Nearly 99% of households in America have a TV set, and therefore nearly 99% of American households are able to access basic TV, which usually includes some sort of news broadcast station. Therefore, TV news is clearly reaching millions of people in the US, and it is shaping the negative opinions, beliefs, and stereotypes that this nation holds towards African Americans.
When TV news reporters venture into black communities to cover stories, it seems as if the people they choose to interview are characters right out of a minstrel show of the mid 19th century, perpetuating even the most ridiculous stereotypes that define blacks. They are either uneducated and can’t speak English properly, the neighborhood thug who postures aggressively to prove his toughness, naïve and ignorant, superstitious, or appear to be on a large amount of crack cocaine. Why is it that news reporters appear to seek out these negative characteristics in someone when conducting an interview?
If you have not seen so already, please check out this clip from a news reporter from NBC who is reporting a story on a supposed leprechaun found by members of a black community in Mobile, Alabama. Notice the stereotypes being portrayed of the black members of the Mobile community. They are portrayed as uneducated, poor, druggies, and superstitious. This story only perpetuates the label being thrust upon all African Americans in American society.
Most rational people would realize that the one person who they have chosen to interview in the story does not define all persons in a black community, however America is clearly not rational. Instead, TV news portrays an image of blacks as poor, lazy, violent, simpleminded, loud, and uneducated. The sad thing is that the majority of people buy into it. By repeatedly portraying blacks in this manner, media and TV news reporters are continuing to carry on the black stereotypes that have been around since the colonial years of slavery.
It is important for us, as Americans, to realize what is being fed to us by the media. Once we can see objectively what stereotypes are being ingrained into our heads daily, we can learn to first recognize them, and second criticize them. Only then can we begin to move beyond these ridiculous stereotypes and embrace individuals for who they really are instead of labeling an entire race for what they are not.
I agree! This video may seem humorous at first, but when you really think about it, it's just another example of how our media tries to make African Americans seem less intelligent. Aren't there more important things to report on than making fun of a black neighborhood??
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