The hard truth – Handling the new attack on Black beauty

13th June 2011 · 0 Comments

By Min. J. Kojo Livingston
The Louisiana Weekly Contributing Columnist

Part II

Shut them down.

That’s my answer to Psychology Today’s choice to run a blog by Satoshi Kanazawa that asked “Why Black Women are Less Physically Attractive than Other Women.” Yes, that’s the title of a supposedly scientific piece that not only presumes that our women are ugly but claims to provide statistical evidence based on a couple of surveys.

It is junk science at its worst but it’s not unusual for this particular writer. Kanazawa’s other books and writings have been generally booed and denounced throughout the scientific community. Kanazawa puts forth a modern day eugenics theory that would make Hitler proud. He blames poverty and other issues purely on genetics. If it’s possible to be a Japanese white supremacist then Kanazawa is a candidate for this unique honor.

Oddly, he has not been known to openly attack Jews or gays, yet, possible evidence that he may be crazy but is certainly not stupid. He knows who will fight back in ways that matter.

What he’s doing is dangerous in several ways. First of all, Black people don’t need any more help hating or feeling bad about ourselves. We don’t need more inducement toward self-destructive or self-defeating behaviors. Junk science and junk religion have been used for hundreds of years to make us feel inferior and to make white people feel justified in stealing our land, our people and our culture.

We’ve seen this before. In Hitler’s Germany we saw how Jewish people thoroughly demonized using all forms of media, education and communication before they were imprisoned and slaughtered. Why do you think they’ve sought to own most of the media since then? “Never again” is more than just a cute slogan to them. However it is tragic to see them doing to others what has been done to them.

In a political/cultural environment like we have today which is dominated by hate media it would not take much to kick off something nasty using “factual” pieces from what Psychology Today calls “credential[ed] social scientists” like Kanazawa. I’m sure some racist elementary or high school teacher has already shared it with their student/victims.

That’s why as others are calling for an apology from PT, I’m saying we need to shut Psychology Today down. It’s what any self-respecting group would do.

Unfortunately I don’t have the time or resources to spearhead such a movement at present but would actively support one. As an organizer who has helped shut down a racist or two I certainly have some strategic pointers for anyone willing to listen.

First, encourage every Black person and group to absolutely boycott the magazine. Discourage people from reading their magazine or even visiting their site. Encourage Black groups and individuals to immediately discontinue their subscriptions. Don’t even blog with them. Let their name become a form of profanity. Also encourage every other ethnic group and anyone claiming a commitment to social justice to pull away all forms of support from them. Use social media and every other outlet to know that Psychology Today is off limits.

Second, go after their advertisers. Contact each of their current and past advertisers and let them know what is happening. Then boycott any business that continues to support them with advertising dollars. We can publish a weekly list of “hangers-on” using the internet or social media. Wanna escalate things? Use my “holy fire” technique and picket the homes of owners of businesses who advertise with them. (Okay, I didn’t invent the tactic, but I do add a special ‘twist’ that tends to be effective.)

Finally, support or create alternatives. Put that money and attention elsewhere. Support publications like the Journal of Black Psychology. Join and support the Association of Black Psychologists or the National Association of Black Social workers.

And when they do shut down, celebrate it before the world. Let everyone know the price to stepping to us and especially our women.

People will keep playing with us until we stop playing with them…

…and That’s the Hard Truth!

This story originally published in the June 06, 2011 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.