Out for a walk

In an attempt to see what messages we are exposed to day in and day out I took a walk with my kids.  Below is the path we took.  For about 1/2 the walk we stayed in the park until we got to Dyckman St.

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Scroll down to see what we saw, or rather what we pass by on a regular basis without a second thought.

Taped all about the window are prices to various locals.  The character of the neighborhood is reflected with signs for Mexico, Panama, San Juan and Bogota.  The big attention grabber though and the ones my kids look at is Mickey Mouse.

The smaller photos on the shelves behind the window are also of European looking women.

 

                     

The images that we pass don't give any hint that the
neighborhood is 72% Hispanic.  That includes Hispanics that are white, brown and black.  There is another 6% that are non-Hispanic African American yet the majority of ads contain non ethnic people.

                   Though I know anyone can use them, I have always associated hair extensions with African American hair.

I don't know what is more depressing.  That we are all constantly bombarded with these messages of physical perfection or that I'm actually looking forward to some of these stores opening.


To be sure, these messages are not calling for anyone's destruction, but does that make them any more proper?  They may not be illegal, but are they immoral?  Every day kids pass by all these images and see even more on television.  Intolerance is not being actively advertised, but by constantly showing children images that do not match their story, it's certainly not being combated?  Getting a doll that matches a child's ethnicity is a start, but is it good enough?  What can we do to better recognize these almost invisible sources of influence and how can we protect ourselves from being mislead?

These are big questions that have been asked over and over again.  I can't hope to answer them.  I can however still enjoy the time honored inner city tradition of playing at an open fire hydrant, society hasn't stopped that yet.  Though I can't recall the last time I saw an open hydrant in the Village, or the Upper East Side, or Battery Park City...uh oh.