Since the late 1940s, when TV first became popular for news and entertainment, black women and men have been continuously depicted in a negative light. This representation was often conveyed by white men who held racist, demeaning, and stereotypical beliefs on people of color. When these false depictions are represented in the media, social issues begin to rise and public attitudes begin to change. This image continues to be displayed today which in turn affects the black community and the way they have to live their lives. For Instance, black men are perceived as "formidable" and "dangerous" while black women are seen as "angry" and "sassy" which influences how they are treated and looked at by the masses. This is seen countless times when boys or men of color are stopped by police officers or any person of authority. Black families often teach their kids that if they're ever stopped by cops, they should put their hands up and never make any sudden movements because their lives would be at risk. The media is often very misleading and can influence many people's perceptions of an issue or topic. For example, when the BLM (black lives matter) movement was growing and gaining more attention, some news channels were reporting these marches as aggressive and the black community as looters. The consumption of media has the very power to tear us apart as a society or build us back up.
Sources:
-Cheers, Imani M. “Black Women in Television, a Short History.” Wiley Online Library, American Cancer Society, 3 Mar. 2020, onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/9781119429128.iegmc136.
-“Media Portrayals and Black Male Outcomes.” The Opportunity Agenda, www.opportunityagenda.org/explore/resources-publications/media-representations-impact-black-men/media-portrayals.
- Thompson, Krissah. “Essence: Black Women Still Poorly Depicted in Media.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 22 Apr. 2019, www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/wp/2013/10/10/essence-black-women-still-poorly-depicted-in-media/.
This image was obtained from google
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