Breaking Traditional Gender Roles with Moesha
In the midst of Black History Month, it's important that we "African-American's" reflect on how far we've come and how far we have to go as a people. It's interesting to go back and view previous perspectives on black progression, and a specific Moesha episode titled "Million Boy March" points to an issue within our struggle towards social and systemic equality. That is, the inclusion or exclusion of women in the fight for equality. Although a bit exaggerated in this episode, black men have for some time separated their struggles from the black women who endure the same, if not worse, struggles than the black man. Even further, though we want to break way from traditional white society, as shown in this episode, the roles of our oppressors are practiced in our own households. I digress, this practice isn't specific to black families alone, but Americans in general. Approaching a new millennium in 1992, the writers of Moesha were clearly thinking far ahead of their time in terms of gender roles. Serving as the perfect time, I would like to break down a few lessons we can learn about these roles and how we can improve them using this classic episode (S1E5).
First, it's important to note that Mo' never wanted to outshine her brothers with her own struggles, but wanted to selflessly help the black man. The Council of Concerned Youth at her church called for two men to be delegates and this is where she saw the problem. While the black quest to true equality is not as misogynistic as in the 90s, men are still warranted to be the leaders in movements and sub-movements even if they're not fit. Leadership is about a vision, charisma, diligence, and hard work amongst other things that women also inhabit. We need not to look at the black woman as a helping hand, but as the left hand to our right, she understands the black man more than any other in this world. In my conversations with women about the matter it seems as though they have to prove themselves in order to be included in the conversation about improving the lives of black men. Of course, they are not black men, but these are the ones bearing, raising, and preparing the majority of black men for the world. If it's not the mothers, it's the community, and the community has failed our men repeatedly from gang and gun violence to content laziness and "finessing" the system.
Back at home, Dee is teaching Myles how to sort laundry without Frank's understanding of the changing of times. Consequently, he tells Dee that this will "confuse" the young man because these are his impressionable years. However, if he isn't taught basic functions of the household at a young age and how to contribute, he may never learn, or even want to learn. Here's what we can learn from this scene. While men do want to raise their sons to be men, and while the social definition of a man is relative, he can learn to be both domestic and masculine. Besides, women often complain about the man who can't cook, or clean, or wash his own drawls for that matter; so why not get in where we fit in early and help our women? Tradition tells us to let the woman do all the work, but as the 90s forced more women into the labor force, in effect, men should have taken more responsibility in the household. However, this act conducive to harmony in the family and home, is scarce.
Here Mo' outshines the Council's president Woodlock by contracting Jodeci for their scholarship fundraiser, which is only available to men. As a result, Moesha tries to persuade dean to grant young women access to the scholarship, but he refutes. This is all a result of him not being able to handle the fact that a woman is more capable of leading men than he. However, it's clear that they both of perfect leadership capabilities. Further, when asked whether he found a location, Woodlock accuses Mo' and all black women of always "tearing down the black man" instead of assisting him. That's the case with a lot of us, or at least what experience has taught me, even within myself. Black women can be intimidating because of their consistency, commitment and hard work that they have no choice but to exhibit because of the many social constructs holding them back. In this, i'm saying, instead of being intimidated, why not use this as motivation and even further celebrate her success. Tell the black woman you're proud of her, that you appreciate her work and commitment, match her efforts, and only growth can come from that.
By the end of the episode, Myles cooks dinner for the family and Mo' secures the event space at Andelle's. Even after all the work that she puts in, Woodlock still would rather her not be in †he press photo. His reason being black men in unity should be the focus of the press, but the other men in the council (Ray J included) refused to exclude her. This being the last point I want to make, that not all black men or men in general think this way, but this man still lingers in society, re-affirming age old gender constructs. Let's be that catalyst for the renaissance man that upholds the black woman as she has held us up for generations.