Between the Pages

 

“Brainwashed: Challenging the Myth of Black Inferiority”

by Tom Burrell

c.2010, SmileyBooks$15.95 / $19.95 Canada285 pages



It’s enough to make you want to bury your head.

     You read about a young black man, killed by another young black man over tennis shoes. On TV is a silky-haired sistah shaking her stuff at a hate-spouting rapper. Click, and see a fight over baby daddies. Click again, and there’s a sitcom with a black man acting the fool.

     What’s going on?  Author Tom Burrell blames it on something that started over 200 years ago. He says that African Americans have been taught to believe negative things about themselves, and in his new book “Brainwashing: Challenging the Myth of Black Inferiority”, he explains.

      In his years in advertising, Tom Burrell says that he had reason to study the way African Americans are portrayed in culture, and it usually wasn’t good. He began to think about all the negativity, and the reasoning behind it became chillingly clear.

Ever since black people were enslaved, certain beliefs were told to them as truth, repeated, and reinforced. African Americans were, and continue to be, brainwashed, Burrell says. Cultural riches were stolen, and critical thinking is discouraged. And in many cases, though whites started the cycle, today’s black people accept it as reality and perpetuate it.

      Why, for instance, do African Americans tolerate daytime TV that promotes baby mama drama and public paternity testing?  Why is it assumed that “black women are supposed to have a slew of children with multiple men who will eventually abandon them”? Burrell blames black family dysfunction squarely on slavery and he says change must come within the African American community.

      Furthermore, he says, African American children need to be taught to accept their natural appearance (including hair), they need to be ingrained with worth, they need to know how to save money, and they need to be empowered to show their intelligence and reach for an education. Sexual stereotypes and disrespect disguised as humor can be stopped by ceasing to purchase, attend, or watch anything that perpetuates either. 

“African Americans have been conditioned to see themselves as powerless,” writes Burrell. “Yet, if only a fraction of the 39 million of us in the United States decide we want to stop… believe me, this… would end – quickly.”

Author Tom Burrell writes with the experience of someone who’s thoughtfully studied what he believes are 200-year-old beliefs that are perpetuated even today, but shouldn’t be. He gives examples to support his points, draws parallels between the problem’s origin and the myth that endures, and he explains what can be done to combat the situation. 

Without a doubt, “Brainwashed” is going to be a springboard for a lot of conversation and reflection, and maybe a few movements that are long overdue. It’s been a long time, in fact, since I’ve read a book so provocative or so well-researched.

Not a quick read by far, “Brainwashed” is one of those books that demands attention and thought before you move to the next chapter. If you’re ready for a few brutal truths, though, this is a book to dig up.


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Book Review by Terri Schlichenmeyer


“A Purse of Your Own” by Deborah Owens

c.2010, Fireside Books$15.00 / $19.99 Canada


Nobody has to tell you that the economy is uncertain. You live it.

The job (if you have one) is shaky. The savings account (if you have one) is emptying. Debt (you have that!) is growing and your way of life has changed, perhaps forever.

You’d like to make your money go in a different direction but as far as you’re concerned, financial information might as well be written in Greek. But there’s help: if you just don’t get it, get “A Purse of Your Own” by Deborah Owens.

You’ve never invested in stocks because it’s scary, right? It’s hard to understand, and besides – you don’t have the money in the first place.

Wrong, says Owens. Take baby steps. Begin by looking at your assets, liabilities, and overall budget. When everything’s written down, you might be surprised to see that you can shave a little money here or there to invest. Even $5 a week can turn into thousands of dollars in profits if you have the patience.  

Once you have a nest egg and are comfortable enough to invest, remember to do four things: diversify, diversify, diversify, and don’t let fear keep you from acting.

Because of the internet, it’s easy to research the businesses in which you want to invest. Owens says to look for the companies whose business models reflect your values. Buy stock in those that make the products you like.

So how to get started? You can buy stocks online or you can use a broker; there are advantages and disadvantages to both. In either case, Owens says, a financial advisor may be your portfolio’s BFF.

Embrace the 7 Wealthy Habits, one of which is to keep an eye on “the big picture”. Reach for more than what you can immediately see. Ignore nay-sayers but accept real help when it’s offered. Do your homework and pay attention. Never put your eggs in one basket. Educate yourself about investments, bonds, mutual funds, and tax-deferred retirement plans by reading up on them. Treat your portfolio as you would a family member. Be sure to “pay it forward”.

Tired of seeing your money disappear? Then dig in your purse, sharpen your pencil, and get ready to learn how to stop the drain by reading this book.

Using analogies that are easy-to-understand, author Deborah Owens starts from the beginning with a family that was shocked to see the small size of their net worth. From there, she moves through the various ways to invest and save, how to start and utilize an investing club for support, and how to think like a wealthy woman. Owens’ advice is solid, real, and a little outside-the-box and the quizzes she includes (what is your Purseonality?) are eye-opening, all of which makes the entire finance industry seem seriously fun.

Even if you’ve only got a few dollars to spare but you want to see it grow, “A Purse of Your Own” is a book to bag. Invest a few dollars in it, and you’ll soon be investing like a pro.