To step closer to equality, blacks must shed the television media’s negative stereotypes.

Earl Graves Jr., CEO of Black Enterprise magazine, delivered these and other words of encouragement Tuesday night at the Carl Sandburg Auditorium.

More than 50 students listened to Graves speak on his reasoning for the general public’s negative view of the black community and why conforming to these negative stereotypes is harming blacks’ chances for equality.

“If people can only view stereotypical images like these on TV, then that is all we can be viewed as by the public,” Graves said.

Blacks first were portrayed on TV as servants and barely literate, Graves said.

Black families were portrayed positively in The Cosby Show in the ‘80s, but now the only images of black people are in rap videos, he said.

“It is because of these stereotypical images that you are seen as a color, not for the person you are,” Graves said.

Graves urged his listeners to demand change and not support media that negatively portrays blacks.

“We as black Americans spend money on movies, music and TV that do not portray us in a positive light,” Graves said. “If we supported programming that reflected positively on us then the general public will see us in a positive way.”

Graves also gave his audience suggestions for changing negative stereotypes.

Blacks need to invest their earnings in homes or the stock market. In general, they should invest their money back into their communities, he said.

Black Enterprise Magazine was founded by Earl Graves Sr., Graves’ father, 35 years ago and is one of the nation’s top black investment magazines.