During Hurricane Katrina the media evoked more stereo-types of African Americans. Instead of reporting on the African American feminist and their volunteer work, or the slow government action, or the fact that African Americans and lower class White people were being TURNED AWAY BY GUNPOINT FROM OFFICERS from entering into the "rich, less hard hit" part of Louisiana, reporters made a point to talk about the "looting" that the African Americans were doing and the "finding" that the White famalies were doing.
During Katrina because of the terminology the media portrays African Americans as deviant thiefs who were making the problem worse. While the White people were "finding" food in order to survive, being seen as more innocent
Musician Kanye West states "I hate the way they portray us in the media. You see a black family, it says, 'They're looting.' You see a white family, it says, 'They're looking for food.' And, you know, it's been five days [waiting for federal help] because most of the people are black.
Clearly the media picks and choose what they want the world to know about certain situations. But I think that the media is supposed to show the facts and the truth and not buy into stereo-types, and take things out of context. Focusing on African Americans "looting" should not have been the main focus. Or maybe instead of using the term "looting" they could have used......SURVIVING, and doing what was necessary since HELP WAS LIMITED.
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