To Be Affirmed At J. C. Penney
By W. F. Twyman, Jr.
After repeated lobbying from me, my wife agreed to view the movie Oppenheimer with me. We both slept during part of the movie which is no reflection on the viewing experience. The movie was great and I do heartily recommend Oppenheimer. My wife and I were exhausted from a long weekend. A darkened movie theatre and a nap go hand in hand. I even fell asleep the first time I watched Jaws while in college.
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As we walked towards the movie theatre at the local mall, I suggested walking through the mall as opposed to stepping around the mall. The suggestion was not innocent on my part. I had noticed an odd unbalanced representation of black women at a Target store while vacationing in Hawaii. There was literally one black person who lived in town yet around 40% of the faces in advertisements greeting customers were black women. I duly speculated how the lone black townsperson must be in hog heaven of affirmation.
The Examined Life
I began writing this series of Substack essays for many reasons. In particular, I was drawn to the dilemma that I tend to see racial incongruences in life. My black American family does not. They are content to live unexamined lives. What do I mean?
Would I see the same racial incongruence here on the Mainland, in San Diego?
We walked through J. C. Penney and I took note of the attractive, young faces in advertisements welcoming me to shop. Around 40 percent of the faces were black women. Now, I would not give this matter a second thought if the local population was 40% black women.
Are black women 40% of the local population in San Diego?
No, they are not. Black women constitute three (3%) of the population in America’s Finest City… That would be 3%.
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I observed a racial incongruence. How did it happen that 3% of the population found group representation in around 40% of the lovely women depicted in ads at J. C. Penney? Even if one favors equity over equal representation in a commercial establishment, 3% does not equal 40%.
Maybe 3% equals 40% in the New Math.
I didn’t raise the incongruence with my wife. I observed the incongruence and took note. Out of around one hundred people in J.C. Penney, only two were black women — my wife speeding towards the movie theatre and a single black female sales clerk.
She must feel very affirmed.
Just such great writing, Wink! Amazing!
I have read several things that say that we need to see ourselves in ads, movies etc to feel "affirmed", but I never noticed one way or the other growing up.
I watched lots of shows and read lots of books and really didn't care.
Now it seems as if everyone is 'in my face" to make sure that everyone has equal time; but it's not equal, as you noted.
So, I just don't watch much TV and I figure that I already "know" who I am, so I just need to love others, and care about others and just see them for who they are; not because of equity and/or diversity or whatever words someone wants to give it.
Hopefully this makes sense?!?!