Introduction
Hey guys, so im gunna talk about how self-hate and morals kinda mess with the Black community, ya know? Like, I been reading stuff for my social studies class, and it’s super sad how some people in the Black community feel bad about themselves coz of history and stuff. I think this self-hate thing and their morals, like what’s right or wrong, really changes how they live and act. In this essay, imma look at how self-hate comes from old times, how morals play a part in it, and why it’s a big deal for Black folks. I’ll try to explain it all, even tho it’s kinda hard to get sometimes.
Where Self-Hate Comes From
Ok, so first off, self-hate in the Black community didn’t just pop up outta nowhere. It’s like, from way back during slavery times when Black people were told they weren’t good enuff. Books I read said that slavery in America and stuff made Black folks feel less than others coz white people kept saying they were better (hooks, 2003). Like, imagine being told ur nothing every day—that’s gotta hurt, right? Even after slavery ended, there was still racism and segregation, so the idea of not being good stuck around. Some people call this “internalized racism,” which means hating yerself coz of what others think about ur race. I think that’s super messed up, and it still happens today with stuff like colorism, where lighter skin is seen as better in the community sometimes.
Morals and How They Fit In
Now, let’s talk morals, which is like knowing what’s right or wrong. In the Black community, morals are often tied to church and family, ya know? Like, lots of Black folks grow up with strong ideas about being good and respecting others coz of religion and stuff (Billingsley, 1992). But when you got self-hate, it’s hard to feel like ur doing right. If u think ur bad deep down, u might not follow those good morals. For example, some studies say that self-hate can make people act out, like getting into fights or not caring about school, coz they don’t think they deserve better (Cross, 1991). It’s like a big circle—hating yerself makes u mess up, and messing up makes u hate yerself more. That’s gotta be tough.
Why This Affects the Black Community So Much
So, why’s this such a big deal for Black people? Well, coz they been through a lot, ya know, with racism and all that junk still going on. When u got self-hate and messed up morals, it can hurt whole communities, not just one person. Like, if lots of people feel bad about themselves, they might not stick together or help each other out. I read that this can make stuff like poverty and crime worse in Black neighborhoods (Wilson, 1996). Also, kids grow up seeing this, and they start feeling the same way, so it just keeps going. It’s not fair that history still messes with people today, but I guess that’s how it is. We gotta find ways to fix it, like maybe teaching kids to love who they are.
Conclusion
Alright, so to wrap this up, I think self-hate and morals really do mess with the Black community a lot. Self-hate comes from old stuff like slavery and racism, and it makes people feel like they aint worth nothing. Morals are s’posed to help u do right, but if u hate yerself, it’s hard to even try. This affects whole communities, making problems bigger and harder to fix. I reckon it’s important to talk about this stuff and help people feel better about who they are. Like, schools and churches can teach kids to be proud, ya know? If we don’t do somethin, this bad cycle just keeps going on. I hope I explained this okay, coz it’s a big topic and super sad.
References
- Billingsley, A. (1992) Climbing Jacob’s Ladder: The Enduring Legacy of African-American Families. Simon & Schuster.
- Cross, W. E. (1991) Shades of Black: Diversity in African-American Identity. Temple University Press.
- hooks, b. (2003) Rock My Soul: Black People and Self-Esteem. Atria Books.
- Wilson, W. J. (1996) When Work Disappears: The World of the New Urban Poor. Knopf.
