Currently, media in modern society shape our perceptions and beliefs. However, when
it comes to the representation of Black Americans, especially black men, the consequences
are severe and can lead to many ramifications. Media representations determine the
perceptions of society, either promoting acceptance or furthering misconceptions.
Historically, Black men in America have been presented by the media using various methods
and techniques of portrayal, most of which have been negative. Below is the objectification
of black men in the movies right from the black-and-white cinema period. This trend is also
evident today, where media such as television, news programs, and movies almost always
depict the black man as an aggressor. These representations help to cultivate environments of
having a perception of fear and anxiety in whites through strengthening biases and
stereotypes.
According to Kumah-Abiwu (2020), media gatekeepers have a central function in
deciding which messages get amplified and how these messages will be packaged. Those
who control the access to such resources are white and of a different race than the people they
are excluding and, therefore, have implicit bias. Hence, stories that tend to portray the darker
side of black societies are most likely to be aired and published. This negative portrayal
causes Black male subjects to be seen through the lens of criminality and potential threats
instead of concentrating on their positive contributions.
For example, when news programs constantly portray Black men as responsible for
criminal activities, the masses are fed with this information and begin to judge all Black men
as potential criminals. Race plays a special role in the presentation of crimes, for when a
criminal is a Black man, then his criminal actions are highlighted and reported more actively
than those of the white man. Such a difference in the coverage of stories further extends the
stereotype of Black males as creators of violence and danger, which is a synthesis of the
climate of fear among the white audience.
A crucial influence in fostering these perceptions is popular culture. In TV shows and
movies, conventional methods are adopted in narrating the stories, and Black men are always
assigned roles that are degrading and depict them in negative images. For instance, the thug
character is something that is often provided in full measure in Hollywood productions.
These characters are commonly portrayed as criminals and are aggressive and kill people
without any remorse or concern for the consequences of their actions or the law. While these
are characters that are literary and are not real, they do make a huge difference when it comes
to how society judges black men.
According to Rizzo (2024), these unfair representations argue that the Black Arts
Movement played a crucial in countering such negative portrayals. Specifically, the Black
Arts Movement aimed to give blacks a proper portrayal in media to fight against the
stereotypes that mainstream media portrays. However, even with these initiatives, the popular
culture paradigms remain rather largely unaltered. Consequently, the negative representations
implicit in these discourses are not only internalized by Black men from the perspective of
the white other but also from their point of view. Racialization is cyclical, whereby non-
whites are portrayed as dangerous or inferior, and hence, it affects self-image and personality.
This climate of fear and anxiety leads to threats to real-world situations, as seen in the
following instance. Stereotyping, which is fuelled by the media, has various and real-life
manifestations, for example, in the criminal justice where a Black race is depicted in a
specific manner. Black males experience increasing police interaction encounters and arrest
rates and are being imposed with more severe penalties than their white male counterparts.
This does contribute so much to the feeling of fear and anxiety extended to the blacks by the
media, hence creating such horrifying incidents as the shooting of black men of color who
have not embraced the use of guns by the police.
Furthermore, such generalization impacts economic and social opportunities for Black
men because they cannot pursue some opportunities due to the stereotype. This injustice is a
clear disservice to Black men as they instantly become unworthy of the employers’ attention
due to their unspoken agreement with the media. This results in high levels of unemployment
and staggering economic inequality. It also hinders social relations with other people as white
people feel more threatened by Black men, additionally creating social isolation. Therefore,
media gatekeepers must realize their part in reinforcing such images and redouble efforts to
provide better depictions. This means focusing on the positive images of Black men, the
successes of Black men, and the portrayal of the positives that Black men bring to society.
They must ensure that those who are in the position to change the perception are diverse.
Moreover, it is high time the creators of popular culture ceased using inherently
reductive stereotypes and increased the use of characters with multiple attributes. Black men
must be depicted in different roles that demonstrate true experiences and identities to their
contemporary lives, not just the stereotyped. As media depictions of Blacks continue to play a
major role in shaping perceptions about Black men, and when people see positive portrayals
of Black men in the media, some of the predictors of fear and anxiety could be overcome.
Negative perceptions have, therefore, been created by those who control the media
and its contents through selective reporting and representation, stereotypes without presenting
balanced views that portray blacks in a positive light. To alter the prevailing narrative, one
needs to fight for a better representation and depiction of Black men to embrace and
appreciate their positive attributes and recognize their humanity. This helps dismantle fear
and anxiety, hence establishing a society of justice and an equitable society.
References
Kumah-Abiwu, F. (2020). Media gatekeeping and portrayal of Black men in America. The
Journal of Men’s Studies, 28(1), 64-81.
Rizzo, M. (2024). Black Arts Cities.
No comments:
Post a Comment