RACE AND REPRESENTATIONS IN MEDIA 1
RACE AND REPRESENTATIONS IN MEDIA
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RACE AND REPRESENTATIONS IN MEDIA 2
Race and Representations in Media
Introduction
Presently, there are many media platforms, and most people in society are constantly
exposed to explicit and implicit racial messages from such platforms. Media has a significant
influence on public sentiments and attitudes
(Trebbe et al., 2017, p.1). Racial messages from the
available wide range of media platforms influence people's opinions on others. The influence of
media on public sentiments and attitude, coupled with significant biasness of stereotypes toward
a negative depiction of minorities such as Blacks, Latinos, and Asians/Pacific Islander population
has dire negative implications especially to vulnerable populations who mostly consume media
particularly absorbent to its messages
(Opportunity agenda 2011 p.1).
The content on media
platforms can either build a society into one united society or destroy it by creating divisions
amongst people. It all depends on the media representations of various races. Therefore, it is
paramount to understand race and representations and unveil the pervasiveness of the stereotypes
to get empowered to make a change. In this regard, this paper focuses on the racial stereotyping
of media representations to show that media representations are flawed and distorted, thus fuels
racism.
Recent research on communication has mainly focused on media representations of racial
minorities in Europe, Australia, Canada, and the United States, among many other immigration
countries. Some of the areas of concern include race in news coverage, behaviors and roles
linked to racial minorities in fictional media content, and the perception of racial minority
members on how mainstream media cover their particular group
(Trebbe et al. 2017 p.1). This is
an important discussion topic because of its relevance in intercultural communication,
RACE AND REPRESENTATIONS IN MEDIA 3
globalization, and mobility. Besides, the way a social group is publicly represented plays a
critical role in how it integrates and participates in the society; only the publicly visible groups
that participate in public discourse are integrated into the society
(Trebbe et al. 2017 p.1). Most
literature has detailed depictions of blacks more than other racial groups. It is, therefore,
important but unfortunate to note that most examples of negative media's stereotypic
representations fall on the blacks, meaning that the blacks are the racial minority group mostly
affected by such stereotypes.
Taking a look back in history, the media representations of the blacks were full of
unfavorable archetypes
(Opportunity agenda 2011 p.1). For instance, the media portrayed blacks
as loyal but ridiculed buffoons and subservient mummies. In general, the work of the black
people on television programs was to serve and amuse their white counterparts.
Although
