The author discusses two complex aspects: real lived experience and its representation. He states that people should not use their experience without understanding how it is represented. Individuals have to apply knowledge about themselves to make any points because only people’s self-images can help them to discover their inner world. It is impossible to assess any cultural phenomena, taking into consideration only external factors. He states as an example that black culture cannot be understood by operating different stereotypes about black people.
In order to fully understand the main idea of this paragraph, it is necessary to discuss the author’s position regarding different cultural issues. The main author’s idea is that essentialism is not an appropriate method to study black culture. Perhaps, such an opinion suggests the most effective approach to fight racism. His main goal, therefore, is to achieve favorable outcomes for all cultural minorities. People’s knowledge about blacks is mostly based on their representation by media and politicians. However, it is necessary to focus on the history of this race.
This paragraph reveals profound insight into cultural issues. As mentioned above, essentialism is often applied to address them. However, it is an inappropriate method as it is used only to identify a set of distinguishing characteristics to determine the phenomenon. Although such an approach allows examining racial differences, it does not take into consideration historical and political background. Therefore, the representation of a particular culture becomes too general. The author offers a dialogic approach to examine relationships between different cultures. The impact that one race has on another is crucial to understanding the existing problems. The popularity of black culture within the hegemonic white class might be explained only by such influences. However, the simplification of the issue should not be appropriate as black culture is very diverse and complex. The existing representation of this community does not convey its real nature, which is the mix of several cultures.
Simplification results in misleading ideas that historical and cultural aspects are the same as biological and genetic. The label “Black” does not allow taking into account various historical and political factors that are crucial for the deep understanding of the issue. Therefore, it is important to study cultures within such categories. Such a position allows avoiding discriminating attitudes. The term “Black” is not sufficient to implement effective political strategies aimed at addressing problems of marginalization. The temptation to present this signifier as an effective tool that can clarify complicated cultural issues usually leads to unfavorable outcomes, especially when it is used to indicate social deviations.
Therefore, the author tries to bring particular attention to the diversity of black culture, while many specialists focus on characteristics that allow uniting all black people into a single entity. However, he implies that it is a wrongful strategy to consider only the aspect that relates to the history and experience of different black communities. It is necessary to detect other differences that are pertinent to them, such as gender, social status, religion, and so forth. However, this task is highly challenging as these characteristics cannot be simply incorporated into a single comprehensive theory. People always have similar sets of opposing beliefs that unite them into different groups. However, they are mostly subjective. For this reason, arguments related to this matter often take place.
This paragraph points out two important issues. First, the people’s understanding of popular cultures is based on stereotypes and simplifications. However, these terms form a very complicated concept. It often leads to wrongful judgments that misguide people, making them treat certain communities unfairly. Someone’s representation can significantly change the perceptions of individuals. Also, it leads to a generalization without considering personal characteristics. Repeated behaviors of several individuals who have some similar attributes allow other people to unite them into a group and give this group a particular label. That is why people believe that individuals within a labeled group have the same thoughts, interests, values, and so forth. It is especially relevant for various racial issues. Racially motivated persons cultivate and promote faulty perceptions in other people. Second, the author calls for a dialogical approach because most cultural issues might be resolved only through negotiations. Dialogue allows improving relationships and collaboration within a given community. It triggers the development of society. Although dialogue usually brings about slow changes, it initiates various social and political actions that have many long-term benefits. Therefore, representation and lived experience should always be considered together. These aspects are closely interrelated and allow comprehension of complex cultural issues.