklaus. The message I received through these issues were all clear: Be like this athlete.
Growing up now, I also have been exposed to the “Steroid Era” of baseball. Not just in baseball, steroids in general are everywhere. Guys are seen wearing beaters with chiseled tan muscles. Those who don’t follow the rules and cheat with steroids are stereotyped differently and shunned. As males, we’re taught to play fair and when not to cheat. Also growing up, watching and trying to be like athletes, males are taught how to act around girls. Until someone breaks the mold, like John Amaechi did when he admitted he was gay after he retired.
"Homosexuality is an obsession among ballplayers, trailing only wealth and women. The guys I played with just didn't like "fags" -- or so they insisted over and over again. But they didn't understand fags enough to truly loathe them. Most were convinced, even as they sat next to me on the plane or threw me the ball in the post, that they had never met one.” When an athlete breaks the mold, the whole sports world is thrown for a loop. And all the tabloid reports instead of showing Alex Rodriguez with his girlfriend or Tom Brady with Giselle showed Ameachi. Our assumption all athletes were the ultimate male who females dreamed about being with changed. We no longer believed all athletes were straight and we were left guessing who will be the next to come out of the closet. Growing up in a male, I realized that for me to conform with other males sports and cars were the way to go. The way magazines and newspapers portrayed athletes as the ultimate male was the way I was taught how to grow up as a male. The Derek Jeter video to the side shows us the perfect male. Everything about him whether it be how he is clean cut, or clear diction makes him a role model. As a boy, I was taught to grow up like him and be respectful like him. Even Derek Jeter as a boy and growing up he had to be taught. During a spring training practice Don Mattingly told Jeter a story of when reporters caught Mattingly slacking off during an exercise-- walking when he should have been running. From that experience Mattingly ran out every drill, and ran to his position on the field because he was never sure who was watching. Once Jeter was told that story, he followed the model his idol Mattingly created. I was taught just the same, from my grandpas experiences and friends experiences I learned. As a male, we're taught to learn and defend for ourselves, but we can only do that with experiences and hearing others stories. Amaechi was the first to lay a new path for those who were gay is now currently an idol for other males in the same situation he once was in. When I grew up, my experiences led me to become the man I am today and those experiences were gained through reading about and watching my idols like Derek Jeter.
For more on John Ameachi http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2757105
THE AMERICAN DREAM
I've grown up fortunate enough to have a loving family and a roof over my head.
When I was younger, my dreams were most likely the typical American Dream for a young boy. I wanted to be filthy rich, athletic like Michael Jordan and hanging out with super models. I grew up dreaming about cars, sports, houses and women all because advertisements surrounded me.
The simplicity behind the American dream can be summed up in one word. Success. The only thing that makes this idea complicated is the plethora of interpretations success has. For some it could be a beautiful significant other, money, cars, houses, a family, a vacation and many more. The list is never ending and today in America, the "success" is becoming harder to achieve and more selective. It’s selective because of the way images of the American Dream are portrayed. Between the movies, songs, publications and general feeling the American Dream is almost impossible to achieve, and always has been.
Consider the picture above, of what was considered a house that fits the American Dream. A nice ranch, with beautiful landscaping, a couple working in the front and a nice cozy feel overall. Compare that with the following picture which is considered a dream home now, in 2010. The landscaping is more extravagant, there are sidewalks and a nice aura to it. There’s one difference between the two pictures, and that’s the people working. To achieve the American Dream, society tells us that we must work, work, work with little time for other activities. Due to that, we need professional landscapers an
I’m fortunate enough to have a mom, two sisters and friends surrounding me. I have extended family in the local area all who are just a phone call away to help out. At seventeen I consider my life to be a success so far which would mean I’ve achieved the American Dream. According to society and advertisements, however I am nowhere near the American Dream. I don’t live in a house with stainless steel appliances, Mercedes in the garages, professional landscaping. I also don’t have a walk in closet, my own personal bathroom, movie theater and large acre backyard like the American Dream tells me I should.
REPRESENTATION DIFFERENCE
Of all the professional sports each strives to have an even ratio when it comes to black and white, American and European players. Within the NBA though, the African American players are known to dominate and be better skilled than the white American players. Some attribute the fact basketball courts are more prevalent in inner cities and the sport itself is cheaper to play compared to others when searching for a reason as to why the gap seems so prevalent.
When Nike ba
The other advertisement, which features a skilled white basketball player is geared towards a completely different group. Nash, featured in the Got Milk advertisement isn’t shown doing any crossovers or dunks rather just a simple jump with a milk mustache. The only thing hinting towards an inner city is the backdrop which has the look of a city, with rundown buildings and water towers. But this advertisement unlike the Nike one isn’t directed towards basketball gear, it’s directed towards a grocery store item a mother would buy.
I used to play basketball as a kid, but I never expected myself to be the next Larry Bird and never tried to be that good. I see advertisements all the time, and I understand why they seem to be directed towards black kids. I travel down to New York City and have played on city courts, and all the kids are mimicking Lebron James and Dwayne Wade. I also watch basketball and see the difference between white and black players. Majority of the time, they’ll be 7 or more black players on the court at once. This explains why the advertisements would be directed towards African American inner city kids. The stereotypical basketball player is a big, black, athletic and most of the time a player fitting that mold will be found in the cities, or playing with an AAU team traveling.
Through these advertisements, it's clear how blacks and whites are represented differently in basketball advertisements. Whether it be Steve Nash appealing to white moms at the store buying milk for their boys, or a inner city boy looking at a Nike ad wishing he owned the same pair of sneakers the two groups are represented differently. Most say blacks are just gifted athletes and more suited for sports. Others credit work ethic and say race plays no role at all. For more reading on this topic, refer to http://www.helium.com/items/263467-why-black-athletes-dominate-sports and http://www.smith.edu/philosophy/Taboo55.html
THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE
Before Barack Obama was elected President of the United States, there was never an African American president. The racial barriers that once existed were shattered and a new chapter was written in the history textbooks. Despite the fact I couldn’t vote, I still like to think I was a part of history. I was lucky enough to go to the Inauguration and witness history. While I was standing on the National Mall, there was a buzz and a different atmosphere knowing a black man was going to be President. In the back of my mind, the Black Eyed Peas song “Where is the Love” kept playing.
The song which was released back in 2004 talks about a problem that some say despite Obama holding office still exists; racism and discrimination. Within politics, equality has never been pushed more, and this song shows it all. There are points within the music video showing a black man being arrested, racial equality posters, and various minorities all facing discrimination. The minorities shown have different emotions on their faces, some sad and some happy all with the intent to reach us, the viewer. The title of the song poses a question and throughout the video, question marks are frequently shown symbolizing the question “Where is the Love”. We as the viewers are forced to ask ourselves what we can do to fix this issue of racism
Back in 2004, I personally don’t think I could havev pictured a black man president, nor could I have guessed the opportunity to witness his inauguration would present itself. When Barack Obama won the election in 2008, and I was at the inauguration “Where is the Love” replayed in my mind. I kept thinking we’ve reached a milestone, and all those question marks the Black Eyed Peas were asking were being answered. Racism is still an issue within politics, problems with immigrants, drugs and profiling still occur.
Black Eyed Peas - Where Is The Love (Subtitulado) HD from Mr Sub4ever on Vimeo.
“Where is the Love” was a song about racism that had a negative tone to it.
Following the election, new songs were released which still focused on racism, but they had a proud and jubilant tone to them. Like the reggae song “Barack Obama” by Cocoa Tea. The lyrics discuss how proud Cocoa Tea is to be of colored descent with an African American present. “Well, this is not about class, nor color, race, nor creed. Make no mistake it’s the changes whey all the people dem need Dem a shout out…”. The tone of the song compared to “Where is the Love” shows the difference from 2004 and 2008. Within just four years, the Political Landscape of America was altered and the messages we received through music changed. I remember during the election, I think I paid more attention to "Obama Girl" videos more so than Obama's speeches themselves. It just goes to show how the media culture we live in affects the outcomes of major events. The political landscape is no longer just C-SPAN and CNN. It's Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and every other website that allows people to communicate with eachother. The text and videos we see change the way we see politics, and often times have a major impact not only on elections, but policies and statements made by lawmakers.
For more on Obama Girl and how she feels about politics and new media http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0408/9541.html